Examination of Turkish textbooks in terms of specific days and weeks and teacher opinions

Special days and weeks play a significant role within the education system in helping students recognize and internalize national, spiritual, and universal values. Considering that Turkish language textbooks are an effective tool not only in developing students' language skills but also in enhancing their cultural awareness. This study addresses the representation of special days and weeks in these textbooks and the challenges faced by teachers in this context. Within the scope of the research, the frequency of references to special days and weeks in Turkish textbooks, the contexts in which these days are addressed, and how these themes are conveyed to students were analysed. Additionally, how teachers incorporate these topics into their lessons, the methods they use, and the problems they encounter during this process were evaluated. The findings of the study indicate that special days and weeks are not adequately represented in Turkish language textbooks and that the existing texts are limited in conveying these themes effectively. The results of this research provide valuable insights for the development of educational policies, the improvement of curriculum and textbook preparation processes, and the enrichment of teacher training programs. Keywords: Special days and weeks, Turkish language textbooks, Teacher opinions, Cultural transmission, Values in education, Educational policies.