Professional Documents
Culture Documents
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
Literacy in the content areas such as science, history and math, requires that the
students are able to read and comprehend expository texts. Not only do students need
necessary skills to profit from reading content related materials, but also the students
need to know how they are going to actually read the text in order to complete an
assignment.
When looking at what it takes to be good reader and skills necessary in order to
(Gray, 1925). It implies that all teachers need to be able to support readers as thinkers and
therefore should be aware of reading strategies to help them think within the content area
(Azevedo, 2009). All teachers should be familiar with the reading process and the
number of stages a reader passes through in order to become what research call as
literate. The content area teachers need to also focus on the different types of skills
needed for expository and narrative texts and then apply teaching strategies that promote
competent readers.
How to think through print how to use reading to derive meaning from content
literacy skills beyond those acquired in early learning to read process, in order for them to
Coincidentally, subject matter textbooks are usually topic specific for different grade/year
levels, but often have a readability level that is more difficult than the designated grade
level (Walker,2004). This creates a discrepancy between what the students will need to
read and understand effectively in the content area materials. This discrepancy should be
a clear indicator that literacy skills, especially those for reading content materials, must
Some readers continue to struggle with content area texts because the skills and
strategies necessary to understand these texts are not being modeled, and taught
uniformly in every subject area (Hirsch, 2003). Jeanne Chall in the early 1980s described
two distinct stages for reading: 1) learning to read, and 2) reading to learn (Chall, 1983).
More current thinking about the teaching of reading suggests that these stages should not
read and reading to learn at all stage of reading development. However, since children
may not always be taught to read to learn while learning to read and be provided with an
appropriate balance of narrative and expository texts given in the upper elementary
grades that includes an increasing amount of expository text therefore creating what
appears to be a slump in reading performance of students when they reach the fourth
grade. One leading theory behind the fourth grade slump is related to the change in
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reading requirements that take place between the third and fourth grade. During this
transition, the primary type of instruction has been based around learning how to read,
usually from narrative materials, and now as students enter the fourth grade they are
expected to read several types of information, frequently from expository texts, and they
struggle because the skills are not being taught to comprehend the text effectively. They
are now exposed to different and sometimes more difficult texts (Snow, 2002). It is
further suggested that the majority of our struggling readers can manage simple texts, but
the problem occurs when at fourth grade and beyond they attempt more advanced
The researcher wants to find out the common reading strategies employed by
content area teachers in teaching their content and to what extent do these strategies are
being utilized. Thus the researcher formulated the research problem : Reading Strategies
The main purpose of this study was to find out reading strategies employed by
1. What are the common reading strategies employed by the content area
2. What are the common reading strategies employed by the content area
taught?
4
content area teachers according to sex, teaching status and subject taught?
Hypotheses
content area teachers according to sex, teaching status and subject taught.
Theoretical Framework
The theoretical foundation upon which this study was anchored draws mainly on
Schema and Cognitive Development theories of Jean Piaget, Richard Chase Andersen
and Lev Vygotsky, respectively. Also Jeanne Challs The Purpose of Reading Instead of
Schema theory was first introduced by Jean Piaget. According to Piaget, children
construct knowledge from their experiences instead of just only amassing things into a
collection of isolated facts. Thus, what children can learn and can do is organized into
schemes which are aptly called groups of similar actions or thoughts that are used
repeatedly in response to the environment. This was later developed by R.C. Andersen.
