The Use of Instructional Materials in Teaching Reading in Primary Schools in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State.
CHAPTER ONE
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The main purpose of this research study is to investigate into the utilization of instructional materials in teaching of reading to primary schools pupils in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State. The specific objectives of the study include:
- To find out the extent to which adequate instructional materials for teaching reading is available in primary schools in Kanam Local Government Areas of Plateau State.
- To find out the effect of utilization of instructional materials on academic performance of pupils in reading in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State
- To find out the problems that militates against effective utilization of instructional materials in teaching reading in primary schools in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State.
- To find out ways of improving the standard of teaching and learning reading in primary schools in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELEVANT LITERATURE
This chapter reviews literature related to utilization of instructional materials in teaching and learning process in schools. The review will be discussed under the following sub-headings:
- Concept of reading
- Goals of reading
- Challenges of teaching and learning reading
- Students’ reading attitude
- Availability of instructional materials in schools in Nigeria
- Importance of utilization of instructional materials in schools
- Constraints to the use of instructional materials in schools
CONCEPT OF READING
Reading is a complex cognitive process of decoding symbols for the intention of deriving meaning (reading comprehension) and/or constructing meaning. It is the mastery of basic cognitive processes to the point where they are automatic so that attention is freed for the analysis of meaning. Reading is a means of language acquisition, of communication, and of sharing information and ideas. Like all language skills, it is a complex interaction between the text and the reader which is shaped by the reader’s prior knowledge, experiences, attitude, and language community which is culturally and socially situated. The reading process requires continuous practices, development, and refinement. (Wikipedia, 2006). Readers use a variety of reading strategies to assist with decoding (to translate symbols into sounds or visual representation speech) and comprehension. Readers may use morpheme, semantics, syntax and context clues to identify the meaning of unknown words. Readers integrate the words they have read into their existing framework of knowledge or schema (Howard, 2005).
It is probably self-evident that the conceptions educators hold about the nature of reading shape their approaches to helping students improve their reading abilities. Some current approaches to supporting adolescent reading improvement address students’ word-level reading problems as a precondition for working on other levels of reading improvement. Reading apprenticeship approach is different because understanding of the nature of reading is different. Here is a brief outline of what we have learned from existing research and our own observation (Apolski, 2007). In this view of reading the credit (or blame) for students’ reading ability goes to primary grade teachers, and Upper elementary and secondary school. Teachers at each grade level need teach only new vocabulary and concepts relevant to new content. Seen this way, reading is a simple process: readers decode (figure out how to pronounce) each word in a text and then automatically comprehend the meaning of the words, as they do with their everyday spoken language. This is not our understanding of reading (Jerome, 2008).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This chapter presents the method and procedures used in conducting the research study under the following: The research design, population and sample, sampling technique, instrument for data collection and method of data analysis are all discussed under this chapter.
RESEARCH DESIGN
The design for this research is the descriptive survey research design and it is meant to investigate the effectiveness of instructional materials in teaching reading in primary schools in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State. As a descriptive survey research, this design requires the researcher to select a group of respondents and collect information from them. The information was collected from those selected from the larger population for the purpose of the study. The researchers’ choice of a descriptive survey research design is because it fits into the pattern of the research and it allows accurate information to be collected about a large population from a small sample.
POPULATION AND SAMPLE
The population for this study comprises of all the teachers and pupils in primary schools in Kanam Local Government Area. The sample for this research consists of 20 pupils from each of the five selected schools and 10 teachers from each of the five selected schools. There are many primary schools in Kanam local government area but only five were selected for the purpose of this research. In summary, a total of 100 pupils with special were selected across the five schools and also a total of 50 teachers were also selected.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
This chapter analysis and presents the data collected in the study. The analysis is presented in tables below:
The table above showed the distribution of respondents according to gender. 54% of the teachers are males while 46% are females. 60% of the pupils are males while 40% are females.
The above showed the distribution of teachers according to qualification. 48% are OND/NCE holders, 12% are HND holders, 58% are B.ED/B.SC/B.A holders. 2% are M.Ed holders.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND ECOMMENDATION
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
This research study investigates the use of instructional materials in teaching reading in primary schools in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State.
From the analysis of data collected, the following findings were made:
- In most of the primary schools in Kanam Local Government Area, the instructional materials for teaching reading are inadequate in supply.
- Irrespective of the inadequate of instructional material, teachers try to put the few available resources and materials appropriately into use in teaching reading to pupils.
- Instructional aids help to develop pupils’ reading skills and general improve pupils academic performance in school.
- Lack of adequate instructional materials in the school made it difficult for pupils to understand what they are taught.
- Making available adequate instructional aids in schools can help improve the standard of teaching and learning reading in schools.
CONCLUSION
Instructional materials and educational resources are established to cater for the well being of learning institutions and to some extent supervise their day to day running and provide necessary advice or resources to these instructions. The availability t of educational resources is very important because of it s role in the achievement of educational objectives and goals. The extent to which an organization like educational institution attains her objectives is directly proportional to the educational resources available and their utilization. The bane of education in Nigeria has always been associated with poor management. These explain the ineffectiveness and inefficiency of the Nigerian educational system.
Reading is of great significance and importance to the development of the Nigeria society. Through reading, humans have the tools to transmit knowledge to each succeeding generation; it allows one to listen to the wisdom and people of the ages. He assert that every child must become fully competent in reading to succeed in school and discharge responsibilities as a citizen of a democratic society. Reading is the foundation of much enjoyment in life and is closely related to vocational efficiency. Students and employees in every field must read to keep breast of what is happening in the fields. They must rely on written or digital words to convey information and data. The ability to read well is absolutely critical to succeed in life. It is therefore concluded in this study that there is need to improve on the standard of available of instructional materials for teaching and learning in schools.
RECOMMENDATION
Based on the findings of this research, the following recommendations are made:
- Basic instructional materials for teaching and learning and educational resources should be made available in schools.
- Only qualified teachers should be recruited to teach in school in Nigeria
- Pupils should improve their attitude towards learning by putting more seriousness and interest in learning in school.
- The standard of teaching and learning reading should be given more priority in school as it is the foundation for learning other subjects in school.
- Parents should try as much as possible to prove all the educational needs to their children as this will help improve their academic achievement in school.
- Parents should give their children good reading orientation from childhood by encouraging them to read books around them as this will help them develop positive reading attitude.
- Schools should equipped their libraries with current and interesting books to stimulate students interest in reading.
SUGGESTION FOR FURTHER STUDIES
Having carried out this research successfully, the researcher is suggesting that further studies should be carried out in the following areas:
- A research should be carried out on the causes of poor academic achievement of pupils in primary schools in Nigeria.
- A research should be carried out on the effects of parents socio-economic status on academic performance of pupils in schools in Nigeria.
- An investigation should be carried out into the attitude of pupils towards learning Nigerian schools.
- A research should be carried out on effects of truancy on pupils’ academic performance in reading in primary schools in Plateau State.
- A study should be carried out on the effects of instructional materials on pupils’ understanding of reading concepts in primary school in Plateau State.
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