Reading in the year 5 primary classroom

Abstract

The main goal of education is to teach people to read and thus acquire the writing system of their culture's language. Reading is one of the principal ways of transmitting a culture from one generation to another; failure to learn to read can keep people from full participation in their society. Within this perspective, this dissertation will focus on : (1) Historical Background of Reading; (2) Reading Material available in Schools; and (3) Reading Procedures; (4) School and Class Libraries; (5) Research Methodology and (6) Pupils Attitudes. Our point of departure focuses on how reading evolved through the years. The first chapter describes the changes in the Maltese and English reading books in the primary schools. The teachers' views regarding these changes in the reading material are tackled in chapter two. Also, we focus upon certain issues raised by the teachers, when they gave their views on the Maltese and English reading books. Issues discussed include the language, illustrations, genderism and the adequacy of such books to our culture.