According to Walker (2004), schema is a framework developed by the reader to label and
concepts: objects and the relationships they have with other objects, situations, events,
of society and culture in promoting cognitive growth (1962, 1978, 1979). This theory
provides as a perspective on how children view and interpret the world through their
informal conversations and schooling. It also posits that children can learn to perform
more challenging tasks when they have the assistance of someone more advanced and
more competent than they are. In addition, challenging tasks promote maximum
cognitive growth. Thus, it makes instruction in and mastery of subject matter knowledge
as the primary forces underlying cognitive growth. Further conclusion derived from
Vygotskys (1962) is that without instruction in subject matter areas, students cannot
develop insights about how their own minds work and therefore, do not develop the
Jeanne Chall (1983) states that even though reading is taught throughout the school years,
there seems to be a critical pivotal point in reading development that takes place between
the third and fourth grades. During a transition period from third to fourth, there seems to
be this idea that students are no longer asked to read for pleasure but instead must begin
Conceptual Framework
status, and subject taught as independent variables. The researcher tried to find out if
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these independent variables may be a contributing factor in the use of the reading
strategies in their respective content area. The reading strategies employed by the content
This study assumed that there is no significant difference in the reading strategies
of the content area teachers when they are grouped according to sex, teaching status,and
sex
Teaching Status
Figure 2. A Schematic diagram showing the assumed flow of relationship among the
variables of the study
The results of this study will be very beneficial to the following group of
individuals:
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Students. This will be very useful to students so they can reflect on their skills in
reading at the same time they can make an inventory of their present skills in reading
comprehension. Also, it will help them tackle lessons in the content area that will lead to
mastery of the literacy skills, which is of utmost importance not only in education but
Teachers. This study will make them aware of the skills, knowledge and
concepts they take for granted and which are particularly important for students to be
shown explicitly. Simply put, all teachers should know what is distinct about reading in
their discipline, and they should, as a matter of basic professional competence, know how
regarding the structure and make innovations in the curriculum and the school activities;
thus,they may use this study as a basis for planning and evaluating the content area
The study focused on finding out the reading strategies of the content area
The respondents of the study were limited to the teachers of the Basic Education
Unit of the College of St. John-Roxas for the school year 2012-2013.
Definition of Terms
To ensure the understanding of terms used in this study, the following definitions
Content Area - The content areas are the academic subject areas that constitute a
levels: Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Christian Living, MAPEH, TLE. Students
may have varying interest and talents across the core content areas, but they can expect to
Content Area Teachers refers to the teachers teaching the content area.
Teaching Status refers to the status held by the teacher on the basis of
employment status and years of service to the school. This includes New Teachers,
facilitate reading proficiency. These are problem solving tools that enable one to recall
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content, construct meaning from diverse texts, synthesize ideas across text and create new
CHAPTER II
When children start entering school, they learn our alphabet, then early words.
They learn pronunciation through phonics; they learn sentences, then paragraphs, then
small books and short stories. In about 4 th grade they move up, to chapters and texts.
Their reading skills are built around recognizing words, interpreting their meaning,
placing them in a context that largely relates to what they already know, and then drawing
Students often are not prepared to tackle what is referred to as content reading;
that is reading textbooks that teach us other things, like science, and mathematics, and
social studies and other informative materials. These books contain pictures and texts that
go beyond illustrating the text; they contain graphs, maps, diagram and comparisons that
append the text content. In trying to apply their previously acquired reading skills,
students can become lost and frustrated in trying to learn information from written words
This task is a challenge for content area teachers. While they may not want to
become reading specialists, they must acquire the skills to help students transition from
reading text for storyline, images and characterization into learning to learn from texts.
Richard Vacca (1981), an acknowledged expert in the area of content reading, responds to
teacher frustration that students just dont read assigned material anymore: Its not that
they cant read. Most choose not to, primarily because they have never been shown how
Learning to read is explicitly taught in the primary grades, but then reading
instruction changes and becomes more focused around reading to learn, which may
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account for the fourth-grade failure and creates a bigger gap for those struggling readers
(Hirsh, 2003). From this basic principle rises the need for complete content area literacy
program filled with knowledge that is gained from the literature on what is suggested
when teaching content area reading and the important role of teaching reading strategies
living legacy of his model of reading. It all started when he asked himself this question:
What happens when we read? such a question was thought to have been answered long
before 1962 when Goodman started his professional journey as a researcher and educator.
For during those times, the prevailing view of reading was based on the theory that
reading is a matter of recognizing their meanings and acquiring and understanding of the
rules in attacking words. Other electric approaches combined with phonics focused on
establishing sight word vocabularies and teaching skills for decoding word spelling
focus on grammar such as knowing the parts of speech, diagramming sentences and
understanding phrase and clause structures among others. To put it simply, reading may
Despite the fact that millions of children learned how to read along with this
accented notion on the nature of reading, we are left to wonder what led Kenneth
Goodman to pose such question. Did he know something else and suspect that others did
not or was he simply dissatisfied with the known and accepted explanation of reading and
reading process? The answer is simple: the prevailing theory not enough to answer his
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question. In fact, theory did not fit reality (Marek, 1999). This drove him to probe further.
