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September 22, 2015
Sound approach to reading reaches Maori kids
Waatea Team
Posted On September 22, 2015
A new programme is lifting reading levels in lows decile schools around Porirua, Lower Hutt and Wellington.
Massey University Institute of Education has measured the resuts of the first year of the Sounds like Fun project, which uses a teaching resource developed by Porirua educationalist Joy Allcock.
Research head Professor James Chapman says while children in higher decile schools seem to benefit from the standard approach to literacy instruction, it doesn't work as well in low decile schools and a literacy gap opens up as they move through the education system.
He says with Sounds Like Fun, children in low decile schools are getting close to age-appropriate reading and spelling performance, with Maori and Pasifika children also showing accelerated progress for Maori and Pasifika.
Ms Allcock says Sounds Like Fun uses children’s vocabulary as a starting point for literacy, turning words to sounds to print.
She says all children can participate no matter what their prior literacy knowledge might be.
Copyright © 2015, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
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