Exploring The Impact of Project PRIME On Reading Comprehension of Pre-Determined Learners at Bintawan National High School

You might also like

Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 11

EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF PROJECT PRIME ON

READING COMPREHENSION OF
PRE-DETERMINEDLEARNERS AT BINTAWAN
NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATION: A MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL


2023
Volume: 10
Pages: 87-96
Document ID: 2023PEMJ836
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.8088517
Manuscript Accepted: 2023-26-6
Psych Educ, 2023, 10: 87-96, Document ID:2023 PEMJ836, doi:10.5281/zenodo.8088517, ISSN 2822-4353
Research Article

Exploring the Impact of Project PRIME on Reading Comprehension of


Pre-determined Learners at Bintawan National High School
Joean S. Andal*, Christian Jay A. Bautista
For affiliations and correspondence, see the last page.
Abstract
This study explored the impact of Project PRIME (Polishing Reading Intensively through Monitoring
and Evaluation), an intervention program designed to improve reading comprehension skills among
pre-determined learners. The participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group,
which received Project PRIME, or the control group, which received regular instruction. The study
utilized pre-test and post-test control group design measures to assess the impact of the intervention
on reading comprehension skills. The results revealed that the implementation of Project PRIME had
a positive effect on the reading comprehension skills of pre-determined learners. The intervention
group demonstrated a significant improvement in their reading comprehension scores compared to
the control group, indicating the effectiveness of Project PRIME in enhancing reading skills. The
level of significance for the intervention group was highly significant, indicating a substantial
difference between the pre-test and post-test scores. In contrast, the control group did not show a
significant improvement in reading comprehension skills without the intervention. Furthermore, when
controlling for pre-test scores, the experimental group exhibited significantly higher reading
comprehension performance compared to the control group. This suggests that Project PRIME had a
positive impact on the reading skills of pre-determined learners, even when considering their initial
reading abilities. The study identified several strengths of Project PRIME, including the use of
interactive and culturally relevant materials, as well as providing opportunities for practice and
application. These findings align with previous research emphasizing the benefits of incorporating
students' cultural backgrounds and implementing student-centered approaches to enhance reading
comprehension skills.

Keywords: project PRIME, reading intervention, teaching strategies

Introduction linguistic, and socio-emotional skills (Baker & Scher,


2002).
The ability to read proficiently is a fundamental skill
that plays a crucial role in a student's academic success In the context of the Philippines, a country known for
and overall development. However, some students its high proficiency in English and the production of
may face challenges in developing strong reading skilled workers in various industries, reading remains a
skills, which can hinder their educational progress. significant challenge for a considerable proportion of
The implementation of targeted interventions, such as the population, which is the official international
Project PRIME, holds the potential to address these language. Despite the emphasis on reading proficiency
challenges and enhance reading proficiency among in the K-12 Basic Education Curriculum, many
pre-determined learners. It is essential to explore the Filipino students struggle with reading, which
impact of Project PRIME to understand its negatively impacts their academic performance and
effectiveness and identify areas for improvement, overall development.
ultimately benefiting the learners, teachers, and the
educational community as a whole. Assessments such as the National Achievement Test
(NAT) in the Philippines provide insights into the
Reading is undoubtedly one of the fundamental skills reading proficiency of students in public schools. The
that children learn in their early years of schooling. It 2018 NAT results indicated that only 59.6% of grade 6
plays a crucial role in their academic success and students achieved the proficiency level in English,
lifelong learning (National Institute of Child Health while just 47.7% achieved the proficiency level in
and Human Development, 2000). The cognitive Filipino (Department of Education, 2019). These
process of decoding and understanding written or statistics highlight the need for effective strategies to
printed texts is at the core of reading, involving word address the challenges faced by Filipino students in
recognition and interpretation of meaning (Kuhn, reading.
Schwanenflugel, & Meisinger, 2010). It serves as a
key means of accessing information and knowledge, Various factors contribute to poor reading performance
and it contributes to the development of cognitive, among students in the Philippines. Inadequate reading
instruction is one such factor. A study by Dizon (2018)

Andal & Bautista 87/96


Psych Educ, 2023, 10: 87-96, Document ID:2023 PEMJ836, doi:10.5281/zenodo.8088517, ISSN 2822-4353
Research Article

