MARUNGKO APPROACH: A STRATEGY TO

IMPROVE BEGINNING READING

PERFORMANCE AMONG LEARNERS

PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATION: A MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL

2023
Volume: 8
Pages: 46-51
Document ID: 2023PEMJ626
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7807872
Manuscript Accepted: 2023-6-4
Psych Educ, 2023, 8: 46-51, Document ID:2023 PEMJ626, doi:10.5281/zenodo.7807872, ISSN 2822-4353
Research Article

Marungko Approach: A Strategy to Improve Beginning

Reading Performance Among Learners
Hania A. Alauya*, Erlinda N. Basmayor
For affiliations and correspondence, see the last page.
Abstract
The study assessed the efficacy of Marungko approach as a strategy to establish reading performance of the
Grade Four Pupils of Pindulonan Elementary School in Bacolod Kalawi, Lanao del Sur. It inquired the
significant difference between the pretest and posttest scores after the integration of the said approach. The
study utilized the quasi-experimental research design, pretest and posttest in one group method to test the
significant difference of the two different scores from the same respondents. The respondents were the 32
grade four pupils of Pindulonan Elementary School and was conducted on the 2 nd quarter of the year 2022.
Among the 32 respondents in grade four pupils of Pindulonan Elementary School only one got the excellent
level in the pretests while five (5) of them got the poor level. On the posttest after applying the Marungko
approach, none of them got the poor level and seventeen (17) of the respondents got the scores of 33 – 40
with a description of excellent level. On the significant difference between the posttest and pretest scores of
the respondents after applying the marungko approach, the respondents’ posttest scores had a high significant
difference between the pretest scores after the applying of Marungko approach. Thus, the null hypothesis,
which states that there is no significant difference between the posttest and pretest scores of the respondents
after applying the Marungko approach was rejected. Reading plays a vital role in all human activitiesThe
Marungko Approach is designed to equip pupils the necessary reading skills to improve their achievement in
reading.

Keywords: marungko approach, strategy, beginning reading, performance, and quasi-

experimental research design

Introduction In the Philippines, one of the problems besetting the

Reading is known to be one of the most noteworthy
language skills since it is considered a fundamental
tool of education, whether formal or informal. Reading
is a skill that entails the ability to interpret written or
decode graphic symbols of language, by reading, the
secret treasures of knowledge are unfolded.The most
significant problem of teachers nowadays is students'
poor reading ability, which results in their weak
performance in understanding and comprehending the
article they are required to read. This is mainly due to
their interest in playing mobile games and watching
movies or computer games during their free time. As a
result, it is crucial to revive the reading habit among
kids who have a variety of options for entertainment.
The teachers of Pindulonan Elementary School in
Bacolod Kalawi, Lanao del Sur, have also experienced
reading issues with their learners and are interested in
solving their reading problems.Learners’ ability to
learn reading skills has been a great challenge for
teachers of all ages. Reading is a fun experience since
you can experience a lot of things without necessarily
going there or doing the whole act. But because of the
new trends, people and children become prisoners of
their gadgets because of mobile games or other social
media platforms. Learning through reading had
become a story of the past because they would prefer
to watch and listen rather than read to understand.
educational system is that many Filipino children
struggle with reading, which is particularly linked to
low achievement, especially in public schools. The
low achievement results are further attributed to the
students' underdeveloped reading abilities. For
instance, the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metric
[SEA-PLM] showed that, in 2019, a percentage of
Filipino fifth graders' performance displayed the least
competency in three subject areas: mathematics,
writing, and reading (Bernardo et al., 2022).The best
way of helping youngsters to appreciate reading is to
get them ready. Reading readiness is a process
whereby children are being prepared to read;
encourage and engage the children in reading.
However, reading readiness involves the maturation of
all the mental, physical and socio-emotional factors
needed in the reading process. Reading readiness starts
when a child transforms from a non-reader to a reader.
Although this might be a challenging transition,
children who learn to read well do better academically
throughout the year.
The Department of Education released Memorandum
No. 173, Series of 2019 on "Hamon: Bawat Bata
Bumabasa (A 3B's initiative)", which describes how
the department is continually carrying out its mandate
to create responsible, productive citizens who are
equipped with vital competencies and skills for
lifelong learning. It is the responsibility of schools

