Influence of learning environment on reading comprehension among Pre-Unit children in Kikuyu Division Kiambu County

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of learning environment on reading comprehension among pre-unit children in Kikuyu Division, Kiambu County. The objectives that the study sought to achieve were: Establish whether the learning environment facilitates learning activities used by teachers, determine types of instructional materials used and find out how teachers use the learning environment to facilitate reading comprehension.

The researcher reviewed wide range of literature that relates to: concept of reading, language activities, learning process and learning environment. The study used descriptive survey design to get information from eight pre-schools sampled by administering a questionnaire to teachers. The researcher also used an observation checklist to record resources in learning environment. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics which involved tabulation of data into frequencies, percentages, and tables.

Analysis of the results revealed that factors that affect reading comprehension are: a lack of adequate facilities, failure to use appropriate teaching methods among others. Results of the study indicate that there is a need for the preschools to be incorporated in the Free Primary Education (FPE) programme so that the government can supply them with teachers, funds to buy materials and build facilities. Pre-school teachers should expand children's vocabulary by exposing them to a variety of learning materials.