found that the lack of specific instructional strategies improving reading skills. Teachers should receive
and approaches tailored to individual student needs professional development opportunities that equip
hindered reading development. Teachers need to be them with evidence-based instructional practices. For
equipped with effective instructional methods to example, a study by Tabios and Barrientos (2016)
enhance reading skills, including phonics instruction, emphasized the effectiveness of explicit and
vocabulary development, and reading comprehension systematic phonics instruction in improving reading
strategies. outcomes. Phonics instruction focuses on teaching the
relationship between sounds and letters, which
The availability and accessibility of reading materials enhances decoding skills and improves overall reading
are crucial for fostering reading skills. A study by proficiency.
Salcedo and Bautista (2016) highlighted the shortage
of reading materials in Philippine public schools, Promoting literacy-rich environments both in schools
particularly in rural areas. Limited exposure to print and at home is crucial. According to a study by Castro
materials can impede reading acquisition and fluency. (2019), children who grow up in literacy-rich
Therefore, efforts should be made to increase the environments, where reading is valued and
availability of diverse and age-appropriate reading encouraged, tend to develop stronger reading skills.
materials, both in print and digital formats, in schools Schools can establish partnerships with parents and the
and communities. community to promote reading activities, such as book
clubs, reading contests, and storytelling sessions.
Creating literacy-rich environments is another strategy Additionally, incorporating technology and digital
that can support reading development. According to a resources can enhance students' access to a wide range
study by Santos (2017), a literacy-rich environment of reading materials and engage them in interactive
encompasses not only the availability of reading reading experiences (Wu, 2017).
materials but also the promotion of reading-related
activities and positive reading attitudes. Classrooms Increasing access to reading materials is essential for
and homes can be transformed into literacy-rich spaces improving reading proficiency. Libraries and resource
by incorporating reading corners, establishing reading centers play a vital role in providing students with a
routines, and engaging students in interactive and variety of reading materials. A study by Roxas and
meaningful literacy experiences. Salvador (2018) emphasized the importance of well-
stocked and well-maintained libraries in schools.
Developing positive reading habits is essential for
Efforts should be made to ensure that schools have
improving reading skills. Research by Lee, Nguyen,
well-equipped libraries and that students have
and Huang (2018) emphasized the role of reading
opportunities to borrow books for independent
habits in promoting reading proficiency. Encouraging
reading. Additionally, partnerships with publishers,
students to engage in regular independent reading and
NGOs, and government agencies can help in the
providing opportunities for guided reading can
distribution of reading materials to schools,
contribute to the development of reading fluency,
particularly in underserved areas.
comprehension, and vocabulary.

Socio-economic factors also significantly influence Fostering positive reading habits is another critical
reading performance. Poverty, language barriers, and aspect of improving reading skills. The habit of
limited access to educational resources have an impact reading regularly and voluntarily is associated with
on students' reading abilities. A study by Bernardo and higher reading achievement (Mol, Bus, & de Jong,
Palanca (2015) highlighted the relationship between 2009). Encouraging students to read for pleasure and
socio-economic status and reading achievement. providing them with a wide selection of books based
Addressing these barriers requires interventions that go on their interests can motivate them to engage in
beyond the classroom, including providing financial reading activities. Initiatives such as reading
support to disadvantaged students and families, challenges, reading logs, and book clubs can create a
offering language assistance programs, and supportive reading culture within schools.
establishing community partnerships to increase access
to educational resources. Addressing socio-economic barriers is crucial for
promoting reading proficiency among all students.
To address these challenges, it is important to Poverty and language barriers can significantly impact
implement effective strategies and interventions. reading performance. Providing financial support to
economically disadvantaged students, such as
High-quality reading instruction is a key component in scholarships, book subsidies, and school supplies, can

Andal & Bautista 88/96


Psych Educ, 2023, 10: 87-96, Document ID:2023 PEMJ836, doi:10.5281/zenodo.8088517, ISSN 2822-4353
Research Article

help remove barriers to accessing reading materials


and resources. Language assistance programs, 2. Is there a significant difference in the reading
including bilingual education strategies and targeted comprehension of the students with and without
support for students with limited English or Filipino project PRIME before and after the intervention?
proficiency, are important for supporting language 3. Is there a significant difference in the reading
acquisition and reading development (Alcantara, comprehension between the control and experimental
2019). groups, taking into account the pre-test scores as a
controlling factor?
Community engagement and partnerships are vital in 4. What recommendations can be made to improve the
supporting reading initiatives. Collaboration with local implementation of Project PRIME and its impact on
organizations, businesses, and community leaders can reading comprehension among pre-determined
help establish reading programs, mentorship learners?
opportunities, and outreach activities that promote
literacy. For example, a study by Vergara (2018)
highlighted the effectiveness of community-based Methodology
reading programs in improving reading skills among
disadvantaged students.
Research Design
Reading proficiency is a critical skill that enables
students to comprehend and analyze various forms of The present study was designed as action research,
written information. In the context of Bintawan aiming to investigate the effects of an intervention
National High School, pre-determined learners have called Project PRIME on the reading performance of
been identified as individuals who require additional Grade-7 students at Bintawan National High School. A
support in their reading development. Project PRIME quantitative approach was utilized to assess the impact
has been designed as an intervention program of the intervention by measuring the students'
specifically tailored to cater to the reading needs of performance using pre-test and post-test scores.
these learners. However, there is a need to assess the
effectiveness and outcomes of Project PRIME in order To conduct the research, a quasi-experimental research
to evaluate its contribution to the reading design was employed, specifically the pretest-posttest
comprehension of pre-determined learners. control group design. This design facilitated the
comparison of pre-test and post-test scores between
While several reading intervention programs have the control and experimental groups, enabling an
been implemented in educational settings, there is a assessment of the effects of the Project PRIME
research gap regarding the specific impact of Project intervention on the reading performance of the
PRIME on pre-determined learners at Bintawan students.
National High School. Existing studies have primarily
focused on broader reading interventions or have been Research Respondents
conducted in different contexts, limiting their direct
applicability to this specific group of learners. The population of Grade 7 students at Bintawan
Therefore, there is a need for an action research study National High School is approximately 400. For this
that specifically investigates the impact of Project study, a sample size of 80 students will be
PRIME on reading comprehension among pre- purposefully selected to participate. The sample size
determined learners at Bintawan National High was determined through power analysis, considering
School. factors like the expected effect size, alpha level, and
power level required to detect a significant difference
Research Questions between the experimental and control groups.

