The Effects of Quranic Learning Activities on Basic Reading Skills in Early Childhood in Pattani Province

Abstract

This research studied the effects of Quranic learning activities on basic reading skills in early childhood in Pattani. It also compared the basic reading skills of children in their early childhood, before and after participating in the Quranic learning activities conducted by the researcher, and between experimental and control groups. The research was conducted on KG.2 children of Ban Toh Bala School, Saiburi, Pattani province. A sample of 30 children was divided into 2 groups - each group comprised of 15 children. Research instruments for this study were 24 Quranic learning activities plans, and a basic reading skills evaluation form consisting of 23 questions adapted from that of Prathana Thiansuwan (2002). Data were statistically analyzed by using Wilcoxon Sign - Rank Test and Mann-Whitney U Test.

The results of the study revealed that, firstly, after participating in Quranic learning activities, the children’s basic reading skills, in terms of linking relationships between what was seen in a picture with existing experience, hand-eye coordination, and overall performance, was significantly higher than their pre-test level (p<0.01). In addition, their reading skills, in terms of memorizing by recalling past experiences, left-to-right eye scanning, summarizing and solving problems, and pictures interpretation, were also significantly better than before the experiment (p<0.05). Secondly, children who participated in the Quranic learning activities showed basic reading skill scores which were significantly higher than the children of the control group, especially in terms of memorizing by recalling past experiences, as well as summarizing and solving problems (p<0.05).