Primary School Teachers Research Articles

Level of Requirement of Al-Qur'an and Obligatory Islamic Knowledge Class (AOIKC) and Religious Primary School Education for the Islamic Community in Selangor Malaysia

Level of Requirement of Al-Qur'an and Obligatory Islamic Knowledge Class (AOIKC) and Religious Primary School Education for the Islamic Community in Selangor Malaysia

Work and Environment Related Characteristics Associated with Voice Disorders among Primary School Teachers

The objective of this study is to assess work and environment related factors associated with voice disorders among primary school teachers in the Colombo district in Sri Lanka. Methods: An institution based cross sectional study was conducted among 790 primary school teachers, in the Colombo District in Sri Lanka. They were selected by a stratified random sampling method. The validated Voice Handicap Index (VHI-30) questionnaire and a self-administered questionnaire were used for data collection. Sound levels within 10 selected classrooms were measured objectively using CR:303 sound level meter (Cirrus). Data analysis was by bivariate method with chi squared and logistic regression. Results: Among the work related characteristics assessed teaching 5 or more subjects (OR=1.40, CI = 1.039, 2.90), staying after school hours (OR=1.69, CI = 1.19, 2.38) were significantly associated with voice disorders. Among the factors associated with work environment, teachers having a speech pattern in yelling and shouting category (OR=2.25, CI=1.68, 2.99), speaking in noisy environments (OR=1.09, CI= 1.15, 3.15), being exposed to smoky dusty environments (OR = 1.61, CI= 1.19, 2.16), having average or high dust levels in classrooms (OR=2.03, OR=1.50, 2.76), having a moderate to high noise level in classrooms (OR= 1.93, CI=1.45, 2.58) and having ‘just adequate, inadequate and average’ space in a classroom (OR=1.74, CI=1.29, 2.34) were significantly associated with voice disorders. The sound levels objectively measured in classrooms revealed that all classrooms had higher than acceptable noise levels during a teaching session. Conclusions and recommendations: The association of voice disorders with work related characteristics were similar to the findings in other studies. However, the high noise levels detected in the classrooms on objective measurement were high. It is recommended that these findings be addressed through a multidisciplinary approach and National standards for acceptable noise levels within classrooms be established.

Exploring Primary Education in China: Approaches to Improving Teachers' Job Satisfaction

The job satisfaction of primary school teachers in Shandong Province is an issue that demands urgent attention. Research has shown that teacher job satisfaction directly impacts their professional development and the quality of education, with the principal’s leadership style potentially exerting significant influence. Although transformational leadership is theoretically advantageous, its practical application within China’s basic education system requires further empirical validation. This study collected quantitative data from 389 primary school teachers in Shandong Province via an online survey to explore the relationship between transformational leadership and job satisfaction. The findings indicate that, first, significant differences exist between various dimensions of job satisfaction, suggesting that teachers have inconsistent perceptions regarding aspects such as working environment and compensation. Second, while certain aspects of transformational leadership, such as concern for the subordinates’ quality of life, received positive evaluations from teachers, other areas, like compensation and promotion opportunities, show considerable room for improvement. Lastly, the data reveal a strong positive correlation between transformational leadership and job satisfaction, particularly in leadership practices that promote teachers’ well-being and personal development. These results challenge the idealized view of transformational leadership as a panacea for all organizational challenges. The study suggests that while transformational leadership can motivate teachers, its effectiveness is limited when not aligned with broader organizational policies and practices. Therefore, for transformational leadership to be genuinely effective, it must be complemented by structural reforms, especially in addressing the specific needs and concerns of teachers.

An ethics of care approach to promoting social wellbeing in Irish primary physical education

ABSTRACT This paper explores the integration of care-focused practices in physical education (PE) by an Irish primary school teacher to enhance children’s social wellbeing. Through a five-month autoethnographic self-study involving sixteen PE lessons, the research draws on qualitative data sources. The findings highlight the teacher’s dual role as educator and researcher, revealing how a commitment to care fostered collaboration and social engagement. The findings underscore the complexities and benefits of being a teacher role model, encouraging and listening to children’s voices, balancing child autonomy with teacher guidance, acting as a facilitator, and the potential of co-creating expectations. The study offers insights for educators on implementing care-oriented approaches in PE that prioritise relationship building and a socially enriching learning environment.