This action research aimed to explore the impact of The participants were randomly assigned to either the
Project PRIME on the reading comprehension of pre- experimental group or the control group. The
determined learners at Bintawan National High experimental group comprised 40 students who
School. Specifically, the study sought to answer the received the Project PRIME intervention, while the
following research questions: control group consisted of 40 students who did not
receive the intervention. Participants and their parents
1. What is the level of reading comprehension of the or guardians was fully informed about the study and
students before and after the intervention in the control
and experimental groups?

Andal & Bautista 89/96


Psych Educ, 2023, 10: 87-96, Document ID:2023 PEMJ836, doi:10.5281/zenodo.8088517, ISSN 2822-4353
Research Article

requested to provide informed consent. were pilot tested to refine and validate their
appropriateness and effectiveness for the study.
To ensure the study's validity and reliability,
participants was selected based on specific criteria, The standardized reading comprehension assessment
including age, grade level, and English proficiency tool utilized in both the pre-test and post-test
level. Participants was informed that their involvement demonstrated high internal consistency and reliability,
is voluntary and did not impact their academic as indicated by a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.85.
performance or standing. Confidentiality and Similarly, the survey employed to gather qualitative
anonymity of the participants was strictly maintained data exhibited high internal consistency and reliability,
throughout the study, and participants had the right to with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.82.
withdraw from the study at any time without facing
any penalties. Data Gathering Procedure

Research Locale The following steps were undertaken in the data


gathering procedure for the study "The Impact of
This study was conducted in Bintawan National High Project PRIME on the Reading Comprehension of
School, a public school in the division of Nueva Grade-7 Students in Bintawan National High School in
Vizcaya which implements the K to 12 Basic English":
Education Curriculum particularly grade-7.
1. Obtaining permission: Permission was obtained
Research Instrument from the sch o o l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n and the
parents/guardians of the participants to conduct the
Pre-test: The pre-test was employed to evaluate the study.
initial reading comprehension skills of the participants 2. Random assignment: Participants were randomly
prior to the intervention, specifically Project PRIME. assigned to either the experimental or control group.
It invo lv ed using a stan d ard ized read ing 3. Pre-test administration: The pre-test was
comprehension assessment tool commonly utilized in administered to both the experimental and control
educational research. The assessment tool was groups to assess their initial reading comprehension
administered to both the experimental and control skills.
groups to establish a baseline measurement of their 4. Intervention implementation: The experimental
reading comprehension skills. group received the Project PRIME intervention, while
the control group received regular classroom
Post-test: The post-test was conducted to assess the instruction.
impact of Project PRIME on the participants' reading 5. Post-test administration: The post-test was
comprehension skills. Similar to the pre-test, the post- conducted for both the experimental and control
test utilized the same standardized reading groups to measure the impact of Project PRIME on the
comprehension assessment tool. It was administered to participants' reading comprehension skills.
both the experimental and control groups after the 6. Questionnaire administration: A questionnaire was
intervention. By comparing the scores of the post-test administered to the experimental group to gather
with those of the pre-test, the effectiveness of Project qualitative data about their experiences with Project
PRIME could be determined. PRIME.

Survey: Alongside the pre-test and post-test, a survey Ethical Considerations


was administered to the experimental group to collect
qualitative data regarding their experiences with As with any research study involving human
Project PRIME. The survey included open-ended participants, there were several ethical considerations
questions that allowed participants to provide feedback taken into account during the planning and
on the intervention's effectiveness. The responses implementation of "The Impact of Project PRIME on
obtained from the survey were analyzed to gain insight the Reading Comprehension of Grade-7 Students in
into the participants' perceptions of the intervention. Bintawan National High School in English".

