Learning to read is one of the most crucial life tasks that the young child must acquire whilst in primary school. In modern society, much of what one does is dependant on having the ability to read. While a great deal of research has focused on how children learn to read, relatively little attention has been paid to the literary quality of the material the children are exposed to whilst learning to read. In the past few years I have become increasingly concerned with the number of teachers who use material designed for teaching children to read without being aware of the literary quality of the material. While numerous teachers are aware of the issues surrounding the learning to read debate and use up to date materials to teach reading, far too many accept the material supplied by the school without questioning its literary merit and its impact upon the young reader. This piece of research is an attempt to evaluate the literary quality of two reading schemes currently in use in Cape Education Department schools. The chief conclusion of the research is that the schemes examined fall far short of the standards required for them to be considered good literature. Although the research is limited to two reading schemes, it is hoped that a teacher using other schemes could use the framework supplied in this study to examine the literary quality of the material she is using. Furthermore, the final chapter offers suggestions as to how to replace material of poor literary quality with books of a higher literary standard. On the basis of the above findings it is suggested that there is a need for individual teachers, schools, teacher training institutions and the Cape Education Department to examine the literary quality of reading schemes and books that are used in the process of teaching children to read. It is hoped that this piece of research will create a greater awareness amongst teachers of the literary quality of reading materials and prompt further research into such materials that will be of benefit to the central character in this study; the young child learning to read

Linking experience and language--Interrelated curriculum--Integrating content subjects with reading--Higher level thinking skills.

This study critically examines my classroom practice in teaching young learners aged four-and-a-half to six years old. It focuses on the following research question: How can I create a stimulating environment in my classroom to promote awareness of and a love for reading? My classroom-based action research methodology places me, the practitioner, at the centre of the investigation. The work examines closely my professional values and my strong belief in the capacity of learners to be curious, absorb and make sense of what they encounter and experience in a stimulating environment. It investigates how such an environment develops the potential of learners to love and embrace reading. The process of engaging reflectively and analytically in practitioner research has helped me to gain a better understanding of my learners’ needs and to improve the ways in which I promote reading in the reception year of formal schooling. I claim that the creating of a stimulating environment in my classroom is grounded in my ability to motivate, model and scaffold the learners to engage in reading confidently. Together, the learners and I have created a living theory of education, one that is open to further reflection and development. Ongoing interaction between theoretical discourse and practical experiences enable me to develop my professional knowledge and to synthesize my values and practice. The investigation continuously confirms the advantages of a print-rich environment and how it can be used to promote a love for reading amongst young learners. The claims and knowledge generated in this study are personal and true for me, while the living transformational process demonstrates how I have developed professionally.

M.Ed. (Psychology of Education) / Two critical problems experienced by significant numbers of children in the junior primary phase of school are, difficulties with reading and the lack of motivation to read. It is important that the reluctant reader receives the necessary help to become an efficient and motivated reader as reading influences many aspects of the child's life besides scholastic achievement, for example self-concept and social interaction. This study consists of a literature survey, the aim of which is to identify strategies and to develop guidelines for the construction of a reading motivation programme for reluctant readers who may also be experiencing reading problems. In an attempt to achieve the above goals use has been made of: 1) the language-experience approach, 2) the incorporation of cognitive and metacognitive strategies. The language-experience approach is a means of teaching children to read by capitalizing on their interests, experiences, and oral language facility. Students dictate stories and accounts based on their experiences; these materials are then used as the basis of the reading programme. This approach has distinct advantages for reluctant readers as it capitalizes on the child's unique experiences: Interest is virtually guaranteed as reading and sharing their own stories boost the morale of children whose previous reading experiences may have been fraught with failure. The aim of teaching metacognitive strategies for reading is to make the pupil aware of himself as a reader so that he realizes that he is in control of the reading process. The reader must become aware of his thought processes during reading: This reflection on personal thought processes is called "metacognition".

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D.Phil. (Linguistics) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

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