The purpose of my undergraduate thesis has been to investigate the cooperation between an educator and a teacher in the first grade nature study class. I formulated four research questions with which I have wanted to learn: (1) how classes are generally organized in the first grade of elementary school where a teacher and an educator work together, (2) how a teacher and an educator cooperate in nature study class, (3) what are general didactic characteristics of nature study class, and (4) what is the degree of emphasis on the practical work and on the outdoors nature study class. The method of my research is an interview that I conducted individually with female teachers and educators of three schools in Bela krajina (total of 10 educators and teachers). Every interview that I recorded with a voice recorder took about 30 minutes. I accurately copied the answers and summarized them. I have presented my findings in the empirical part of the thesis.
I find that in first grade a teacher and an educator work together in most cases, whereas in one case, two teachers work together. School subjects are divided among each educator and teacher who prepare class material themselves. Only a few complement one another and help each other out in preparing class material. As it is the case for every school subject, they select a teacher who is in charge of nature study class. In some classes, an educator and a teacher complement each other during activities and direct them together, while some of them work independently. The one preparing material for this school subject is also in charge of it and the other one does not participate. While teaching, they develop various methods, such as observing, editing, arranging, sorting, experimenting and concluding. They use frontal, group and individual forms of work in all classes. Whether classes are held outdoors, it depends on the topic of the class and the weather. On average, they are carried out outdoors at least once a month. The focus is on the child's everyday environment and experience. They teach using concrete examples and try to present everything in as practical way as possible to pupils.
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