Phonics Instructional Materials in Filipino: Input for Managing Instructions for Improved Reading Competencies

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Majority of Kindergarten classrooms in the public schools lack materials for effective reading programs in Filipino. Instructional materials in Filipino will provide teachers in Kindergarten ready tools to assist and empower them to teach in an enjoyable, dynamic, and productive manner that ensure mastery of the skills necessary for success in learning to read. This study investigated whether phonics instructional materials in Filipino would be an effective input for managing instructions for improved reading competency among Kindergarten.

METHODS

This quasi-experimental study verified the impact of an explicit or systematic phonics instruction on reading readiness scores using researcher-made phonics Filipino flashcards (Fili-flashcards) when compared to pupils receiving phonics through non-systematic instruction. Sixty pupils completed the treatment and control group; data analysis was run in the form of t-tests to determine if the mean between the two groups were significantly different. The treatment group worked ten minutes a day, five days a week, for eight weeks completing all sixty lessons from the program.

RESULTS

The study confirmed that after the conduct of instructions or program using the FiliFlashcards, there has been significant improvement in the pupils' letter name knowledge, letter sound knowledge, initial sound identification, and familiar word reading skills in Filipino. Results revealed that the use of explicit/systematic phonics instruction improved the Filipino reading readiness scores of the pupils as compared to the pupils subjected in the non-systematic instruction. Moreover, teacher-respondents perceived the phonics instructional materials or the FiliFlashcards as very satisfactory and effective.

DISCUSSIONS

The results agreed with much of other researches that teaching phonics directly and explicitly is important to Kindergarten reading readiness and helped improve reading competency compared to non-systematic or no phonics instruction. Study recommends incorporating ten-minute systematic phonics instruction, utilizing FiliFlashcards in every lesson, and delivering comprehensive teacher training on Systematic Phonics Instruction.