DOCSLIB.ORG

Exploring the Teaching of Grade 1–3 English Spelling Using the Sound Reading System: a Case of a Namibian Primary School

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Exploring the Teaching of Grade 1–3 English Spelling Using the Sound Reading System: a Case of a Namibian Primary School Exploring the teaching of Grade 1–3 English spelling using the Sound Reading System: A case of a Namibian primary school by JESSICA MARY-ANN JANSEN submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF EDUCATION in the subject CURRICULUM STUDIES at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA SUPERVISOR: PROFESSOR M.G. NGOEPE JANUARY 2017 DECLARATION I Jessica Mary-Ann Jansen, student number 36576158, declare that, “Exploring the teaching of Grade 1–3 English spelling using the Sound Reading System: A case of a Namibian primary school” is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. Signed: Jessica Mary-Ann Jansen 5 January 2017 i DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my mother, Rita Zaahl, and my two daughters, Amber and Aimeè, for their love, patience and support. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS • God Almighty, thank you for giving me life, and the strength and courage to complete my research. You deserve all the praise and glory. • Professor M.G. Ngoepe, my supervisor, for your guidance, patience and valuable advice during every stage of this study. • My mother and my two daughters for believing in me. iii DEFINITION OF TERMS Alphabet code: A writing system based on phonemes (sounds); symbols are assigned to each sound using a letter or combination of letters. These represent the code. Transparent alphabet code: An alphabetic writing system in which there is rarely more than one spelling for the same sound. Opaque alphabet code: An alphabetic writing system in which there are multiple spellings for the same sound. Consonant blend or consonant cluster: Two or more consonants in sequence in a word, for example str in street. Phoneme awareness: The ability to hear and remember the order of phonemes in words. Schwa vowel: Term for a ‘squashed’ vowel sound, e.g. basket/baskit. May sound like a swallowed ‘uh’ sound. Only words with two or more syllables may have a schwa. It ‘happens’ in the second or third syllable woman/womun. Phonics: A method of teaching reading based on the sounds of letters, groups of letters, and syllables. Phonetic: Speech sounds in words. Synthetic phonics: Teaches from the sounds (phonemes) to the graphemes (letters). Segmenting: Identifying each sound in a word by ‘sounding out’. Blending: Pushing/merging the individual sounds back again to make/pronounce the word. Sight words: Printed words that children are asked to memorise visually as a string of letters or as a shape. iv ABSTRACT Exploring the teaching of Grade 1 – 3 English spelling using the Sound Reading System: A case of a Namibian primary school Spelling is crucial for literacy development in children and therefore needs to be taught effectively during the primary grades. A plethora of studies on spelling instruction have been carried out to shed light on the importance of applying scientifically based methods. This study investigated the implementation of the Sound Reading System (SRS) for teaching spelling in Grades 1, 2 and 3 in Namibia – a country where English is mostly acquired as a taught subject. A qualitative design was used to examine the application of the SRS in whole-class instruction in the Erongo region of Namibia. Using observations, interviews and document analysis, data was obtained from one school where the SRS was used to teach spelling. Three teachers were observed and subsequently interviewed on the teaching of English spelling. The findings revealed that, after using the SRS, teachers felt their own alphabetic knowledge had improved and their approach to teaching spelling had changed, leading to an awareness of what meaningful spelling activities entail. They felt that the methodology had provided a systematic approach to their teaching. The teachers were convinced that there is a link between spelling and reading and the methodology provided an opportunity to teach these skills simultaneously. In terms of the SRS, an integrated approach is applied whereby the target sound becomes the focal point of language development to provide an opportunity for skill transfer. However, the teachers found it challenging to slot in all the activities in a timetable that does not cater specifically for spelling. Another challenge perceived by the teachers was the effective teaching of sight words. This study recommends teamwork between teachers and parents to ensure that all SRS activities are completed successfully at home. Furthermore, it emphasises the importance of applying scientific methods in classroom practice. It further suggests that teaching the full range of spellings in the SRS be continued in Grades 4 and 5 to reinforce a deeper understanding of English orthography. Lastly, it is suggested that higher institutions link teacher training to curricular outcomes. v Key concepts: Alphabet code, spelling, spelling instruction, phonemic awareness, phonemes, phonics, link between spelling and reading, systematic phonics, English orthography vi Table of contents DECLARATION ..................................................................................................................................................... i DEDICATION ....................................................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................................................... iii DEFINITION OF TERMS .................................................................................................................................... iv ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................................................... v Table of contents .................................................................................................................................................. vii List of figures ......................................................................................................................................................... x List of tables ........................................................................................................................................................... x CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................. 1 1.2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM ............................................................................................... 