UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF READING
TEACHING BEGINNING READING THROUGH THE MARUNGKO TECHNIQUE
1. The names of the letters of the alphabet are not taught until all the sounds have
been mastered in association with their form. The first five lessons are as follows:
a. Lesson 1 m
b. Lesson 2 s
c. Lesson 3 a
d. Lesson 4 I
e. Lesson 5 o
Teach each sound and form to mastery before another sound is introduced:
a. Ask a question the response to which is the target sound.
b. Write the target letter on the board and tell the children to sound it once
again as they look at the letter.
c. Show them how to write it. Then ask them to write it on the board, with
the fingers on their palm, on their desks, and on paper as they give the
sound.
d. Mastery means they know the sound and form of the target letter. They
can give the sound and write the symbol.
2. After the first three sounds have been mastered, these can be combined to form
words. Each new sound is introduced with sounds already learned in various
combinations into words.
3. After the first three sounds have been mastered, any other sound may be taught in
relation to sounds already learned. The suggested sequence is as follows:
a. Lesson 6 p
b. Lesson 7 k
c. Lesson 8 t
d. Lesson 9 l
e. Lesson 10 r
f. Lesson 11 d
g. Lesson 12 u
h. Lesson 13 n
i. Lesson 14 b
j. Lesson 15 g
k. Lesson 16 e
l. Lesson 17 w
m. Lesson 18 h
n. Lesson 19 ng
o. Lesson 20 y

4. Cumulative exercises should follow after a new sound is introduced to practice

various combinations of sounds already mastered: words, phrases, sentences,
rhymes, stories.
5. Use a variety of materials with the lessons: flashcards, pictures, cut-outs, charts,
sound cards, magic slate etc. Likewise, a variety of activities should be used:
games, puzzles, manipulative activities, writing and drawing.
6. After all the sounds have been mastered, teach the names of the letters of the
alphabet.
7. Function words such as ang, ng, mga, ay and at are introduced as whole words
during the first five lessons.
8. When to teach the capital letters and punctuation marks is left to the discretion of
the teacher, although Nooraihan and Urbano suggest that they be taught only after
all the small letters have been mastered .
Based on Urbano, Josefina and Ali Nooraihan (1967) Bumasa Tayo at Sumulat.
Marungko, Bulacan: De Los Santos Community School.