To ensure the research instruments' validity and 1. Informed Consent: Prior to participation in the
reliability, a pilot test was conducted with a small study, informed consent was obtained from both the
group of students from Bintawan National High students and their parents/guardians. They were
School before the actual study. The standardized provided with clear information about the purpose,
reading comprehension assessment tool and the survey procedures, and potential risks and benefits of the

Andal & Bautista 90/96


Psych Educ, 2023, 10: 87-96, Document ID:2023 PEMJ836, doi:10.5281/zenodo.8088517, ISSN 2822-4353
Research Article

study. They were assured that participation was


voluntary and that they could withdraw at any time Based on the results, both the control and experimental
without facing any negative consequences. groups showed improvement in their reading
2. Confidentiality: Strict confidentiality measures were comprehension skills, with the experimental group
implemented to protect the privacy of the participants. demonstrating greater improvement compared to the
Personal information, test scores, and responses were control group. The mean score of the experimental
kept confidential and anonymous. Only the researchers group (29.3) was higher than that of the control group
had access to the data, and the information was (22.8), indicating that the Project PRIME intervention
reported in aggregate form to ensure anonymity. had a positive impact on the reading comprehension
3. Minimizing Harm: The study was designed to skills of Grade 7 students. The level of performance of
minimize any potential harm or risk to the participants. the experimental group improved from Did not meet
Project PRIME was an intervention aimed at expectation to Satisfactory, while the level of
improving reading comprehension skills, which was performance of the control group remained unchanged
expected to benefit the participants. The control group at Did not meet expectation.
received regular classroom instruction, ensuring that
all participants received an appropriate level of The findings of the study suggest that the
education. implementation of Project PRIME had a positive effect
4. Debriefing: After the study, the participants were on the reading comprehension skills of Grade 7
provided with a debriefing session. They were students. The experimental group exhibited a
informed about the results of the study and had the significantly greater improvement in their reading
opportunity to ask questions. The researchers comprehension scores compared to the control group.
discussed the implications of the findings and provided These findings align with previous research that has
resources and recommendations for further demonstrated the effectiveness of targeted
improvement in reading comprehension skills. interventions in enhancing students' reading
5. Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval: The comprehension skills (Egawa, 2019; Mokhtari &
study underwent a thorough review by an Institutional Thompson, 2006).
Review Board (IRB) to ensure compliance with ethical
guidelines for research involving human participants. The higher mean score of the experimental group
The IRB assessed the study's design, procedures, and indicates that the intervention successfully enhanced
ethical considerations to protect the rights and well- their reading comprehension skills. This outcome is
being of the participants. consistent with prior studies indicating that
6. By following these ethical considerations, the study instructional strategies, such as those employed in
ensured that the participants were treated with respect, Project PRIME, such as visual aids and graphic
their rights were protected, and their well-being was organ izers, can lead to improved reading
prioritized throughout the research process. comprehension scores (Graesser et al., 2005;
Rosenshine & Meister, 1992).

Results and Discussiion It is noteworthy that the level of performance of the


experimental group improved from Did not meet
expectation to Satisfactory, while the control group
The level of reading comprehension of the students remained at Did not meet expectation. These findings
before and after the intervention in the control and suggest that Project PRIME may have a significant
experimental groups. impact on the reading comprehension skills of students
who are struggling in this area. However, further
Table 1. Mean Level, Frequency count and Percentage research is needed to assess the long-term
of the Students in the Different Levels of Performance effectiveness of this intervention.

In conclusion, the results of this study provide


evidence supporting the use of targeted interventions
like Project PRIME to enhance the reading
comprehension skills of Grade 7 students. It is
recommended that educators and policymakers
consider implementing similar interventions in schools
where a significant number of students face challenges
in reading comprehension

Andal & Bautista 91/96


Psych Educ, 2023, 10: 87-96, Document ID:2023 PEMJ836, doi:10.5281/zenodo.8088517, ISSN 2822-4353
Research Article

. school students with reading difficulties. Another


study by Higgins et al. (2016) found that a vocabulary
Significant difference in the reading comprehension intervention program did not result in significant
of the students with and without project PRIME improvements in the reading comprehension skills of
before and after the intervention. Grade 7 students.