And when he observed children reading, he found out that they read in ways that were
incompatible with the popular theory. Word recognition did not seem to be the only, or at
times ever the primary skill they relied on in processing text. All these led to his
voluminous miscues studies which form the very foundation of his scholarly reading
model.
construct meaning in specific contexts (Walker, 2004). The reading process can also be
visualized as a cycle; before reading, during reading, and after reading. During the
reading process the reader is constantly making a connection with the text (Roe, Stoodt-
Students continue to build on those skills while developing new ones necessary
for the next stage, making this a developmental process. Every time a good reader
approaches a new text they engage in the reading process, before reading, during reading,
after reading and beyond reading. A successful reader will continue to use a variety of
skills in order to construct meaning of text (Pearson, Roehler, Dole, and Duffy, 1992).
Some of the skills good readers uses when they read are:
Adjusting the rate of their reading according to the difficulty level or the
when to use them (Vacca & Vacca, 2002). When students fail to use these skills
continuously, it has the potential to create more students who begin struggling with
reading. This problem led to an increase in interest for early researches such as the one
conducted by Jeanne Chall (1983) who noticed and created a belief that there are certain
This first state is the Initial Reading and Decoding Stage, which occurs between
the first and second grade and deals with word recognition and reading knowledge. Stage
two, the Automaticity Stage, occurs between second and third grade and is where a
gradual increase of text selection occurs. With this, more recreational reading is practiced
and less content are texts are used to enhance and strengthen good reading skills (Beers,
2006). Another stage that is directly tied to middle school students is the Reading for
Learning Stage. This stage occurs between fourth and eighth grade and where students
need to bring their prior knowledge to the reading and where they acquire facts (Beers,
2006). When a stage is missed, the reading process is interrupted and a gap is created
(Walker, 2004). Her research led to the concept known as the fourth grade slum which
takes a closer look at the teaching of reading and how it changes between the primary and
processing; the long term memory holds those learned responses that have become
automatic or habitual while medium memory holds those learning and responses that are
based upon the particular reading act. They are the guesses (predictions) and
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confirmations made during reading. The short term memory, on the other hand, holds
Before the reader engages in the act of reading, he has three sets of information
language.
3. Meanings and concepts that have been acquired.
At the onset of a reading act, the regulating programs get the eyes to move and
focus on the material. Printed language cues in and around the world are selected for
making guesses and then stored in the short term memory. Prior predictions from the
medium term memory only aid in the selection of cues after the initial instance of
reading.
The selected cues are used to form perceptual images that are also stored in the
short term memory. The perceptual cues may be anticipatory rather than actual. Since the
proficient reader does not use all cues available, there is a search through his language
repertoire for known cues that might be useful to the present situation to the present
situation. These cues when identified are then stored in the short term memory.
The perceptual images and indentified language cues are then compared. A
decision is consequently arrived at to hold these cues in the medium term memory by
testing them to see if they fit with prior information (confirmed predictions and stored
partial meanings). If they fit the message has been decoded. At this point the meaning
(deep structure) is integrated with the other meanings, predictions are confirmed, and the
process is recycled.
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There are two places in the process where a decision may be made that he
perceived cues do not fit and that the message cannot be decoded. The first occurs after
the perceptual image and identified related language cues are compared. So the
perceptual image and the chosen cues are recalled. If there is no match cues are reselected
from the line on the page and the process repeats. If there is no match now, then the cues
are held in the short term memory and a second test is made.
The second place of decision occurs when the cues are tested against the semantic
and syntactic context developed through prior choices. If there is still no fit, the decision
is made to regress and to seek the point of inconsistency. If regression does not produce
decoding, the partial meaning, if any, is stored in the medium term memory. The reader
moves on with the possibility that the additional cues will lead to complete decoding of
the message.
