Chapter 5: Teaching and Learning in Preschool and the first years of Elementary School in Sweden

The transition from preschool to school is not only interesting and important in its own right, but also transition-related questions necessarily touch on a variety of broader social, political, and educational issues. With a focus on teaching and learning, this chapter discusses the transition from preschool to elementary school in Sweden at three different levels: (1) the official level, as represented by public policy and official documents; (2) the scientific level, including findings from recent studies and the specific problems that have surfaced in recent research; and (3) the practical level, including suggestions for further integrating preschool and school through developmental pedagogy, an approach grounded in research.