4 1.3. AIM OF THE STUDY ..................................................................................................................... 4 1.4. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY ..................................................................................................... 5 1.5. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY ................................................................................................. 5 1.6. THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY .................................................................................................. 5 1.7. DEMARCATION ............................................................................................................................ 6 1.8. CLARIFICATION OF CONCEPTS ................................................................................................ 6 1.9. RESEARCH OUTLINE ................................................................................................................... 8 1.10. DELIMITATIONS ........................................................................................................................... 8 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................................................... 10 2.1. EXPLORING THE TEACHING OF SPELLING IN GRADES 1, 2 AND 3 ................................ 10 2.1.1. Definition of spelling ..................................................................................................................... 11 2.1.2. Historical perspectives on English spelling .................................................................................... 12 2.1.3. Phases of spelling ........................................................................................................................... 12 2.1.4. Characteristics of effective spelling practices ................................................................................ 13 2.2. SPELLING METHODOLOGIES .................................................................................................. 15 2.3. EXPLORING THE SOUND READING SYSTEM AS A METHODOLOGY FOR TEACHING ENGLISH SPELLING ............................................................................................. 18 2.3.1. The definition of Sound Reading System....................................................................................... 18 2.3.2. The development of the Sound Reading System ............................................................................ 19 2.3.3. Characteristics of the Sound Reading System ................................................................................ 20 2.3.4. Criticism of synthetic phonics ........................................................................................................ 21 2.4. THE THRASS METHODOLOGY AS A METHOD FOR TEACHING READING
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Beginning Reading: Influences on Policy in the United
    BEGINNING READING: INFLUENCES ON POLICY IN THE UNITED STATES AND ENGLAND 1998-2010 A Dissertation Submitted to the College of Education of Aurora University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education by Elizabeth Robins April 2010 Beginning Reading: Influences on Policy in the United States and England 1998-2010 by Elizabeth Robins [email protected] Committee members: Ronald Banaszak, Chair Carla Brown, Member Deborah Brotcke, Member Abstract The study investigated the divergence in beginning reading methods between the United States (US) and England from 1998 to 2010. Researchers, policy makers, and publishers were interviewed to explore their knowledge and perceptions concerning how literacy policy was determined. The first three of twelve findings showed that despite the challenges inherent in the political sphere, both governments were driven by low literacy rates to seek greater involvement in literacy education. The intervention was determined by its structure: a central parliamentary system in England, and a federal system of state rights in the US. Three further research-related findings revealed the uneasy relationship existing between policy makers and researchers. Political expediency, the speed of decision making and ideology i also helped shape literacy policy. Secondly, research is viewed differently in each nation. Peer- reviewed, scientifically-based research supporting systematic phonics prevailed in the US, whereas in England additional and more eclectic sources were also included. Thirdly, research showed that educator training in beginning reading was more pervasive and effective in England than the US. English stakeholders proved more knowledgeable about research in the US, whereas little is known about the synthetic phonics approach currently used in England.
    [Show full text]
  • Janet and John: Here We Go Free Download
    JANET AND JOHN: HERE WE GO FREE DOWNLOAD Mabel O'Donnell,Rona Munro | 40 pages | 03 Sep 2007 | Summersdale Publishers | 9781840246131 | English | Chichester, United Kingdom Janet and John Series Toral Taank rated it it was amazing Nov 29, All of our paper waste is recycled and turned into corrugated cardboard. Doesn't post to Germany See details. Visit my eBay shop. Help Learn to edit Community portal Recent changes Upload file. Shelves: beginner-readersfemale-author-or- illustrator. Hardcover40 pages. Reminiscing Read these as a child, Janet and John: Here We Go use with my Grandbabies X Previous image. Books by Mabel O'Donnell. No doubt, Janet and John: Here We Go critics will carp at the daringly minimalist plot and character de In a recent threadsome people stated their objections to literature which fails in its duty to be gender-balanced. Please enter a number less than or equal to Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Watch this item Unwatch. Novels portal Children's literature portal. Janet and John: Here We Go O'Donnell and Rona Munro. Ronne Randall. Learning to read. Inas part of a trend in publishing nostalgic facsimiles of old favourites, Summersdale Publishers reissued two of the original Janet and John books, Here We Go and Off to Play. Analytical phonics Basal reader Guided reading Independent reading Literature circle Phonics Reciprocal teaching Structured word inquiry Synthetic phonics Whole language. We offer great value books on a wide range of subjects and we have grown steadily to become one of the UK's leading retailers of second-hand books.
