Learning to read by TV

Press, 18 June 1979, Page 19

Learning to read by TV

PA Wellington The latest discoveries in methods of teaching slow readers at home will be televised in a series of programmes starting this month. The programmes are based on a $14,500 research project completed in Auckland in May. They are aimed at helping children who are two to six years behind in normal reading skills. The films were made by Technical Institute students using Auckland University equipment. am! sponsored by the Council for Educational Research. The director of the council, Mr John Watson, said he hoped the programmes would be of special help to disadvantaged families, who did not have access to sophisticated aids. He thought the series was the first of its kind in the world. In the research project a team of four psychologists from Auckland University studied 14 Mangere families where there were children retarded in reading skills. They reported that parents were keen to help teach their children to read, and they could be taught effective tutoring procedures.