Får högpresterande elever den utmaning de har rätt till i skolan?
En empirisk studie baserat på lärares åsikter om arbetet med individualisering med fokus på högpresterande elever
Above-average pupilsIndividualizationMotivationChallenge and stimulateHögpresterande eleverIndividualiseringMotivationUtmana och stimulera
The purpose of this study is to investigate five teachers? opinions on the work with individualization with focus on above-average pupils. I have issued four questions based on the purpose of this study: - How do these teachers define the theoretical concepts of individualization and above-average pupils? - How do the teachers reason about the concept of individualization with focus on the above-average pupils? - How do the teachers reason regarding the work with individualization in the Swedish language? - Do these teachers consider that there are difficulties to individualize the work so that it will challenge above-average pupils?The method used to conduct this study was a semi-structured qualitative interview with five teachers in primary school. The theory and the theoretical concepts this study is based on is: what defines the above- average pupils, the zone of proximal development, the concept of individualization and motivation and the importance of cognitive and non-cognitive abilities.The study shows that the theoretical concept of above-average pupils is hard to define and it shows a difference between how the teachers choose to define it. However, the teachers show a good understanding of the concept of individualization which they define as an approach based on each individual's level of knowledge. It also shows that the teachers are having difficulties individualizing the school assignments to challenge and stimulate the above-average pupils. The teachers mean that the main reason for this problem is the lack of resources the teachers have available.