    [Show full text]
  • The End of Illiteracy?
    The End of Illiteracy? The Holy Grail of Clackmannanshire TOM BURKARD CENTRE FOR POLICY STUDIES 57 Tufton Street London SW1P 3QL 1999 THE AUTHOR Tom Burkard is the Secretary of the Promethean Trust and has published several articles on how children learn to read. He contributed to the 1997 Daily Telegraph Schools Guide, and is a member of the NASUWT. His main academic interest is the interface between reading theory and classroom practice. His own remedial programme, recently featured in the Dyslexia Review, achieved outstanding results at Costessey High School in Norwich. His last Centre for Policy Study pamphlet, Reading Fever: Why phonics must come first (written with Martin Turner in 1996) proved instrumental in determining important issues in the National Curriculum for teacher training colleges. Acknowledgements Support towards research for this Study was given by the Institute for Policy Research. The Centre for Policy Studies never expresses a corporate view in any of its publications. Contributions are chosen for their independence of thought and cogency of argument. ISBN No. 1 897969 87 2 Centre for Policy Studies, March 1999 Printed by The Chameleon Press, 5 - 25 Burr Road, London SW18 CONTENTS Summary 1. Introduction 1 2. A brief history of the ‘reading wars’ 4 3. A comparison of analytic and synthetic phonics 9 4. Problems with the National Literacy Strategy 12 5. The success of synthetic phonics 17 6. Introducing synthetic phonics into the classroom 20 7. Recommendations 22 Appendix A: Problems with SATs 25 Appendix B: A summary of recent research on analytic phonics 27 Appendix C: Research on the effectiveness of synthetic phonics 32 SUMMARY The Government’s recognition of the gravity of the problem of illiteracy in Britain is welcome.
    [Show full text]
  • Teaching Children to Read
    House of Commons Education and Skills Committee Teaching Children to Read Eighth Report of Session 2004–05 Report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence Ordered by The House of Commons to be printed 21 March 2005 HC 121 Incorporating HC 1269–i from Session 2003-04 Published on 7 April 2005 by authority of the House of Commons London: The Stationery Office Limited £22.00 The Education and Skills Committee The Education and Skills Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Department for Education and Skills and its associated public bodies. Current membership Mr Barry Sheerman MP (Labour, Huddersfield) (Chairman) Mr David Chaytor MP (Labour, Bury North) Valerie Davey MP (Labour, Bristol West) Jeff Ennis MP (Labour, Barnsley East & Mexborough) Mr Nick Gibb MP (Conservative, Bognor Regis & Littlehampton) Mr John Greenway MP (Conservative, Ryedale) Paul Holmes MP (Liberal Democrat, Chesterfield) Helen Jones MP (Labour, Warrington North) Mr Kerry Pollard MP (Labour, St Albans) Jonathan Shaw MP (Labour, Chatham and Aylesford) Mr Andrew Turner MP (Conservative, Isle of Wight) Powers The Committee is one of the departmental select committees, the powers of which are set out in House of Commons Standing Orders, principally in SO No 152. These are available on the Internet via www.parliament.uk Publications The Reports and evidence of the Committee are published by The Stationery Office by Order of the House. All publications of the Committee (including press notices) are on the Internet at: www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/education_and_skills_committee.cfm Committee staff The current staff of the Committee are David Lloyd (Clerk), Dr Sue Griffiths (Second Clerk), Libby Aston (Committee Specialist), Nerys Roberts (Committee Specialist), Lisa Wrobel (Committee Assistant), Susan Monaghan (Committee Assistant), Catherine Jackson (Secretary) and John Kittle (Senior Office Clerk).
