[The impact of precursors on reading, spelling, and arithmetic at school 2nd grade]

Gesundheitswesen. 2011 Oct;73(10):644-9. doi: 10.1055/s-0031-1286268. Epub 2011 Oct 18.
[Article in German]

Abstract

Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to determine the role of precursors in the prediction of school achievement. 372 children were followed from health examination for school entry to the second grade.

Methods: Preschool skills assessed by a screening of developmental stage (SOPESS) were related to second-grade reading (ELFE 1-6), spelling (DERET 1-2+), and arithmetic (DEMAT 1+) by correlation and regression analyses.

Results: Correlations between numeracy and math abilities (r=0,340) met with our expectations as also did those between verbal abilities and spelling (r=0,276). The subtests of attention and counting (SOPESS) contribute significantly to an explanation of the variance in school achievement. Numeracy predicts math achievement, and verbal memory contributes to school achievement in math and spelling.

Conclusions: Our findings support the contribution of visual selective attention, phonological memory, and verbal abilities to the development of reading, spelling, and math at primary school.

MeSH terms

  • Achievement
  • Aptitude*
  • Attention
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Developmental Disabilities / diagnosis*
  • Dyscalculia / diagnosis*
  • Dyslexia / diagnosis*
  • Early Diagnosis
  • Female
  • Germany
  • Humans
  • Language Development Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Learning Disabilities / diagnosis*
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Mass Screening*
  • Phonetics
  • School Health Services*
  • Statistics as Topic
  • Verbal Learning