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Assessing Dyslexia at Six Year of Age
Published on: May 1, 2020
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Letter-sound knowledge in Icelandic children at the age 6 years-old
Helga S Thórsdóttir1, Svava Þ Hjaltalín1, Hermundur Sigmundsson2
1Research Center for Education and Mindset, University of Iceland, Iceland.
Acta Psychologica
|June 3, 2023
Summary
Early phonics instruction is crucial for reading development. This study found strong correlations between letter-sound knowledge and early reading ability in Icelandic children, advocating for its integration into early schooling.
Area of Science:
- Early childhood education
- Developmental psychology
- Linguistics
Background:
- Letter-sound knowledge is a foundational skill for reading acquisition.
- Assessing early literacy skills is vital for identifying children's needs.
- Icelandic children's early literacy development requires specific investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine letter-sound knowledge in Icelandic children aged 5-6 years at school entry.
- To determine the relationship between letter-sound knowledge and early word recognition.
- To investigate potential gender differences in early literacy skills.
Main Methods:
- 392 children aged 5-6 years completed assessments.
- Evaluated knowledge of uppercase and lowercase letter names and sounds in Icelandic.
- Recorded whether children could read words ('broken the reading code').
Main Results:
- No significant gender differences were found in letter-name or letter-sound knowledge.
- 56.9% of children had 'broken the reading code' upon school entry.
- Significant positive correlations (0.915–0.963) were found between all letter-sound knowledge variables.
Conclusions:
- Early instruction in letter-sound correspondences is recommended for foundational reading skills.
- Strong letter-sound knowledge is linked to the ability to read words.
- This study supports early intervention for reading development in Icelandic schools.
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