This exploratory study aimed to assess the strength of primary school students' (aged 11-12 years old) Science Self-Efficacy (SSE) beliefs, identify emanating sources, and investigate any gender-related differences. School SSE is defined here as perceived capacity to complete learning outcomes from the upper Irish primary science curriculum. The…

The importance of introducing students to mechanistic reasoning (MR) early in their schooling is emphasised in research. The goal of this case study was to contribute with knowledge on how early primary students' (9-10 year-olds) MR in chemistry is expressed and developed in a classroom practice framed by model-based inquiry. The study focuses on…

National policy initiatives in Ireland, such as Project Maths and the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Policy Statement have sought to increase the engagement and performance of students in mathematics and science. The current study investigated the performance of students in Ireland in these areas and in reading…

Background: Reading comprehension is an interactive process. Yet, instructional needs are usually identified with isolated componential tests. This study examined whether a dynamic approach, in which componential abilities are measured within the same text and global text comprehension is facilitated via feedback, can help in understanding…

Since plurilingual competence is crucial for effective communication, cultural understanding, cognitive development, and professional and personal growth, it should also be prioritised in education to enable the continuous development of individuals. One of the most critical aspects of achieving plurilingual competence is creating a stimulating…

Children are spending significantly less time outdoors in free play than previous generations, which has implications for children's development. This study explores parental knowledge, attitudes and the time children spend in outdoor free play. Parents or caregivers of children aged between five and nine years old (N = 82) completed an online…

National and international assessments consistently report gender differences in mathematics, with boys scoring higher than girls. This study aims to explore whether the gender gap has been overcome in mathematical competence; as well as to check what similarities and differences there are according to the school effectiveness, educational stage,…

"Marinyo" is a culture left by the Portuguese around the 15th century in Maluku. The purpose of this study was to find out to what extent students' misconceptions about the concept of sound in the "Marinyo" case in the Kepuluan Tanimbar Regency. The method used was a qualitative study in ethnography in ten villages in two…

This article outlines the results from an investigation on elementary school students designed to find out whether the coronavirus pandemic had an impact on their conceptualisation of microorganisms. We compared 9- to 11-year-old children's drawings and answers to questionnaires conducted before the pandemic (during 2017 and 2018, N = 137) with…

This study aimed to examine the effect of reading attitude and reading engagement on reading skills success and the mediating role of reading attitude in the relationship between reading engagement and reading comprehension skills. The data for this research was collected in the spring of 2021. The "Reading Success Scale," "Reading…

Inclusive education remains a distant goal in Afghanistan threatened by issues of discrimination based on gender, disability, ethnicity, cultural beliefs and socioeconomic status. To promote more inclusive practices, we conducted 120 participatory workshops in three rounds, including 1187 volunteer children aged 9 to 12 years old from grades…

The article dwells on the issue of self-awareness development in primary schools. The paper offers theoretical and empirical researches of the issue. The empirical research is based on Newtten's method of "unfinished ideas" (modified by A.B. Orlov); Newtten's the scale of temporary settings; self-appriciation method "Tree" or…

Environmental education (EE) is a concern in modern society. Plant blindness and nature-deficit disorder highlight how important nature contact and plant consciousness is for urban populations. Considering rapid urbanisation, these phenomena are of increasing concern in China. Integrating EE curricula in Chinese cities is necessary to help younger…

It is particularly important that children have a clear understanding and appreciation of the importance of our environment and that they consider themselves as part of it. Children must therefore be provided with evidence-informed learning activities to enable them to understand how they are intrinsically part of the local and global environment,…

In France, a quarter of pupils change schools during their elementary education. In this article, we analyse families' motives in changing schools. Using a rich longitudinal database, we distinguish different motives for mobility: strategic mobility (search for a better school), reactive mobility (due to school difficulties) and residential…