Factors in Reading Competencies of Grade Five Pupils of Wawa Elementary School

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The pretest reading assessment in English for the First Semester of School Year 2017-2018 revealed thirteen (13) non-readers among male pupils and seven among female Grade Five pupils. The number of pupils who were under Frustration level was 178 for male pupils and 139 for female pupils. Only 18 and 24 fell under the Instructional for male and female pupils respectively. Nobody fell under the Independent category. These results could mean that the Grade Five teachers have to do anything in their powers and abilities to make slow and very slow readers read faster. They are in for a challenge to make the 20 non-readers read. The researcher as grade leader and teacher of reading must do something to put an end to the present situation.

METHODS

A researcher-made questionnaire was constructed and peer validated for corrections and sentence construction. The respondents of this study were the Grade Five pupils who experienced difficulties in reading and all teachers of Grade Five. The weighted mean was used to treat the responses of the respondents.RESULTSResults revealed that reading comprehension was a dismal facet of reading level of Grade Five pupils. Problems encountered by teachers included low vocabulary, lack of background information, inattention, apparent lack of interest and lack of follow-up at home.

DISCUSSIONS

For the methods and approaches undertaken to improve the reading level of Grade Five pupils, buddy system, reading time, one on one reading with the teacher, presence of various reading materials in the classroom, pupils reading during their free time, and assignment and follow-up with the parents' participation were recommended.