Preparation and evaluation of reading materials for grades three and four pupils

Abstract

One of the causes of poor reading instruction in the field is the insufficiency of reading materials. Poor reading achievement is likewise attributed to the same reason. This was revealed by one of the findings of the Soutele and was confirmed by the former Minister of Education and Culture, Juan L. Manuel, at the Superintendents' convention in Baguio City, when he said that forty—five per cent of grade six pupils in the public elementary schools can hardly read with understanding. Books in school are limited. Workbooks and other ready-made materials are too expensive. Most of the pupils and teachers cannot afford to buy them# This problem of lack of textbooks and other reading materials has affected our educational program very much# Without textbooks and other reading materials, much of the teacher's effort to make pupils learn will be of little value. Hence, the reading materials which are presented here have been prepared out of the researcher's desire to make reading instruction more effective, to help develop children’s basic reading skills, and to improve their reading performance. Statement of the Problem The main objective of this project was to prepare reading materials to develop vocabulary, word attack, and comprehension skills in grades three and four pupils, which skills are specified in the Revised Elementary Learning Continuum and the Barbe Reading Skills Sequential Skill Plan. The types of selections to prepare was to be based on the interests of children for whom they are intended. In addition, it was sought to establish the validity and usability of the reading materials, and the reliability of the items in the exercises that accompany the reading selections.