Phonics and the Acquisition of Literacy Skills among Preschoolers in Early Childhood Education Centres in Rivers East Senatorial District

Abstract

This study examines phonics and the literacy skills acquisition of preschoolers in early childhood education centres in Rivers East Senatorial Districts of Rivers State. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of phonics on the acquisition of literacy skills among preschoolers in early childhood education centres in Rivers East Senatorial District of Rivers State. The study adopted the pre-test and post-test control group quasi-experimental research. Two objectives and two hypotheses guided the study. The population of the study was 2,399 preschoolers. 66 preschoolers constituted the sample size for the study. The instrument for data collection was the research designed Preschoolers literacy skill acquisition Observation Checklist which was validated. The data generated from the study was analyzed using analysis of co- variance (ANCOVA) at 0.05 significant levels. The findings of the study revealed that there is a significant difference between the Synthetic Phonics instructional strategies and Conventional Method on the literacy skills development of preschoolers in public early childhood centers in Rivers East Senatorial District of Rivers State. The study recommended among others that caregivers in the Early Childhood Centers should be encourage in the use of synthetic phonics instructional strategy by providing enabling environment for them.