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The pedagogical and didactic guidance of teachers has been linked, in the relevant literature, to the school management's adoption of the model of pedagogical leadership as well as to the assurance of a series of factors that influence it. This study aims at investigating the pedagogical role of the principal in Greek primary schools. Data were collected through an anonymous questionnaire completed by 133 Greek primary school head teachers. Results show that head teachers consider that their pedagogical role has mainly to do with the pedagogical climate, psychosocial and pedagogical guidance of the school unit. Additionally, the research results show that head teachers carry out their pedagogical role cooperating and communicating mainly with the members of the educational community of the school. Another noteworthy finding of the present study is that the factors that support head teachers in their pedagogical leadership role, are hard to exist in hierarchical educational realities such as Greece. The originality of the paper draws attention to the school's socio-economic environment, which significantly influences school leadership. Conclusions on the implications of the study are made and directions for future research are suggested.

Purpose: This paper investigates the levels of career resilience and self-efficacy of the principals of primary school units, identifies the relationship between them and determines the effect of the demographic elements of the sample on their career resilience and self-efficacy. Design/methodology/approach: The convenient sample of this study was 165 principals from public schools across the prefecture of Central Macedonia. A total of 422 questionnaires were mailed to all principals of kindergarten and elementary schools, accompanied by a personal letter to inform them about the procedure and the purpose of the survey. A pilot survey took place to check the adequacy of and get feedback on the questionnaire. The questionnaire used in the study consisted of three parts: The Career Resilience Scale (CRS) by Kodama (2015), the Principal Self-Efficacy Scale (PSES) by Tschannen-Moran and Gareis (2004) and demographic questions. Findings: The results of the survey showed that principals have high levels of career resilience and very high levels of self-efficacy. There are four factors that form the levels of career resilience: (a) problem-solving skills (b) social skills (c) interest in innovation and (d) optimism for the future. Demographic factors play a role in shaping career resilience as they affect two of the four factors. There are two factors that shape levels of self-efficacy: (a) self-efficiency in administration and (b) self-efficiency in moral leadership. Demographic factors play a role in shaping the factor of self-efficacy that refers to administration. Finally, there was a high positive correlation and a causal relationship between career resilience and self-efficacy. Research limitations/implications: The convenient sample used in the present study is a limiting factor, as it may not be representative of Greek primary school principals. Also, research is based on self-evaluation questionnaires, which may show a lack of objectivity, as the answers may reflect the personal worldviews of leaders and particular needs of educational institutions (Sarid, 2021). This fact may not allow us to generalize the results. Practical implications: The present study showed that resilience and self-efficacy have a causal relationship and that one enhances another, making their relation pivotal for a successful educational leadership. Regarding the professional development of school leaders, educational leadership training programs could be designed and offered by the Greek Ministry of Education (Dexter et al., 2020). Coaching programs and practices that help principals develop social skills, coping mechanisms, emotional capacities and confidence in one's knowledge should be widely introduced. Governments have to take the necessary initiative to ensure that, particularly in adverse contexts, education stimulate and nurture resilience and self-efficacy among citizens, by promoting appropriate lifelong learning programs and by ensuring the continuous training of employees (Renko et al., 2020). Social implications: Career resilience and self-efficacy ensures economic prosperity in times of crisis, globalization and rapid technology development and may be the best way to create strong and successful leaders. Coaching programs and practices that help principals develop social skills, coping mechanisms, emotional capacities and confidence in one's knowledge should be widely introduced. The results of the present research could prove helpful in developing strategic plans, building networks between organizations to improve communication and flow of information, through employee exchange programs. Originality/value: This research, which combined career resilience and self-efficacy, took place for the first time in Greece. The CRS by Kodama (2015) was also used for the first time in Greek population.

