Project REREADS: A Reading Development Program for Struggling Readers of Ternate West National High School

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The rapid advances in Philippine education demands a need for greater proficiency in reading. And success in it means success in reading in all content areas. (McCormick, 1995). Nevertheless, many elementary and secondary schools all over the world have large number of students who are struggling readers despite years of reading instruction.In annual the pre-reading assessment administered to the Ternate West National High School on the first or second month of the first quarter, it has been observed that there is a large number of learners who fall under frustration level.

METHODS

A single group pre-testpost-test design per grade level was used. Forty students out of 255 Grade 7 learners who fall under frustration level were given a pre-test, tested using FORT (Fry Oral Reading Test) to determine the grade level that corresponds to their reading ability, undergone on a six-month reading class, twice a week using ABRC (Activity for Better Reading Comprehension) and PHIL-IRI and given a post-test.

RESULTS

Based from the study undertaken, there was an increase on the scores acquired by the participants during pre-tests in oral reading and reading comprehension. One hundred percent of the student-participants leveled-up from frustration to instructional and/or independent in their oral reading ability with an increase of 18.63%. In addition, the participants performed significantly better in their post-test results compared to with 3.59 difference in mean scores of pre-tests. Moreover, eighty-five percent of the student-participants stepped-up from frustration to instructional and/or independent in their reading comprehension. It can be concluded that Project REREADS (Revitalizing and Enhancing Reading Abilities for the Development of Struggling Readers), was effective to improve the reading abilities of the students.

DISCUSSIONS

The results demonstrated a need for continuity in the conduct of the project to improve the reading abilities of the students. Consequently, other subject teachers may adapt this kind of activity to increase the rate of instructional and independent readers among all grade levels. It also recommended to the future researchers to focus on strategies, especially on teaching reading comprehension that may be used in reading classes/program.