UTILIZING PHONICS ASCEND IN SPEAKING SKILLS OF GRADE 1 PUPILS IN TANDANG SORA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Abstract

Phonics, the science of sound, is a method of teaching reading that focuses on the sounds and visual forms of individual letters and letter groups. By learning to blend these sounds, children can more effectively decode unfamiliar words. According to Baron R. (2020), speaking is one of the four essential skills students use in daily life to communicate and understand others. The researchers employed a quantitative approach using a causal-comparative design, with purposive sampling of thirty (30) Grade 1 Dulpina pupils from Tandang Sora Elementary School as respondents. Guided by Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) theory, as cited by Wang S. et al. (2020), the study examined the gap between what learners can accomplish independently and with guidance from teachers or peers. The ZPD framework highlights intellectual, linguistic, and creative potentials awaiting development. The study aimed to identify factors influencing the speaking skills of Grade 1 pupils and to create instructional materials tailored to their needs. The data revealed that Phonics Ascend significantly improved the speaking skills of Grade 1 pupils. Post-test results indicated very high proficiency in fluency (mean = 9.43), grammar (mean = 9.73), and pronunciation (mean = 9.53), with an overall mean score of 28.70, interpreted as very high proficient. In contrast, the pre-test yielded a total mean score of 18.70, interpreted as proficient, highlighting a substantial improvement after the intervention. The study found that Phonics Ascend significantly improved the speaking skills of Grade 1 pupils, with notable gains in fluency, grammar, and pronunciation. The substantial difference between pre-test and post-test scores confirms the effectiveness of phonics-based instructional materials. Guided by the ZPD framework, targeted support enhanced not only students’ speaking proficiency but also their overall intellectual and linguistic development.