Reading Skills In Relation To Reading Practice Methods

Abstract

This paper deals with the topic of reading comprehension related to the method of reading practice in the early literacy reading period. It introduces reading methods used in school practice in the Czech Republic. The research results focus on readers’ performance parameters, i.e. the manner in which pupils at the end of 1^st and 2^nd year of primary school read and comprehend texts taught by different reading methods. The research was undertaken between 2016 – 2017, where in addition to loud reading, silent reading and listening texts were used. The research design was quantitative where data was collected from the comparison of sample readers’reading skills based on the differenct methods as well as from the sample’s responses to a questionnaire. This research is part of a two year research project undertaken by the main author of this paper published in an article entitled Reading Literacy and Methods of Improving Reading ( Kosek Bartošová et al., 2016 ). From the results obtained, it can be concluded that a general conclusion on precisely the most effective method is still elusive, but the results do give more insights into the issue.

Keywords: Methods of reading practiceanalytic-synthetic methodgenetic methodmethod of flowing reading

Introduction

In recent years the Czech Republic has been intensively engaged in changes of teaching elementary reading and development of reading literacy of first grade primary school pupils. One of the most important skills needed for further learning which can be acquired within primary education, is to master techniques of reading with consequent comprehension. (Kosek Bartošová, 2016). This process is carried out using a reading practice method. The Analytic-Synthetic method (hereinafter AS), taught by about 70% of teachers, represents the basic and the most applied method in this country. The Genetic method represents the second most widespread method, used by probably 12% of teachers. The youngest purely Czech method - the Sfumato used by 6% of teachers. All of these methods have been subjected to research testing with 1^st and 2^nd primary class pupils. In this paper, the authors attempt to provide more insight and focus into areas, which have not been investigated yet.

Individual methods differ both in the introduction process with letters, and by the reading method itself and also quality of texts (Bartošová, 2016).

The Analytic-Synthetic (AS) method is based on acquiring spoken speech from early childhood, starting with well-known words (mother, father etc.) the first sounds are drawn and then transformed into syllables and words. At first, children are introduced to the letter in all four forms at the same time. As soon as the child acquires graphemes of the simplest consonants and vowels (s, p, l, m, … / a, e, i, …), s/he links them into syllables and words, which s/he learns to read (Bartošová et al., 2016).

In contrast with the Genetic method, the children meet with the letter shape first, a capital letter (e.g. A), which is assigned to the drawn vowel. This method palces a higher demand on auditory memory and phonetic sense of hearing. The child first spells the word and then says it based on auditory synthesis as a whole (e.g.: m-o-t-h-e-r → mother). Currently, research is being conducted in this area, monitoring reading literacy with the use of eye tracking method (Košek Bartošová et al., 2016)

The Genetic method is the latest method, which is based on the previosu with the difference, that to one phoneme (speech sound), two forms are supplied simultaneously (big and small form of a capital letter). Children are introduced to the shapes of writing letters later, when they memorize the shapes of capital letters. Preparation for writing is implemented by a form of grapho-motor practice (Gejgušová, Labischová, & Metelková Svobodová, 2015).

In terms of flowing reading - the Sfumato - pupils acquire knowledge of all 4 ways of a letter, similar to the AS method. The so-called legato or slide reading is specific for this method. Eyes fix on the phonemes consecutively, children say them out loud, uninterrupted by intake of breadth and tonal changes. Eye fixation on the letter is important. The aim of this method is to avoid double reading; the eye movement progressive and does not go back. There is a connection of senses, where organs of vision, voice and hearing contribute to the learning process (Kosek Bartošová, 2017).

Kosek Bartošová (2017) mentions that authors Kucharská, Burešová & Rabenhauptová (2010, 2011, 2012) are engaged in investigating problematic reading skills among 1^st and 2^nd primary class pupils in a project called Reading comprehension – typical development and its pitfalls . One of the aims of this research was to create a new testing battery for reading diagnostics that would facilitate the identification of the level of mastering reading technique and at the same time to take into consideration the possibilities of pupils’ differences taught by different early reading methods (Kucharská et al., 2015).

Problem Statement

This research is part of a two-year research aimed at comparing reading skills (primarily reading comprehension) of pupils during 1st and 2nd class of primary school by the means of different teaching methods of reading practice in the Czech Republic. This research was undertaken to provide extensive insights into the area of early literacy as this is the foundation of reading skills for the future. Good reading skills are crucial for a child’s intellectual and social development especially with the educational area of the child’s future endeavours. This research was undertaken to compare between the available reading methods used in Czech schools and to find out if there is one best method.