This paper provides an in-depth exploration of the historical factors shaping Greek elementary education and the contemporary pedagogical approaches and curriculum implemented in Greek elementary schools. Beginning with a historical analysis, the paper examines influential factors and developments spanning ancient times to the present day, including the legacy of ancient Greek education, Byzantine educational traditions, and modern educational reforms. By synthesizing historical insights with contemporary educational practices, this paper offers a holistic understanding of Greek elementary education. It underscores the enduring influence of historical legacies on present-day educational philosophies and methodologies while highlighting the innovative approaches adopted to meet the needs of modern learners. Ultimately, this comprehensive overview aims to contribute to scholarly discourse and inform ongoing efforts to enhance elementary education in Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the ways in which preschool children represent the spaces of their daily lives. It is based on the analysis of photographs taken by pupils from two kindergartens located in non‐privileged neighbourhoods of Athens. The children photographed the spaces where they live and move, and talked about their photos. The analysis maps these spaces and explores the social parameters (social class, ethnicity) that shape the children's relationship with private and public space. Thus, photographs become tools that provide a deeper understanding of the children's social worlds and highlight the importance of the social spaces where their practices and experiences are shaped. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teacher hiring is often a dysfunctional time-consuming bureaucratic procedure, which is not always completed on time due to organisational impediments, budget cuts and slow-moving political processes. Specifically, late hiring has been reported to affect negatively teachers' as well as students' performance. This study examined the extent of late hiring in parallel support, which is a Greek institution aiming to support students with disabilities and special education needs within the mainstream classroom. Actually, this paper examined the number of parallel support teachers in Greek primary and secondary education who were hired on time as well as the percentage of recruitment per hiring phase during the school years 2018--2019 and 2019--2020. Results indicated high percentages of late hiring in this institution for both educational levels lead to the suggestion that the Greek State virtually divided the students into two categories; the 'privileged' who were supported from the start and the 'non-privileged' who were belatedly supported. The researchers conclude that policies in Greece concerning hiring of parallel support teachers need fundamental changes in organisation and funding, in order to serve the students' needs and signalise a strike against ableism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to give an overview of teachers' library use in northwestern Greece. A questionnaire was distributed and filled in by 221 teachers (117 of upper elementary education and 104 of secondary) and was reinforced by interviews with 35 teachers. Teachers of elementary and secondary education supported that a school library with a plethora of appealing books and other resources can contribute greatly to the promotion of a culture of reading in contemporary school. A significant difference was observed between high-school teachers and upper elementary teachers with respect to the function of their school library. Further, elementary school libraries in one prefecture of Greece (Kastoria), compared to another (Ioannina), were found to be more functional, indicating that teachers' interest for enriching their school library, as well as their enthusiasm, effort, and commitment in the school library can help children make more use of it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study contributes to the development of effective measures to evaluate classroom climate, especially in elementary education where these remain limited. In addition, it addresses a typical "flaw" of several studies by approaching classroom climate as a group-level construct rather than an individual characteristic. Following a multilevel approach, we attempted to establish validity evidence for an adapted version of the Classroom Behavioral Climate (CBC) questionnaire and examine its equivalence across two contexts. The participants included 2963 students from 176 fourth and fifth grade classes. Multilevel Confirmatory Factor Analyses resulted in a shorter version of the CBC with three correlated factors in both countries. Two-level models performed better than the single-level models. Configural, metric, and partial scalar invariance was also achieved. The study highlights the need for researchers and practitioners to use appropriate methods and instruments to evaluate the classroom environment based on their research aims and intended use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The children's fairytale is a playful educational tool that can be modified in such a way to enhance motor proficiency. This study investigated the effect of an online exercise program with modified fairytales on children's motor proficiency during the kindergarten curriculum. Forty preschool children (20 girls and 20 boys; 5.13 ± 0.24 years old) were divided into two equal groups: an intervention (IG) group and a control group (CG). The IG followed a 3-month (3 times/week) online exercise intervention program (supervised by the class's kindergarten teacher) with modified children's fairytales, during the COVID-19 pandemic, with an aim to improve their motor proficiency. The CG did not attend any exercise intervention program. The Democritos Movement Screening Tool for Preschool Children (DEMOST-PRE), consisting of ten tests, was used to assess the children's motor proficiency. Τhe IG, after the end of the intervention program, significantly improved in the DEMOST-PRE total score (p < 0.001; mean change: 40.7%), while the CG did not significantly improve in the total score (p > 0.05). Furthermore, in the IG, a significant negative correlation between the pre-training DEMOST-PRE total score and the percentage change following the intervention (r = −0.64; p = 0.002) was observed. A modified exercise program using children's fairytales may be incorporated