ERIC Number: EJ826582
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Feb
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1364-436X
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Evoking Children's Spirituality in the Reciprocal Relationships of a Learning Community
Sewell, Alison
International Journal of Children's Spirituality, v14 n1 p5-16 Feb 2009
Findings from my doctoral research suggest that the reciprocal relationships within a learning community can evoke and nurture children's spirituality. The study investigated the development of a community of learners in four primary school classrooms in "Aotearoa" New Zealand. A key finding of this study showed that when teachers and children learned together, shared decisions, and respected and trusted one another, changes were observed in "some" children that could not be explained in intellectual, social or emotional terms. Further analyses of these data revealed qualities that pointed to a spiritual essence. This paper presents these spiritually themed results and explores the argument that the caring, responsive and reciprocal relationships of a community of learners can provide opportunities for spiritual development. (Contains 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Classrooms, Religious Factors, Spiritual Development, Children, Elementary Education, Teacher Student Relationship, Classroom Observation Techniques
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: New Zealand
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A