Teachers’ Use of Scaffolds Within Conversations During Shared Book Reading

Purpose: We studied conversations initiated through teacher questions during shared book reading in prekindergarten and kindergarten classrooms as these conversations provide opportunities for the teacher to scaffold emerging language skills. This study provides detailed analysis of scaffolding strategies used by teachers after children answered teachers' questions. Method: Participants included 93 prekindergarten and kindergarten teachers who read aloud a standard narrative text to their class of students. All the sessions were video-recorded, transcribed, and then coded for conversational turns and teacher scaffolding strategies. Results: Descriptive findings showed great variability in the length of conversations and the extent to which teachers used scaffolding strategies. Most teacher scaffolds matched children's accuracy of response such that they provided support after incorrect responses and provided additional challenge after correct responses. Significant sequential associations were observed between the level of children's response and multiple types of scaffolds (e.g., corrective feedback scaffold after incorrect response; discussing factual questions after a correct response). Conclusions: Findings indicate that during shared reading, teachers are responsive to children's answers and are able to provide challenge or support as needed. However, teachers infrequently used scaffolding strategies like causal effects, predictions, and recasts . Given evidence that strategies such as recasts support early language skills, professional development experiences could encourage early childhood teachers to incorporate this and other key scaffolding strategies.

Analysis of Early Reading Ability of Children in Group B of Kindergarten Tut Wuri Handayani Samahani Aceh Besar

Reading is an activity of following a series of writings arranged in a linear manner. Experience is an important aspect of the reading process. Children who have a lot of experience will have a wider opportunity in developing an understanding of vocabulary in reading. The formulation of the problem in this study, what activities are done in training beginning reading skills in group B in TK Tut Wuri Handayani Samahani Aceh Besar. How is the description of beginning reading ability in group B in TK Tut Wuri Handayani Samahani Aceh Besar. What are the obstacles faced by teachers in teaching beginning reading skills to group B children in TK Tut Wuri Handayani Samahani Aceh Besar. The purpose of this study is to see a picture of the activities given to children in group B in TK Tut Wuri Handayani Samahani Aceh Besar. To see the beginning reading ability in group B children in TK Tut Wuri Handayani Samahani Aceh Besar. To find out the obstacles faced by teachers on the ability to read beginning in group B children in TK Tut Wuri Handayani Samahani Aceh Besar. The type of research is Qualitative research The instrument used is an interview, the sample size is 1 principal and 2 classroom teachers. The results show that beginning reading is very important for early childhood which will be the foundation of the beginning of reading. Teachers who teach at TK Tut Wuri Handayani Aceh Besar, are very understanding about the development of children's reading and also teachers at TK Tut Wuri Handayani Aceh Besar always encourage children by providing creative media that can attract children's attention in beginning reading so that teachers provide reading learning start by using a system of play while learning.

Challenges of English as a first additional language: Fourth grade reading teachers’ perspectives

The study reported on here was designed to investigate the challenges faced by teachers when teaching reading in Grade 4 English First Additional Language (EFAL) in East London, South Africa. This research study was framed by the socio-constructivist theory of reading. A case study design that corresponds with the constructivist paradigm was used to gather qualitative data. Semi-structured interviews and observations were conducted with 12 teachers who were purposively selected from 4 public schools (2 English teachers from each school and 1 natural sciences teacher) to establish the challenges that they encountered in their attempts to encourage Grade 4 EFAL learners to gain proficiency in English. Data presented were taken from a large scale on English reading problems. The data were analyzed using Critical Discourse Analysis and were arranged and coded into 5 themes. The major findings refer to the poor level of reading of Grade 4 EFAL learners, a decrease in teacher and learner motivation, overcrowded classrooms and inadequate training on reading strategies. Based on the findings of the study and an extensive literature review, the Comprehensive Model for teaching reading is recommended.

