Estetiska uttrycksformer i svenskämnet : En kvalitativ studie av lärares arbete med estetiska uttrycksformer i ämnet svenska

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this thesis is examining teachers’ view of working with aesthetic expressions in their teaching of the Swedish subject in first grade. The study examines the possibility to distinguish whether teachers’ aesthetic subject competence affects their choices of didactics in their Swedish subject teaching. Another important question in the study is how teachers believe that aesthetic expressions and methods can support the learners’ linguistic development. Carried out as a qualitative interview, the study asked four working class teachers questions primarily regarding their view of aesthetics and its relation to the Swedish subject. This thesis also includes questions related to the methods the teachers use in their daily work with the Swedish subject.  For the purpose of problematizing the status of aesthetics, assessment and organizational aspects also form a basis for the thesis. The outcome of the study indicates that all teachers interviewed recognize a connection between aesthetic expressions and children’s linguistic development. Yet, in the interviews, patterns appear that imply that only qualified music and art teachers are able to relate and account for how the aesthetic expressions can support the learners’ linguistic knowledge in the Swedish subject. Means for developing the learners’ verbal and oral ability mentioned here include singing and rhythms. A cautious conclusion from this would be that first grade class teachers consider aesthetics as important in relation to the Swedish subject, but their methods vary by their individual subject matter competence. The aesthetic methods are highly valued by all informants, however, only used as a supporting means for first grade learners’ linguistic development by teachers with aesthetic subject competence. Considering the education of the new future so called “f-3” teachers comprise no subject knowledge of art, music and other aesthetic subjects, the outcome of this study is particularly important for the Swedish Ministry of Training and Science.