Interaction in a Swedish classroom : From each according to his ability, to each according to his need

The purpose of this study was to investigate interactional patterns in the context of a fifth grade class in Sweden. It was also to investigate whether the interactional patterns of the class and their teacher was subject to any change dependent on the lesson subject, specifically mathmatics and science. The study was conducted through observations and interviews. The results of the study varied somewhat from the results of earlier studies within the same field of research. The girls of this class was more likely than the boys to initiate interaction with the teacher or other pupils. Although the real differences exist within groups of the same gender, not between them. The lesson subject did not have a big impact on the interactional patterns of the class as a whole but depending on the subjects different individuals seemed likely to initiate interaction