,QUESTION 1 (25 MARKS)
1.1 Explain why reading is so important in the Foundation Phase. (5)
Reading is critically important in the Foundation Phase for several key reasons:
First, reading develops a young child's mind. According to the RFP2601 Guide (2020:17), "reading
develops a young child's mind. The mind is a muscle which requires exercising. Understanding
written words is one way to grow the mind's ability." Through reading, children develop and
increase their vocabulary and language skills, improve their spelling, and enhance their spoken and
written expressions.
Second, reading broadens a young child's imagination and develops their emotions. The guide
explains that through reading, "a child's mind can travel to any place anywhere in the world, while
still remaining in the same spot within the covers of a book" (RFP2601 Guide, 2020:17). Children
can use their imagination to portray themselves as characters and experience joys and tragedies
through focused imagination.
Third, reading helps young children learn to listen. The RFP2601 Guide (2020:18) states that when
children "learn to listen carefully to what is being read, they learn to develop their listening skills,
improve their ability to focus and concentrate, as well as understand and recall what they are
listening to."
Fourth, reading expands a young child's creativity. Children's creative ability expands through
reading processes and language development. The guide notes that reading helps children to draw
conclusions, explain stories, make predictions, change endings, illustrate stories, and rewrite their
own stories (RFP2601 Guide, 2020:18).
Finally, reading forms the foundation for all future learning. Pretorius, Jackson, McKay, Murray and
Spaul (2016, cited in RFP2601 Guide, 2020:19) concur that "all future learning is fundamentally
dependent on the learner's ability to read with understanding." Every subject, assignment,
assessment, and examination requires reading.
, 1.2 Discuss your understanding of a print-rich classroom and evaluate how it contributes to
reading development in the Foundation Phase. (5x2=10)
Understanding of a print-rich classroom:
A print-rich classroom is a dedicated learning space that is bright and filled with various printed
materials to captivate learners' attention and allow them to learn meaningfully. According to the
RFP2601 Guide (2020:22), "Classrooms are dedicated spaces in schools where learners spend most
of their time learning. Hence, you should ensure that your classroom is bright and print-rich to
captivate the attention of your learners and allow them to learn meaningfully."
Key features of a print-rich classroom include:
Clearly labelled corners such as Library corner, Reading corner, and Nature corner
Labelled items like Cupboard, Door, Table, Chair, and Window
A dedicated corner to display learner efforts
Phonic theme boards and word walls
Word and picture mobiles hung from the ceiling
Relevant charts including Alphabet charts, Phonic and blend charts, Days of the week and
Months of the year charts, Birthday chart, National symbols chart, Colours chart with names,
Animal picture chart with names, Nursery rhymes chart, and Numbers and number names chart
(RFP2601 Guide, 2020:23)
Contribution to reading development:
A print-rich classroom contributes significantly to reading development in the following ways:
Firstly, it stimulates incidental reading and daily reading practice. Jacobs, Vakalis and Gawe (2004,
cited in RFP2601 Guide, 2020:22) note that "besides helping learners to extract useful and relevant
information from charts, print-rich classrooms also stimulate and encourage incidental reading and
daily reading practice."
Secondly, it extends learners' vocabulary through incidental learning. The RFP2601 Guide (2020:22)
explains that "not every word a learner reads is taught by you. It is important to note that your
learners' vocabulary is also extended through incidental reading, which takes place through
associating illustrations with words."
Thirdly, it creates a stimulating and engaging learning environment. A well-designed print-rich
classroom captivates learners' attention and motivates them to engage with printed materials,
fostering a positive attitude towards reading.
Fourthly, it provides constant exposure to print, which is essential for developing emergent literacy
skills. Van Staden (2011, cited in RFP2601 Guide, 2020:27) highlights that "the quality of early
language and literacy exposure is imperative for the development of emergent literacy skills of all
learners."
Lastly, it supports the development of foundational reading skills such as letter recognition, word
recognition, and phonemic awareness through the constant visual presence of letters, words, and
sounds displayed in the classroom environment.
