THE ROLE OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF READING LITERACY IN PRIMARY GRADES

Abstract:

This article analyzes the significance of emotional intelligence (EQ) in developing reading literacy among primary school students from a scientific and pedagogical perspective. The study examines how the components of emotional intelligence—recognizing emotions, managing emotions, motivation, empathy, and social skills—affect the processes of perceiving, understanding, and evaluating texts. Findings indicate that students with higher EQ levels are better able to comprehend the emotional states reflected in a text, visualize literary images more effectively, and demonstrate higher performance in text analysis. The article also highlights the positive impact of teacher-supported emotional learning environments and methods such as analyzing characters’ emotions, role reading, and reflection activities on the development of reading literacy and EQ. In conclusion, practical recommendations are provided to strengthen the interrelationship between reading literacy and emotional intelligence.