EFL Teacher's Perception on Reading Strategies Taught in High Schools

While reading activity is a complex phenomenon, recent research on reading strategies has not provided comprehensive explanation of the role and perceptions of teachers regarding appropriate reading strategies helping students with learning difficulties. This paper is aimed to provide a sketch of the teacher's views and strategies to facilitate students with appropriate reading strategies. EFL teachers have different kinds of reading strategies applied in the classrooms. This study has found that three groups of teachers teaching in excellent accredited public schools, good accredited public school and very good Islamic private school use various strategies during the teaching of reading. Teachers' perceptions on the teaching of reading strategies are closely related to their readiness with knowledge about reading strategies, students' reading problems and their belief. This study suggests that EFL teachers and future researchers need to continuously investigate effective teaching of reading skill in relation to students' reading strategies.

Using storytelling to unpack resilience theory in accordance with an internationally recognised resilience framework with primary school children

Resilience can be a protective trait to promote mental health when implemented in the early years. This study explored the use of storytelling to foster children’s learning of resilience. A pedagogically appropriate storybook was used to facilitate and embed the skills of resilience in children at primary school. Teachers (n = 2) and community-based sports officers (n = 2) read the storybook to children enrolled in Kindergarten (first formal year of schooling) (n = 20), Year 1 (n = 20) and Year 2 (n = 20). The total number in the participant group was 60, aged 4–8 years old. Following the initial reading, teachers continued to deliver the storybook to children over a 4-week intervention period. All participants were interviewed about their perceptions of the storybook, and their responses were coded into key themes mapped by the Grotberg Resilience Framework. Results indicated that storytelling as a tool provided children with positive resilience-based behavioural intervention opportunities.

Understanding reading teachers’ self-directed use of drama-based pedagogy in an under-resourced educational setting: A case study in China

This case study explores the trajectory of a reading teacher’s self-directed development when implementing drama-based pedagogy in an under-resourced College in China. Through qualitative analyses of multiple data sources collected over one semester, the study demonstrates that the teacher’s self-directed use of drama-based pedagogy following teacher student joint learning of reading texts was contextually driven with his use of drama-based pedagogy being partially motivated by its potential to engage his students’ interest in reading learning. The teacher was able to dynamically adjust and refine his implementation of drama-based pedagogy in relation to his students’ post-reading reading reflections, their drama planning and dramatic presentations, their post-performance reflections, as well as their in-class learning. The students’ increased interest for reading and improved literacy development in the latter part of the semester augmented the teacher’s confidence in drama-based pedagogy, and feelings of self-empowerment resulting from his self-directed development. The study concludes that, along with teachers’ efforts to deal with the dynamic complexities of better meeting students’ needs, the self-directed use of drama-based pedagogy can be a helpful and accessible tool to support reading teachers to re-conceptualize their self-directed development in an under-resourced educational context.

How―and Why―Middle School Intensive Reading Teachers Make Adaptations to a Scripted Curriculum

The adoption of highly scripted curricular programs to promote literacy has become increasingly widespread. Little is known, however, about the extent to which teachers implement these programs as prescribed or, instead, make adaptations to the curriculum and its delivery. Even less is known about teachers’ reasoning behind this decision-making. Using qualitative thematic analysis, in this study, the authors investigates middle school intensive reading teachers’ challenges and solutions to implementing the curricular program mandated by their school district. Analysis of 10 teachers’ descriptions of their instructional decision-making highlighted the tensions teachers must navigate to provide effective literacy instruction to students with and without disabilities in a high accountability context. The central construct of negotiation was identified as an explanation of how and why teachers made (or did not make) curricular adaptations.

The Role of Abadina Media Resource Centre in Bringing Novelty and Creativity to School Library Services in Nigeria

This article looks into the role of Abadina Media Resource Centre in expanding school library services in Nigeria. The article revealed the novelty seen in the functions of the Centre especially in the training of qualified personnel for the positions of teacher-librarians, media specialists, reading teachers and other school media personnel in pre-primary, primary and post-primary institutions in Nigeria and organizing of programmes relevant to reading and library use for Nigerian Children. In addition, core activities of the Centre were highlighted and challenges facing the school library media centre were also discussed. Abadina Media ResourceCentre has developed training programmes to produce qualified personnel that will run virile school media programmes in Nigerian schools, teach school media and conduct scientific and reliable researches to extend the frontiers of knowledge in the field.