Basa Mo, Kaagapay Ako: A Program to Improve the Reading Performance of the Selected Grade 7 Students in Filipino

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

People have always wondered why reading is important as success may have been acquired by some despite their inability to read. However, with the current researches, reading undeniably plays a huge role in the up-phase of children's educational performance. When a learner/student enters high school, it is expected that he/she is a fluent reader compare to the elementary pupils. Reading, however, is important since the lessons at this stage are a bit higher and the difficulty would relatively increase per level along the course of time. It is clear that before comprehension will take its part, reading is a major pre-requisite. On the contrary, when a person cannot read, it is expected that he/ she cannot comprehend at all.

METHODS

Quantitative research was used in comparing the performances before and after the intervention has been given. Out of seventy (70) Grade 7 students in Filipino, five (5) of them were identified as non-reader respondents. This selection process was done through their ability to read one on one. Data collection was done 30 minutes to 1 hour daily for 5 months and the teacher recorded the progress of the students. The study utilized a quantitative method in analyzing and interpreting the gathered data using descriptive statistics, particularly mean and standard deviation.

RESULTS

Based on the result of Phil.IRI pretest, it reveals that there were 10 who were in independent level, 29 in instructional level, 26 in frustration level, and 5 were non-readers during the conduct of the Phil. IRI. The five (5) non-readers are the respondents of this study since they cannot decode/read the words, they can only answer questions when somebody read to them the passage. Post Test result revealed that after administering the "Basa Mo, Kaagapay Ako" Program to the respective respondents, there was an increase in their reading performance from being non-readers to frustration level.

DISCUSSIONS

Based on the results, it says that there is a significant difference in the word recognition of the identified NR students of Grade 7 after employing the "Basa Mo, Kaagapay Ako" Program. This would imply that Teachers should help their reading ability as well as their academic performance. Indeed, Basa Mo, Kaagapay Ako Program is very effective in developing students' reading activity, therefore, it recommended that other grade levels should replicate this study and apply the said approach to help minimize problems in the reading skills of their learners.