How to Attain 100% Readers in your Class: Proven Effective

Learning to read is one of the most important educational outcomes of primary education. Everybody will acquiesce that we all believe that reading is the beginning of fundamental learning and academic knowledge. The teachers are duty bound to teach every learner to read. However, the efforts of teachers alone appear to be not enough without the help from the parents. Parent involvement with the learning process is a good forecaster of early literacy and academic success of a young learner in the future.

According to Evans, Shaw, and Bell, parent involvement in early literacy is directly connected to academic achievement. Children need parents to be their reading role models with daily practice in order to navigate successfully through beginning literacy skills. Notwithstanding the fact our learners fall behind in term of literacy.

Some of the notable researchers have their remark on reading; Reading is crucial to the academic success of pupils and to the growth of a nation (Oberholzer, 2005; Oyetunji, 2011). Successful pupils in school are those who develop interest in reading because many of the subjects taught and class assignment given require reading comprehension (Darrel, 2005; Grams, 2003). Darrel (2005) and Oberholzer (2005) highlight that reading is a basic life skill and a cornerstone for success at school and throughout life; therefore, pupils who can read well can function more effectively in everyday school activities (Darrel, 2005; Oberholzer, 2005). It is believed that reading as well as language competency are both the means and the end to educational achievement (Jordaan, 2011).

The Department of Education recognized that the literacy needed to be given special attention as to why in support the department is continuously fulfilling its mandate, to make every learner a proficient reader, schools across the country were tasked to help learners develop their reading skills. The department, however, recognized that notwithstanding the effort and initiatives still the same is insufficient based on the results of national assessments for student learning.

As stated in the DepEd Memorandum no. 173 s.2019, it admits the following results: There are still many early grade learners struggling to meet the learning standards in early language, literacy and numeracy. The low achievement levels in English, Math, and Science appear to be caused by gaps in learners’ reading comprehension. This means that there are many low performing learners who could not comprehend (read and understand) Math and Science word problems that are written in English. Hence, they were unable to demonstrate their knowledge in these content areas. Most alarming is that elementary and high school learners are still deficient in literacy skills both in language and content areas, more so in reading. In connection to this, the secretary of the Department addresses the dilemma by planning to reduce the number of learning areas in K to 3 from 7 to 5 to focus on foundational skills in literacy and numeracy in the early grades, particularly among disadvantaged students.

Teachers play an important role in the success of fighting illiteracy but equally important is the role of the parents. Leaving the responsibility to teachers without parents’ support and involvement, literacy for every learner becomes difficult to attain. It has been proven that in order to attain literacy in primary level the teamwork of teacher and parent is required. The question is, how will a teacher involve parents? Especially those neglectful in supporting their children’s education.

Some of the tips a teacher may do get the involvement of parents in the literacy of their children.

Consistent and clear communication with parents is the key.
Always remind them how important their role in the literacy of their children. Some parents tend to lose interest in involvement, that is why reminding them of important tasks to be accomplished by their children may prevent said problem.
Do not bombard children with too many homework assignments. Instead, give them a performance task in reading, e.g., short video of one-on-one reading involvement with parent to be sent via messenger, which will form part of the grade. In this way parents will have to assist their children with one on one reading which is proven to be more effective in learning to read.
Choose appropriate material based on the capabilities and abilities of each learner.
Make a rubric of the performance tasks and explain to the parents that the said performance tasks in reading form part of their grade in the report card.
Be consistent, performance task in reading must be continuous throughout the whole school year.
Notify each of the parent regarding the status and development of a child in reading.
Give not only the learners a positive reinforcement but also parents for teaching their children, e.g., certificate of appreciation.