Improving Reading Aptitude through Project JCS (Joust Compact Showcase) to Prepare SHS Students for College

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

With the ASEAN Integration, the Department of Education Philippines Basic Education with the K to 12 Curriculum, emphasizing the two additional years known as Senior High School (SHS) under Republic Act No 10533 (2015), implements its purpose to let the students develop the skills that they supposed to have mastered while they are still under basic education. One of the skills that students must master is reading skills. In this study, students reading aptitude was delved into, the notably identified as one of the strongest contributory factors of success.

METHODS

This study used a quantitative descriptive research method that employed content analysis that determined the reading aptitude of SHS students. The assessment tools were reading materials, questionnaires,and checklist.

RESULTS

The majority of the respondents had the average (WM 2.41) vocabulary development; fair in comprehension skills (2.01); study and library skills (2.04); and Graphical Literacy skills (2.03). The data means that most of the respondents did not reach yet the independent reading level as expected of them at their age and level. This implies that the students are not yet ready for college. Thus, there is a need for an application of reading intervention. This paved way to the use of innovative Project JCS which branched off the 1) Provision of reading materials that stress on comprehension skills, and the 2) Consumption of reading strategies and activities to increase the students' reading aptitude. The innovative project addressed the problems encountered by the teachers in reading classes in increasing the positive effect of developing communicative skills through reading, thus, prepare the SHS students for college.

DISCUSSIONS

The results displayed the urgent need to bridge the gap on the insufficient supply of instructional devices by aiding the teachers with the Project JCS to become innovative to help the learners develop their language competency. Inspiring them each day by fostering the "love to read" among students through giving more time to work on comprehension skills, were among the actions taken. For it is reading that leads to learning, and learning leads to successful living.