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Psych Educ, 2023, 8: 46-51, Document ID:2023 PEMJ626, doi:10.5281/zenodo.7807872, ISSN 2822-4353
Research Article
across the country to help pupils improve their reading
skills in order to turn every learner into a proficient
reader (DepEd, 2019). As school teachers, there are
several ways to help improve reading readiness in
children. One common and efficient way is to make
reading fun for them. It can be done through singing,
talking about the story, reading to the child, and
allowing the child to read the story to the teacher; to
encourage the child no matter how silly the child’s
reading sound may seem; to play games of
pronunciation of words with the child. This kind of
game will improve memory skills and help the child to
distinguish between different words.
This research study will be conducted in the 4 th
Quarter of the School Year 2021- 2022 involving the
Grade Four pupils of Pindulonan Elementary School in
Bacolod Kalawi, Lanao del Sur. The objective of this
study is to determine the effectiveness of the
Marungko approach in solving the problems of
struggling readers and finally make them love reading
and learning. In the six years of teaching, the
researcher experienced so many difficulties in teaching
pupils, and one of them was reading. It is hoped that
through the study, she can prove the contribution of
Marungko Approach in addressing the problems in
terms of reading difficulties.
Research Questions
The study aimed to determine the efficacy of
Marungko Approach as a strategy to improve
beginning reading performance among learners at
Pindulonan Elementary School in Bacolod Kalawi,
Lanao del Sur. Specifically, this study sought to
answer the following questions: Research Instruments and their Validity
1. What are the pretest scores of the respondents
before applying the Marungko approach?
2. What are the posttest scores of the respondents after
integrating the Marungko approach?
3. Is there a significant difference between the posttest
and pretest scores of the respondents after applying the
marungko approach?
4. What action plan can be drawn based from the
results of the study?
Alauya & Basmayor
Methodology
This section presents the research methods used in the
study. It discusses the research design, research
environment, respondents and sampling techniques,
research instrument and its validity, data gathering
procedures, and statistical tools.
Research Design
This research utilized a quasi-experimental research
design using a pretest and posttest of one group
method. The research design was appropriate in
assessing the efficacy of the Marungko Approach in
teaching reading. Such research design is chosen to
facilitate in answering the objectives stated in this
study. In determining the efficacy of the marungko
approach in the grade four pupils, a standardized
questionnaire was utilized.
Research Environment
Pindulonan Elementary School was founded in 1953.
It is a public elementary school located at Pindulonan,
Bacolod Kalawi, Lanao del Sur, in the BARMM
region. The inhabitants of this place are peace-loving
and are mainly in the farming sector. This school has
14 teachers, including the principal, and there are 341
learners enrolled in this school year 2021-2022.
Respondents and Sampling Procedures
Pindulonan Elementary School in Bacolod Kalawi,
Lanao del Sur, has a total of 341 bonafide learners
from grades 1 to 6. The respondents of this study were
32 grade four pupils. In determining the respondents,
the researcher used the complete enumeration where
all the grade four learners served as the respondents of
the study.
A standard questionnaire was used to obtain the data
necessary for the study to assess the learners' reading
performance using the marungko approach. There was
a 40-item test that assessed the reading performance of
the respondents. The scoring of the answers was based
on the frequency of the correct answer in each item.
The questionnaire has undergone pilot testing in the
Grade Four pupils of Balintad Primary School, Munai
District of Lanao del Norte. In analyzing the data, the
researcher used Cronbach’s alpha. The result was
0.982, which implied that all questions were reliable.
The threshold value in the literature is much higher
than 0.700, which means that the participating pupils
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Research Article

clearly understood each item and answered in the same

direction.

