D.Ed. (Educational Psychology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Ed. (Educational Psychology) / Schoolreadiness is an important prerequisite for scholastic learning and progress. This forms the underlying basis for this study. The child who is not ready for school and learning, may eventually experience learning difficulties. It is alarming that so many children have developed learning problems in, for instance, reading, spelling or mathematics, because they were not ready for school. The need for support for these children should be seen as the primary objective of this study. A great number of these difficulties might be related to their not being schoolready, and could probably be reduced or avoided by timeous intervention. The aim of this study was to determine any perceptual-motor problems that grade one pupils still experienced after having completed the compulsory prescribed schoolreadiness programme. Another objective was to determine guidelines for a learning readiness programme which would remedy any of the identified perceptual-motor problems which might still exist. The study commenced with a survey of the literature on schoolreadiness. It was decided to do an empirical study where 75 grade one pupils were sUbjected to the Aptitude Test for School Beginners (ASB) to identify any possible factors which would indicate non-schoolreadiness. The results indicated that a large group of pupils still have problems with spatial orientation, gestalt and co-ordination after the initial TED schoolreadiness programme. In the light of the mentioned perceptual-motor problems, some guidelines were designed to be used in a programme to stimulate the child to become more schoolready...

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Children in preschool are at an optimal time for the development of gross and fine motor skills. Children who enter into preschool with developmental delays struggle to keep up with their peers. These developmental delays often perpetuate into later school years, with negative effects. Visual-motor integration (VMI) is a hugely important skill that children need to develop before formal schooling commences. It forms the basis for academic skills like reading and writing, as well as many sport skills. Having a VMI and/or gross motor development delay can affect a child’s academic experience greatly. When referring specifically to reading and writing, many underlying gross motor processes occur simultaneously to enable the child to perform tasks successfully. Success in the classroom depends a great deal on developed VMI and gross motor skills. Research shows investigation into various factors that account for differences and delays in motor skills. Socio-economic status is mentioned as a factor that can negatively affect VMI and gross motor skills development. Gender differences have also been known to be a reason for varying success in VMI or fine motor skills and gross motor skills. It is most important that delays and differences in VMI and gross motor skills success should be the focus of preschool education curriculums. The purpose of the current study was to improve the VMI skills of children who presented below average VMI skills scores. The Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration 6th Edition (DTVMI) was used to measure the participants VMI skills, and the Test of Gross Motor Development 2nd Edition (TGMD-2), was used as a measure of gross motor skills. The supplemental tests of the DTVMI, as well as the subtests of the TGMD-2, were performed. Two preschools were conveniently selected to participate in the study, one from a high socio-economic background and one from a low socio-economic background. Of the total participants initially tested (N=77), only a small number (N=23), scored below average VMI scores and continued to participate in the study. From these participants (N=23) an experimental (n=12) and a control group (n=11) were randomly selected. The experimental group participated in a 14-week intervention programme, two sessions per week each with a duration of 45 minutes, that focused on the underlying gross motor processes that relate to reading, writing and VMI skills. After the 14 weeks the participants were tested again to measure the effects of the intervention programme. All data collected were statistically analysed.The most relevant result found in the current study showed that participants from the low socio-economic school showed significantly lower VMI skills than participants from the higher socio-economic school. No differences in VMI skills were found between the genders. Overall in both VMI and gross motor skills the intervention programme was beneficial to the participants, although these results were not found to be statistically significant. This study emphasises that the disparities in VMI skills between children from low- and higher socio-economic backgrounds should be addressed before they enter school. This will ensure that these differences become minimised. This study suggests that gross motor activities can be beneficial to VMI skills of preschool children. More research is needed to fully determine the potential of gross motor intervention programmes in improving academic skills such as VMI. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Voorskoolse kinders bevind hulle in ʼn optimale periode van groot- en fynmotoriese ontwikkeling. Kinders van hierdie ouderdom met ontwikkelingsagterstande sukkel om op skool by hulle eweknieë by te bly. Hierdie ontwikkelingsagterstande duur gewoonlik voort tot in latere skooljare met negatiewe implikasies. Visueel-motoriese integrasie (VMI) is ʼn baie belangrike vaardigheid wat kinders voor hulle formele skooljare in aanvang neem, moet ontwikkel. Dit vorm die basis vir akademiese vaardighede soos lees en skryf, asook vir baie sportvaardighede. ʼn Kind se akademiese ervaring kan baie nadelig deur ʼn VMI en/of groot motoriese ontwikkelingsagterstand beïnvloed word. Met spesifieke verwysing na lees en skryf, moet baie onderliggende groot motoriese prosesse gelyktydig plaasvind om die kind in staat te stel om take suksesvol uit te voer. Sukses in die klaskamer is grootliks van ʼn ontwikkelde VMI en groot motoriese vaardighede afhanklik. Navorsing toon ondersoeke na verskeie faktore wat vir verskille en agterstande in motoriese vaardighede verantwoordelik is. Sosio-ekonomiese status word beskou as een van die faktore wat VMI en groot motoriese ontwikkeling negatief kan affekteer. Dit is ook bekend dat geslagsverskille ʼn rede vir variërende sukses in VMI- of fyn motoriese- en groot motoriese vaardighede is. Dit is van uiterste belang dat agterstande en verskille in VMI- en sukses met groot motoriese vaardighede die fokus van voorskoolse opvoedkundige kurrikulums moet wees. Die doel van die huidige studie was om die VMI vaardighede van kinders met ondergemiddelde VMI vaardigheid tellings te verbeter. Die Beery-Buktenica Development Test of Visual-Motor Integration 6th Edition (DTVMI) is gebruik om die deelnemers se VMI vaardighede te bepaal en die Test of Gross Motor Development 2nd Edition (TGMD-2) is gebruik om hulle groot motoriese vaardighede te bepaal. Die aanvullende toets van die DTVMI, asook die sub-toets van die TGMD-2, is uitgevoer. Twee voorskoolse skole, een uit ʼn hoë sosio-ekonomiese- en een uit ʼn lae sosio-ekonomiese omgewing is met ʼn gerieflikheidsteekproef geselekteer om aan die studie deel te neem. Van die totale aantal deelnemers (N-77) wat aanvanklik getoets is, het slegs ʼn klein aantal (N=23) ondergemiddelde VMI tellings behaal om met die studie voort te gaan. Vanuit hierdie deelnemers (N=23) is ʼn eksperimentele- (n=12) en ʼn kontrole groep ewekansig geselekteer. Die eksperimentele groep het aan ʼn 14-week intervensieprogram, twee keer per week, wat elk 45 minute geduur het, deelgeneem. Die intervensieprogram het op die onderliggende groot motoriese prosesse wat net lees, skryf en VMI vaardighede verband hou, gefokus. Na afloop van die 14 weke is die deelnemers weer getoets om die effek van die intervensieprogram te bepaal. Al die ingesamelde data is statisties verwerk. Die mees relevante resultaat wat in die huidige studie gevind is, dui daarop dat die deelnemers van die lae sosio-ekonomiese skool beduidende laer VMI vaardighede as die deelnemers van die hoër sosio-ekonomiese skool getoon het. Geen verskille in VMI vaardighede is tussen die geslagte gevind nie. Alhoewel die resultate nie statistiese betekenisvol was nie blyk dit dat in geheel beskou die intervensieprogram, in beide VMI- en groot motoriese vaardighede, voordele vir die deelnemers ingehou het. Die huidige studie beklemtoon dat die verskille in VMI vaardighede tussen kinders vanuit lae- en hoë sosio-ekonomiese agtergronde aangespreek moet word voordat hulle in skole toegelaat word. Dit sal verseker dat hierdie verskille tot die minimum beperk word. Hierdie studie suggereer dat groot motoriese aktiwiteite voordele vir die VMI vaardighede van voorskoolse kinders kan inhou. Verdere navorsing is nodig om die potensiaal van groot motoriese intervensieprogramme op die verbetering van akademiese vaardighede soos VMI ten volle te verstaan.