Goodman has analyzed the responses of pupils reading orally and has hypnotized
as to the reasons for readers deviations from the printed text. He refused to call these
deviations error because the term implies something intrinsically bad or destructive or
avoidable. He preferred to call them miscues because an analysis of them reveals the use
and misuse of the available language cues by the reader. In addition, the analysis also
reveals the process by which the reader utilize available cues to reconstruct the authors
message.
meaning, much as listening is a process of selecting auditory cues for meaning. Coming
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along with the selection of graphic cues is an active reconstruction of a message from the
written language. Reading then must involve some level of comprehension. It is cued or
miscued during the readers interaction with the written language. Thus, Goodman
supposed that the experienced reader can derive meaning directly from graphic cues
recoding (translating letter patterns into sound), and encoding (oral reading). Decoding
occurs when the meaning of the writer is analyzed and understood, in other words, when
the reader knows that deep structure of the message as generated by the writer. Encoding
can take place only when decoding has preceded it. Recoding is a procedure whereby
only the surface structure of the message is perceived and changed into a different form.
A proficient reader does not use all of the signals built into the writing system just
as proficient listener does not use every facet of the spoken language. The reader
anticipates meaning and has it reconfirmed. The less ones thoughts about the message
have to undergo change during reading, and the fewer number of cues from the page one
needs for arriving at the authors meaning, the more the proficient he is a reader within
In the guessing game which is reading, three types of information are used. Each has
several subtypes. They are used in reading simultaneously and not sequentially.
I. Grapho-phonic Information
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common in English.
B. Pattern Markers: The markers which outline the patterns.
1. Function Words: Those very frequent words which, though
perceives as its surface structure. They carry him to the deep structure
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process.
concepts as he reads.
C. Vocabulary is largely a term for the ability of the child to sort out his
semantic. There are, however, necessary series of abilities needed to make this process
successful.
1. Scanning: the ability to move from left to right and down a page line by line.
2. Fixing: the ability to focus the eye on the line of print.
3. Selecting: The ability to select from the graphic input those key cues which will
5. Forming: The ability to form [perceptual images on the basis of selection and
prediction. The reader must combine what he seed with what he expects to see to
syntactic and semantic information associated with perceptual images. The reader
brings to bear his language knowledge and his experiential and conceptual
background as he reads.
7. Tentative Choosing: The ability to make tentative choices (guesses) on the basis
of minimal cues and related syntactic and semantic input. It is crucial that the
reader at least use the least amount of information possible to make the best guess
possible.
8. Testing-Semantic and Syntactic: the ability to test choices against the screens of
meaning and grammar. Literally the reader says to himself: Does that make
sense? Does that sound like language to me? this involves the crucial ability to
recognize his own errors when they are significant. Readers who do not use these
two screens will tend to have low comprehension and will make little effective
prior test, against the recalled perceptual image and to gather more graphic
information if needed. Note that it is only when the choice has been rejected on
the semantic or syntactic grounds that there is any need to resort to further
is found unacceptable on prior tests. This involves the readers recognizing that an
the source or point of error and then reprocessing. This is the device by which the
reader corrects the errors he has recognized. A great deal of learning takes place
through correction. The reader teaches himself new strategies and new insights as
integrates the information gained with the meaning which has been forming. This
Different types of text require the reader to use different types of skills.
Competent readers are able to adjust their reading style as they move from narrative to
expository content (Roe, Stoodt-Hill, & Burns, 2004). Both Narrative and Expository
texts require a reader to construct meaning while reading; however, narrative texts focus
more on the elements of story-telling. Expository texts often require the use skills of
comparing and contrasting drawing conclusions, and evaluating the overall text (Pearson,
Roehler, Dole & Duffy, 1992); while, narrative texts require such skills as: understand
theme, characterization, setting and overall story structure. Expository texts can include
textbooks (Nauman, 1995). There are a number of skills that can be used with expository
reading such as summarizing critical reading and questioning the author. Narrative
reading is grouped around novels, plays, short stories, poetry and folktales (Nauman,
1995). Narrative reading also has its different skills that can be used throughout reading
with include understanding basic structure of a story, such as theme, plot, setting, and
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character development, using graphic organizers, which assist with analyzing stories, and
synthesizing, which is the gathering of information in order to see the big picture
(Nauman, 1995). It is critical that teachers teach students the skills necessary to use for
different texts, and more importantly, these skills have to be taught in the primary grades
content area teaching, provide a basis for the ideas presented. Good content area teaching
The first principle is that good content area teaching depends on the teachers
of this understanding is the teachers belief that all students can learn. An essential collar
The second principle is that good content area teaching depends on the teachers
knowledge of, and interest in, both subject matter and pedagogy, and the teachers skill in
The third principle is that good content area teaching depends on the teachers
knowledge, and deepening understanding of good educational theory and practice and the
Teachers have the right to expect that the text-books students used will meet
established criteria for considerate text. Teachers have the responsibility to use the
excellent features of textbooks efficiently and the obligation to intervene effectively when
aspects of textbooks do not mesh well with students needs. Both ethically and
than on the right to expect that textbook writing will qualify as considerate for students.