    [Show full text]
  • The Description and Development of the Initial Teaching Alphabet
    Eastern Illinois University The Keep Plan B Papers Student Theses & Publications 1-1-1967 The Description and Development of the Initial Teaching Alphabet Edith Lorain Tyler Follow this and additional works at: https://thekeep.eiu.edu/plan_b Recommended Citation Tyler, Edith Lorain, "The Description and Development of the Initial Teaching Alphabet" (1967). Plan B Papers. 550. https://thekeep.eiu.edu/plan_b/550 This Dissertation/Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Theses & Publications at The Keep. It has been accepted for inclusion in Plan B Papers by an authorized administrator of The Keep. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE DESCRIPTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE INITIAL TEACHING ALPHABET (TITLE) BY EDITH LORAIN TYLER B.S. In Ed., Eastern Illinois University, 1965 PLAN B PAPER SUBMITIED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION AND PREPARED IN COURSE Education 528 IN THE GRADUATE SCHOOL, EASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY, CHARLESTON, ILLINOIS 1966-67 YEAR I HEREBY RECOMMEND THIS PLAN B PAPER BE ACCEPTED AS FULFILLING THIS PART OF THE DEGREE, M.S. IN ED. - ~ b -12- C:.7 DATE TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • I Chapter I • IRREGULARITIES IN TRADITIONAL ORTHOGRAPHY (t.o.) • • . 4 ti. THE INITIAL TEACHING ALPHABET Ci.t.a.) • • • • • • • • • 6 Historic Origin and Development General Description Fundamental Differences from t.o. I I I. DIFFERING APPROACHES TO l.t.a. INSTRUCTION • • • •••• 13 Use of Existing t.o. Basal Readers Use of Specially Designed i .t.a. Basal Readers IV. READING: EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES AND RESULTS • • • • • • • 15 British Pilot Study Second British Study Bethlehem-Lehigh, Pennsylvania Project Other American Studies V.
    [Show full text]
  • Current Issues in Reading; Proceedings of the Annual Convention of the International Reading Association (13Th, Boston, April 1968), Volume 13, Part 2
    DOCUMENT RESUME ED 076 947 CS 000 519 AUTHOR Smith, Nila Banton, Ed. TITLE Current Issues in Reading; Proceedings of the Annual Convention of the International Reading Association (13th, Boston, April 1968), Volume 13, Part 2. INSTITUTION International Reading Association, Newark, Del. PUB DATE 69 NOTE 494p. AVAILABLE FROM International Reading Assn., Six Tyre Ave., Newark, Del. 19711 (Order No. 422, $3.50 non-member, $3.00 member) EDRS PRICE MF -$0.65 BC-$16.45 DESCRIPTORS Basic Reading; *Conference Reports; Content Readi:fT Disadvantaged Youth; Dyslexia; Individualized Reading; Initial Teaching Alphabet; Learning Modalities; Programed Instruction; *Reading; Reading Comprehension; *Reading Instruction; *Reading Research; Reading Skills; Remedial Reading; Teacher Education; Ungraded Schools ABSTRACT The manuscripts resulting from the seventeen different current issues in reading that were discussed at the thirteenth Annual International Reading Association Convention in Boston in 1968 are published in this volume. The topics include reading research, content area reading, speed reading, comprehension, reading skill sequence, reading instruction for the disadvantaged, visual and auditory modalities, prograiid instruction, dyslexia, teacher preparation,_ theories of remedial reading, and several specific methods of reading instruction. For each issue an objective paper that discusses the topic and presents research in regard to it, a pro paper that provides arguments and research in favor of the topic, and a con paper that offers limitations
    [Show full text]
  • Gaper Presented at the Annual Meeting of the United,Kingdo Reading.Association (78Th, Edinburgh, Scotland, July 27.31, 1981)
    $1; . S. DOCUMENT RESUME, ED 207 023 C5.006 271 AUTHOR Anderson, Jonathan TITLE The Challenges of the Multicultural Classroom. a ,PUB DATE Jul 81 40TE 14p.; gaper presented at the Annual Meeting of the United,Kingdo Reading.Association (78th, Edinburgh, Scotland, July 27.31, 1981). EDES PRICE MF01/PC0f,Pips Postage. DESCRIPTORS Cloze Prodedure; *Cultural Differences; Elementary Secondary Education; *English (Second-Language); Evaluation Methods; Foreign Countries; Instructional Materials; *Literacy; *Multicultural Education; , Readability Formulas; *Reading Instruction; *Reading Materials; Second Language Instruction; Second Languages . IDENTIFIERS - *Australia ABSTRACT The multicultural pattern in recent Australian immigration poses, a pressing,issue for reading instruction. Students coming from homes, where onlYwEnglish is spoken, or English and a Northern European language are spoken, perform.better on reading tests than do students from homes where other languages are spoken. There is also little reflection among the homogeneous teachers of the cultural diversity ot their students, and this mismata between teacheremand students is perpetuated by reading curriculum materials. There are, however, several promising. developments in the assessment of reading compzeheneion and linguistic competence of . English-as,a-pecond-language (ESL) andeigrant students. The Cl ze ,\ Reading Comprehension Test uses a modified for of cloze p e. and--rather than cuipare ESL students with a standardize group of peers--compares them against -a high Zpvel of readihg costence, measuring how far readers have yet to go for reading competence.: 4" "Origins" language/histoty kitr designeUto aid,language dOelopment in non - English. background students while introducing them- to Australian history. Australian reading books have recently been published:in several different languages (Greek, Turkish, Italian) to increase literacy.
