English Reading Difficulties of Grade One Pupils: Basis for Multimedia Instructional Intervention Scheme

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Problems in reading can affect performance across several academic content areas, occupational endeavors, and other functional skills that are used in everyday life activities. The task of the school teachers is to define those problems, targets interventions to address the problems, and help implement and evaluate those interventions. In this study, the researcher describes the characteristics associated with reading difficulties to develop a Multimedia Reading Instructional Reading Scheme that will focus on the improvement of the reading abilities of the learners.

METHODS

In order to better understand the nature and cause of the problem, the researcher utilized several methods. Respondents were randomly selected and grouped into two: The Grade One teachers and the pupils since they are directly and indirectly involved in English reading instruction. Data were collected through profiling and data analysis of the Phil-Iri and SReA results. Findings from these processes were synthesized, tabulated, and encoded based on the specific problem raised.

RESULTS

Most of the pupil-respondents obtained a "Not Ready" level in the SReA. This means that the beginning level or competencies of most grade one pupils is "Not Ready" for school across the different developmental domains, gross and fine motor, receptive/expressive language, cognitive domain, and socio-emotional domain. The result of the Phil-Iri revealed the low reading level of the pupils for the last three years. It reflects that the reading level of most grade one pupils need to change in teaching strategies and reading curriculum.

DISCUSSIONS

As the results were interpreted, a Multimedia Instructional Intervention Scheme based on the existing English textbook and learning objectives in teaching reading in the K to 12 Enhanced Basic Education Curriculum will be developed. It consists of varied motivation and engaging reading exercises on CD through PowerPoint presentations that will help beginning readers to read in a step-by-step individualized manner.