Mid Sweden University

This study identified and discussed principals' perceptions of acceleration and enrichment for gifted students. These areas have proven significant for the teaching of the gifted. The research questions included questions about perceptions of giftedness and how principals organize to allow gifted students to develop and learn based on their conditions and needs. The empirical material consisted of open questions where the informants freely could describe their knowledge and perceptions about gifted students and their education. The principals' mission statement formed the theoretical basis for analysis. The method used was content analysis. Previous research has shown that acceleration and enrichment are significant for teaching and learning for gifted students. It is therefore of importance that principals, responsible for the activities of the schools they are responsible for, are aware of these and enable the teachers to work with acceleration and enrichment based on the different needs of the gifted students. The results showed that the principals in the study believed that (a) acceleration should primarily take place in the gifted students' age-appropriate class, (b) second by studying subjects or courses with higher classes, (c) third, that the teachers enable enrichment for gifted students in their age-appropriate class, (d) fourth, grade skipping is complicated and should be avoided. 

Extensive problematic school absenteeism is a growing problem in Swedish schools. This means serious consequences both for the child and for society at large. This makes it essential to carry out a study where the voices of students and teachers are heard. This study identified and analyzed the risk and protective factors expressed by teachers and students regarding extensive problematic school absenteeism. The students are found within the autism spectrum, something that is common when it comes to students who are absent from school. The Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed through reflexive thematic content analysis. The results showed that students' and teachers' perceptions were consistent and distinctive. Structure, learning environment, and relationships were the themes that emerged most clearly during the analysis. 

This study aimed to identify principals' perceptions of gifted students and their education in the context of Sweden. Gagné and Nadeau's attitude scale “Opinions about the gifted and their education” (OGE; with permission from Gagné) was used. The attitude scale consisted of 34 statements about gifted students and their education for principals to evaluate using a 5-point Likert-scale. The results showed that the 71 participating principals mostly felt positive about gifted students and their education, but the answers gave a picture of uncertainty and lack of knowledge, as many respondents used the middle option, “neutral,” on the Likert scale. While the results are not generalizable, the findings provide insights into respondents' perceptions and demonstrate the importance of bringing research about gifted students and their education into the front line. 

Peer observations of teaching, POT, is a model for developing teachers to reflect on their teaching practice and discuss their ideas with colleagues. This article contributes to the knowledge of how peer observation of teaching can be used in a primary school as a model to develop teachers’ teaching practices, and highlights the challenges throughout the process. Semi-structured interviews were used for data collection and analyzed by a qualitative content analysis with a deductive approach. The results of the study confirm that peer observation of teaching is, in fact, a useful model for metacognitive improvement of teaching and learning for teachers, provided that some necessary conditions are met, for example transparency in the planning of the process, inclusion of teachers in the decision-making process, and training in the process of providing and receiving feedback.

The reading ability among today’s children and youth is highly discussed both nationally and internationally. The results for Swedish students, in both PIRLS and PISA, show a decrease in reading ability. There are different explanations to the decrease, for example deficiency in teaching and a reduction in the use of reading strategies. While a lot of research is being devoted to reading development, there is a lack on research showing overall constructive ways to build and maintain favorable reading environments for each individual. Our aim with this paper is to discuss what will work on an individual basis. Our research question is: Which are the key-factors that create good reading environments and maintain a sustainable reading interest on an individual level? The overall purpose of this paper is therefore to explore the field of research on early reading, with a special focus on good reading environments, individual conditions, reading styles and teaching strategies. The aim is to identify how good reading environments can be developed through children’s individual reading styles and strategies, and teacher’s awareness of teaching strategies that create an optimal platform for lifelong reading.   This paper is a conceptual paper in which a theoretical framework built on international empirical research was identified, by connecting and systematizing different parts of reading, learning and teaching.  This area is complex and complicated because it involves interactions and different learning and teaching perspectives. In this paper we present research showing that teaching reading based on individual reading styles and strategies is an effective way to ensure children’s´ achievement, interest, self-confidence, and motivation. Children’s awareness of reading strategies supported by favorable reading environments influence meta-cognition and also the ability and interest to become a skilled reader. It is also clear that teachers’ pedagogical knowledge is of great importance as well as their ability to use a variety of teaching strategies to meet the needs of every individual. This paper provides useful information unraveling concepts, methods and effects which can aid children, parents, teachers and researchers in understanding, evaluating and monitoring reading, thus having practical implications for promoting lifelong reading.

The reading ability among today’s children and youth is highly discussed both nationally and internationally. The results for Swedish students, in both PIRLS and PISA, show a decrease in reading ability. There are different explanations to the decrease, for example deficiency in teaching and a reduction in the use of reading strategies. While a lot of research is being devoted to reading development, there is a lack on research showing overall constructive ways to build and maintain favorable reading environments for each individual. Our aim with this paper is to discuss what will work on an individual basis. Our research question is: Which are the key-factors that create good reading environments and maintain a sustainable reading interest on an individual level? The overall purpose of this paper is therefore to explore the field of research on early reading, with a special focus on good reading environments, individual conditions, reading styles and teaching strategies. The aim is to identify how good reading environments can be developed through children’s individual reading styles and strategies, and teacher’s awareness of teaching strategies that create an optimal platform for lifelong reading.   This paper is a conceptual paper in which a theoretical framework built on international empirical research was identified, by connecting and systematizing different parts of reading, learning and teaching.  This area is complex and complicated because it involves interactions and different learning and teaching perspectives. In this paper we present research showing that teaching reading based on individual reading styles and strategies is an effective way to ensure children’s´ achievement, interest, self-confidence, and motivation. Children’s awareness of reading strategies supported by favorable reading environments influence meta-cognition and also the ability and interest to become a skilled reader. It is also clear that teachers’ pedagogical knowledge is of great importance as well as their ability to use a variety of teaching strategies to meet the needs of every individual. This paper provides useful information unraveling concepts, methods and effects which can aid children, parents, teachers and researchers in understanding, evaluating and monitoring reading, thus having practical implications for promoting lifelong reading.