Initial attempts at reading : a sample of Maltese children

Abstract

Recent studies in emergent literacy conceive reading as an ability which develops with the children's continual and natural interaction with print. The current study investigates the behaviours, skills and strategies used by a sample of Maltese children during early reading attempts. The study presents the patterns of behaviours observed in children 's storybook reading attempts or re - enactments of four. five six year olds. A storybook was specifically devised for the study. Each child was asked to read the book without adult assistance. All the reading sessions were audio-taped and transcribed. Transcriptions were content analysed and scored against a checklist of behaviours. Comparisons amongst the reading attempts were made within and across the three age groups. Differences in reading behaviours among kindergarten children were associated to influences of different home environments. The quality of the reading attempts of year one children and the fluency and accuracy of children in year two were attributed to the use of various behaviours and strategies.