We have much more power to control our own teaching than to affect the way textbooks
A skillful, thoughtful teacher can create a match between text and students even
when the textbook would be difficult or impossible for students to learn from
good content area instruction (Jacobson, 1999). Teachers, not textbooks, are the key to
resources, without surrendering control of instruction to the texts. Teachers can intervene
between their students and the texts they use by providing instruction that helps students
to learn new vocabulary and relate it to their reading; to acquire, use, and remember new
concepts; and to develop methods of studying that enable them to become independent
Three major elements in the content area classroom that affect learning are
teachers, students, and texts. Each has the potential to contribute to learning or to hamper
it. There are things teachers do or fail to do, that instead of helping their students learn
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make it harder for them to learn. There are problems students face that may interfere with
their school learning. There are features of textbooks that make it difficult for students to
through school. Good teaching supports learning, but inadequate teaching interferes with
student learning. If teachers do not have a sound understanding of the subject matter they
are teaching, if they are unwilling to put thought and effort into planning and conducting
their classroom program, if they do not care sensibly about all their students, or if they
give no time and attention to their own learning, they will not teach effectively. Their
students learning and enjoyment for school will be diminished. However through
capability, energy, care for students and for subject matter, and commitment to continuing
professional growth, difficulties that arise from inadequate teaching can be prevented.
Student factors affect their learning within any classroom, students will vary
widely in the amount and kind of prior knowledge and experience they bring to the task
Reading is the primary method in learning content area information. Within any
interest in a topic, and self confidence as learners are likely to result in different degrees
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of understanding. Skillful teachers can intervene between the students and the texts that
provide content area information, to enable these diverse students to understand essential
concepts. Teachers can support students comprehension through direct teaching of the
content that provides explanation and expansion of the text; through classroom activities
that promote multiple readings of text and activities that promote multiple readings of
text and activities that engage students actively in thinking about text concepts; and
through the development and use of teaching materials, including the use of well-
designed questions, that lead students to recognize and apply important text information.
In some school districts, teachers inherit sets of literature anthologies and trade
books, and they must use them whether or not students can read them. Being forced to
instruct with books that are too difficult for students has resulted in a practice wherein
teachers read aloud and students follow in their books. This strategy improved students
listening; it does not improve their reading because students cannot follow text that is
Pearson et al. (1992) emphasize three important difference between skills and
strategies.
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1. Strategic reading means that when the learner practices a strategy, he has a
2. As students use strategies, they become more and more aware of their
reasoning process as they make sense out of print; skills seldom involve this
kind of self-awareness.
3. The strategies readers use change with the purpose for reading and the genre,
The clich that every teacher is a teacher of reading has been interpreted by
content teachers in light of the reading teachers role and responsibility for teaching
reading. Content teachers have rejected that role and rightly so they assume that there is
no place for reading instruction as reading teachers generally employ it in content areas.
There is awhole new strategy in teaching reading through content areas, a strategy that
draws from what we know about the direct teaching of reading but adapts that knowledge
to fit the structure of and responsibilities for the total curriculum in each content area.
(Herber, 1978)
The teacher creates the circumstances and conditions within the classroom that
support learning. in many instances, teachers direct the activities. Focus lessons, or
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minilessons, are concise lessons that teach a specific skill. These lessons may use
modeling, that is, they may show or demonstrate for students how to use the processes of
reading or writing or how to use particular strategies that might help in decoding words
or constructing meaning. For example, when teachers read stories to the class, they are
modeling reading; when theyr write a group story with the class, they are modeling
writing. Many times, modeling involves the use of think-alouds, sessions in which
teachers share the thought processes they have gone through in formulating the meaning
of a text (Clark,1984).
