Reading with self-confidence : A case study of how teachers can work to counteract the Matthew effect

The aim of the study is to investigate how a teacher and a special education teacher cooperate to prevent a pupil with reading difficulties from ending up in the vicious circle of the Matthew effect, and to find out how a pupil with reading difficulties experiences his or her reading situation. This case study is based on a phenomenological perspective whereby qualitative interviews illuminate a commonly occurring problem in today’s schools. Interviews were conducted with a teacher, a special education teacher, and a pupil in grade 1, in order to cover everyone’s perspective in this situation. The result of the study shows that the teacher and the special education teacher have a good knowledge of reading difficulties and together offer the pupil adequate support and positive expectations. As a result, the pupil does not perceive the reading as problematic but instead has a good self-image. Early interventions give results, and through the kind of work the teachers do, they have succeeded in protecting the pupil from the Matthew effect