Analyzing the Practical Problems of Elementary School's Sixth-Grade Based on Curriculum Components Status

Implementing a new educational system and establishing the sixth-grade in elementary schools was one of the major novelties in Iranian educational system. The study of practical problems arising from the implementation of the new design should also be considered one of the most important issues. Thus, this research purpose was to investigate the pedagogical problems of the sixth-grade’s teachers and students in Sarepole Zahab, Iran. The study was a descriptive survey; its population consisted 80 teachers of sixth-grade in the academic years of 2012-2013. Research instrument was a close-response researcher-made questionnaire for teachers dealing with the practical problems. The questionnaire’s reliability and content validity were found to be desirable. Findings showed that the main problems were rooted in pedagogical content, teaching methods, assessment methods in addition to inappropriate instruction-allotted time and space. It was also revealed that problems of rural schools were more serious than those of the urban schools. Sixth-grade practical problems in mixed schools were found to be more serious than other schools.