A preventive program for reading and writing acquisition problems

Abstract

The effect of a program to prevent the errors in literacy acquisition in firstgrade students from a low-income sociocultural status was analyzed. Thirty students enrolled in public elementary schools were selected, and randomly assigned to three groups. At the beginning of the scholar term, the preacademic and linguistic skills, as well as writing and reading levels, were assessed. The Experimental Group was included in a training program to improve their linguistic and preacademic skills. The program had a different set of foundations from others in educational psychology research. At the end of the scholar term, the effect of the program was assessed, comparing the reading and writing skills developed by the children from the three groups. The results show that the program improved the reading and writing skills. These results are discussed regarding the benefits of this kind of program for literacy acquisition with children from low-income sociocultural status.