Learning of Reading and Writing in Primary School: A Method of Reflective and Conscious Analysis of Words

Reading at school traditionally is based on isolated training of this cognitive ability. Common methods
are repetition, memorization and reproduction of given information. In public schools in Mexico,
children never read entire books and only pages or paragraphs from the official programs. Even in
private schools reading acquisition is a mechanic process, which starts from the first grade of preschool
age and continues up to the sixth grade of primary school. Cognitive tests measure the
quantity of words read loudly in a minute with no attention to understanding of meaning. Alternative
methods within active school and global reading can’t solve this problem, because of lack of attention
for orientation, analysis of content of actions and reflexive participation of the children in their own
school actions. Our aim is to present an example of usage of orientation for initial introduction of
reading process in primary school and to compare results of the method with results of traditional
method of teaching. The method of introduction of reading and writing is based on psychological
conception of orientation as essential element of activity. Reading process is analysed as symbolic
codification and de-codification of oral words. The provide authors added detailed analysis of
phonological and phonetic system of Spanish language. The method includes introduction of actions
of codification at materialized, perceptual and verbal levels with gradual passing to reading of words
and sentences. The program was applied in private primary school “Kepler” in the city of Puebla
(Mexico) for six years. Results of assessment of reading and writing process in experimental and
control groups of school children have shown significant differences favourable for experimental
groups. The comparison of the effects of the method on children with specific learning disabilities is
provided in control and experimental group. Among strong advantages of the method is correct
pronunciation of all known and unknown words in Spanish, usage of correct space between words in
writing, reduced number of orthographic mistakes. The Method of reflective and conscious analysis of
words is a useful tool for introduction of reading and writing in children with normal psychological and
neuropsychological development and in cases of syndromes and disabilities.