Resumen

RIBEIRO, Iolanda S.; ALMEIDA, Leandro S.  y  GOMES, Carlos. Previous knowledge, school success and learning path: from elementary to middle school. Aval. psicol. [online]. 2006, vol.5, n.2, pp. 127-133. ISSN 1677-0471.

School success is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon. Previous knowledge has an important role on its prediction. Other pedagogical, social and psychological variables are regarding as important too. This study aims to assess the impact of previous knowledge of literacy and numeracy in school achievement and how this achievement changes during a school cycle. Two hundred and twenty one fifth grade students were assessed through a group of tests that assess previous knowledge in reading (decoding and comprehension), writing (spelling, fluency, flexibility, originality and elaboration) and mathematics (numerical calculus and problem solving). In order to study the learning paths, we used a longitudinal design considering students' grades in Portuguese during the three terms of the fifth grade and two of the sixth grade, therefore assessing the transition from elementary to middle school. Multiple regression analysis, enter method, suggests that the model tested is significant both for Portuguese and Mathematics, highlighting the following variables: speed, reading comprehension and elaboration (in the case of Portuguese); problem solving, reading comprehension and numerical calculus (in the case of Mathematics). Finally, results also show a strong stability through time in the school grades, stressing the importance of previous knowledge in school achievement.

Palabras clave : Learning; School success; literacy; numeracy.

        · resumen en Portugués     · texto en Portugués     · Portugués ( pdf )