Practical Strategies of “Soldiers Leading Soldiers” Mode in Primary School Teaching in Suburban Areas

With the promotion of curriculum reform, China’s basic education is moving from the era of “knowledge” to the era of “core literacy.” In the face of this teaching reform, teachers should focus on the main body of education and teaching-students, let students become the master of the classroom, and let the core literacy really land. The “soldiers leading soldiers” mode is a teaching method carried out given the large number of students with learning difficulties in class and the backward quality of class teaching. Through “soldiers teaching soldiers” and “soldiers training soldiers,” students’ mutual assistance can be achieved and the overall improvement of class teaching quality can be promoted. It extends from classroom to after-school, giving full play to the enthusiasm of students of different ability levels. This paper carries out practical research on primary school teaching by studying the organizational structure and evaluation mode of the “soldiers leading soldiers” mode.

Enriching the professional capital of primary school teachers to assess play and learning through play

ABSTRACT This paper explores the significance of a tailored professional learning program (PLP) for transforming primary school teachers’ practices through fostering the development of professional capital; specifically human capital. The focus of the PLP was on assessing play and learning through play for Foundation teachers (the first year of formal schooling) in Victoria, Australia. Drawing from professional capital theory, the study engages with a significant issue through a mixed methods approach. Findings showed that the tailored PLP enhances teachers’ abilities to not only implement play-based learning but also to assess children’s play abilities and learning through play. The study underscores the importance of professional learning in facilitating teachers’ capacity to integrate play-based approaches into the curriculum effectively, while also identifying the tensions between teachers’ learning about assessment through play and navigating this approach in the classroom with competing external and mandated school policies. The paper adds to existing literature highlighting the pivotal role of professional learning when situated as a social practice in shaping teachers’ practices and confidence. It provides ways to promote reflective dis[positions which impact professional learning opportunities and processes, while also pointing to the transformative conditions of social arrangements and personal aspects that enable agency, collegiality and deliberation.

‘Harmonise with the rest of the Empire’: Empire’s influence on religious instruction in Australian and New Zealand primary schools, 1880–1962

ABSTRACT This article argues that imperial identities embracing Britishness within Anglo-settler colonies significantly influenced provisions for religious education in Australia and New Zealand primary schools from the late nineteenth to the mid-twentieth centuries, corresponding with James Belich’s chronology of recolonisation. The article begins with an overview of the foundational Education Acts of Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, and New Zealand, each of which included stronger legal provisions for secularity than in other Australian and settler colonial contexts. The article then tracks the enduring campaigns to promote additional religious instruction in classrooms, revealing a common imperial imaginary shared by Protestant settlers within Australian and New Zealand contexts. Proponents drew upon one another’s tactics, including campaigns for referenda, the creation of Bible-in-Schools Leagues, and parliamentary lobbying campaigns. They also drew upon the idea that Britishness necessitated Christianity, though their calls sometimes did not reflect the legislative reality in Great Britain itself. In the mid-twentieth century, the context of the Second World War precipitated a renewed focus on Britishness as a bulwark and protector of the British Empire. When combined with the diffusion of Agreed Syllabuses, this enabled religious instruction advocates to overcome fierce opposition to strengthen systems of religious instruction from 1940 to 1962.

