Determining Characteristics of Students with Difficulties in the Literacy Learning Process, and the Difficulties They Experience in that Process: A Mixed Methods Study

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the characteristics of students with difficulties in the literacy learning process and to identify the difficulties they experience during that process. The mixed method was applied in the study and the data were gathered through questionnaires and interviews from class teachers employed in central Bursa. A total of 1068 teachers completed the questionnaire and interviews were conducted with 48 teachers. It was determined that students had greater difficulties at the syllable formation stage; that a large section of students acquired literacy skills in second grade and that another section could not acquire these skills at primary school; that very few of the students had received preschool education and that their ages were below those of their peers; that generally, parents did not support the students; that students had difficulty in learning certain sounds and that they confused some sounds; and that they had more difficulties with open syllables, with words in which consonant clusters occur together and with applying sentence rules. At the end of the study, it is recommended that the acquisition of literacy skills be enabled by providing training via support courses for students, and that technology-supported materials be made available to serve teachers and students.