Data Gathering Procedure the grade four pupils before the integration of the
marungko approach were, on average to poor levels.
The data were gathered in the following procedure, the
permission to conduct the study was obtained, and all The pretest was done before the week one (1)
communications will be signed and approved by the implementation of the marungko approach to assess
Adviser, and the Dean of the Graduate Studies of St. the prior reading skills of the grade four pupils of
Peter’s College addressed to Lanao Del Sur- II Pindulonan Elementary School, Bacolod Kalawi,
Division Superintendent, District Supervisor and Lanao del Sur. On the other note, during the first week
School Principal of Pindulonan Elementary School. of the implementation of the marungko approach, the
Eight trials were done from May 2022 to July 2022. pupils were able to identify and recognize the alphabet
Before the implementation, a pretest was given to the and sounds.
respondents to assess their prior knowledge about the
topic. In the first trial, the researcher assessed the Table 1. Pretest Scores of the Respondents
learners’ level of reading proficiency, the respondents
manifested that they identified the alphabet and its
sounds. After the said trial, the researcher
implemented the lessons using the marungko
approach. In the last trial, the respondents
demonstrated that they were able to read the short
stories in English and their reading was improved and
enhanced. After the last trial, the researcher presented
the questionnaire to the 32 Grade Four pupils of
Pindulonan Elementary School. The questionnaire was
personally administered by the researcher with the
guidance of the homeroom teacher, prior to the
distribution of the said questionnaire, the researcher
will give a concise and thorough explanation to the
respondents, including its significance and benefits.
Then, the gathered data will be checked and analyzed
accordingly.

Results and Discussion

This section focuses on the presentation, analysis, and
interpretation of data. It presents the data gathered, the
results of the statistical analysis done, and the
interpretation of findings. These are presented in tables
following the sequence of the specific research
problem regarding the use of Marungko approach as a
strategy to grade four pupils.
Problem 1: What are the pretest scores of the
respondents before applying the marungko
approach?
Table 1 presents the pretest scores of the respondents.
As depicted in the table, the score ranged from 9 – 16,
and 17 – 24 got the highest frequency count with a
description of below average and average,
respectively, while 33 – 40 got the lowest count. It
implied that the majority of the reading level skills of
Figure 1. Pretest Scores of the Respondents
Reading is essential because it develops the thoughts,
gives endless knowledge, and lessons to read while
keeping the minds active. Reading books helps to learn
and understand and makes it smarter, not to mention
the knowledge, vocabulary, and thinking skills
developed (Mark, 2019). Reading is also the
cornerstone of academic success and lifelong learning.
The majority of Filipino kids do not have the aptitude
or willingness to read, according to a Philippine Star
story from 2010 that makes this claim. It is impossible
to deny that, in today's rapidly changing world and
technological landscape, reading is occasionally taken
for granted.

