Investigation of First Grade Students Feelings towards and Perceptions of School: A Phenomenological Study

Abstract

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.