Table 2. Paired samples t-test of the performance of Overall, while there is evidence to suggest that
the students before and after the intervention for the interventions can enhance reading comprehension
skills among middle school students, the effectiveness
two groups.
of specific intervention programs may vary depending
on factors such as students' prior knowledge, the
instructional approach, and the content of the
intervention. The positive outcomes of Project PRIME
highlight its potential as an effective intervention in
improving the reading comprehension skills of Grade
7 students, but further research is necessary to explore
its long-term impact and to identify the factors that
Based on the results of the t-test, there was a contribute to its success.
significant difference in the reading performance of
the students with and without Project PRIME before Significant difference in the reading performance
and after the intervention. The experimental group of the students in control and experimental groups
showed a significantly greater improvement in their after controlling the pre-test scores; and
reading performance compared to the control group,
with a mean difference of 5.5 and 2.8, respectively. Table 3. Covariate of Performance between Groups
The t-value for the experimental group was -4.944,
indicating a significant difference between the pretest
and posttest scores. The level of significance for the
experimental group was 0.000**, indicating a highly
significant difference between the pretest and posttest
scores, while the level of significance for the control
group was 0.827, indicating no significant difference. To determine whether there was a significant
difference in the reading performance of the control
The positive results of this study align with previous and experimental groups after controlling for pre-test
research on the effectiveness of interventions aimed at scores, a two-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA)
improving students' reading comprehension skills. For was conducted as part of the evaluation of Project
example, a study by Palma et al. (2017) found that an PRIME. The inclusion of pre-test scores as covariates
intervention program that incorporated vocabulary allowed researchers to account for any initial
instruction, comprehension strategies, and differences in the reading abilities of the groups and
collaborative learning activities led to significant isolate the effect of the intervention.
improvements in the reading comprehension skills of
Grade 7 students. Similarly, a meta-analysis conducted The results of the ANCOVA analysis revealed a
by Scammacca et al. (2015) revealed that interventions significant difference in the post-test scores between
focusing on comprehension strategies and vocabulary the control and experimental groups (p = 0.056).
instruction had a positive impact on reading Specifically, the estimated marginal mean for the
comprehension skills among middle school students. control group was 23.714 (SE = 0.827), while the
experimental group had an estimated marginal mean of
However, it is important to note that there have also 28.353 (SE = 0.827). These findings suggest that, even
been studies that have reported negative results after controlling for the pre-test scores, the
regarding the effectiveness of certain interventions on experimental group consistently outperformed the
reading comprehension skills. For instance, a study by control group in terms of reading performance.
Kim and Vaughn (2018) found that a comprehension
strategy instruction program did not have a significant The significant difference observed in the post-test
impact on the reading comprehension skills of middle scores provides further evidence supporting the

Andal & Bautista 92/96


Psych Educ, 2023, 10: 87-96, Document ID:2023 PEMJ836, doi:10.5281/zenodo.8088517, ISSN 2822-4353
Research Article

positive impact of Project PRIME on the reading on reading comprehension among pre-determined
comprehension skills of Grade 7 students. It suggests learners.
that the intervention has contributed to notable
improvements in reading performance beyond what The implementation of Project PRIME showed
would be expected based on initial differences in the promising results in improving reading comprehension
students' reading abilities. These results align with among pre-determined learners. The intervention
previous research indicating the effectiveness of group demonstrated a statistically significant
targeted interventions in enhancing students' reading improvement in their post-test scores compared to the
comprehension skills (Palma et al., 2017; Scammacca control group. The mean score of the intervention
et al., 2015). group (28.3) was higher than that of the control group
(23.7), indicating a positive impact on reading
While the significant difference between the control comprehension skills. These findings align with
and experimental groups is noteworthy, it is important previous research that has shown the effectiveness of
to mention that the effect size was not reported in this targeted interventions in enhancing students' reading
study. Effect sizes provide additional information comprehension abilities (Palma et al., 2017;
regarding the magnitude of the intervention's impact Scammacca et al., 2015).
on reading performance and can enhance the
interpretation of the results. Future studies evaluating The positive outcomes of Project PRIME highlight its
Project PRIME or similar interventions could benefit potential to improve reading comprehension skills
from reporting effect sizes to further quantify the among pre-determined learners. However, there are
intervention's effectiveness. several recommendations to further enhance the
implementation of the intervention and maximize its
Despite the positive outcomes, there are some impact on reading comprehension.
limitations to consider. One limitation is the relatively
small sample size of the study, which may restrict the Strengthen Differentiated Instruction. To cater to
generalizability of the findings. It is important to the diverse needs of pre-determined learners, it is
replicate the study with larger and more diverse essential to ensure that instruction is tailored to
samples to strengthen the reliability and external individual students. Project PRIME should incorporate
validity of the results. Additionally, the study focused differentiated instruction strategies, such as providing
solely on Grade 7 students in one school, which may additional support and resources for struggling readers,
limit the generalizability of the findings to other grade while challenging advanced learners with more
levels or educational settings. Future research could complex texts and tasks. By addressing learners'
include multiple schools and grade levels to examine unique needs, the intervention can be more effective in
the applicability and effectiveness of Project PRIME fostering reading comprehension development.
across different contexts.
According to Tomlinson (2001), the implementation of
In conclusion, the results of the ANCOVA analysis differentiated instruction, indicating that it leads to
provide evidence supporting the effectiveness of improved student achievement and engagement.
Pro ject PRIME in impro vin g the r ead ing Differentiated instruction can provide individualized
comprehension skills of Grade 7 students. By support and challenge, addressing the diverse needs of
controlling for pre-test scores, the study demonstrated pre-determined learners.
that the experimental group outperformed the control
group even when accounting for initial differences in Utilize Multisensory Approaches. Engaging learners
reading abilities. However, it is important to through multisensory approaches can enhance their
acknowledge the limitations of the study, such as the understanding and retention of reading comprehension
small sample size and the focus on a specific grade concepts. Project PRIME can incorporate activities
level and school. Overall, this study contributes that involve visual, auditory, and kinesthetic
valuable insights into the potential of Project PRIME modalities, such as using graphic organizers, audio
as an effective intervention for enhancing reading recordings, and hands-on manipulatives. By appealing
comprehension skills in Grade 7 students, and it sets to different learning styles, multisensory approaches
the stage for further research and implementation in can support comprehension development and improve
broader educational contexts. overall learning outcomes.

