In 2010, it was established that the Brazilian Fundamental Education System would last nine years. When this extended school period was implemented, it became evident that it was necessary to assess the perception and performance of first grade teachers of the nine-year Fundamental Education System in two schools of Curitiba/Paraná, focusing on methodological and relational classroom aspects. Four teachers participated in this study, of which two were private school teachers and two public school teachers. Data was collected from semi-structured interviews with the teachers, from their classroom log books, the researcher's log bookand according to the classroom observation protocol. Data was assessed based on the findings of the following authors: Zabalza (2004), Pozo (2002), Freire (1996), Arroyo (2004), Claxton (2005), and Soares (2007), to mention but a few. During the investigation, it was observed that public administration is concerned with providing theoretical and methodological subsidies for the teaching endeavors. Notwithstanding, it was noted that there are a great number of challenges in relation to the first grade of the Fundamental Education System, especially where the pedagogical practice of literacy and writing skills are concerned. Learning can only be significant in the formal learning environment, which is the school, insofar as the pedagogical practice is aligned with the characteristics and needs of the children, as well as supported by concepts that are conducive to child development and learning, all of which are factors that should impact the students' prior experiences.
Learning; First grade of the Fundamental Education System; Pedagogical practice