Preventing Reading Difficulties in Kindergarten Teachers

This article describes a collaborative approach to professional development related to the prevention of reading difficulties in low socio-economic Kindergartens, as well as the impact on both teachers and students. This approach includes the implementation of a program to prevent reading difficulties that integrates both global and phonetic teaching approaches. An analysis of the results shows that this process of professional development had a significant impact on teachers: their descriptions of teaching practices show the importance placed on letter knowledge and meta-phonological abilities. As well, this approach had a positive impact on letter knowledge and motivation for children in the experimental group.