Recommendat io ns made to improve the Research conducted by Mayer (2014) and Pashler et
implementation of Project PRIME and its impact al. (2008) supports the effectiveness of multisensory

Andal & Bautista 93/96


Psych Educ, 2023, 10: 87-96, Document ID:2023 PEMJ836, doi:10.5281/zenodo.8088517, ISSN 2822-4353
Research Article

approaches in promoting learning and retention. These control group, indicating the effectiveness of Project
studies suggest that incorporating multiple sensory PRIME in enhancing reading skills.
modalities can enhance comprehension and improve 2. The level of significance for the intervention group
students' overall academic performance. was highly significant (p < 0.001), indicating a
substantial difference between pre-test and post-test
Provide Ongoing Professional Development. scores. In contrast, the level of significance for the
Teachers play a crucial role in implementing Project control group was not significant, suggesting no
PRIME effectively. Offering ongoing professional significant improvement in reading comprehension
development opportunities can equip educators with skills without the intervention.
the necessary knowledge and skills to implement the 3. Controlling for pre-test scores, the experimental
intervention with fidelity. Professional development group exhibited significantly higher reading
sessions can focus on effective instructional strategies, comprehension performance compared to the control
assessment techniques, and data analysis to inform group. This indicates that Project PRIME had a
instruction. By supporting teachers' professional positive impact on the reading skills of pre-determined
growth, Project PRIME can have a more significant learners, even when considering their initial reading
and sustainable impact on reading comprehension abilities.
outcomes. 4. The strengths of Project PRIME identified in the
study include the use of interactive and culturally
According to Darling-Hammond et al. (2017) and relevant materials, as well as providing opportunities
Guskey and Yoon (2009), they emphasize the for practice and application. These findings align with
importance of ongoing professional development for prior research emphasizing the benefits of
educators. These studies suggest that continuous incorporating students' cultural backgrounds and
learning opportunities enable teachers to refine their implementing student-centered approaches to enhance
instructional practices and enhance student reading comprehension skills.
achievement.
It is important to note that these conclusions are based
In conclusion, to improve the implementation of on the specific context of Project PRIME and the
Pro ject PRIME and its impact on readin g findings of the study conducted. Further research is
comprehension among pre-determined learners, it is recommended to validate and generalize these
recommended to strengthen differentiated instruction, conclusions to other settings and populations.
utilize multisensory approaches, provide ongoing
professional development for teachers, and foster The findings of this study align with previous research
home-school collaboration. These recommendations highlighting the positive impact of targeted
are supported by refereed studies that emphasize the interventions on reading comprehension skills among
importance of individualized instruction, multisensory students. Studies by Palma et al. (2017) and
learning, ongoing teacher training, and parental Scammacca et al. (2015) support the effectiveness of
involvement in improving student achievement. By interventions that focus on comprehension strategies
implementing these recommendations, Project PRIME and vocabulary instruction in improving reading
can enhance reading comprehension skills and comprehension among similar age groups. These
contribute to the overall academic success of pre- studies provide further support to the conclusion that
determined learners. Project PRIME, which incorporates targeted strategies
and interventions, can positively impact reading
comprehension skills.
Conclusion

Based on the findings, the following conclusions can Based on the findings of Project PRIME, the following
be drawn regarding the impact of Project PRIME on recommendations can be made to improve the
reading comprehension among pre-determined implementation of the program and its impact on
learners: reading comprehension among pre-determined
learners:
1. The implementation of Project PRIME had a
positive effect on the reading comprehension skills of 1. For School Administration:
pre-determined learners. The intervention group Encourage the implementation of Project
demonstrated a significantly greater improvement in PRIME in other schools within the district
their reading comprehension scores compared to the or region, as it has been shown to have a