into the kindergarten curriculum as an effective educational tool for the improvement of motor proficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To understand the role of primary school teachers in Greece in managing type 1 diabetes in school children • To read about a study that examined Greek primary school teachers' knowledge of and attitudes to managing type 1 diabetes • To appreciate that strengthening primary school teachers' knowledge of chronic conditions would enhance the safety, quality of life and academic achievements of school children with type 1 diabetes Background: Type 1 diabetes has negative effects on children with the condition, including reduced ability to engage in learning. Primary school teachers have an important role in supporting school children with type 1 diabetes, but the literature on teachers' knowledge, perceptions and attitudes regarding the condition is limited. Aim: To explore the knowledge of type 1 diabetes and the perceptions of, and attitudes towards, the management of type 1 diabetes in schools among primary school teachers in Greece. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was used with a sample of 157 education professionals working in primary schools in the Attica region of Greece. Data were collected via an anonymous online questionnaire. Results: One third of respondents (n=48, 31%) had insufficient knowledge of type 1 diabetes, two thirds of respondents (n=106, 68%) had basic knowledge and very few respondents (n=3, 2%) had sufficient knowledge. Respondents generally had favourable attitudes towards the management of type 1 diabetes in school. Most were in favour of the recruitment of school nurses and were interested in attending training on type 1 diabetes. Conclusion: Strengthening primary school teachers' knowledge of chronic conditions and recruiting healthcare professionals to work in schools would likely enhance the safety, quality of life and academic achievements of school children with type 1 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates involvement in cyberbullying and empathy skills, as well as the relationship between the two among general education sixth grade elementary school students with and without special educational needs (SEN). Specifically, 120 students with SEN (Autistic Spectrum Disorder‐ASD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder‐ADHD, learning disabilities) and 120 students without SEN from 29 randomly selected schools of the second biggest city in Greece completed a self‐report questionnaire, which included a short version of the "Cyberbullying Questionnaire" (Smith et al., An investigation into cyber bullying, its forms, awareness and impact, and the relationship between age and gender in cyber bullying. A report to the Anti‐Bullying Alliance. Unit for School and Family Studies, 2006) and the "Basic Empathy Scale"—BES (Jolliffe & Farrington, 2006, J Adolesc, 29:589, 2006). The results showed that, regardless of gender, involvement in cyberbullying (as victims/bullies) concerned primarily students with SEN, mainly those with ASD and ADHD. Accordingly, students with SEN and mostly those with ASD expressed lower affective and cognitive empathy compared to the rest of the students. Finally, for all the participating students both affective and cognitive empathy negatively predicted engagement in cyberbullying (as victims/bullies). Implications for preventive actions in elementary education, and especially for children with SEN, are discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive research has been conducted on teachers' classroom practices, particularly instructional and behavior management practices that are linked to students' learning. However, research on teaching practices in Greece is very limited due to the unavailability of valid, and reliable assessments. To support teachers' evaluation and professional development in Greece, valid assessments that measure teachers' classroom practice and capture teachers' strengths, and areas in need of improvement are urgently needed. The current study presents the Greek translation and initial validation of the Classroom Strategy Assessment System (CSAS), a multi-rater, multi-source observational assessment of teachers' evidence-based instructional and behavior management strategies. Trained school administrators observed 31 elementary school teachers (age range of students 6–12 years), three times each for 30 minutes in Greek Language Arts and mathematics lessons. Internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and interobserver reliability of the translated Greek CSAS were examined. Results revealed strong internal consistency, adequate test-retest, and interobserver reliability, and support the use of the CSAS in Greek classrooms. Overall, findings indicate that Greek teachers were rated as utilizing evidence-based classroom practices, but rates for some practices were lower than recommended by the literature. Implications for research and professional development are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STEM education is of paramount importance, especially in the lower levels of education, and it has been proven beneficial for students in many ways. Although there are various tools available, there are significant drawbacks mainly related to the cost and the ease of use. In this study, we introduce a new low-cost educational framework oriented toward elementary and secondary educational needs. The proposed system exploits open tools and low-cost devices. The system's core is based on the popular Arduino microcontroller, a low-cost device supported by a large community. The overall system was designed and developed, providing an expandable, modular system of low complexity suitable for students with no or low prior knowledge in related subjects, among others, to programming, embedded devices, sensors and actuators, as well as robotics. Our scope was to provide a system with a small learning curve. Practically, this makes it possible in a short amount of time for the students to perform appealing yet straightforward tasks which will boost their self-confidence and creativity, improve their technical skills and simultaneously provide a system with several capabilities usable in different kinds of projects. The introduced system was tested through a preliminary study using flow theory in a team of 68 students of the three last grades in an elementary school in Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]