Soar High: A Strategy to Increase the Reading Comprehension of the Grade Five Pupils of Labo Elementary School

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Reading is a method of communication that enables a person to turn writing into meaning. It is more than seeing the words clearly, more than pronouncing words correctly, and more than recognizing words clearly. It is also a great habit that can change human life significantly. It can entertain us, amuse us and enrich us with knowledge and experiences narrated. SOAR HIGH STRATEGY provides a framework that students can use to construct meaning from new material.

METHODS

The study used counterbalanced measures design. The data was gathered using a researcher-made instrument which was validated and subjected to reliability test. The statistical tools used were mean, standard deviation, and t-test for independent samples. The null hypothesis was tested at .05 level of significance.

RESULTS

The significant findings of this study include: 1.The gain score for the entire group was 76 with a mean gain of 1.27. Results clearly indicated that the intervention was successful in increasing the knowledge and understanding of pupils with regard to the strategies used. 2. The overall mean score of pupils for the six reading passages when taught using SOAR HIGH was 4.40 with a standard deviation of .27 while their mean score, when taught using the Traditional Method, was 4.01 with a standard deviation of .32. This shows that both groups had "high" comprehension level but the pupils had a higher comprehension level when taught with SOAR HIGH strategy than when taught in the traditional way. 3. The difference in the mean scores between the SOAR HIGH strategy and Traditional method is less than .05. Significant difference was noted in the comprehension of pupils taught with SOAR HIGH strategy and the traditional method.

DISCUSSIONS

Based on the findings made, the following recommendations are given: 1. Since there is a significant difference in the level of comprehension when taught with SOAR HIGH strategy and when taught with traditional method, it is suggested to use SOAR HIGH strategy as an intervention in developing the level of pupils' comprehension. 2. Teachers should be encouraged to improve further the reading comprehension level of their pupils. They should be encouraged to use SOAR HIGH strategy in teaching their pupils. 3. Parents should be aware of their children's reading comprehension level. 4. Remedial reading teachers should be encouraged to adopt SOAR HIGH strategy in teaching their pupils during remedial classes.