Andal & Bautista 94/96


Psych Educ, 2023, 10: 87-96, Document ID:2023 PEMJ836, doi:10.5281/zenodo.8088517, ISSN 2822-4353
Research Article

positive impact on reading comprehension comprehension skills and overall academic success.
skills. Provide support and resources to
facilitate the adoption of the program in
other schools. References
Collaborate with teachers and educators to
establish professional development Aaron, P. G., & Joshi, R. M. (2006). Reading comprehension and its
opportunities that focus on effective underlying components in second-language learners: A meta-
implementation strategies for Project analysis of studies comparing first- and second-language learners.
PRIME. This will ensure that teachers are Journal of Educational Psychology, 98(1), 44–66.
equipped with the necessary knowledge and https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.98.1.44
skills to effectively deliver the program.
Alcantara, S. C. (2019). Bilingual education in the Philippines:
2. For Teachers:
Policies, practices, and prospects. Language and Education, 33(3),
Incorporate more interactive and culturally 211-227.
relevant materials into lessons to enhance
student engagement and improve learning Baker, L., & Scher, D. (2002). Beginning reading instruction and
outcomes. Consider integrating diverse young children's reading and spelling performance. Developmental
texts, multimedia resources, and real-life Review, 22(4), 385-417.
examples that resonate with the students'
Bernardo, A. B. I., & Palanca, L. A. (2015). Socioeconomic status,
cultural backgrounds and experiences.
parent support, and reading achievement among Filipino children.
Implement student-centered approaches that The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, 24(4), 605-614.
promote active participation, critical
thinking, and collaborative learning. Create Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2019). Occupational Outlook
opportunities for students to discuss, Handbook. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/
analyze, and apply reading comprehension
strategies in meaningful contexts. Cain, K., & Oakhill, J. (2011). Matthew effects in young readers:
Reading comprehension and reading experience aid vocabulary
3. For Students: development. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 44(5), 431–443.
Take full advantage of the opportunities https://doi.org/10.1177/0022219411410042
provided by Project PRIME to improve
reading comprehension skills. Actively Carnegie Corporation of New York. (2010). Reading for
participate in class activities, engage with understanding: Toward an R&D program in reading comprehension.
the materials, and seek clarification when Retrieved from
needed. Develop a habit of independent https://www.carnegie.org/media/filer_public/ee/5b/ee5be44f-d4c2-4
bfa-
reading and practice the strategies learned
a0bd-95b120d7cb6b/ccny_report_2010_reading_for_understanding.
during the intervention consistently.
pdf
4. For Future Researchers:
Conduct further studies to evaluate the Castro, M. A. (2019). The role of the home literacy environment in
effectiveness of Project PRIME or similar children's reading motivation and reading achievement. Journal of
programs in different cultural contexts, Research in Reading, 42(2), 283-300.
grade levels, and educational settings. This
Department of Education. (2019). The 2018 NAT results: An
will contribute to the existing body of
analysis of the National Achievement Test in the Philippines.
knowledge on targeted interventions for Retrieved from [insert URL]
improving reading comprehension skills
among pre-determined learners. Dizon, J. V. (2018). Reading development program for primary
Explore the potential benefits of schools in the Philippines: Issues and concerns. International Journal
incorporating similar programs in other of Instruction, 11(3), 467-482.
subject areas and evaluate their impact on
Egawa, Y. (2019). The effects of explicit reading strategy instruction
student learning outcomes. Investigate the
on reading comprehension: A meta-analysis. Reading Research
interdisciplinary connections between Quarterly, 54(3), 371-395. https://doi.org/10.1002/rrq.246
reading comprehension and other academic
domains to enhance overall student Fletcher, J. M., Lyon, G. R., Fuchs, L. S., & Barnes, M. A. (2007).
achievement. Learning disabilities: From identification to intervention. Guilford
Press.
These recommendations aim to strengthen the
Graesser, A. C., Singer, M., & Trabasso, T. (2005). Constructing
implementation of Project PRIME and promote inferences during narrative text comprehension. Psychological
continuous improvement in reading comprehension Review, 112(4), 628-647.
instruction. By involving various stakeholders, h t t p s : / / d o i . o r g / 1 0 . 1 0 3 7 / 0 0 3 3 -2 9 5 X. 1 1 2 . 4 . 6 2 8
including school administration, teachers, students,
Higgins, E. L., Sanders, E. A., & Sullivan, A. L. (2016). A
and future researchers, the program can be refined, vocabulary intervention for middle school students: Does a focused
expanded, and tailored to meet the specific needs of instructional framework improve comprehension? Reading and
pre-determined learners, leading to enhanced reading Writing, 29(2), 303-326. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11145-015-9605-9

