Bokhunden som inte kunde läsa   : En interventionsstudie i åk 2 och 3 med elever i lässvårigheter.

Sammanfattning: In a time where literacy is described as one of the most important tools for participation and development, configuration and implementation of scientifically based interventions can only been seen as a particularly important pedagogical challenge. Being able to read is a composite ability consisting of two main factors, being able to decode words and understanding the language (Gough & Tunmer, 1986). Motivation is another aspect that can be added to further solidify the result. The aim of the present study was to compare the development of word decoding, reading comprehension and motivation/interest in reading in the intervention group and the comparison group. One motivation-building method is to use a non-judgmental and unconditional “reading dog” to read for, which the intervention group did. Pupils from grade 2 and 3 who experienced reading difficulties, either had special assistance or extra accommodation, were divided into the two groups. During a seven week period the intervention group got to practice reading using reading lists and repeated reading, they also got to read for a “reading dog” once a week. Meanwhile the comparison group received "traditional teaching" and the ordinary decided support measures in the form of additional accommodation or special support. Word decoding ability, reading comprehension and interest/motivation in reading were measured individually before and after the seven week period. The results showed that the intervention group had made the greatest progress in word decoding and reading comprehension after the seven weeks, compared with the comparison group. The pretests showed that the comparison group had a higher mean on the thorough tests of word decoding and reading comprehension, but that the advantage had decreased between the two groups after seven weeks of work. The pupils' self-assessed value of the interest in reading had also been increased in the intervention group, whereas it had fallen slightly in the comparison group. The “reading dog” element was predominantly appreciated by pupils, parents or guardians and the regular teachers. To sum this study the intervention aimed to stimulate pupils' composite reading skills in a learning environment made to give pupils who were experiencing reading difficulties positive reading experiences and a stronger reader identity.