Reading Enhancement and Comprehension Tests through Local-Context Approach to Slow Readers

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

It is of great importance to have learners with an excellent reading and comprehension skills since it is a contributory factor to the school’s higher academic performance. Implementing different strategies, creativity of the teacher and the use of localized and contextualized materials help in understanding the meaning of the text and develop pupils' intellectual capability. This study is made possible with assistance of Basic Education Research Fund through the Division Research Committee and Planning Policy and Research Division Region V. The research aims to assess the effect of Project: Reading Enhancement and Comprehension Tests through Local-Context Approach to improve pupils' reading ability, sustain reading interest and increase the school performance.

METHODS

The study sought to answer the questions: What is the CI project's profile? What is the competency-based performance level of slow readers in English? What are the acceptability levels of strategies used? What is the effect of different strategies on the reading interest, comprehension and performance of pupils? A descriptive research method was used. Frequency count, Mean and Performance Level of the pupils were obtained, tabulated and interpreted by Five-point Likert Scale.

RESULTS

Findings revealed that with the school's reading performance of 61.18%, which was below the standard of 75%, teachers need to employ different strategies, approaches and innovations to improve the performance specifically the pupils' reading and comprehension abilities. Localized and contextualized reading strategies were acceptable to pupils hence, the competency-based performance in English of 76.24% increased to 81% (proficient). The comprehension level reached 90-100% wherein 75% of pupils comprehended the selections they have read. Proper implementation of reading strategies resulted to the increase in proficiency and percentage of comprehension Teachers and parents should work together to improve the academic performance of the pupils. Conduct remediation, employing different strategies to uplift the morale and self-confidence of the learners. Implementing this project to the higher-grade levels is necessary to make reading experiences more enjoyable and memorable to the learners.

DISCUSSIONS

Through innovations, diligence, commitment of the teachers and parental support to learning, children could cope with the fast changing teaching-learning process, eventually develop themselves as literates.