Enhancing English Reading Strategies in the Primary Grades of Subic Elementary School

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Comprehension serves as basis for the pupils’ reading ability. The more they are able to answer the comprehension questions, the more their level of understanding improves. This means pupils with poor comprehension are poor readers. The researchers have found that English reading strategies are key elements in developing children's comprehension skills. Teachers need to be prepared to design effective reading strategies and how to teach these strategies to their pupils. The researchers aim to study the effective reading strategies the teachers use in order to improve pupils' reading skills in English.

METHODS

The researchers gathered data through the use of questionnaires, surveys, and interviews. The researchers secured the oral reading pretest results and conducted a Teachers' Reading Strategies survey. The respondents are the twelve (12) teachers from Grades I to III.

RESULTS

Primary pupils' oral reading results showed a remarkable improvement as reflected in the pre and posttest results. The number of fast readers in Grade I went up to 52% gaining a 23% increase while the number of struggling readers decreased to 3%. In Grade II, 22% improvement in fast readers was achieved and only 5% were left in the “struggling” level. It was also noted that in Grade III, a 10% increase in the number of fast readers was achieved in the posttest and a decrease of 6% in the number of struggling pupils. The progress of the teachers' English reading strategies done after the initial survey was also tabulated. The most commonly used strategies with the highest frequency in the primary grades are Visualize, Evaluate Understanding, and SSQ (Stop, Summarize, Question). Strategies like Children's Book Week Activities, Book Talk (Story Telling), and Reading Activity Calendar were done occasionally.

DISCUSSIONS

The results showed that different methods in teaching reading greatly affect the reading ability of the pupils. Strategies like Visualize, Evaluate Understanding, and SSQ (Stop, Summarize, Question) are considered by the researchers as the three most effective strategies. The findings can also help provide insights into the type of strategies the teacher will use to solve their students' reading problems.