title: Effective learning of writing and reading at preschool age with a multisensory method: a pilot study.
abstract: The readiness of preschool children (3 1/2 to 5 years old) for writing and reading was investigated using educational material specially designed for this purpose. 17 children participated in a three-month pilot program divided into monthly periods during which the language material was presented to them and subsequently, their behavior towards it was observed and recorded, 42.7% of the observations made it all three months (n = 408), showed occupation of the children with language material from 5 to 15 min. and another 49.0% occupation from 15 to 30 min. Children were involved with the language material mostly individually (92.2%). The materials that mostly attracted their interest were the tombolas and the four letter cards. Writing was the most popular activity (93.9%), followed by identifying (69.9%), reading (14.5%) and combining (6.3%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Early Childhood Education, Faculty of Education, Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki-Greece. azaf@otenet.gr
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zafrana
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nikoltsou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Daniilidou
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003423:Critical Period, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011932:Reading; D014956:Writing