Use of Reading Materials in the Teaching the Macedonian Language

Abstract

Developing reading skills is a long process that is “perfected” by reading. Reading assignments appear as means and contents for reading practice, the use of which implies a high degree of independence in reading. Literary works with different formats are used in the teaching in Macedonian language, such as literary contents in the textbooks and reading assignments for extracurricular independent reading. The subject of this research is the use of reading materials in the teaching in Macedonian language in the first two educational cycles of the nine-year primary education. The purpose of this research is to make a content and structural analysis of the reading assignments, as well as to examine the attitudes of the teachers about the use of the reading assignments in the teaching. The conclusions lead to a recommendation for reconsideration of the possibility for the Reading assignment to receive a new program status in an independent Program Area, in order to define more clearly the objectives and to increase the number of teaching hours intended for processing the reading assignments. In the program area Reading, literature and reading assignments, the exact number of teaching hours for the realization of the reading assignments is not indicated. The analysis of the reading assignments in the first two educational cycles leads to the final conclusions according to which it is necessary to increase the number of compulsory reading assignments, which means to increase the number of hours for their analysis. The conclusions indicate that teachers need to strengthen the pedagogical competencies and to build consistent didactic support for the analysis of reading assignments. An important conclusion is the need for more comprehensive research to examine the program setup of program areas that are closely correlated with the research problem, re-examination of the offered reading assignments; stimulating students’ interest in reading; opportunities to actualize reading on a daily basis; the availability of reading assignments; encouraging a successive approach to reading assignments.