Abstract
Equal Education released a report titled No space for us: understanding overcrowding in Gauteng schools. They found that in most schools in Gauteng “[l]earners are learning in classes that are too big, without enough classrooms of the right size, furniture or teachers” (Equal Education, 2021, p.2). Overcrowded classrooms are a persistent issue and interventions must be put in place to make sure that the learners that are taught in these overcrowded classrooms do not miss out on quality learning and teaching. The purpose of this study was to investigate if the Reading to Learn (RtL) approach can improve learners’ understanding of stories read in an overcrowded Grade 2 classroom.
The study adopted a qualitative research approach in which action research was used. The effects of RtL in an overcrowded classroom were investigated. RtL was used as an intervention that would aid in improving the learners’ comprehension of the stories read in the overcrowded Grade 2 classroom; however in some lessons the RtL approach was not used. When RtL was used in the classroom, the learners sat in groups, and the groups comprised of learners with different reading abilities. This was done so that the learners could assist each other during the reading process. When RtL was not used in the classroom, learners sat in rows facing the board. This enabled the researcher to compare an overcrowded classroom with RtL and an overcrowded classroom without RtL.
Data was gathered using a reflective journal as well as oral and written assessments. The data was analysed using the constant comparative method, which resulted in three main findings of the study. First, the data revealed that the learners understood stories better when RtL was used in the classroom. Secondly, the reading process was largely ineffective before the implementation of RtL, and thirdly, the implementation of RtL made it easier for the teacher to manage the learners during the reading lessons.
The findings suggest that the RtL approach can be utilised in early Grade overcrowded classrooms to enhance the learners’ understanding of stories read. Recommendations for the government and other stakeholders in the education system were also discussed. For example, the government should build more schools.