Teaching strategies that can improve literacy levels among the lower primary school learners in selected government primary schools in Kitwe.

Abstract

This study endeavored to establish teaching strategies that would help reduce illiteracy levels among primary school learners as a good reading foundation is the key to a literate adult and a literate country.The objectives of this study wer to: find the common strategies teachers use to imrove literacy levels at lower primary school; assess pupils performance when these strategies are ermployed in a classroom,; compare pupils participation when different strategies are used by various teachers,and establish what these motivating factors are when these strategies are employed.The research design adopted for this study was descriptive.The primary data was obtained through the administration of structured questionnaires to five primary schools in kitwe District .The secondary data on the study was obtained from journals ;books;publications;and the internet.The types of data collected were both qualitative and quantitative in nature and guided by the objective of the study.For the purpose of this study,the population was drawn from district primary schools in Kitwe,the target population comprised of teachers from each of the five schools .From each school randomly interviewed 10 teachers to find out common strategies being used to improve literacy and effects of the teaching strategies being used .The results have shown that common strategies in most of the schools were the use of remedial reading lessons ,formation of a literacy class to support those larging behind in skiils such as reading, use of syllable charts and ,reading cards.The study makes three major recommendations; firstly,that teachers ought to be very productive and supportive to ensure that they effect the strategies in the classroom that will foster improvement in the classroom,secondly; Government and cooperate partners should consider providing teaching resources such as reading materials and also draw relevant information from different research studies in order to meet specific learner needs,thirdly,more effective strategies be used to facilitate learning process.,,these being forming a literacy class,encourage class participation,much remedial work and motivate learners effectively in literacy learning. The study makes three major recommendations: 1) firstly,that teachers ought to be very productive and supportive to ensure that they effect the strategies in the classroom that will foster improvement in the classroom,secondly; 2) Government and cooperate partners should consider providing teaching resources such as reading materials and draw relevant information from different research studies in order to meet specific learner needs in literacy learning and teaching 3) More Caparcity Professional Development (CPD) meetings and trainings teaching on literacy teaching and learning methods must be put in place in the District.