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Disciplinary literacy and verbal language in physical education
Malmö University, Faculty of Education and Society (LS), Department of Sport Sciences (IDV).ORCID iD: 0000-0001-5516-6049
2024 (English)In: Sport, Education and Society, ISSN 1357-3322, E-ISSN 1470-1243Article in journal (Refereed) Epub ahead of print
Abstract [en]

Supporting pupils’ development regarding subject knowledge and disciplinary literacy is a complex and challenging task for teachers. Research shows that language-integrated physical education (PE) can assist children’s language development. However, it tends to reduce the time for physical activity, which is problematic since youth’s physical inactivity is a growing problem. This article examines how teachers can emphasize disciplinary literacy and stimulate pupils’ use of verbal language to enhance their learning in PE in a culturally and linguistically diverse context in Sweden. In this practice-based research study grounded in action research methodology, 20 ten-year-old pupils with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds participated with a teacher-researcher in 10 PE lessons in which disciplinary literacy and verbal language were intertwined with exploratory circus assignments. The theoretical framework is based on Biesta’s concept of risk. Data were collected through participant observation, video observation, interviews, and field diary. The data analysis was abductive, oscillating between the theory and the data. A thematic analysis was carried out. The results show that the exploratory circus assignments offered opportunities to emphasize disciplinary literacy and stimulate pupils’ use of verbal language. Focusing on language to ensure all pupils could partake and develop knowledge required time, which encroached on the pupils’ opportunity to be physically active. This was resolved through adding time before the PE lesson to activate the pupils’ background knowledge, anchor the language, and create pre-understanding. Further, including all pupils was challenging, and the pupils had different expectations regarding PE. The findings suggest that inviting pupils to speak involves an embedded risk in communication, but also carries dialogical potential. In collaboration with teaching colleagues, PE teachers can support and strengthen the pupils’ literacy development. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Routledge, 2024.
Keywords [en]
Disciplinary literacy, verbal language, physical education, exploratory circus assignments, Biesta, language, circus
National Category
Didactics
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:mau:diva-66328DOI: 10.1080/13573322.2024.2318394ISI: 001169239100001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85186408547OAI: oai:DiVA.org:mau-66328DiVA, id: diva2:1844557
Available from: 2024-03-14 Created: 2024-03-14 Last updated: 2024-09-05Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Exploring ways of empowering pupils in physical education through circus: an action research project
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Exploring ways of empowering pupils in physical education through circus: an action research project
2024 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

The empowerment of children is emphasized in a variety of contexts. For example, the Convention on the Rights of the Child mandates opportunities for children to be heard and to express their opinions, and the Swedish compulsory school curriculum advocates democratic teaching methods. Despite this, research shows that children’s influence in school remains limited and that democratic ways of working are particularly lacking in physical education. Therefore, this study proposes changes to physical education. The aim of this action research project was to explore ways of empowering pupils in physical education. The study involves ten-year-old children from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, their physical education teacher, and a teacher-researcher. The study is at the intersection of three different fields in relation to physical education: influence, language, and creativity. Exploratory circus activities are used as a means to empower pupils and challenge the conventional structure of the subject. 

The study offers multiple contributions, such as practical suggestions for empowering pupils in physical education and the complex interplay between theory and practice. The findings show that physical education can serve as a platform for children to be creative, express themselves in a variety of ways, and exert influence. However, the findings reveal that empowering pupils can be a challenging process for a teacher because of prevailing norms in school, ingrained teaching habits, and both the teacher’s and pupils’ previous experiences and preconceptions of what education, and physical education in particular, entails. Finding ways to empower pupils means finding ways for teachers to share power equitably with pupils. Teaching and learning circus in physical education contributes significantly to critical thinking and acting upon how education is constructed and conducted.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Malmö: Malmö University Press, 2024. p. 90
Series
Malmö Studies in Sport Sciences, ISSN 1652-3180 ; 47
Keywords
Children’s empowerment, physical education, circus, exploration of movement, creativity, influence, disciplinary literacy, verbal language, Biesta, Hart’s Ladder of Children’s Participation
National Category
Educational Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:mau:diva-70839 (URN)10.24834/isbn.9789178775071 (DOI)978-91-7877-506-4 (ISBN)978-91-7877-507-1 (ISBN)
Public defence
2024-09-27, Orkanen D138 Malmö University, Nordenskiöldsgatan 10, Malmö, 13:15
Opponent
Supervisors
Note

Paper I in dissertation as manuscript.

Available from: 2024-09-05 Created: 2024-09-05 Last updated: 2024-09-09Bibliographically approved

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