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Research Article
Problem 2: What are the posttest scores of the
respondents after integrating the marungko
approach?
Table 2. Posttest Scores of the Respondents
Figure 2. Posttest Scores of the Respondents
Table 2 (figure 2) shows the posttest scores of the
respondents. As shown in the table, scores ranging
from 33 - 40 got the highest frequency count with a
description excellent, while 9 - 16 got the lowest
count. It implied that the majority of the reading level
skills of the grade four pupils after the implementation
of the marungko approach were on the average to
excellent levels. In addition, it indicated that the
approach helps in enhancing the reading performance
of Grade Four pupils, especially in decoding and
recognizing words.
During the implementation of the marungko approach,
the researcher applied the two letters to make the
pupils read: the katinig and patinig (consonant and
vowel). At first, the pupils were hesitant to read the
words, but with encouragement and practice, they
were able to read and mastered the competency
needed. Then, after a couple of weeks of integration,
the pupils read the sentences slowly, and the still the
intervention continued. Finally, after the last trial, the
pupils read the short stories in English, and their
reading skills were improved and enhanced.
The Marungko Approach is intended to equip pupils
with the necessary reading skills to improve their
achievement in reading. It also aims to create a
training program that would improve teachers' skills to
Alauya & Basmayor
teach reading in the primary grades. Through excellent
reading instruction, the learners will be able to develop
an appreciation for the songs and poems produced for
Filipino children and eventually communicate in both
written and oral form (DepEd Tambayan, 2019).
Problem 3: Is there a significant difference between
the posttest and pretest scores of the respondents
after applying the marungko approach?
Table 3. Difference Posttest and Pretest Scores of the
Respondents
Table 3 presents the difference between the posttest
and pretest scores of the respondents after applying the
marungko approach. The data revealed that the
respondents’ posttest scores had a significant
difference between the pretest scores after the
integration of the marungko approach. Thus, the null
hypothesis, which states that there is no significant
difference between the posttest and pretest scores of
the respondents after applying the marungko approach,
was rejected.
The result was supported by Teach Pinas (2022) stated
that the strategy is one of the most used approaches in
teaching reading. According to a study, 30 grade 1
pupils from a specific elementary school in the
Philippines were tested using this approach. After six
months of teaching reading using the Marungko
Approach, the posttest results showed significant
improvement to them. From fourteen non-readers, it
was downed to zero. Among seven slow readers, only
five remained. From three moderate readers, they
increased to twelve and from fast readers, they became
thirteen. The results proved the efficacy of the
Marungko Approach in teaching reading.
Reading is one of the most vital factors in a child’s
educational performance. When he or she can read and
comprehend it, it will give them a head start. Children
who practice good reading habits frequently
outperform their peers academically and gain a
broader perspective on the world. It significantly
fosters the growth of a larger vocabulary and broadens
their general understanding (Guro Tayo, 2022).
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Research Article
Conclusion
Based on the results of the study, the following
conclusions are drawn:
(1)Most of the respondents of the Pindulonan
Elementary School in Bacolod, Kalawi, Lanao del Sur
during the pretest, majority of the reading level skills
of the grade four pupils before the integration of
marungko approach were on the average to poor
levels. While on the Posttest, majority of the reading
level skills of the grade four pupils after the
implementation of marungko approach were on the
average to excellent levels (2)On the significant
difference between the posttest and pretest scores of
the respondents after applying the marungko approach,
the respondents’ posttest scores had a high significant
difference between the pretest scores after the applying
of marungko approach. Thus, the null hypothesis,
which states that there is no significant difference
between the posttest and pretest scores of the
respondents after applying the marungko approach was
rejected (3)Reading plays a vital role in all human
activities. The development of those skills needed to
produce learners who are good readers is one of the
ultimate goals of every teacher especially those in the
basic education. The Marungko Approach is
developed to give students the reading abilities they
need to increase their reading achievement. It also
intends to develop a training model that will enhance
teachers' proficiency in instructing reading in the
primary grades (4)The results supported the Theory of
Situated Learning by Lave and Wenger (1991). The
theory noted that learning typically happens through
the activities, through context and culture in which it
occurs and emphasized that social interaction is a
critical element of situated learning and the learners
become part of a community of practice where certain
beliefs and behaviors can be acquired. Moreover,
theory is applied in the field of reading, it would allow
educators to understand the importance of using
interactive methods which progress the collaborative
social interaction within’ needs especially in their
struggle to improve and develop reading skills.
In light of the findings, as mentioned above and
conclusions, the following recommendations are
offered:
(1)The School Administrator may encourage the
teachers about the use of Marungko Approach as a
strategy to improve and enhance the reading skills of
the learners especially to those who have difficulty in
reading (2)Teachers may integrate the marungko
Alauya & Basmayor
approach in teaching pupils who have decoding
problems in reading (3) Future Researcher may
explore on the capability of the approach in enhancing
beginning reading abilities of pupils by comparing
effect of Marungko Approach with other teaching
approaches.
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