Die verband tussen lees- en spelvermoë en akademiese prestasie by Graad 5- tot 7-leerders

The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between the reading- and spelling ability and academic performance of grade 5 to 7 learners. Non-experimental research with a correlational design was followed. The research group consisted of 282 Afrikaans boys and girls in grades 5 to 7. The participants' reading- and spelling abilities were measured by using the ESSI Reading and Spelling Test. For an indication of the learners' academic performance, the learner’s average performance in Afrikaans, English and Mathematics over the past three terms was obtained. It was found that there is a significant positive correlation between reading and spelling ability and academic achievements of grade 5 to 7 learners. Therefore, it can be concluded that the better the learner’s reading and spelling ability, the better the student will tend to perform academically, and vice versa.