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The purpose of this study was to examine two commonly used kindergarten screening measures' ability to predict later academic achievement. Participants included 67 kindergarten children who were administered the Bracken Basic Concept Scale-Revised (BBCS-R) and the Early Prevention of School Failure (EPSF) screening battery upon initiation of their kindergarten year. The students' academic progress in the areas of reading, language, and mathematics was examined using the Terra Nova in the fall of first grade.Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between the BBCS-R, EPSF, and Terra Nova. Predictor variables included the BBCS-R total test score and its subtests (i.e., School Readiness, Direction/Position, Self-Social Awareness, Texture/Material, Quantity, and Time/Sequence), as well as the EPSF at-risk identification score and standard scores for the tests included in the EPSF screening battery (i.e., Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Third Edition (PPVT-III), Literacy and Language Assessment (LLA), Developmental Test of Visual Motor Integration (VMI), Draw-A-Person (DAP), and the Motor Assessment Scale (MAS)). Criterion variables included the Terra Nova Total Test Composite, Reading Composite, Language Composite, and Mathematics Composite.Results suggested the BBCS-R total test score was a better predictor of reading and language achievement than the EPSF at-risk identification score and standard scores on the EPSF tests. The EPSF at-risk identification score, however, best predicted mathematics achievement at first grade. Although these results at a glance may support the utilization of both screening instruments in predicting later achievement, further analysis of the EPSF tests prediction of mathematics achievement indicated that of the five EPSF tests, the VMI and PPVT-III best predicted later mathematics performance. The remaining three EPSF tests added no value to the prediction of mathematics achievement beyond that of the VMI and PPVT-III. Thus, use of the entire EPSF screening battery to predict later achievement was not supported. Further analysis utilizing multiple regression with the BBCS-R total test score, VMI, and PPVT-III standard scores as the predictors, indicated the VMI and BBCS-R best predicted later mathematics achievement. These results support the use of the BBCS-R and VMI in the kindergarten screening process to predict later achievement in all academic areas. / Department of Educational Psychology

