Preschool, executive functions and oral language as predictors of literacy and numeracy skills in first grade.
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Title
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Preschool, executive functions and oral language as predictors of literacy and numeracy skills in first grade.
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Creator
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Mwanza-Kabaghe, Sylvia
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Date
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2021-03-10T07:33:11Z
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Date Available
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2021-03-10T07:33:11Z
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Date Issued
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2015-12-05
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Abstract
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Preschool is known to prepare children for formal school, also studies worldwide have shown
that children who attend preschool perform better than those who do not attend preschool in
early years. There is some evidence that preschool curriculums that incorporate executive
functions yield better results in literacy and numeracy in early school. Studies have also shown
that oral language skills predict literacy attainment in primary school years. It is not known
however, whether preschool prepares children to perform better in literacy and numeracy skills
in the first grade in Zambia. This study therefore sought to establish the predictive role of
preschool, executive functions and oral language in the first grade in Lusaka Zambia.
Specifically the study sought to establish the extent to which preschool prepares children for
learning to read and numeracy in first grade when we control for the SES and intelligence. In
addition, the study examined whether preschool is beneficial for the development of EF like
working memory and inhibitory skills as well as whether preschool stimulates reading, writing
and numeracy through executive functions. The study further assessed whether preschool may
interfere with learning to read in first grade if children do not speak Nyanja at home and depend
on school for learning to read as well as learning the language of instruction (Nyanja)
The study utilized a quasi-experimental design as children with and without preschool were
assessed within the school setting. 18 schools took part in the study. The target sample per school
was 12 pupils giving a total of 216 from which 45% were boys and 55% girls (98 with preschool
and 118 without preschool). Children were tested at the start of Grade One. Follow-up testing
(Phase II) commenced, approximately seven months after the initial testing was completed.
Hundred and ninety seven (197) of the children in the original sample were tested in Phase II.
Children were tested individually. The tests were administered in Nyanja (the language of
instruction in first grade)
To assess early literacy skills, the Basic Skills Assessment Tool (BASAT) was applied. In
addition to word recognition and text comprehension, the BASAT includes tests to assess basic
skills like letter knowledge, phonemic awareness and short- term memory. Executive function
skill were assessed using the pencil taping test, the stroop-like test and the BRIEF. Familiarity
with language was tested by eliciting a narration from each child and the Peabody Picture
Vocabulary Test measured receptive vocabulary. Pattern Reasoning (Kauffman Test Battery for
Children) was utilized to measure general intelligence while information processing was
measured using the RAN. A variety of methods were used to analyze the data including,
correlations, t-test, factorial anova and multilevel regression.
Results revealed that pupils who went to preschool did not outperform pupils who did not go to
preschool in first grade. On the contrary they performed worse. Children with preschool had a
head start in alphabetic skills compared to children without preschool in the first grade but on all
other literacy and numeracy tests there were no effects in favor of children who went to
preschool. In terms of executive functions the study revealed that preschool did not promote
executive functions. But executive functions do predict literacy and numeracy skills. Specifically
working memory and inhibitory control predict literacy and numeracy skills over and above
other executive functions. It was also established that executive functions are better predictors of
numeracy than literacy. The study further revealed that oral language is important for
performance in literacy skills.
The study revealed that linguistic diversity may explain delays of children who attend preschool
in the first grade. Children are taught in English in preschool but in a local language, Njanya in
Lusaka, in first grade. This theory is in line with the finding that children with the most
confusing language situation, the Non Nyanja speakers, were lowest performers. Non Nyanja
speakers speak another language at home, learnt English in preschool and need to learn a third
language, Njanya, in first grade.
The study recommends that the Zambian Government should assess the quality of preschools to
ensure that the curriculum has preparatory activities for literacy and numeracy skills. It is also
recommended that executive function stimulating activities be part of preschool. In addition,
schools should not use different languages in preschool and first grade
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Identifier
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Mwanza-Kabaghe S. Preschool, Executive Functioning and Oral language as Predictors of Literacy and Numeracy in the First Grade: Educational Psychology, University of Zambia; 2015.
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Language
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Thesis