Developing phonological and reading tests for children within - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Developing phonological and reading tests for children within Gaelic medium education Fiona Lyon & Sarah MacQuarrie. ASN & SLT in Gaelic Medium Education. University of Edinburgh June 2014

About us / About our research practice Language in GME research theory

Overview • Consider how language skills are assessed in GME and explore teachers’ perceptions • Phonological screening test for use with children in Gaelic medium education • Current research - that aims to develop a reading test for children in Gaelic medium education

Assessment of Language in GME ‘There was a lack of suitable resources to assess and diagnose the difficulties of pupils whose general and Gaelic learning needs were more challenging.’ HM Inspectorate of Education (2005, p.26)

Teachers’ perceptions Teacher Group Number of Responses Head 5 (11%) Depute head 2 (4%) Principal 7 (16%) Classroom 28 (62%) Support for Learning 3 (7%) Total 45

Teachers’ perceptions

Teachers’ perceptions

Teachers’ perceptions

Gaelic Phonological Screening Test Why a test of phonological skills? • Strong indicator of future reading ability • Tool for teachers to use • Supports parental engagement

Gaelic Phonological Screening Test • Syllable blending • Polysyllabic repetition • Phoneme blending • Letter knowledge • Initial phoneme • Rhyme detection deletion • Rhyme production • Final phoneme deletion

Test Development • Audit of 22 screening tests of Ph. Aw. • Analysis of 21 subtests • Gaelic Screening Test devised • Pilot in 2 schools – 37 pupils

Test Research • Main Study -11 authorities 86% participation • 48 schools - 80% return • 368 pupils from Primary 2 /3 - 60% of pop. • 45 questionnaires returned – 91% • 18 interviews – 39%volunteered

Test Analysis • Internal consistency • Reliability coefficients all greater or equal to 0.7. • Construct validity • Inter-correlating all subtest scores. Strong correlations between 6 of the subtests and medium correlations between the rest. • Factor Analysis • Phoneme deletion, phoneme blending and letter knowledge explained 41% • Rhyme detection and production explained 13%.

Gaelic Phonological Screening Test • Published in 2012 • Standardised scores

Gaelic Phonological Screening Test 75 50 25 0 RHT RPT SBT PHBT IPHDT FPHDT PRT LK

Gaelic Phonological Screening Test • Published in 2012 • Standardised scores • Support manual

Measures of Reading Next phase of our research looks at reading Diverse range of tests that assess reading

Current reseach

Next Steps Evaluation of reading passages Teacher Involvement Continuation of trials

Relevant publications Lyon, F.M., & MacQuarrie, S. (2014). Assessment of reading skills in Gaelic medium education: Exploring teachers’ perceptions and present practice. Educational & Child Psychology, 31 (2). Lyon, F.M. (2013) Early Intervention in Gaelic-medium Education. Proceedings of the Scottish Gaelic Studies Conference, Rannsachadh na Gàidhlig 6, 23-26 August 2010 , Aberdeen University. Lyon, F. M. (2012) Gaelic Phonological Screening Test / Deuchainn Fuaimneachadh Gaidhlig. GL Assessment. Lyon, F. M. (2012) Early Intervention in Gaelic-medium Education. Scottish Languages Review Issue 24(1) pp13-24.

Moran taing / Thank you Any questions Dr Fiona Lyon fiona@fionalyon.co.uk Dr Sarah MacQuarrie sarah.macquarrie@manchester.ac.uk