IMPROVING THE READING LEVEL OF PUPILS IN

GRADES 3 to 6 THROUGH PROJECT M.A.M.A.

(MAHAL KO ANAK KO, MAHAL KO ANAK MO)

I. CONTEXT AND RATIONALE

Reading is an important skill for pupils to learn as it opens the door to other areas

of learning. It has been described as the art of interpreting printed and written words

(Devarajan, 1989). Reading is regarded as one of the most effective processes of

learning as it influences the extent and accuracy of information as well as the attitudes,

morals, beliefs, judgment and action of readers (Panigrahi and Pada, 1996). Failure in

reading can lead to failure at school and low level of confidence among our pupils

[ CITATION Esp16 \l 1033 ].

It can be deduced from the above that the importance of reading cannot be

overemphasized and this is because reading habit plays a very crucial role in enabling a

person to achieve practical efficiency.

In the state of the World Children Report, it was stated that nearly a billion people

entered the 21st century unable to read a book or write their names (UNICEF, 1999).

Also in a study conducted, the Southern African Consortium for Monitoring Educational

Quality (SACMEQ) measured primary school students reading literacy against standard

established by national reading expert and sixth grade teachers (SACMEQ, 1998). It

was reported, in four out of seven countries, fewer than half the sixth graders achieved

minimum competence in reading. Additionally, this study was compared with another

done by the same SACMEQ two years later, which saw literacy scores falling even

further in five out of six countries (UNESCO, 2004). Factors hindering the development

of good reading habits of pupils are considered as stumbling blocks to the achievement

of quality basic education.

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 Asan Sur Elementary School, Sison District is categorized as a big school with a

enrolment of eight hundred thirty six (836) pupils under the tutelage of 27 nationally-

funded teachers and spearheaded by the school principal. There are three to four

sections per grade level. One of the major problems in school is the presence of non-

readers at Grade 3 up to Grade 6 as evidenced by the initial results in the Philippine

Informal Reading Inventory (Phil-IRI) conducted this July, 2019. It is quite alarming that

some pupils at such grade levels, cannot yet read. There are identified fifty two (52)

non-readers.

As teachers and school head, it is important to find ways and look for the best

strategies to help them read and improve their reading level. Reading should be

developed at the early stage of their schooling. Ideally, before elementary pupils reach

their intermediate grades they should be good readers for them not to struggle in their

higher grades of learning. This in turn can hopefully improve their academic

performance.

With these in mind, one of the innovation proposed is a remedial reading

program dubbed as Project M.A.M.A (Mahal ko Anak Ko, Mahal ko Anak Mo). It is a

combination of several strategies like parental involvement, remedial reading with the aid

of volunteer teacher, pull-out system and establishing a reading clinic in school aimed at

improving the reading level of identified non-readers. Support in any means can be

solicited from external and internal stakeholders of the school.

To determine whether the proposed innovation Project MAMA can improve the

reading levels of identified non-readers in Grades 3 to 6, this action research will be

undertaken.

II. ACTION RESEARCH QUESTIONS

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 This study seeks to determine if the innovation proposed called Project M.A.M.A

(Mahal ko Anak Ko, Mahal ko Anak Mo) will improve the reading level of identified non-

readers in Grades 3-6 in Asan Sur Elementary School. Specifically, it will answer the

following problems.

1. How many non-readers are there in Grades 3 to 6 before the implementation of

the innovation?

2. How many non-readers are there in Grades 3 to 6 after the implementation of

the innovation?

3. Is there a significant difference in the number of non-readers in Grades 3 to 6

before and after the implementation of the innovation?

4. What is the percentage of Grade IV pupils with improved performance?

III. PROPOSED INNOVATION, INTERVENTION AND STRATEGY

In hope of improving the reading level of identified non-readers in Grades 3 to 6,

the proposed innovation to be used in this study is a combination of different strategies

like parental involvement, remedial reading with the aid of volunteer teacher, pull-out

system and establishing a reading clinic in school aimed at improving the reading level

of identified non-readers. The teacher-adviser will also follow-up and provide additional

reading activities for remediation to the pupils.