1.1 Explain why reading is so important in the Foundation Phase. (5)
Reading is critically important in the Foundation Phase for several key reasons:
First, reading develops a young child's mind. According to the RFP2601 Guide (2020:17), "reading
develops a young child's mind. The mind is a muscle which requires exercising. Understanding
written words is one way to grow the mind's ability." Through reading, children develop and
increase their vocabulary and language skills, improve their spelling, and enhance their spoken and
written expressions.
Second, reading broadens a young child's imagination and develops their emotions. The guide
explains that through reading, "a child's mind can travel to any place anywhere in the world, while
still remaining in the same spot within the covers of a book" (RFP2601 Guide, 2020:17). Children
can use their imagination to portray themselves as characters and experience joys and tragedies
through focused imagination.
Third, reading helps young children learn to listen. The RFP2601 Guide (2020:18) states that when
children "learn to listen carefully to what is being read, they learn to develop their listening skills,
improve their ability to focus and concentrate, as well as understand and recall what they are
listening to."
Fourth, reading expands a young child's creativity. Children's creative ability expands through
reading processes and language development. The guide notes that reading helps children to draw
conclusions, explain stories, make predictions, change endings, illustrate stories, and rewrite their
own stories (RFP2601 Guide, 2020:18).
Finally, reading forms the foundation for all future learning. Pretorius, Jackson, McKay, Murray and
Spaul (2016, cited in RFP2601 Guide, 2020:19) concur that "all future learning is fundamentally
dependent on the learner's ability to read with understanding." Every subject, assignment,
assessment, and examination requires reading.
, 1.2 Discuss your understanding of a print-rich classroom and evaluate how it contributes to
reading development in the Foundation Phase. (5x2=10)
Understanding of a print-rich classroom:
A print-rich classroom is a dedicated learning space that is bright and filled with various printed
materials to captivate learners' attention and allow them to learn meaningfully. According to the
RFP2601 Guide (2020:22), "Classrooms are dedicated spaces in schools where learners spend most
of their time learning. Hence, you should ensure that your classroom is bright and print-rich to
captivate the attention of your learners and allow them to learn meaningfully."
Key features of a print-rich classroom include:
Clearly labelled corners such as Library corner, Reading corner, and Nature corner
Labelled items like Cupboard, Door, Table, Chair, and Window
A dedicated corner to display learner efforts
Phonic theme boards and word walls
Word and picture mobiles hung from the ceiling
Relevant charts including Alphabet charts, Phonic and blend charts, Days of the week and
Months of the year charts, Birthday chart, National symbols chart, Colours chart with names,
Animal picture chart with names, Nursery rhymes chart, and Numbers and number names chart
(RFP2601 Guide, 2020:23)
Contribution to reading development:
A print-rich classroom contributes significantly to reading development in the following ways:
Firstly, it stimulates incidental reading and daily reading practice. Jacobs, Vakalis and Gawe (2004,
cited in RFP2601 Guide, 2020:22) note that "besides helping learners to extract useful and relevant
information from charts, print-rich classrooms also stimulate and encourage incidental reading and
daily reading practice."
Secondly, it extends learners' vocabulary through incidental learning. The RFP2601 Guide (2020:22)
explains that "not every word a learner reads is taught by you. It is important to note that your
learners' vocabulary is also extended through incidental reading, which takes place through
associating illustrations with words."
Thirdly, it creates a stimulating and engaging learning environment. A well-designed print-rich
classroom captivates learners' attention and motivates them to engage with printed materials,
fostering a positive attitude towards reading.
Fourthly, it provides constant exposure to print, which is essential for developing emergent literacy
skills. Van Staden (2011, cited in RFP2601 Guide, 2020:27) highlights that "the quality of early
language and literacy exposure is imperative for the development of emergent literacy skills of all
learners."
Lastly, it supports the development of foundational reading skills such as letter recognition, word
recognition, and phonemic awareness through the constant visual presence of letters, words, and
sounds displayed in the classroom environment.
