Reading Comprehension and Motivation in Early Childhood Education Using Light

Abstract

Early childhood education is the basis of children’s education, especially in the fields of reading and writing. The use of innovative resources in the classroom that motivate and awaken reading interest, as a preliminary step to a habit that will be acquired in primary school, becomes the main task of teachers who value the importance of reading in the personal and academic development of their pupils. The aim of this project was to help the comprehension of literary texts in order to awaken interest and reading motivation by using light and manipulative materials, favoring the pleasure of reading. It consisted of the narration of stories and the subsequent completion of activities through the use of old overhead projectors employed as light tables. This study included 326 students aged 4 to 6 years (51.8% of whom were boys) enrolled in pre-school education in schools in the Region of Murcia (Spain). A sociodemographic scale, the Mierisuo-Storm and Soinnien scale (2012), and an observational record were administered as instruments for the collection of information. The results obtained show that 99% of the students understood the argument of the text and were able to carry out the subsequent activities using the resources offered; the same percentage showed interest in further readings. In conclusion, it can be stated that the implementation of new resources in the classroom focused on the comprehension of texts helps awaken in children the motivation and interest necessary to train them as future readers.