The Psychology Of Teaching And Learning In The Primary School

This book reviews recent work in psychology which sheds new light on important areas of concern to primary school teachers, providing clear guidelines for good practice. The Psychology of Teaching and Learning in the Primary School details the current controversies regarding the effective teaching of reading and numeracy, how to deal with emotional and behavioural difficulties, the best methods of assessing learning, as well as teaching children to think and develop their creativity. It is a useful text for tutors and students on initial teacher training courses, and to teachers involved in professional development. Each chapter contains an editor's summary, a list of further reading, a full list of references and activities to develop and deepen the readers' understanding in each area. At the same time, the book is written in an accessible style ideal for the non-psychologist and is well illustrated with practical classroom examples.

Drawing upon extensive research, David Galloway and Anne Edwards analyse the increasing pressures on teachers from the national curriculum and other recent legislation. They look carefully at childrens' learning and behavioural difficulties and show how educational psychology can extend our understanding of teacher's day-to-date work in the classroom. Primary Teaching and Educational Psychology is a refreshing and at times controversial examination of primary teaching and the application of educational psychology. It will be essential reading for trainee teachers and will stimulate more experienced teachers to re-evaluate their current practices.

The authors reassess the role of social psychology. They offer an analysis of motivation and the social development of primary age children as well as relationships and social interaction in the classroom, gender and special needs.

It is now widely recognized that learners are more successful when they are active participants in the learning relationship. This book offers a general introduction to primary education and child development, using the learning relationship between teachers and children as its focus. Divided into two parts, the first looks at the child's contribution to the learning relationship, and the second examines that of the teacher.

This book offers a challenge to traditional approaches to classroom teaching and pedagogy. The SPRinG (Social Pedagogic Research into Groupwork) project, part of a larger research programme on teaching and learning funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), was developed to enhance the learning potential of pupils working in classroom groups by actively involving teachers in a programme designed to raise levels of group work during typical classroom learning activities. Internationally, the SPRinG project is the largest evaluation of effective group working methods in comparison to traditional teaching, with findings that show raised levels of pupil achievement and a doubling of sustained, active engagement in learning. The opening chapters present arguments regarding the relationship of social interaction and children’s cognitive development and examine theories that explain why social interactional processes should be integrated into primary school pedagogic practices. Next, the book describes the conceptual and methodological basis for the SPRinG studies, especially its focus on the relational approach, the type of involvement of teachers and classroom planning. Further chapters present key results and describe the background and methods used to establish SPRinG-based effects on pupil progress in mathematics, literacy and science, including both macro and micro assessments; how the SPRinG approach affected pupil-pupil interactions and teacher-pupil interactions, as measured by systematic on-the-spot observations and analyses of videotapes of groups working on specially designed tasks work; and effects on pupil self-completed measures of motivation and attitudes to group work. The book also analyses reflections of teachers who have worked with SPRinG: moving from theory to practice as well as adding insights associated with implementing SPRinG principles in schools. Drawing upon developmental psychological, social psychological and classroom research, it develops a new and ambitious social pedagogic approach to classroom learning, with a stress on group work, which will be of interest to researchers, teachers and policy-makers. This book includes contributions from Andrew Tolmie and Ed Baines, who were also involved in the ScotSPRinG and SPRinG projects.

How can ideas and concepts from psychology be applied smartly to the classroom to meet the needs of different learners? Supported by research and an awareness of the factors underpinning high-quality teaching, this book encourages teachers, and those training to teach, to examine their own methods in order to develop as confident, evidence-informed professionals. This third edition includes: · A new chapter on the psychology of elearning · A new discussion of applied cognitive theories in the classroom · The use of internationally friendly terminology throughout the book · Some streamlining of content to offer a more cohesive reading experience

This book covers the psychology of teaching and learning and focuses on applying up-to-date as well as traditional theory in the classroom. It covers a range of issues that most concern the new teacher, written clearly and at an appropriate level.