INFLUENCE OF TEACHERS QUALITY ON TEACHING PHONICS IN NURSERY SCHOOL

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1    BACKGROUND OF STUDY

The fact that phonics is very important cannot be overemphasized. The numerous contributions of phonics to the development of nursery school pupils  is well recognized. Phonics is once again a hot topic, and teachers, parents, school authorities, are all talking about it. Everyone seems to agree that we need the best set of teachers to  teach phonics, and almost everyone has an opinion about how it should (and should not) be taught. The question regarding teachers quality on phonics is not a new issue, since it goes a long way in influencing the learning ability of pupils. However, Paul McKee (1934), one of the most prominent reading experts of his day,wrote the following:

The question of teachers quality  in teaching phonics has aroused a lot of controversy.Some educators have held to the proposition that some phonics teachers are not only futile and wasteful but also harmful to the best interests of a reading program. Others believe that since the child must have some means of attacking strange words, instruction in phonics is imperative. There have been disputes also relative to the amount of phonics to be taught, the time when the teaching should take place, and the methods to be used. In fact, the writer knows of no problem around which more disputes have centered.

When McKee wrote these words, there was little knowledge on which to base decisions regarding teachers quality in teaching phonics. In the decades since, we have accumulated vast amounts of knowledge about how the brain works, how children learn, and how words are structured. In the next chapter, we will first summarize how teachers quality influences the ability of nusry school pupils in learning of phonics.

1.2  STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

There are so many problems which influence teachers quality in teaching phonics in nursery schools in Nigeria.

Inspite other related problems of this study are those caused by congenity clarity. Cognitive clarity is knowing what you are trying to do and understanding where you are trying to go and why you are going there.When you have cognitive clarity about a task, you are more likely to persist in your efforts because you anticipate the goals you will eventually reach.

1.3  OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The overall objectives of the study are:

1.          To determine the issues involved in teaching phonics in nursery school

2.          Highlight the obstacles, constraints as well as various hindrances to the quality teachers teaching phonics.

3.          To determine how teachers inability to teach phonics affects the pupils

4.          Suggest various ways the quality of phonics teaching can be realized.

1.4     RESEARCH QUESTIONS 

In the course of this study, the following research questions were fomulated for better understanding of the subject matter.

1.          Are phonics teachers equipped enough with the basic knowledge of phonics

2.          Do teachers understand the importance of teaching phonics in nursery school?

3.          Can these phonics teachers identify the different phonics for reading and spelling?

4.          Do teachers ability to teach phonics affects pupils?

1.5  SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study is designed to find out the influence of teachers quality in teaching phonics in nursery school. The study is restricted to five nursery and primary schools in Benin City, Edo State, where the research hopes to get information from the present nursery school teachers. List of the schools include:

Akoko-Edo Grammar School

Aunty Maria Nursery And Primary School

Brigade Nursery And Primary School

St Mary Nursery And Primary School

Jeffersons Group Of Schools

1.6  SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The research is carried out to determine the influence of teachers quality in teaching phonics in nursery schools. Finding of this work will however, go a long way in making the teaching of phonics a befitting one for nursery schools pupils.  Teachers  will be made to realize the importance of teaching phonics, and also  the educational knowledge involved will properly be called to the right place thereby solving teaching and learning phonics. This  will be made effective and both teachers and pupils will gain academically.

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