Vocabulary and Word Study to increase Reading Comprehension of Selected Grade Four Pupils in Mahabang Kahoy Cerca Elementary School

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Children's acquisition of vocabulary is essential in increasing reading comprehension skills and reading development. Struggling readers often do not make gains in their reading comprehension because they have limited reading vocabulary. Enhancing the vocabulary development of children who are experiencing reading difficulties enables them to better identify key concepts in text that they read, make inferences within and between tests, and increase their abilities to comprehend. Wider command on vocabulary is then a key to reading comprehension. This study focused on the effect of vocabulary development on reading comprehension skills of the struggling readers of grade four pupils in Mahabang Kahoy Cerca Elementary School. The participants of the study were limited to eighteen struggling readers. They are those who got below 14 out of 20 item test given, the Screening Test of the Phil IRI, as the basis of determining the comprehension levels of the learners. The time frame was seventeen weeks, from July 9, 2018 to October 30, 2018.

METHODS

Experimental Method was used. Readers were grouped into two-the controlled group and the experimental group. Both groups were pre-tested. A series of ten stories including the pre and post-test was given to the readers. Controlled groups were asked to listen to the story and were given a 10 item test about the story while the experimental group was given vocabulary lessons about unfamiliar words in the story. Different strategies were applied in vocabulary lessons that enhanced their vocabulary knowledge.

RESULTS

The result was analyzed using quantitative analysis. Based on the result, the Mean of the Experimental group is 23.13% higher than the Mean of the Controlled group, while the MPS of the Experimental group is 23.19% higher than MPS of the Controlled group.

DISCUSSIONS

This study revealed that vocabulary development is very important in enhancing the comprehension skills of the readers. It further showed specific word instruction, deepened students' knowledge of word meanings. In-depth knowledge of word meanings helped students understand what they are hearing or reading. The author of this study finally concludes that vocabulary development should be done before any reading comprehension tasks, to increase the comprehension level of the learners. The author also hoped that this action research be applied to every day reading lessons to attain high comprehension skills and produce quality and proficient readers.