Search results for "Early reading"

Contextual analysis of home environment factors influencing the acquisition of early reading skills in Zambian families

2014

This study examined the effect of home environment factors in the acquisition of early reading skills (orthographic awareness and decoding competence). To assess these factors, a sample of seventy-two (72) first grade learners (females = 55%; age range = 7–8 years) and their maternal parents (age range 26–61 years old) from low SES in Zambia's capital city, Lusaka were recruited. Parents, in response to a home literacy questionnaire, reported on their attitudes towards reading, literacy teaching in the home, the home literacy environment, presence of reading materials for adults and children, parental education, occupation, family size and family possessions. Two measures of reading skill w…

The Role of Family on Pathways to Acquiring Early Reading Skills In Lusaka’s Low-Income Communities

2014

This paper reports findings from the study that examined the role of family in children’s acquisition of early reading skills. We recruited 72 first-grade learners and their parents from low-income Zambian families for the study. In response to a home literacy questionnaire, parents reported on their reading attitudes and family literacy environment. Children’s early reading skills were assessed using two early reading tests (orthographic awareness and decoding competence), both conducted at two different points during the year. Regression analyses of pretest and gain scores revealed that parental reading attitude and family literacy environment significantly predicted early reading skills.…

The acquisition of early reading skills : the influence of the home environment in Lusaka, Zambia

2014

Embedding Preschool Assessment Methods into Digital Learning Games to Predict Early Reading Skills

2017

The aim of this pilot study was to explore the predictive accuracy of computer-based assessment tasks (embedded within the GraphoLearn digital learning game platform) in identifying slow and normal readers. The results were compared to those obtained from the traditional paper-and-pencil tasks currently used to assess school readiness in Finland. The data were derived from a cohort of preschool-age children (mean age 6.7 years, N = 57) from a town in central Finland. A year later, at the end of first grade, participants were categorized as either slow (n = 11) or normal readers (n = 46) based on their reading scores. Logistic regression analyses indicated that computer tasks were as efficie…

Does early reading instruction promote the rate of acquisition? A comparison of two transparent orthographies

2015

Abstract This study examines the development of children's reading skills in two transparent orthographies, Estonian and Finnish. Formal reading instruction begins one year earlier in Estonia than in Finland; thus, it was expected that Estonian children would outperform their Finnish peers in reading achievement during grade 1. In this study, 433 Estonian and 353 Finnish first graders were assessed for letter knowledge, phoneme awareness, and reading accuracy and fluency at the beginning of first grade while reading fluency and reading comprehension were assessed in the final semester of first grade. The results showed that, despite Estonian children's better reading skills at the beginning…

Teachers’ Ability to Identify Children at Early Risk for Reading Difficulties in Grade 1

2017

The aim of the study was to investigate what kinds of assessment practices classroom teachers and special educational needs (SEN) teachers use in assessing first grade students' pre-reading skills (letter knowledge and phonological skills). Further, we investigated to what extent teachers were able to identify difficulties in pre-reading skills of the children with the lowest achievement scores. The accuracy of teacher ratings of students' pre-reading skills was studied by comparing teacher ratings to actual test scores. The data from two Finnish longitudinal studies were used: JLD sample (class teachers, n = 91; SEN teachers, n = 51; 200 students) and First Steps sample (class teachers, n …

Using Talking Books to Support Early Reading Development

2009

This chapter explores the question of how interactive multimedia talking books can promote young children’s literacy development. Whilst commercially available talking books can motivate young children to read, there is little evidence that they are linked to the development of skills known to promote reading itself. The ‘Bangers and Mash’ talking books (Chera, 2000), were designed to address this issue, and we review studies that evaluated their effectiveness as classroom resources that could promote reading-related skills and abilities. We then consider the various barriers to collaborative learning in Early Years classrooms, and describe how resources like talking books could address som…