Foreign lit revised

According to the guidebook “Understanding and Teaching Reading

Comprehension” by Oakhill, Cain, and Elbro (2014), reading comprehension is critical

for broader learning, success in education, and employment. It has become much more

important in our social lives in the emergence of email, texting, and social networking

sites. Reading comprehension is a complex process that requires the coordination of a

wide range of cognitive abilities and skills. Of course, adequate word reading is

essential for reading comprehension: readers cannot comprehend an entire document if

they are unable to recognize (decode) the words within that text. Similarly, deep

understanding of language is necessary for successful reading comprehension.. This

needs comprehension of both the individual words and the sentences that they form.

According to (Sage Journal 2019),the cognitive process of reading

comprehension requires several skills and strategies. It is composed of different factors,

such as background knowledge, vocabulary and proficiency, active literacy skills, and

critical thinking that need to work together. In reading comprehension, prior knowledge

plays a crucial role. Students use their previous knowledge as a means of connecting

what they already know with the texts they read, to make this text comprehensible. The

reader's experience in the real world and literary knowledge are both covered by prior

knowledge. To help students become more active readers and improve reading

comprehension, it is important to draw connections between background knowledge

and texts.
 Reading comprehension depends on whether a student knows how to use the

vocabulary. In every text, students need to be able to comprehend the familiar word as

well as its relationship with other words. Mastering vocabulary includes recognizing a

word’s part of speech, definition, useful context clues, and how it functions in a

sentence. It is possible to help improve comprehension by means of these vocabulary

strategies.

According to Elleman et al. (2019), improving comprehension will require an

early and continuous attention on strengthening background knowledge, vocabulary,

inference, and comprehension monitoring skills throughout development. Prior

knowledge of a reader is required to construct a coherent representation of a text. On

one hand, vocabulary is a strong predictor of reading comprehension across

development. Adolescents' stagnant scores are likely the result of a variety of factors,

including those discussed in this article. Improving adolescent reading comprehension

will necessitate a collaborative effort by researchers, educators, and policymakers to

forego short-term gains on low-level comprehension tests to achieve long-term solutions

that will take years to develop.

If students have an ability to properly asses, they are more effective at

responding to the text. When students read, they can define the text's core idea and its

supporting facts, as well as sequence of events and overall structure. In addition,

students are also capable of identifying literary tools and their effects on the text. By

having critical thinking skills, students will be better able to understand text and have a

positive reading experience (Hart, 2021).

 The reader will have an effective understanding of the text by reading strategies

as a mental process. They are, in other words, the tools used by readers to understand

what is written on the page. Students can directly benefit from such strategies, which

are crucial for developing literacy skills. Reading strategies include actions that readers

are engaged in, to help determine the meaning of words. Reading comprehension is the

understanding of what is being read (Reading Rockets 2023).

The use of reading strategies has four steps: First, understanding how to

organize the text can help children figure out what they are reading. Before reading and

applying this information, it may be useful to review the text organization by means of a

reader strategy such as previewing. On the other hand, reading can make it easier to

read part of a passage or merely skim its content. Second, by monitoring what children

understand during and after reading, reading strategies can help to monitor

comprehension. Asking questions during reading allows them to check their

understanding. After reading, summarizing and retelling are helpful to review

understanding. Third, to enhance comprehension, there are several ways to retrieve

information from memory. For example, when children use some kind of mnemonic

device to create a link between new information and familiar information stored in their

long-lasting memories, it is easier to retrieve data from the text. Fourth, students may be

able to gain access to information that is not explicitly given by means of reading

strategies. They are useful for readers to infer meaning, make inferences and

generalize information. For texts that have complex ideas and vocabulary, reading

strategies are helpful. They can be used by students to improve their reading and

comprehension skills (Cruz, 2023).

Local Literature

According to Padillo (2023) in his article "Who are The Middle Class in the

Philippines?",It seems that the middle class makes up a much smaller share of the rich-

poor divided than many had previously believed. The total household income largely

determines a person's social standing, especially in the Philippines where this category

is mainly financial in nature. As per the data provided by the Philippine Institute for

Development Studies (PIDS), an average household consisting of five members falls

into one of three income classes: low-income if the monthly income falls between Php9,

100 and Php18, 200; middle-class if it falls between Php36, 400 and Php63, 700; and

rich if it exceeds Php182, 000.

According to Zoleta (2022)(People who make between two and twelve times the

poverty line are classified as middle class in the Philippines. This implies that your

family would be classified as middle-class if your income ranges from roughly

Php24,000 to Php145,000. It is vital to keep in mind nevertheless, that because of their

limited access to cheap housing and social services, members of the middle class

remain susceptible to poverty. According to the most recent Family Income and

Expenditure Survey carried out by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA),

approximately 40% of the population is classified as middle class, with the majority

(58.4%) falling into the low-income category.)

According to the Department of Education (2019), the ability to read is

undeniably one of the most crucial educational outcomes in primary education. It serves

as the foundation for children's learning and development of broader literacy skills.

Reading not only enables children to acquire knowledge but also empowers them to

engage actively in society, including the workforce. Proficient reading skills allow

children to access a wealth of information from various sources, fostering their

intellectual growth and expanding their horizons. Moreover, reading proficiency equips

children with the tools to comprehend complex texts, think critically, and express

themselves effectively. These skills are essential for success not only in academic

pursuits but also in future careers and active participation in society. By nurturing strong

reading abilities early on, primary education sets the stage for children to become

lifelong learners and active contributors to their communities.

According to Meron (2018), poverty is a major factor contributing to the

Philippines' low ranking in terms of reading comprehension. In the Philippine education

system, students from low-income families often prioritize work at a young age instead

of attending school regularly. This lack of consistent formal schooling, coupled with

poverty and limited access to academic resources, hinders their cognitive development

and ability to interact with people in the academic community. On the other hand, a child

who grows up surrounded by teachers, books, and other reading materials gains a clear

understanding of the importance of education.