CIED - Centro Interdisciplinar de Estudos Educacionais
Abstract
In Czech schools two teaching methods of reading are used: the analytic-synthetic
(conventional) and genetic (created in the 1990s). They differ in theoretical foundations and in
methodology.
The aim of this paper is to describe the above mentioned theoretical approaches and present
the results of study that followed the differences in the development of initial reading skills
between these methods.
A total of 452 first grade children (age 6-8) were assessed by a battery of reading tests at the
beginning and at the end of the first grade and at the beginning of the second grade. 350 pupils
participated all three times.
Based on data analysis the developmental dynamics of reading skills in both methods and the
main differences in several aspects of reading abilities (e.g. the speed of reading, reading
technique, error rate in reading) are described. The main focus is on the reading
comprehension development.
Results show that pupils instructed using genetic approach scored significantly better on used
reading comprehension tests, especially in the first grade. Statistically significant differences
occurred between classes independently of each method. Therefore, other factors such as
teacher´s role and class composition are discussed