Parental involvement is one of the strategies. In this, the parent, guardian or

anyone as the nearest kin in the family will be asked to personally teach basic reading of

words at home at agreed upon regular schedule. In school, through the approval of the

Parent Teachers’ Association (PTA) with the help of external stakeholders like the

alumni, barangay councils and other benevolent members of the community, a volunteer

teacher will be hired to be given reasonable honorarium. He/she will teach the non-

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readers in a pull-out system wherein they will have their regular schedule of reading

practices.

A remedial reading clinic will also be established in one of the conducive learning

areas in school to encourage love for reading among pupils. Books, reading materials

and reading instructional materials will be made accessible and functional for the

learners. To put up this reading clinic, the Parent Teachers’ Association (PTA) will be

primarily in-charge as School-Community Project Team (SPT). Moreover,ollow-up and

additional reading activities shall also be conducted by the pupils’ respective advisers.

IV. ACTION RESEARCH METHODS

A. Participants and/or other Sources of Data and Information

The aim of this study is to improve the reading level of identified non-readers.

The participants of the study will be the Grades 3-6 pupils of Asan Sur Elementary

School for the School Year 2019-2020. Pupils to be included in the study are those

identified as non-readers in the initial Phil-IRI results conducted in July 2019. There are

17 pupils in Grade 3, 15 pupils in Grade 4, 14 pupils in Grade 5 and 6 pupils in Grade 6.

To improve their reading performance, the innovation called Project M.A.M.A (Mahal ko

Anak Ko, Mahal ko Anak Mo) will be implemented.

B. Data Gathering Methods

The researcher will utilize the Group Screening Tests (GST) and Graded

Individual Passage pretest results of the Phil-IRI. The pupils will be pretested and their

scores will be recorded and presented in a tabular form. Those identified as non-

readers will be subjected to the series of reading strategies described. After exposing

the pupils to the interventions, the second measurement of pupils’ reading level will be

posttest results in the Phil-IRI.

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 C. Data Analysis Plan

Reading level of the target participants will be determined from the pretest and

posttest Phil-IRI results. Significant difference in the number of reading performance

level of Grades 3-6 pupils will be statistically determined. Percentage of pupils with

improved reading level will be computed, analyzed and interpreted.

V. ACTION RESEARCH WORKPLAN AND TIMELINES

RESEARCH ACTIVITY TIMELINE

Research Proposal August 23, 2019
Research Implementation and
Documentation
July, 2019 – January, 2019

Data gathering 2nd week of July 2019,

Analysis of data 2nd week of January
Finalization of the 2020
research paper Last week of January,
Submission of final paper 2019

VI. COST ESTIMATES

DELIVERABLES RESEARCH ACTIVITY ITEM OF COST

EXPENDITURES ESTIMATES
Inception report  Conceptualize research Ink, bond paper,
proposal Snacks and meals
 Determine strategies for Fare
reading Internet Load
 Conduct
interviews/research
about the topic of interest
 Write the action research
2 500.00

 Write the action research Ink, bond paper,

Proposal proposal Snacks and meals
 Print copies of research Fare
proposal for Division Internet Load
permit
 Conduct Project MAMA
Reading materials 20, 000.00

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 and teacher
honorarium

Final Paper  Collect data for analysis Snacks and meals

 Write final paper Fare
 Submit Internet Load
Ink, bond paper,
Photocopy 2 500.00
Folders, fasteners

VII. PLANS FOR DISSEMINATION AND UTILIZATION

The purpose and results of this action research about Project M.A.M.A (Mahal

ko Anak Ko, Mahal ko Anak Mo) will be communicated to the teachers, parents and

pupils through a meeting. Moreover, a learning action cell (LAC) or in-service

training (INSET) for reading teachers can be conducted to disseminate results,

findings and recommendations about the study. The LAC or INSET can also be an

activity for other teachers to learn how to teach beginning reading. If the study will

yield positive results, Project MAMA maybe recommended to be implemented by

other schools in the district.