Implementation of Project Basa-Unawa: Its Impact on Identified Struggling Readers in Grade one

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Our school experienced difficulties concerning reading. Looking for a cure in such malignant illness, the discovery of an effective reading program was like a cycle that never ends and returns to its beginning. The good thing was the stakeholders were able to dig deeper into the reasons behind the reading difficulties of our learners. Hand-in-hand, the principal through SHDP Concept Paper, the teachers through CI Program, parents through PTA Project, LGUs and NGOs through Adopt-A-School Program developed a complete remedy that ceased the illness that has been troubling our school for such a long time. PROJECT BASA-UNAWA, a reading program that helped decrease the number of struggling readers based on Reading Assessment. From then on, Project BASA-UNAWA has been implemented in the school and its result dramatically decreases the number of struggling readers.

METHODS

The descriptive method was used in this study to identify the reading level of the pupil and their specific needs (Pretest). After the respondents were identified, different strategies of the Project were applied and implemented for three months to fill the reading gap among the respondents. Using the different approaches of the PROJECT, the teams focused on the 37 struggling readers in grade one and their needs. In March, the reading test (post-test) was given to respondents to check the impact of the project mentioned above.

RESULTS

This study found out that there was a significant decrease in the struggling readers in Grade One. The 37 identified struggling readers were down to 3. This means that 92% of the respondents are now readers. This study further found out that, 1. the teachers through "Adopt-A-Child" can help specific respondents during their free time, 2. the parents through "Kasali Kami" can assist struggling readers on their tutorial during lunch break, 3. the SPG officers and some concerned intermediate pupils through "BUMs (Basa-Unawa Motivators)" can aid one-on-one reading activities after classes and (4) the fast-reader pupils in grade one also helped their classmates through "Each One -Teach One" during their SINORA.

DISCUSSIONS

The result showed that the Project was proven effective and reduced struggling readers by 92%. This means that the project can also be implemented to a higher-grade level for another set of respondents. This further proved that the Project can also be replicated in other schools experiencing such kinds of reading problems and with its continuous implementation, the learning gap among pupils can be resolved.