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ERIC Number: EJ1273904
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020-Nov
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1082-3301
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
The Effect of a Perceptual-Motor Intervention on the Relationship between Motor Proficiency and Letter Knowledge
Botha, Sharnay; Africa, Eileen K.
Early Childhood Education Journal, v48 n6 p727-737 Nov 2020
Movement is essential for learning. Previous research explored the relationship between movement and academic performance, however, evidence regarding the specific gross motor skills related to reading and spelling is lacking. The current study, therefore, investigated the effect a perceptual-motor intervention had on the relationship between gross motor proficiency and letter knowledge in selected Grade 1 (6 to 7-year-old) children (N = 97). Motor proficiency was measured using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition (BOT-2) and letter knowledge was assessed using the ESSI reading and spelling tests. The study found that a perceptual-motor intervention was effective in significantly improving both fine and gross motor proficiency skills, as well as reading and spelling (p < 0.01). Results also revealed a positive correlation between overall motor proficiency and letter knowledge. Significant relationships were found between reading, spelling and the following gross motor skills (p < 0.01): bilateral coordination, balance and upper-limb coordination. The main finding of the study showed that the strongest correlation was between motor proficiency and spelling (r = 0.46). These results support a growing body of evidence suggesting that a child's gross motor development is essential for academic performance. Therefore, the integration of movement within academic tasks is an effective way of promoting both gross motor and learning abilities in Grade 1 children.
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Elementary Education; Grade 1; Primary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Bruininks Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A