The investigation of the attainment of leadership skill in life sciences class in terms of classroom teachers' points of view

Soner ARIK Department of Educational Sciences Graduate School of Educational Sciences, Anadolu University, Institute of Educational Sciences Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Coşkun BAYRAK The aim of this study is to investigate the attainment of leadership skill by students from classroom teachers' points of view. The participants of the study, conducted through phenomenologic method which is a qualitative research method, consist of 17 classroom teachers teaching 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades in Niğde in 2014-2015 academic year. The data, obtained by interview and observation techniques, are analyzed by descriptive and content analysis techniques. The findings of the study, discussed with reference to the subproblems, reveal the teachers do not understand the leadership skill sufficiently and define the skill constrictedly. The teachers consider the skill as an innate ability rather than a teachable skill. However, they also think that it should be included in the Life Sciences Class particularly. Teachers determine classroom rules together with the students and use technological materials during the leadership teaching process. However, the results suggest the teachers are not competent enough in teaching the leadership skill and the students cannot attain the skill sufficiently. Teachers believe that teachers' and families' attitudes and behaviors are important in teaching leadership skill. The results of the study are discussed within the related literature. Keywords: Leadership skill, Life sciences teaching program, Primary school, Classroom teacher.