The effect of perceived parental conflict on middle school students' social anxiety: The role of self‐compassion and shame

AbstractThis study explores the relationship between perceived parental conflict, self‐compassion, shame, and social anxiety and its internal mechanisms through two studies. Study 1 took 612 middle school students (285 women, 327 men, M = 14.18 years, SD = 1.72) as participants, and the Children's Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale, Self‐compassion scale (SCS), shame scale (SS), and Social Anxiety Scale were used for testing. The results showed that perceived parental conflict was significantly correlated with self‐compassion, shame, and social anxiety. Perceived parental conflict affects middle school students' social anxiety through feelings of self‐compassion and shame. In study 2, 106 middle school students (76 women, 30 men, M = 15.47 years, SD = 0.62) were randomly assigned to the self‐compassion group and control group, and students were asked to complete different literacy tasks, and then fill out the SCS, SS and adolescent social anxiety scale in turn. The results found that in the context of parental conflict, inducing the self‐compassion of middle school students can reduce the level of shame and social anxiety. The introduction of the concept of self‐compassion into the field of middle school students' mental health reveals the function of self‐compassion. It expands the relevant research on the intermediary role of self‐compassion, and also provides innovative ideas for the future research of mental health education in primary and secondary schools.

A COVID-19 E O IMPACTO NA ROTINA DAS ESCOLAS DO RIO DE JANEIRO: percepção dos professores

The COVID-19 pandemic encouraged researchers and public managers to adopt several strategies to contain the spread of the SARS-Cov-2 virus, including the closure of schools, which kept children, adolescents and teachers away from the school environment for more than a year. This study, carried out in the State of Rio de Janeiro, aimed to evaluate the perception of primary and secondary school teachers about returning to school during the pandemic. Method:Cross-sectional study carried out from 11/09 to 12/23/2020, with teachers, from public and private schools, who taught children between 6-18 years old, in primary or secondary education, using an electronic form. The data were processed by the Iramuteq software. Results:Three main thematic areas were highlighted:the impact of the pandemic on education, teachers' concerns about the contagion and prevention of COVID-19, and the inadequate structure of public schools. Conclusion: The research emphasizes the need for government attention in both education and public health, addressing issues such as biosafety, preventive measures, health promotion and training of educators. It is imperative to reformulate improvement measures in the school structure, aiming to prepare in advance to face potential future pandemics and health crises, ensuring a safe and effective educational environment for students and teachers.

Exploring the Correlation Between Occupational Well-Being and Burnout: An Analysis of Bhutanese Teachers` Data

Aims: This study examined the relationship between teachers` occupational well-being and burnout as well as challenges faced by teachers, key drivers of their job satisfaction, factors contributing to their burnout, and suggestion for improving their well-being at school. The well-being of teachers was assessed focusing on affective, behavioral, and health components. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey study design was used to collect data from the teachers. The target population consists of all primary, middle, and secondary school teachers across the country. To ensure a representative sample, 402 Bhutanese teachers (primary, middle, and secondary school) across the country were selected by employing stratified random sampling method. Different teachers from different grades, schools, and years of experience were selected proportionately. A self-created structured questionnaire was applied to 402 Bhutanese teachers across the country, selected through stratified random sampling method. The instrument demonstrated strong internal consistency reliability, with Cronbach`s alpha coefficient 0.85, 0.78, 0.70, and 0.77 for affective, behavioral, and health well-being, as well as burnout constructs, respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (correlation analysis and two sample independent t-test) in RStudio. Results: Among the dimensions of occupational well-being, affective components like anxiety, depression, and emotional exhaustion require significant attention, with emotional exhaustion being notably high. Regarding potential stressors, high workload, paperwork, students` behavioral and disciplinary issues, and insufficient resources are the most pressing issues for most of the teachers. The most satisfying aspects of the job for teachers are having supportive colleagues, experiencing positive interactions with students, and receiving competitive salary and benefits. Conclusion: For policy makers and school administrators, the findings of this study underscore the importance of implementing strategies to mitigate emotional exhaustion, such as providing mental health resources, fostering a supportive work environment, offering professional development opportunities focused on stress management, and improving students` behavioral and disciplinary issues. Addressing the foregoing issues can lead to a decrease in burnout rates, ultimately improving teacher retention and the overall quality of education.

The relationship between work-family conflict and job burnout among primary and secondary school teachers: the role of depression and cognitive reappraisal.

