Teachers' perceptions and use of textbooks : a review of the English grammar and mathematics texts used in state education, years IV and V

Abstract

This dissertation was designed to explore and increase understanding of teachers' perceptions and use of the texts in Primary State Schools. The underlying concept was that with adequate texts the educator can establish better conditions for teaching and learning. Textbook publishing, selection and market forces, among other topics, were reviewed. Data was collected by means of a questionnaire distributed to a sample of teachers and an ethnographic study was carried out on a smaller sample of lessons. These research instruments provided the basis for a detailed analysis of teachers' perceptions and utilisation of the texts. Results were varied and the contributing factors were identified throughout the study.