PIRLS 2006 Encyclopedia

PIRLS 2006 Encyclopedia• Recognize the logic of an action, and describe it using conjunctions; and• Express their own opinion.Mandated Materials for Reading InstructionMaterials for reading instructions are chosen by individual teachers. All textbooks mustbe approved by the Commission for Textbooks (a subcommission of the Council ofExperts). Prescribed textbooks are of two kinds: one with nonfiction texts and tasks,and another with fiction and tasks. There are few textbooks of each kind on the market.Teachers choose additional instructional materials for reading and writing from a varietyof available materials.Reading Instruction in the Primary GradesInstructional TimeDuring the first cycle of elementary school, the emphasis in instruction is on the Slovenelanguage. In the first grade, the total amount of time devoted to the Slovene languageis 210 school hours per year (a regular school hour is 45 minutes). In second and thirdgrades, 245 school hours per year (7 hours per week) are devoted to Slovene, 175 schoolhours of lessons per year in fourth grade, and 128 school hours in ninth grade. 14Instructional MaterialsSlovene language courses consist of reading, writing, listening, speaking, literature, andgrammar. Teachers use a variety of materials for teaching children how to read andwrite, not only within the prescribed hours for Slovene language but also within otherschool subjects. Because graded readers written in Slovene are not available, children’smagazines are often used as additional reading materials in the primary grades. Therealso are some computer-based programs for learning how to read and write, however,they are not widely used at schools.The choice of instructional materials in classrooms is affected by the financialresources of the students’ families. Although elementary school is compulsory and freeof charge, parents are required to buy all materials that children will need in school forinstruction, including textbooks.Use of TechnologyThe role of information communications technology (ICT) during the first years ofprimary education is not significant. Available computer-based programs for gainingbasic literacy in Slovene are mainly oriented towards spelling and counting. In the uppergrades, students are encouraged to use the Internet to seek information. However, whilethe availability of ICT and access to the Internet is spreading rapidly, this technology isnot readily available to all students and schools because of a lack of resources.Role of Reading SpecialistsThere are no specially employed reading specialists. However, if children have specificproblems, they are offered help. Classroom teachers in the first cycle of elementarySloveniaTIMSS & PIRLSInternational Study CenterLynch School of Education, Boston College 379