structured routines

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is one of the most common disabilities in South African schools. However, there is still limited information about children with ASD and their schooling needs in South Africa. Teachers may find it particularly taxing to address behavioral challenges while simultaneously seeking to provide fair and accessible learning opportunities for all learners. This study identifies effective behavioural strategies to help manage the challenging behaviour of learners with ASD. The study conducted observations and semi-structured interviews as part of a qualitative multiple-case study design. The data were analysed inductively, and the results revealed that teachers relied largely on their own informal strategies. These included attempts to meet the child's individual needs, providing positive reinforcement to improve behavioural regulation, practicing positive communication, and using structured routines and regulation breaks. The implementation of these strategies was carried out without formal training or systematic guidance. Learner facilitators also provided valuable support to learners with ASD. These approaches address the inclusion of learners with unique learning capabilities in mainstream learning environments through teacher initiative. This was done to address behavioural challenges in populations with limited systemic support. Given the exploratory, small-scale nature of this study, findings are intended to offer in-depth insight rather than generalisable conclusions. Additionally, recommendations are provided to assist mainstream schools and teacher training.

Online learning can improve access to educational materials, but it may also create additional demands for school-aged learners who experience learning disabilities. This study examined perceived academic, emotional, behavioural, and adaptation-related outcomes of online classes among students in Grades 1-10 with learning difficulties, drawing on student, parent, and teacher reports. The dissertation describes a quantitative, cross-sectional survey involving 95 participants and the use of the Learning Disabilities Checklist (LDC), Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Online Learning Readiness Scale (OLRS), and a researcher-developed questionnaire. Reported findings indicate difficulties with attention, comprehension, task completion, and motivation in online settings, alongside lower perceived academic performance than in traditional classrooms. Parent and teacher reports were associated with students? reported learning difficulties. A significant association was reported between student and teacher reports, χ2(1, N = 95) = 20.5, p < .001, φ = .465; a similar association was reported for student and parent reports, χ2(1, N = 95) = 21.0, p < .001, φ = .471. Student and parent reports of emotional wellbeing were also positively correlated, ρ = .674, p < .001. The findings suggest that online learning requires structured routines, accessible teaching materials, trained educators, and coordinated family-school support to better accommodate learners with learning disabilities. Results should be interpreted cautiously because detailed descriptive scores and an effect estimate for the academic comparison were not reported consistently in the dissertation.

Introduction Research has consistently highlighted key pedagogical dynamics that shape children's engagement, exploration, and learning. Crucial elements include the flow of daily routines, opportunities for child agency and participation, and the intentional integration of indoor and outdoor learning contexts. The aim of this study was to use a person-centered approach to identify profiles of pedagogical dynamics in Portuguese ECEC contexts and to examine how these profiles relate to professionals’ perceived quality of the organization of the educational environment. Method We used the EduIn&Out Organization of ECEC Environments Questionnaire to explore educators’ characterization of their pedagogical dynamics (routine flow, children's agency, and the use of indoor and outdoor contexts) and explored educators’ perceptions of various aspects of the quality of ECEC environment, including the organization of the space, materials and equipment (both indoor and outdoor), time management and daily routines, family and child participation, coordination with the educational team and with the center's leadership. The questionnaire was completed by 757 Portuguese educators with experience in preschool education (ages 3 to 6). Latent profile analysis was used to identify profiles of pedagogical dynamics:. Results Four distinct profiles were identified, characterized by different combinations of pedagogical dynamics: (1) Constrained-Fragmented – unstable routines, predominantly adult-led activities, and indoor-centered practices; (2) Balanced-Neutral – moderately structured routines, balanced agency and balanced use of indoor and outdoor spaces; (3) Collaborative-Integrated – highly structured routines, collaborative agency and integrated indoor-outdoor practices; and (4) Participatory-Dynamic – dynamic routines, child-led agency and outdoor-oriented practices. Discussion Profiles characterized by more structured routines, collaborative or child-led agency, and greater integration of indoor and outdoor contexts were associated with higher perceived educational environment quality, highlighting the importance of coherent pedagogical dynamics for high-quality ECEC settings.

مقدمه پژوهش‌ها به طور مستمر بر پویایی‌های کلیدی آموزشی که بر درگیری، کاوش و یادگیری کودکان تأثیر می‌گذارند، تأکید داشته‌اند. عناصر اساسی شامل جریان روال‌های روزانه، فرصت‌هایی برای عاملیت و مشارکت کودک، و ادغام هدفمند زمینه‌های یادگیری درونی و بیرونی است. هدف این مطالعه استفاده از رویکرد فردمحور برای شناسایی پروفایل‌های پویایی‌های آموزشی در زمینه‌های ECEC پرتغال و بررسی نحوه ارتباط این پروفایل‌ها با کیفیت ادراک‌شده توسط متخصصان از سازماندهی محیط آموزشی بود. روش از پرسشنامه EduIn&Out Organization of ECEC Environments برای بررسی توصیف مربیان از پویایی‌های آموزشی خود (جریان روال، عاملیت کودکان و استفاده از زمینه‌های درونی و بیرونی) استفاده شد و ادراک مربیان از جنبه‌های مختلف کیفیت محیط ECEC، از جمله سازماندهی فضا، مواد و تجهیزات (درونی و بیرونی)، مدیریت زمان و روال‌های روزانه، مشارکت خانواده و کودک، هماهنگی با تیم آموزشی و رهبری مرکز مورد بررسی قرار گرفت. پرسشنامه توسط ۷۵۷ مربی پرتغالی با تجربه در آموزش پیش‌دبستانی (۳ تا ۶ سال) تکمیل شد. برای شناسایی پروفایل‌های پویایی‌های آموزشی از تحلیل پروفایل نهفته استفاده شد. یافته‌ها چهار پروفایل متمایز شناسایی شد که با ترکیب‌های متفاوتی از پویایی‌های آموزشی مشخص می‌شوند: (۱) محدود-گسسته – روال‌های ناپایدار، فعالیت‌های عمدتاً هدایت‌شده توسط بزرگسالان و شیوه‌های متمرکز بر فضای داخلی؛ (۲) متعادل-خنثی – روال‌های نسبتاً ساختاریافته، عاملیت متعادل و استفاده متعادل از فضاهای داخلی و بیرونی؛ (۳) مشارکتی-یکپارچه – روال‌های بسیار ساختاریافته، عاملیت مشارکتی و شیوه‌های یکپارچه داخلی-بیرونی؛ و (۴) مشارکتی-پویا – روال‌های پویا، عاملیت هدایت‌شده توسط کودک و شیوه‌های متمرکز بر فضای بیرونی. بحث پروفایل‌هایی که با روال‌های ساختاریافته‌تر، عاملیت مشارکتی یا هدایت‌شده توسط کودک و ادغام بیشتر زمینه‌های داخلی و بیرونی مشخص می‌شوند، با کیفیت بالاتر ادراک‌شده محیط آموزشی همراه بودند و اهمیت پویایی‌های آموزشی منسجم را برای محیط‌های ECEC با کیفیت بالا برجسته می‌کنند.