ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES OF TEACHERS FOR LEARNERS WITH

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS IN A REGULAR CLASSROOM:

A PHENOMENOLOGICAL INQUIRY

____________________

A Thesis Presented to the Graduate School Faculty

St. Mary’s College of Tagum, Inc.
Tagum City

____________________

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree

Master of Arts in Elementary Education

____________________

ANSONA J. CENABRE
March 2019
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APPROVAL SHEET

This thesis entitled, “ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES OF TEACHERS FOR

LEARNERS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS IN A REGULAR
CLASSROOM: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL INQUIRY”, prepared and submitted by
ANSONA J. CENABRE, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree,
Master of Arts in Elementary Education, has been examined and hereby
recommended for approval and acceptance.

JANICE A. FERNANDEZ, Ph.D.

Adviser

THESIS REVIEW PANEL

APPROVED by the Committee on Oral Examination with the grade of PASSED.

PERLA C. PADRO, Ph.D.

Chairperson

GINA M. ORACION, Ph.D. SOCORRO NERI, Ph.D.

Member Member

JOY JADE E. RELOS, Ed.D. NEIL RYAN B. ADO, M.A.Ed.

Member Member

ACCEPTED and APPROVED in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the

degree, Master of Arts in Elementary Education.

Comprehensive Examination: PASSED

Oral Examination: February 18, 2019

PERLA C. PADRO, Ph.D.

Dean of Graduate School
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ABSTRACT
This qualitative-phenomenological inquiry explored the lived experiences of
teachers in the assessment strategies for LSEN in a regular classroom in
Tagum District. The purpose of this study was to explore and understand the
lived experiences of teachers on the assessment strategies for LSEN in a
regular classroom and how they face the challenges encountered. Thirteen
(13) teachers participated in the in-depth interview and focus group
discussion. They were selected using the snowball sampling method. The
results revealed the participants’ lived experiences which include: the use of
differentiated assessments, employing individualized instruction and sense
of fulfillment and satisfaction. There are also chief issues emerged in the
study namely: difficulty in handling undesirable behaviors, communication
problems and lack of training. To address the challenges encountered, they
mentioned five ways: collaboration and support, positive attitude and
motivation; acceptance, continuous education and modification of
assessment. They also cited insights they can share to others: additional
proper training for teachers, more assessment tools and materials,
background profiling and lessen the number of students in the general
education classroom. The result of the study implies that varied assessment
strategies should be employed to address the unique needs of LSEN.
Assessing and handling both regular and LSEN is quite challenging for the
participants. Hence, the findings suggest using varied assessment to meet the
unique needs of the students, send teachers to trainings specifically in
assessing LSEN.

Keywords: education, classroom assessment, teachers, LSEN, qualitative-

phenomenological research, Tagum City, Davao del Norte, Philippines
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The researcher wishes to express her profound gratitude and heartfelt

appreciation to the people who in the way or another, had contributed to the success of

this humble work.

To Dr. Janice A. Fernandez, for sharing her excellent intellectual support and

guidance, whose gentle encouragement and patience, sustained the researcher’s

confidence to finish the study;

I am also grateful to the following validators: Dr. Gina M. Oracion; and Professor

Neil Ryan B. Ado and all the panelists for their expertise and guidance in the making of

the manuscript;

To the principal of MPIES Dr. Joy Jade E. Relos, for helping me to properly identify

the participants to be interviewed;

To the Dean of Graduate School, Dr. Perla C. Padro, who gave us proper guidance

all throughout the process of this study;

To my family especially my sister Divina, for accompanying me during the conduct

of the study. Thank you for your all-out support.

Above all, to the Almighty God for His unending love, eternal wisdom, guidance

and abundant blessings which made this research work achieved its fulfillment.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

TITLE PAGE i

APPROVAL SHEET ii

ABSTRACT iii

ACKNOWLEDGMENT iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS v

CHAPTER

1 INTRODUCTION

Purpose of the Study 3

Research Questions 4

Theoretical Lens 4

Scope and Limitation of the Study 6

Importance of the Study 6

Definition of Terms 7

Organization of the Study 8

2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

3 METHODOLOGY

Research Design 24

Research Participants 26

Role of the Researcher 28

Data Sources 29

Data Collection Procedure 30

Data Analysis 31

Trustworthiness of the Study 32

Ethical Consideration 37
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4 RESULTS

5 DISCUSSIONS

Implications for Teaching Practice 83

Recommendations for Further Research 86

Concluding Remarks 86

REFERENCES

APPENDICES

A Parents’ Consent/ Informed Assent

B Letters of Permission

C Validation Sheets

D Audit Trail

E Participants’ Certification

F Editor’s Certification

G Ethics Clearance

CURRICULUM VITAE