A Study on Reading Comprehension Skills of Primary School 5th Grade Students--Learning Basic Reading and Writing Skills through Phonics-Based Sentence Method or Decoding Method.

Abstract

AbstractThis research aims at investigating the influence of two methods implemented in primary reading and writing teaching programs -phonics-based sentence method and decoding (analysis) method-on primary school 5th grade students' reading comprehension achievement. Also, the study considers the relationship between socio-economic status and reading comprehension achievement. This causal study was carried out in four primary schools which were in the districts of Adana; Seyhan and Cukurova. Out of 20 classes in these schools, 745 fifth grade students who were chosen according to the convenience sampling method to participate in the study. The data was obtained through 351 students learned reading and writing by means of decoding method in the 2008-2009 academic year and through 394 students who learned reading and writing by phonicsbased sentence method in the 2009-2010 academic year. The data was collected using a reading comprehension achievement test. In the study, the students' personal information was collected using a socio-demographic questionnaire. The findings indicated a statistically non-significant difference on reading comprehension achievement scores of students who learned reading and writing by different methods. In addition, a positive and meaningful relationship between reading comprehension achievement and socio-economic status (r= .33, p .01).Key WordsReading Comprehension Achievement, Primary Reading and Writing Instruction, Socio-Economic Status.Primary reading and writing instruction has an important place both in one's personal life and social life. In addition to guiding students to acquire reading and writing skills, it is essential to direct them to learn some skills such as how to use Turkish effectively, how to communicate appropriately, how to solve problems and to make decision. Primary reading and writing instruction leads to significant changes in students' intellectual, affective and social skills. Also, it improves students' life-long intellectual skills such as comprehending, ordering, questioning, relating and guessing. In making learners gain these skills, methods and practice followed in primary school reading and writing curriculum have a considerable role (MEB Talim ve Terbiye Kurulu Baskanligi [MEB], 2005, p. 225). Keeping in mind that developing these skills is at the heart of primary reading and writing instruction, which method is implemented in teaching reading and writing gains importance. According to Akyol (2005, p. 9), there are ways of primary reading and writing instruction: from parts to whole, from whole to parts and interactive approach. Gunes (2000, p. 137-149) and Celenk (2005, p. 50-59) mention three methods: synthesis (alphabet, phonetics, syllable), analysis (word, sentence and story) and mixed.In Turkey, various methods have been implemented in primary school reading and writing curriculum. In the curriculum of 1924, the teacher was set free to decide on one of the methods: sentence or letter method. In the curriculum of 1926, the letter method was banned. Instead, word and sentence method were encouraged. In the curriculum of 1936, synthesis and decoding method was proposed. Particularly, decoding method was taken as a base but synthesis was also supported. In the curriculum of 1948 and 1968 decoding method was reinforced. In the curriculum of 1981, 1948 and 1968 the decoding method (DM) were followed and no other method was proposed (Sahin, 2005).Decoding is a technique working from whole to parts. Firstly, meaningful sentences, then, words, syllables and sounds are introduced. Following those steps, free reading starts (Akyol, 2005, p. 79). In the academic year of 2004-2005, this technique was implemented in the primary school curriculum. However, since the academic year of 2004- 2005, phonics-based sentence method (PBSM) was proposed as a method of primary reading and writing instruction. According to this method, primary reading and writing starts with phonemes. …