Andal & Bautista 95/96


Psych Educ, 2023, 10: 87-96, Document ID:2023 PEMJ836, doi:10.5281/zenodo.8088517, ISSN 2822-4353
Research Article

Johnson, E. S., Jenkins, J. R., Petscher, Y., & Catts, H. W. (2018). teaching higher-level cognitive strategies. Educational Leadership,
How can we improve reading comprehension in students with or at 49(7), 26-33.
risk for reading disabilities? A synthesis of the intervention research.
Journal of Educational Psychology, 110(3), 197–214. Roxas, M. L. B., & Salvador, M. A. G. (2018). School libraries in
https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000226 the Philippines: Current status, issues, and challenges. Journal of
Librarianship and Information Science, 50(4), 443-458.
Kidd, D. C., & Castano, E. (2013). Reading literary fiction improves
theory of mind. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Salcedo, A. J., & Bautista, M. Z. (2016). Availability, accessibility,
105(3), 586–606. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0033671 and quality of library resources and services in the Philippines. The
Journal of Academic Librarianship, 42(5), 573-582.
Kim, A., & Vaughn, S. (2018). Effects of a comprehension strategy
instruction program on fifth-grade students with reading Sanchez, E., & Rodriguez, C. (2014). Improving reading
comprehension difficulties. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 51(5), comprehension through metacognitive strategies: A training study.
488-501. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022219417748317 Reading and Writing: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 27(7), 1273–
1292. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11145-014-9503-3
Kim, Y. S., Wagner, R. K., & Lopez, D. (2012). Developmental
relations between reading fluency and reading comprehension: A Santos, M. (2017). Developing literacy-rich environments in early
longitudinal study from Grade 1 to Grade 2. Journal of Educational childhood settings: A case study in the Philippines. Asia Pacific
Psychology, 104(2), 439–454. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0025821 Journal of Education, 37(4), 496-511.

Kuhn, M. R., Schwanenflugel, P. J., & Meisinger, E. B. (2010). Scammacca, N., Roberts, G., Vaughn, S., & Stuebing, K. K. (2015).
Aligning theory and assessment of reading fluency: Automaticity, A meta-analysis of interventions for struggling readers in Grades 4-
prosody, and definitions of fluency. Reading Research Quarterly, 12: 1980-2011. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 48(4), 369-390.
45(2), 230-251. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022219414528540

Lee, S., Nguyen, T., & Huang, D. (2018). Reading habits and Smith, L. E., & Brown, C. (2016). Effects of feedback on reading
reading achievement: A meta-analysis of correlational studies. comprehension. Journal of Literacy Research, 48(4), 458–482.
Educational Psychology Review, 30(2), 427-456. https://doi.org/10.1177/1086296X16654664

McKeown, M. G., & Beck, I. L. (2004). Teaching vocabulary: Tabios, M. M., & Barrientos, E. L. (2016). Effects of explicit and
Making instructional choices based on what we know. The Reading systematic phonics instruction on reading skills of Filipino students.
Teacher, 57(5), 462–470. https://doi.org/10.1598/RT.57.5.4 Asia Pacific Education Review, 17(4), 589-603.

Mokhtari, K., & Thompson, H. B. (2006). How problems of reading Vergara, I. R. (2018). Building community engagement in
fluency and comprehension are related to difficulties in syntactic promoting literacy: A case study in a marginalized area in the
awareness skills among fifth graders. Reading Research Quarterly, Philippines. Literacy Research and Instruction, 57(1), 1-17.
41(4), 456-483. https://doi.org/10.1598/RRQ.41.4.4
Wu, W. W. (2017). Impact of digital reading on Chinese students'
Mol, S. E., Bus, A. G., & de Jong, M. T. (2009). Interactive book reading attitudes, strategies, and motivation. Computers &
reading in early education: A tool to stimulate print knowledge as Education, 104, 19-29.
well as oral language. Review of Educational Research, 79(2), 979-
1007.
Affiliations and Corresponding Information
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. (2000).
Report of the National Reading Panel: Teaching children to read: An Joean S. Andal
evidence-based assessment of the scientific research literature on Bintawan National High School
reading and its implications for reading instruction. National Department of Education - Philippines
Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Palma, M. R., Majorek, C., Ferguson, A. L., & Williams, K. M. Christian Jay A. Bautista
(2017). Examining the effects of a tier 2 reading intervention on the Bintawan National High School
Department of Education - Philippines
reading comprehension skills of seventh-grade students. Learning
D i s a b i l i t i e s R e se a rch & Pra c t i ce , 32 (2 ), 66 -76.
https://doi.org/10.1111/ldrp.12126

Rosenshine, B., & Meister, C. (1992). The use of scaffolds for

Andal & Bautista 96/96

You might also like