Reading Instruction in the Primary Grades
Instructional Materials
Teacher teams in individual schools can choose textbooks and other teaching resources according to their school programs. Article 113 of the Organic Law for Improvement of Educational Quality (known by its acronym in Spanish, LOMCE) in 2013 states that every school must have a school library. In addition, bilingual primary schools in Madrid have a special reference to resources in the legal order that governs state bilingual primary schools:21
- Besides textbooks and other teacher resources, teachers are considered the main resource for the students. Teachers and conversation assistants are available to meet the needs of the classroom.
- CDs, cartoons, movies, books, rhymes, songs, and puppets are used to expose children to different accents and voices.
- A variety of books (fiction and nonfiction with illustrations) adapted to studentsʼ age and interests should be chosen.
- Items such as images, posters, toys, physical objects, games, crossword puzzles, and word searches will be used to practice vocabulary.
- Dictionaries and reference books should be available in each class.
Use of Technology
In primary education, the importance of integrating technologies in the area of language and literature is specified in order to achieve the development of the four basic skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The curriculum for primary education in the Community of Madrid explains the content, assessment criteria, and standards related to technology and digital resources that will be evaluated throughout the six years of primary education. The main content includes:
- Searching for information on the Internet
- Learning environments based on Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
- Collection and storage of information
- Project presentations
- Planning and management of assigned projects
- Programming foundation (e.g., creation of small computer programs)
- Practices in the use of ICT
- Use of equipment
It is important to mention that all bilingual schools in the Community of Madrid are provided with interactive digital whiteboards that teachers learn to use effectively through training courses that focus on how to make the most of this valuable resource.
Role of Reading Specialists
There are no reading specialists in primary education in Madrid. The language and literature teacher (normally the classroom teacher) is responsible for reading instruction, even though other subject teachers also cover reading comprehension.
Second Language Instruction
The Community of Madrid has launched a program named Programa Escuelas de Bienvenida (Welcoming Schools Program) to help immigrant students integrate into schools. The main resource in this program is the linkage classes. These classes are designed to help up to 12 students acquire language and communication skills in Spanish. The provision of linkage classes in public and private schools for the 2016–2017 school year is 73.22
Accommodation Policies for Instruction
Madrid follows the same procedures established by LOMCE (2013). The law states that measures will be put in place to adapt conditions for the instruction and testing of students with special needs. Individual intervention developed by the teacher can be provided for students and implemented in class. This intervention aims to implement the reading abilities by individually adapting the reading content to a studentʼs specific needs using Individual Curriculum Adaptation.
If the difficulties are more challenging, the student may receive support outside the classroom for certain periods of time. During that time, the support room will be provided with a special education teacher who will work one on one with the student to overcome reading difficulties.