Primary and secondary school teachers are a high-risk group for job burnout, and how to alleviate their job burnout has become an increasingly urgent issue. Previous studies have paid less attention to the differential effects of the bidirectional interaction between work and family on the job burnout of the teachers. This study aim to explore the different impact of work-family conflict and family-work conflict on job burnout among primary and secondary school teachers, as well as its underlying mechanisms. This study selected 2,184 primary and secondary school teachers in China (Mage = 37.26; SD = 9.40) as participants using a random sampling method. Using the SPSS Process 4.0 macro plugin constructed a moderated mediation model, the study explored the relationships between two different forms of work-family conflict, depression, cognitive reappraisal, and job burnout. The study results indicated that both forms of work-family conflict were significantly positively related to the job burnout, and this relationship was influenced by the mediating role of depression. Furthermore, cognitive reappraisal moderated the relationship between depression and job burnout. This study revealed the potential pathways influencing job burnout among primary and secondary school teachers in the Chinese cultural context. Focusing on and alleviating work-family conflicts for primary and secondary school teachers is crucial for mitigating their occupational burnout. Additionally, teachers should also carefully and reasonably use cognitive reappraisal as an emotional regulation strategy to adjust the impact of depression on occupational burnout.

أبرز المشكلات الشائعة في مكونات القراءة لدى الطلبة ذوي صعوبات التعلم

The current study aimed to identify the most common problems in the reading components among students with learning disabilities from the perspective of Arabic language course's teachers in government primary schools that contain learning disabilities programs in the education departments in Makkah Al-Mukarramah region, and to study the differences in knowledge levels according to the study variables. The final study sample consisted of (224) male and female teachers. To achieve the objectives of the current study, a descriptive survey approach was used, where a questionnaire was prepared as a tool for collecting data. The questionnaire consisted of (36) statements distributed over five dimensions. The results of the current study showed that the most common problems in the reading components among students with learning disabilities came at a level of (medium) agreement in general, with a general arithmetic mean of (3.155), while at the level of the sub-dimensions of the questionnaire, they all came at a level of (medium) agreement. The results also showed statistically significant differences in the total score averages of the questionnaire according to the gender variable in favor of male teachers, the number of years of experience variable in favor of male teachers who have experience from (1-5 years), and the workplace variable in favor of the education departments in the governorates of Makkah Al-Mukarramah and Taif, while the results showed no statistically significant differences in the total score averages of the scale according to the academic qualification variable. Based on the results reached, the researcher recommended several research recommendations and proposals, the most important of which is that the curriculum should include methods that motivate students to return to linguistic dictionaries and glossaries to search for the meanings of new vocabulary, and conduct additional studies aimed at discovering more scientific facts about the phenomenon of reading problems.

Gender role shift: implications for balancing work and family responsibilities among female primary school teachers in Nigeria

ABSTRACT This cross-sectional survey of 1498 married female primary school teachers in Enugu state, Nigeria was used to investigate the association between work-family conflict and shifted gender roles. Gender role shift was measured as female breadwinning and shared house chores roles with husband/partner. Pre-validated work and family conflict scale, and a structured questionnaire were used for data collection. Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficients of the instruments were 0.913 and 0.871 respectively. Data were analysed using IBM-SPSS version 23, using percentage and listwise binary logistic regression. The results showed that 37.2% of the women were family breadwinners and 18.2% reported that they shared house chores with their husbands/partners. Work-family conflict was found to be 21.6% prevalent. Being a breadwinner increased the odds (OR > 1.00) of work-family conflict, while shared responsibility for household chores decreased the odds (OR < 1.00) of work-family conflict. Breadwinners had higher odds (OR = 4.77; CI = 2.61 - 8.73) of work-family conflict than non-breadwinners. Women whose partners shared in-house chores were less likely (OR = 0.31; CI = 0.20- 0.51) to experience conflict. Gender role shift, therefore, has implications for work-family imbalances among women in the primary school teaching profession in Nigeria.

