Abstract:

The study aimed to identify the beliefs of female student-teachers regarding children’s literature and its importance in developing language skills of first primary classes at Petra University of Jordan in light of specialization and academic year variables. The study sample comprised (64) female student-teachers of B. A level at the faculty of education in the university. The sample included (42) class-teacher students and (22) kindergarten majors with an aim of unraveling their beliefs. The researcher designed a questionnaire comprising (32) items divided into two domains: the importance of children’s literature in developing language skills and that of developmental aspects. Results of the study revealed that student-teachers hold a positive attitude towards the significance of children’s literature; besides positive beliefs towards the role of literature in developing language skills and various developmental aspects as well. The study was statistically significance with regard to class-teacher specialization. It proposed certain recommendations among which are: the need to train class teachers on how to select literary texts in order to develop language skills and to make use of such texts in the classroom.

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