Research Questions

The amin aim of the research was focused on mastering techniques and reading comprehension using various reading methods. This paper focused only on comparison of results from the end of 1^st and 2^nd class (that is 2^nd and 4^th assessment at the end of school years of 2016 and 2017), where answers are provided for the following questions:

• From the available methods used, which seems to be as the most effective in terms of reading literacy while reading aloud?

• How do the children perceive themselves as readers?

Purpose of the Study

The aim of this study is to provide results focused on the quality of reading comprehension as shown in the manner of reading – intonation in the most frequently used reading methods at primary schools in the Czech Republic. The intention of the authors is to evaluate the quality of the reading skills of pupils at the end of primary school 1^st and 2^nd classes taught by different methods of reading practice and to compare the results of both assessments. Furthermore, we marginally focus on the relationship of pupils towards reading and assessment of perception of themselves as a reader based on a set of questions. investigations were done in two years. The first measurement was made in one half of the 1^st primary class where the connection between the method and reading comprehension was statistically proven (p=0.002). Then, three surveys followed; their intention was to compare reading comprehension skills of pupil also in other periods of early reading literacy and to find out if the method of reading practice would have an influence on reading comprehension. In this paper, we focus only on comparison of pupils’ reading skills at the end of 1st and 2nd primary classes and to a lesser extent, the perception of the children of themselves as readers.

Research Methods

Findings

The research was done during two school years. The monitored methods were: the Analytic-synthetic method (AS), Genetic (GW and GR) and the Sfumato method (SF). The qualitative features were mainly monitored (the way and reading techniques together with reading comprehension), but also a quantitative feature (reading speed).

The focus in this paper is on comparison from the 2^nd and 4^th assessment in these following fields: a way of reading (intonation) and comprehension (loud reading) in addition to the answers from the questionnaire, which was a part of a final assessment.

Conclusion

During comparison of pupils’ reading skills quality at the end of the 1^st and 2^nd class, we were looking for answers to a question, which was the most effective method in term of researched methods based on reading aloud, focused on comprehension. The best results came from pupils who were taught by the Genetic method, at the end of the first class. Total results of other methods are equal. The results were similar during the fourth assessment where the best method was the Analytic-synthetic method , where 65.6 % of pupils understood the text. However, there is a slight difference of about 1.5% from other methods. The most significant progress between 2^nd and 4^th assessment was seen in the AS method (improvement of 8.7 %) while the Genetic method dropped by 2.7 %.

We focused on the self-assessment of pupils using a questionnaire. The children responded to items aimed at getting an opinion on reading from the perspective of technique and comprehension. An interesting comparison was found in items where pupils answered that they are good readers if they could comprehend. A positive evaluation of all methods was found in both cases. The first item regarding the AS method gained a “YES” response by 100% of the pupils, compared to the SF method which only obtained 64%. However, values in the second question differ between 85 - 93 %, where the Sfumato pupils rate it the best method.

We can conclude that pupils consider reading technique as very important and based on that fact, they assess whether they are good readers or not. It cannot be clearly identified, if any method would motivate pupils to reading. Nevertheless, family background might have a certain influence; children’s preference how they spend their free time and further activities and so on. Still, the results are interesting. Pupils who read using the Analytic-synthetic method (95%) tend to show the greatest interest in reading and, at the same time, they attained the highest level of comprehension. On the contrary, pupils who read using the Genetic method (79%) read the least.

The aim of this research was to compare reading skills of pupils in the Czech Republic according to methods of reading and, at the same time, to monitor the most progress between assessment at the end of 1^st and 2^nd class (i.e. 2^nd and 4^th assessment). The answers from the questionnaires are also helpful as they can be directly related to the research results.

While this study did not unambiguously determine the most effective reading method, there is empirical evidence that the Analytic-synthetic method and Genetic methods are valuable teaching methods to gain reading competence among 1^st and 2^nd primary classes. At the same time, it must be noted that the ideal of the reading method can differ for each pupil according to his/her abilities and a host of other socio-environmetal factors.

We believe, that the paper could provide a certain perspective into the issue, which shows different views of reading methods and brings interesting insights in terms of elementary reading and can broaden awareness of teachers about the existence of other reading valuable methods.

Acknowledgments

This paper presents results of the Specific Research Project of the University of Hradec Králové number 2106 named: The Influence of Technology on Reading Literacy and number 2109 named: Reading Literacy and Methods of Improving Reading in the First Class of Primary School.

References

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