Formation of professional identity and motivation among future primary school teachers in the process of educational practice

Introduction. The article examines the problem of forming professional identity and motivation among students in the process of mastering the discipline “Educational practice (research work (obtaining primary skills in research work))”. The current stage of professional training of future teachers is focused on mastering the methods of integrating educational subjects for organizing developmental research activities, which is reflected in the “Core of Higher Pedagogical Education.” The purpose of the article is to substantiate the way of formation of professional identity and motivation of future teachers in the process of educational practice (research work (obtaining primary research skills)”. Materials and Methods. Theoretical and methodological analysis, a method of diagnostic analysis, including a questionnaire of professional identity of students (U. S. Rodygina), diagnosing the internal position of students in relation to their future profession, the components of which are the characteristics of the professional identity of students “Emotional attitude” and “ Conscious activity"; a methodology for determining motivation for vocational training (V.G. Katashev), which allows one to study and analyze the level of motivation of students in the context of their vocational education; methods of mathematical statistics. Results. Testing students – future primary school teachers in the process of educational practice to obtain primary skills in research work allowed us to conclude that the motivation of future primary school teachers is normal. As a result of the study, it was revealed that according to the questionnaire “Professional Identity of Students” (U. S. Rodygina), the highest average score was noted on the scale “positive emotions associated with meeting a person’s needs in the profession”, the lowest average score corresponds to the scale “position of a student’s passive attitude” to the acquired profession”. The results obtained from the diagnostic “Methodology for determining motivation for vocational training” showed that the highest average score corresponds to the normal level of motivation, the lowest – to the average level of motivation. Discussion and Conclusions. The obtained results of the study substantiate the relevance of the problem of forming professional identity and motivation among students of the faculty of primary school teacher training in the process of educational practice. The educational practice carried out at the faculty plays a key role in the formation of students’ primary research skills. The peculiarities of the implementation of this type of practice is that the process of training future teachers consists of three modules: methodological foundations of scientific knowledge; methods of psychological and pedagogical research; registration of the results of scientific work. Each module is aimed at achieving the goal of practice: obtaining primary research skills in organizing and conducting psychological and pedagogical research in education, processing and presenting its results. The module tasks are aimed at students performing a number of practical actions: studying the fundamentals of the scientific method; choosing a topic and research question; literature review; data collection and analysis; interpretation of results; writing a scientific article or report; preparing a presentation; public speaking practice; cooperation with the scientific supervisor; publication and feedback. The authors emphasize the effectiveness of the tasks used in the process of developing students’ research skills.

Language-Related Expressions of Personality

The present research aims to bridge the gap between prospective multi/ plurilingual education and overarching personality psychology by examining how language constructs and basic personality traits are interrelated in pre-service teachers who are fundamental to language education. The first part of the study identifies items within the International Personality Item Pool that are indicative of language constructs, revealing intricate language-related expressions of personality involving listening, learning, speaking, reading and writing. The second part investigates the links between these language constructs and the Big Five personality traits based on a sample of 124 female pre-service primary school teachers aged 19 to 27. The results show significant multivariate relationships, indicating that individuals high in conscientiousness, openness and extraversion, and low in neuroticism, tend to exhibit preferences for listening, learning, speaking and reading. The findings suggest that there are personality-embedded nuanced language-related expressions of trait structures reflecting psychological needs for language competence, relatedness and autonomy in (co-)creation. The research underscores the importance of considering both language constructs and internationally validated personality traits in teachers and their students. It suggests that some teachers and students may naturally align with language-trait structures conducive to quality language teaching and, prospectively, to multi/plurilingual proficiency. Additionally, educational interventions can potentially influence the development of these identified conducive structures over time, offering insights into the stable psychological foundations for language development and consequent pluricultural competence.