    [Show full text]
  • The Politics of the Teaching of Reading
    Prospects DOI 10.1007/s11125-017-9415-8 OPEN FILE The politics of the teaching of reading Janet Soler1 Ó The Author(s) 2017. This article is an open access publication. Abstract Historically, political debates have broken out over how to teach reading in primary schools and infant classrooms. These debates and ‘‘reading wars’’ have often resulted from public concerns and media reportage of a fall in reading standards. They also reflect the importance placed on learning to read by parents, teachers, employers, and politicians. Public and media-driven controversies over the teaching of reading have resulted in intense public and professional debates over which specific methods and materials to use with beginning readers and with children who have reading difficulties. Recently, such debates have led to a renewed emphasis on reading proficiency and ‘‘standardized’’ approaches to teaching reading and engaging with literacy. The universal acceptance of the importance of learning to read has also led to vested interests in specific methods, reading programmes, and early literacy assessments amongst professional, business, commercial, and parental lobbying groups. This article traces these debates and the resulting growing support for a quantitative reductionist approach to early-reading programmes. Keywords Reading debates Á Reading policy Á Reading programmes Á Teaching of reading Political debates over the ‘‘correct’’ and the ‘‘best’’ method to teach reading during the early stages of learning to read in primary schools and infant classrooms have periodically surfaced since the beginning of compulsory education in Western countries. These debates and ‘‘reading wars’’ have often occurred in conjunction with serious public concerns over & Janet Soler [email protected] 1 School of Education, Childhood, Youth and Sport Education, The Open University, Walton Hall, Kents Hill, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK 123 J.
    [Show full text]
  • The Politics of the Teaching of Reading
    Open Research Online The Open University’s repository of research publications and other research outputs The politics of the teaching of reading Journal Item How to cite: Soler, Janet (2016). The politics of the teaching of reading. PROSPECTS, 46(3-4) pp. 423–433. For guidance on citations see FAQs. c 2017 The Author(s) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Version: Version of Record Link(s) to article on publisher’s website: http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1007/s11125-017-9415-8 Copyright and Moral Rights for the articles on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyright owners. For more information on Open Research Online’s data policy on reuse of materials please consult the policies page. oro.open.ac.uk Prospects (2016) 46:423–433 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11125-017-9415-8 OPEN FILE The politics of the teaching of reading Janet Soler1 Published online: 11 November 2017 Ó The Author(s) 2017. This article is an open access publication Abstract Historically, political debates have broken out over how to teach reading in primary schools and infant classrooms. These debates and ‘‘reading wars’’ have often resulted from public concerns and media reportage of a fall in reading standards. They also reflect the importance placed on learning to read by parents, teachers, employers, and politicians. Public and media-driven controversies over the teaching of reading have resulted in intense public and professional debates over which specific methods and materials to use with beginning readers and with children who have reading difficulties.
