The Reading interest of Public Elementary School Pupils and Its Effects on their Academic Performance

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Bashir and Mattoo (2012) define academic achievement as the amount of knowledge the individual has acquired from the school. It is related to reading. According to Green (2001) reading habit is best formed at a young impressionable age in school, but once reading has been introduced, it can last one's lifetime. Palani (2012), says that reading habit is an essential and important aspect for creating a literate society in this world. It shapes the personality of individuals, and it helps them to develop proper thinking methods and creates new ideas. The developments in the Mass Media had continued to influence interest in reading. On the contrary, they also have a negative impact on developing positive value of reading among the children. This study identified the interest in reading among public elementary pupils in the Philippines,and its effect on their academic performance.

METHODS

This study used descriptive-qualitative design in determining the pupils’ reading interest, and its effect on their academic performance. It was conducted in a public elementary school in Southern Luzon, Philippines. The participants of the study were 41 grade four pupils who were chosen through purposive sampling. They were the advisory class of the researcher. The teacher-researcher teaches the class in all learning areas. To gather data,the researcher used a standardized questionnaire. These data were computed in percentage and ANNOVA was utilized.

RESULTS

Based on the data, the most interesting reading materials used by the pupils was a reference book. It was also noted that there is a need to improve the academic performance of the pupils. The reading interest in terms of attitudes of the participants has a weighted mean of 3.76; the writing skills has 4.48 weighted mean; the performance task has a weighted mean of 4. 53, while the relationship between academic performance and reading interest has the F computed mean of 0.76 and F tabulated mean of 3.48.

DISCUSSIONS

This study showed that pupils have limited interest in reading reference books because they are motivated to do it for their academic requirements such as for writing, performance task, and further researches. There was no significant relationship between the interest in study habits and academic performance of participants. It is implied that their academic performance is independent of the interest in reading. It shows that it is not on the academic performance of the learners that the interest in the study habit is based.