Journal of Qualitative Research in Education, cilt.32, ss.33-70, 2022 (ESCI)
This research aimed to determine the subjects that sixth-grade students have learning problems, the reasons for the problems, and the suggestions for the solution to the problems. The convergent parallel design was adopted in the study. In the 2016-2017 academic year, 1959 sixth-grade students in Erzurum and 141 science teachers who teach at this grade level were studied. The data were collected through the "Identifying Learning Problems" and "Teacher Determining Learning Problems Opinion" questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were used in the analysis of quantitative data, and content analysis was used in the analysis of qualitative data. It was determined that the students experienced the problems in Curriculum System and Force and Motion subjects, learning difficulties, low motivation, increased anxiety, and non-persistent knowledge. It was concluded that this is because the subject is difficult, memorization, confusing concepts, the class/topic is boring, they are stressed, they are not allowed to learn on their own, the teachers themselves explain the subject, and there are not enough activities. It can be suggested that the lessons aimed at solving the learning problems experienced by students are taught with games, creating fun learning environments, simplifying the subject, and having more communication between students and teachers.