Differentiated instruction for Grade 3 reading challenges: South African teachers in full-service schools

African Journal of Disability

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Differentiated instruction for Grade 3 reading challenges: South African teachers in full-service schools
 
Creator Phala, Thembi A. Hugo, Anna J.
 
Subject Education; Early Childhood Development; Teaching of reading full-service schools; Grade 3 learners; different reading materials as content; process and product in the teaching of reading; learning environment; in-service teacher training
Description Background: We analysed the use of differentiated reading support by Grade 3 teachers and learning support teachers to help learners with barriers to reading in three full-service schools in Tshwane North District in Gauteng Province, South Africa.Objectives: The study explored how Grade 3 teachers and learning support teachers in full-service schools implement differentiated instruction to support learners with reading difficulties in their classrooms.Method: A qualitative approach with a case study design was used to collect data from 11 Grade 3 class teachers and 6 learning support teachers in three full-service schools. Data were obtained using semi-structured interviews and classroom observations; thus, an interpretivist paradigm was followed.Results: The findings showed that different strategies were employed by the participants, but some of the finer applications of differentiated instruction were unused. The following themes emerged: choosing different reading materials as content, the process during the teaching of reading, the product in the teaching of reading, the learning environment and the need for in-service teacher training.Conclusion: The results highlighted the difficulties inherent in using differentiated instruction based on Grade 3 learners’ reading needs. Many of the learners had specific barriers to reading.Contribution: The study contributes to the literature on methods of teaching reading in Grade 3 classes. It captures the need for teacher professional development regarding using the finer applications of differentiated instruction in the classroom.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor No contributors of supporting agencies
Date 2025-05-16
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — qualitative research
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/ajod.v14i0.1549
 
Source African Journal of Disability; Vol 14 (2025); 9 pages 2226-7220 2223-9170
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/1549/3306 https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/1549/3307 https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/1549/3308 https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/1549/3309
 
Coverage South Africa; Gauteng 2017-2019 30-50 years; female; Black; teachers in full-sercie schools
Rights Copyright (c) 2025 Thembi A. Phala, Anna J. Hugo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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