In 1983 a programme was initiated by the School of Education, Canberra College of Advanced Education (CCAE) and the Australian Schools Commission
to enable parents to assist their own children in literacy. The children had
previously been identified as experiencing difficulties in acquiring the
skills of literacy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of
the parents' intervention on the children's achievements in literacy, and to
assess the quality of the programme by examining particular subskills taught
in the course. The methods of assessment were also evaluated for their
appropriateness for the circumstances.
The thirty nine children in the study were the sample of fifty two children
for whom there was complete information. Parents of these children began
the programme in July 1985 or in March 1986. They attended a course of ten
sessions over thirteen weeks in a semester. The following semester they
were allocated to a teacher who was a post graduate or fourth year degree
student in education, and given individual assistance from six to ten
sessions, and longer if necessary.
Aspects of oral reading, comprehension, writing and spelling were tested at
the beginning of the programme and again in November 1986, and the results
compared. Observational records were also kept and changes evaluated. In
addition, oral reading was measured at the end of the parents' course, and
before individual assistance commenced. Case studies were built up for
every child, and the findings grouped to observe the effect of the
intervention on the population.
The results showed that the programme achieved its aim of giving parents the
skills to assist; their own children in the acquisition of literacy. The
content of the course and the subskills taught were also justified by the
outcomes. Furthermore, the method of evaluation revealed specific and
succinct information on which to base the intervention and to monitor
progress.
The research took place over 18 months, during which time teaching and
progress were continual. A longitudinal study over several years would
confirm the results of the research.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/219099 |
| Date | January 1987 |
| Creators | Kissling, Maxine, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Education |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Maxine Kissling |
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