Leadership in the classroom : A qualitative study regarding five elementary school teachers´ perceptions on their leadership 

The purpose of this study has been to investigate the views of five teachers on their own leadership, and on the way they make it work in the classroom. The method was a qualitative investigation consisting of separate interviews with five elementary school teachers from three different schools in the southern part of Stockholm. The results showed that a good pedagogic leadership, successful with the pupils, can be characterised as at the same time democratic and "situation adjustable". This includes the ability to formulate the rules of conduct clearly, to take decisions and to create a good working atmosphere in the classroom, so that the pupils can feel secure, and be able to learn and develop. That however, cannot be accomplished if the teacher only maintains a negative communication, reminding the pupils of what is forbidden. A majority of the interviewed teachers emphasised the importance of positive feedback, and maintaining the work motivation of the pupils was seen as an important aspect of leadership in the classroom. A good leadership is furthermore characterised by the flexibility of the teacher in adapting to different situations and to the maturity of the pupil or group. Flexibility in adjusting the level of the lesson, and of the tasks given to the individual pupils or groups, is also an aspect of leadership. The results finally showed that the teacher should try to maintain a good personal relationship not just to the pupil but also with the parents. This makes it easier for the teacher to influence the pupils and engage them in a better performance in the classroom, scholastically as well as in terms of conduct