Classroom Niches for Skilled Readers and for Children with Reading and Writing Difficulties

摘要

A longitudinal study is reported aiming at analysing niche characteristics in the classroom of skilled readers and children with reading and writing disabilities. Thirteen children are studied during their 1st and 4th years at school. The result is described using the concepts capacity, opportunity and interest. Capacity means the children's abilities, opportunity means the environment's inclination to support the children and interest means the children's will to engage in school activities. Each child is appointed/acquires a specific niche in the classroom: some children are in niches with the same characteristics both during their 1st and their 4th year, and some children move between niches with different characteristics from the 1st to the 4th year. The result is discussed in relation to the two goals in Swedish schools: “goals to attain” and “goals to aim for”.