Abstract
M.Ed.
The overall concern of this investigation lies in the need to improve
secondary school reading performance. This concern is of great importance
given the centrality of reading to the English First Language course and
to the whole of the secondary school academic curriculum. Poor reading
ability is an obstacle to later academic success and, for this reason, it
is crucial that each pupil's reading ability and experience is developed
as early as possible in the secondary school years.
This investigation is based on the premise that the importance of the
Standard 6 and 7 reading programme, in particular the significance of
teaching reading comprehension has been underestimated and needs to be
given greater attention within the English Language programme at Secondary
School.
The central focus of this investigation is to address the issues of reading
attainment and monitoring. More specifically, my first concern is to
clarify the nature of reading attainment and the factor-s involved in
promoting it at Standard 6 and 7 levels. My concern for monitoring and
reading attainment centres on the fact that, without adequate monitoring
of individual readers and reading programmes , one is unable to assess to
what extent readers are progr-eaamg, Hence the direction of this research
will be to:
outline a model of reading which will clarify classroom practice,
reading attainment, growth and assessment.
outline the comprehension demands which fluent readers at
secondary school level can be expected to cope with.
indicate general principles arising out of research which can be
used for developing reading at secondary school level.
investigate ways of monitoring and to investigate those factors
which affect individual reading attainment and overall programme
effectiveness.