A1 Journal article (refereed)
Literacy instruction activities and their associations with first graders’ reading performance in two transparent orthographies (2022)

Ruotsalainen, J., Soodla, P., Räikkönen, E., Poikkeus, A.-M., Kikas, E., & Lerkkanen, M.-K. (2022). Literacy instruction activities and their associations with first graders’ reading performance in two transparent orthographies. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, 52(1), 92-109. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057925.2020.1742093

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Ruotsalainen, Jenni; Soodla, Piret; Räikkönen, Eija; Poikkeus, Anna-Maija; Kikas, Eve; Lerkkanen, Marja-Kristiina

Journal or series: Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education

ISSN: 0305-7925

eISSN: 1469-3623

Publication year: 2022

Volume: 52

Issue number: 1

Pages range: 92-109

Publisher: Routledge

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03057925.2020.1742093

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/68886

Abstract

The aim of the study was to analyse literacy instruction activities and their associations with the reading performance of first graders in Estonia and Finland, two countries that share similar orthographies and educational systems but differ in the onset of formal reading instruction. The contents of 33 Literacy lessons in first grade spring were analysed and students’ (NEST = 415, NFIN = 154) reading performance was assessed in first grade autumn and spring. The results showed that there were more similarities than differences between the countries in literacy instruction activities, but some country-specific interaction effects were found between students’ reading performance and contents of the instruction. Especially the slopes of reading performance development among Finnish beginning readers differed from the other readers in both countries with respect to the content of literacy instruction. The results highlight the importance of responsiveness to students’ needs in early school years literacy instruction.

Keywords: reading; elementary education; educational methods; literacy; fluency

Free keywords: reading fluency; reading comprehension; literacy instruction; first grade; transparent orthography

Contributing organizations

Related projects

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

Preliminary JUFO rating: 1