Preparation and validation of reading materials for elementary school pupils in grade three

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to prepare and validate reading materials for grade three with emphasis on the development of vocabulary and comprehension skills. These materials could be utilized to supplement the basic reading text in the classroom. This study aimed to answer the following questions: 1. What types of stories do Grade III pupils prefer? 2. Do Grade III pupils find the prepared reading materials readable? 3. Are the test exercises developed to test comprehension of the reading selections valid and reliable?

The reading materials were tried out on fifty-three randomly selected grade three pupils from one central school and three randomly chosen barrio schools in the District of New Lucena, Division of Iloilo, in the school year 1985-1986.

The result of the Reading Interest Inventory, the Dolch Basic Sight Words, the Notre Dame Word List, the Elementary Learning Continuum, the selections in the basic text and other guidelines mentioned in the conceptual frame¬ work were considered in the preparation of the reading materials.

The readability of the reading materials was determined with the use of the Fry and SMOG Readability formulas and the modified Cloze test. Each selection was validated by peers and reading experts. The test items were subjected to item analysis and the Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 to determine their validity and reliability.

Based on the findings, it can be concluded that the grade three pupils of the District of New Lucena, Division of Iloilo prefer stories about ghosts, fairies, animals, fables, legends, Bible, life of boys and girls, hobbies, science, and family life. The grade three pupils found the reading materials readable as evidenced by the results of the Cloze test and Readability formulas, Fry and SMOG. Most of the test exercises that go with the selections are valid as indicated by the results of the item analysis. The test items are reliable as shown by their obtained reliability coefficient which ranged from .58 to .77.

It is recommended that the reading materials be used as supplementary readers for grade three pupils and as guide for teachers who wish to prepare their own set of materials that are suitable for their pupils. These materials should also be used to develop further vocabulary and comprehension skills of grade three pupils. The items in the text exercises which were found to be poor should be revised. More reading materials, district or region-wide, based on the interests and abilities of the pupils be prepared.