Understanding Middle Leaders' Distributed Leadership Factors as Necessary and Sufficient Conditions for Fostering Teacher Commitment to Change

ABSTRACTThis study aims to examine which middle leaders' distributed leadership factors (cohesive leadership team, participative decision‐making, leadership support and leadership supervision) are sufficient and to what degree these four factors are necessary for fostering high teacher commitment to change (TCTC). Data were gathered from 1018 Malaysian primary school teachers. The partial least squares analysis indicated positive relationships between the four middle leaders' distributed leadership factors and TCTC. The necessary condition analysis revealed that cohesive leadership team and participative decision‐making are necessary and sufficient conditions for fostering TCTC. While leadership support and leadership supervision were identified as necessary conditions, they were deemed less important. This study shifts the focus from principal‐centric distributed leadership to middle leaders' distributed leadership. This theoretical shift underscores the unique contributions of middle leaders' distributed leadership in driving TCTC in primary school settings by employing an expanded analytical approach.

Analysis of Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Teachers' Understanding of Differentiated Learning Training for Merdeka Curriculum

Differentiated learning is crucial for addressing student diversity and ensuring all students have equal opportunities to achieve their learning objectives. Therefore, it is essential that teachers understand and implement these strategies in the classroom. This study analyzes Islamic primary school (Madrasah Ibtidaiyah/MI) teachers' understanding of differentiated learning. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research involved 54 MI teachers (10 male and 44 female) from 34 MI schools in Babat Lamongan, East Java. Instruments included written tests and interviews. The written test featured a pre-test and post-test via the Quizizz application, while interviews followed the differentiated learning training. Data analysis combined quantitative and qualitative techniques. Quantitative results showed that the MI teachers' conceptual understanding, measured by the N-gain score, was 0.078, categorizing it as low. However, qualitative findings revealed that, post-training, MI teachers demonstrated a solid understanding of all indicators: explaining concepts, identifying characteristics, providing examples and non-examples, and applying differentiated learning strategies. The study concludes that training in differentiated learning significantly enhances teachers' understanding. Regular and consistent training is recommended to sustain and further develop teachers' expertise in this area.

The Relationship between Teachers’ Knowledge Level and Pedagogical Skills of Primary School Teachers with the Implementation of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTs) in Design and Technology Subject

The Relationship between Teachers’ Knowledge Level and Pedagogical Skills of Primary School Teachers with the Implementation of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTs) in Design and Technology Subject

The inclusive mindset transformation needs of teachers working in challenging conditions: An examination from the perspective of Activity and Attribution Theory

The study examines the professional transformation and support required by teachers in challenging conditions, particularly those with students affected by forced migration, to implement inclusive pedagogy. Through a case study involving three primary school teachers, data were gathered using individual and focus group interviews, and observations. The study, framed within Activity Theory and Attribution Theory, identified the teachers' needs and the difficulties they face in applying inclusive pedagogy. Findings emphasize the need for mindset transformation and professional development in three areas: internalising inclusive education, recognizing personal empowerment, and gaining experiential knowledge. The study recommends supporting teachers to overcome systemic challenges and promoting a growth-oriented mindset. Future research should include other stakeholders' perspectives and further explore theoretical relationships.

Geometric thinking program to enhance problem-solving skills of primary school teacher candidates

Geometry is a mathematics subject that has been widely considered hard. Several problems in learning geometry lead to geometric problem-solving skills. After exploring various causes, theories, and processes of geometric thinking, there should be an evaluation program to optimize problem-solving skills. This study aims to (1) develop a geometric thinking evaluation program and (2) enhance geometric problem-solving skills observed from the students’ thinking level. The research and development adopted the Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation (ADDIE) model, which started from the analysis stage involving four lecturers and 306 of students. The research was conducted at Primary School Teacher Education Department, Universitas Negeri Semarang. The process continued to the design stage, at which the evaluation program was drafted, followed by the development stage to test the validity. The last two phases included the trials in which the t-test and n-gain were applied to measure the program's effectivity and the evaluation phase aimed at assessing its practicality and the student's achievement in geometry. The established evaluation program covers an instrument of 39 multiple-choice items as an early assessment to determine the thinking level and learning trajectories as a scaffolding for improving geometric thinking skills. The trajectories, in the form of worksheets, were adjusted to the students' thinking level and were effective in assisting them in elevating to the informal reasoning level as well as refining their problem-solving skills.