The purpose of the study was to investigate the construct validity of the Total Individual Progress Level I Pre-kindergarten Screen (TIP) for males and females. Exploratory factor analysis of the items was used to determine the underlying dimensions of TIP.The subjects were 799 students from a rural and suburban school district adjacent to a larger city in east-central Indiana who were screened prior to kindergarten entrance during the years 1977 to 1984. The sample was split to allow for cross-validation of the exploratory factor analysis results.The covariance structures of males and females were judged to be similar. Therefore, a principal components analysis using SPSS-X (Nie, 1983) was used to determine the optional number of factors to retain for males and females together in two separate samples. Judgements regarding the number of factors to retain was based on the scree plot and eigenvalue greater than one criteria (Reynolds & Paget, 1981). Both orthogonal and oblique rotations were explored for 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-factor solutions using principal factoring with iterations.The four-factor varimax solutions for Sample 1 and Sample 2 were found to provide the best solution of TIP. The same four constructs were found in both samples and were extracted in the same order, indicating reliability of this factor solution of TIP. The factors were named, in order, Language, Visual, Gross Motor, and Speech Mechanics.The results obtained in the two samples were compared in regard to Rummel's (1970) considerations. Similarities were found in number of retained factors, configuration of the variables, complexity of the solution, variance accounted for by the factors, and communalities. In addition, results of Tucker's congruence coefficient and Cattell's salient variable similarity index indicated factorial similarity for all four factors across both samples.The four derived factors did not completely resemble the four pre-established subscales of TIP.The Concepts subscale did not emerge as a separate construct and the Hearing and communication subscale was broken into two different factors. Fewer items comprised the four-factor varimax solution. Only two of the extracted factors, Gross Motor and Visual, resembled the pre-established subscales of Motor and Vision and Visual, respectively.

D.Ed (Educational Psychology) / It is a well known fact that, especially in the developed and industrialised countries the child can not but attain adulthood and independence via the school and school learning. The child's progress at school depends largely on his readiness to learn. Because it is no longer acceptable for the school to receive school beginners with a take-it or leave-it attitude and practice, the Transvaal Education Department adopted the policy that all school beginners be subjected to a school readiness programme to ensure that they will in fact profit from formal learning. Because application of the prescribed procedures which underlies all these programmes had not yet been investigated empirically, an intensive evaluation was conducted in 1977 at the RAU. The findings indicated certain deficiencies in the existing programme. It appeared, for example, that differentiation was not applied sufficiently and that more emphasis should be laid on certain aspects of cognitive development. An attempt was therefore made in this study to redesign the existing programme. Firstly it was necessary to arrive at a pedagogical view of school entrance which implied a close examination of the school beginner's development and learning, whi~h also emphasised the importance of the teacher's becoming acquainted with the child's level op development on school entry as well as with its learning in order to know how, where and how much she can, may and ought to intervene in the child's development and learning.

M.Ed. (Educational Psychology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract.

Preschool Attainment Record Attainment Quotients and Category scores were compared to determine whether there were significant differences between the way parents and teachers evaluate 5-year-old children. The subjects were 20 Head Start and 20 middle-income children as well as their mothers, fathers, and teachers. A total of 120 Preschool Attainment Record interviews were collected, 40 with teachers and 80 with parents. Attainment Quotients and Category scores were calculated by computer. A repeated measurement design was used to test for significant differences in Attainment Quotient and Intellectual, Social, and Physical Category scores. No significant differences were found for mothers', fathers', and teachers' Attainment Quotients. There was a significant difference between parents' and teachers' ratings for Intellectual and Social Category scores for lower-income boys. Attainment Quotient means were grouped and analyzed for differences in ratings within and between the five preschool centers used in the study. Attainment Quotient means were highest in the two middle-income centers. Attainment Quotient means were also compared for first and later-born children. No significant difference existed between ratings by mothers, fathers, and teachers. / Master of Science

This study examined the relationship between teachers' assessment of children's overall school adjustment and children's self-esteem, behavioral styles, and the valuing styles of parents. Subjects were 75 third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade children from middle-class families in the metropolitan Washington, D.C., area who were subjectively rated by teachers (n=8) as best adjusted (n=38) or least adjusted (n=37) in terms of overall psychosocial and academic functioning in the classroom. The Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory was used to measure children's self-esteem, Dimensions of Temperament Survey to measure their temperament, and Matthews Youth Test for Health to measure their Type A behavior pattern. The Little Parental Valuing Styles Scale was the instrument used to measure parents' self-reported valuing styles. One-factor multivariate analysis of variance was used to evaluate mean score differences for either best and least adjusted children, or their parents for each instrument. The best adjusted children were found to have higher self-esteem, were more rhythmic, less reactive, more competitive and less impatient-aggressive than least adjusted children. Parents of best adjusted children were more accepting and less overprotective and rejecting than parents of least adjusted children. / Master of Science