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The purpose of this study is to examine first-grade students' feelings and perceptions toward school in three elementary schools with different socioeconomic status levels in Turkey. This qualitatively oriented multiple case study used students' drawings and semi-structured interviews as data collection methods. The findings of the study revealed that students perceived school as a playground, a happy place, a social environment, a physical environment, a learning or an unfriendly environment. In this study, several differences and similarities with respect to students' feelings and perceptions toward school are presented and discussed based on the schools from different socioeconomic levels. Implications and recommendations for teachers and school administrators are provided to promote the design of a school environment tailored to first-graders' needs and interests.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the FATIH Project from the perspective of future mathematics teachers. Contributions to the education system derived from the project, and related problems that emerged from the implementation process, were investigated based on the prospective teachers' observations. Qualitative research methods were used in the study, and the participants were 50 prospective mathematics teachers, who were senior students from a state university in Turkey. They were selected by means of purposeful sampling among students who were completing their teaching education in the high schools where the project was being implemented. The data was collected by means of focus group interviews, observations and a questionnaire prepared by the researchers. The data was analyzed by a way of descriptive analysis. Results revealed that the participants viewed the project as an important educational reform movement. However, the participants also indicated that it did not seem possible for the project to achieve its goals.