    [Show full text]
  • Janet and John: Here We Go Free
    FREE JANET AND JOHN: HERE WE GO PDF Mabel O'Donnell,Rona Munro | 40 pages | 03 Sep 2007 | Summersdale Publishers | 9781840246131 | English | Chichester, United Kingdom Janet and John Series by Mabel O'Donnell Unfortunately we are currently unable to provide combined shipping rates. It has a LDPE 04 logo on it, which means that it can be recycled with other soft plastic such as carrier bags. We encourage you to recycle the packaging from your World of Books purchase. If ordering within the UK please allow the maximum 10 business days before Janet and John: Here We Go us with regards to delivery, once this has passed please get in touch with us so that we can help you. We are committed to ensuring each customer is entirely satisfied with their puchase and our service. If you have any issues or concerns please contact our customer service team and they will be more than happy to help. World of Books Ltd was founded inrecycling books sold to us through charities either directly or indirectly. We offer great value books on a wide range of subjects and we have grown steadily to become one of the UK's leading retailers of second-hand books. We now ship over two million orders each year to satisfied customers throughout the world and take great pride in our prompt delivery, first class customer service and excellent feedback. While we do our best to provide good quality books for you to read, there is no escaping the fact that it has been owned and read by someone else before you.
    [Show full text]
  • Journal of the Simplified Spelling Society, 17, 1994-2 P2 in the Printed Version]
    Journal of the Simplified Spelling Society 1994/2. J17. Contents Editorials. Articles Phonicsphobia. Joyce M Morris. Spelling and Society: Orthography and Reading Summary of a Research Thesis. Valerie Yule. Err Analysis, Part II: som reflections on aims, methods, limitations and importnce, with a furthr demnstration. Christopher Upward. A Pidgin-like Bridge to English. Doug Everingham. Introduction to the Classic Concordance of Cacographic Chaos. Christopher Upward. The Chaos. Gerard Nolst Trenité. Viewpoints Self-Proclaimed Experts Stumble. Ian Aitken. Dislexia and Dysability. Christopher Upward. A Smoother Path to Literacy. Edward Rondthaler. Reports Spelling Czecher. Chris Pomery. BEtSS: Better Education thru Simplified Spelling Annual Meeting 1994. An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Sound-Speler and Fonetic English in Increasing Literacy Skills. Jeffrey J Strange & John B Black. ALC American Literacy Council: Annual Report for 1993. Perspectives from the International Reading Association Convention. Kenneth Ives. [Journal of the Simplified Spelling Society, 17, 1994-2 p2 in the printed version] Editorials Kenneth Ives Getting Reformed Spellings Into Schools: What Will It Take? This past year I have attended the International Reading Asso. convention in Toronto, and a workshop and state convention of the Orton Dyslexia Society. That organization and its members have developed detailed, step by step methods for teaching phonics to students who don't "catch on" to reading easily. A major concern of teachers attending such conferences is "What can I do with the kids next Monday morning?", and thereafter. Hence if we want to get simplified spellings used in early grades, we will have to develop materials that those teachers find useful with their students - and likely a whole curriculum for grades K-3.
    [Show full text]
  • Can Phonics Instruction and Big Book Shared Reading in Combination Work Better Than on Their Own?
    Copyright is owned by the Author of the thesis. Permission is given for a copy to be downloaded by an individual for the purpose of research and private study only. The thesis may not be reproduced elsewhere without the permission of the Author. Can Phonics Instruction and Big Book Shared Reading in Combination Work Better Than on Their Own? A thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Education at Massey University, Albany Campus, New Zealand. Laura Lo-Ming Tse 2011 ii Abstract The present study is an experimental study, and the purpose was to make an empirical comparison between three ways of teaching: phonics instruction, big book shared reading, and combining phonics and big book. The study involved 96 Year 2 children from three primary schools in South Auckland. Children were taught in small groups of four according to different reading ability levels (“at”, “below”, and “well- below”) after being randomly assigned into one of four conditions: phonics only (P), big book only (BB), a combination of phonics and big book (PBB), and a treatment control (C). The researcher met with the groups once a week for 30 minutes, from May to November. Children completed pre- and post-assessments of word reading, passage reading, reading comprehension, spelling, pseudoword decoding, phonemic awareness, receptive vocabulary, and math. Results from a 3-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the phonics and big book combined group outperformed the other two reading groups, and also the treatment control group in word reading, reading comprehension, decoding pseudowords, and phonemic awareness.
    [Show full text]