The support the teacher provides while students are involved in any aspect of
reading or writing is called scaffolding (Collins, Brown, and Newman, 1987). This might
be questioning that helps students understand what they have read or modeling to show
scaffolding and provides less and less support. This is what Pearson (1985) calls the
gradual release of responsibility. In other words, the teacher gradually gives more
responsibility to the students. This process can be observed in any learning situation. For
example, young children who learned to read before going to school learned in this way:
first someone read to them, and then gradually that person read less and less and the
Foreign Studies
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Over 20 years ago, Durkin (1978 1979) conducted a study in which she set out
to see what teachers did to teach reading comprehension. She found that teachers
followed a pattern of assignment giving. They asked students to read and then respond to
questions, but they did not provide students with instruction in the process of
comprehending texts. Durkin had looked at what teachers were already doing. Other
teachers began to explore whether reading comprehension could be taught, and if so, how
Dole, Duffy, Roehler and Pearson (1991) also conducted a related study and
concluded that comprehension strategies can be taught, and we know a great deal about
Students have no trouble with decoding, but they dont understand a thing that
they read, this is according to the study made by Andersen, Mason, and Shirey (1984). It
was further found out that teachers made sure that students could decode every word in
the text. However, they found that comprehension did not follow naturally as a
CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
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This chapter deals with the research design, respondents of the study, data
Research Design
This study was conducted at College of St. John-Roxas in Roxas City, Capiz. The
Male 6 37.50 %
Female 10 62.50 %
According to Subject:
Mathematics 4 25 %
Science 3 18.75 %
Social Studies 3 18.75 %
Christian Living 2 3.50 %
MAPEH 2 3.50 %
TLE 2 3.50 %
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According to Status:
Newly-Hired 11 68.75 %
Permanent 2 12.50 %
Research Instrument
based on the questionnaire checklist from the Association of Supervisors and Curriculum
Developers (ASCD). The questionnaire was composed of two parts. The first part was the
respondents personal information and the second part elicited responses on the reading
strategies they employed in their daily classroom scenarios. A five point Likert scale was
When the questionnaire was validated, tested and proven reliable, permission to
conduct the test was secured from the principal of the school. The test was personally
administered by the researcher making sure that the instructions both oral and written
were made clear; assistance and guidance were also extended by the researcher to the
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respondents, after the respondents have accomplished the data gathering instruments,
they were gathered by the researcher. The data gathered were tallied, ranked and
Data Analysis
The results of the reading strategies employed by the content area teachers
2.00-2.99 Sometimes
1.0-1..99 Rarely
To determine the reading strategies of the content area teachers when grouped
according to sex, subject taught and teaching status, frequency count, Rank and mean
were used.
difference in the reading strategies of the respondents when they are grouped according to
CHAPTER IV
2.00-2.99 Sometimes
1.0-1.99 Rarely
Whole.
Mean Description
When taken as a whole 4.00 Always
When taken as a whole, the content area teachers always use the reading strategies
in teaching.
The category of the reading strategy commonly employed by the content area
followed by 3. Strategy in building vocabulary and the last 4., the strategy in using
reading tools.
Based on Rank.
a word.
Organizing the lesson from the easiest to the 4.50- Always 3
complex.
Guiding students to get the main idea or key 4.50 Always 3
When taken as a whole, the common reading strategies employed by the content
area teachers are: 1. Relating the concepts and new knowledge to the situations and
students to connect prior knowledge to the new one ( M=4.56), always; 3. Helping
students create mental or visual image of a word, ( M= 4.50); Organizing the lesson
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from the easiest to the complex ( M=4.50); Guiding students to get the main idea or key
concepts of the lesson( M=4.50 ) all the rank three are interpreted as Always.
difficult word.
The least employed reading strategies based on the mean and rank are: Rank 1,Using
video clips and presentations to stimulate thinking among students ( M=2.69) ;Rank 2,
Exposing students to different types of texts and reading materials such as newspapers,
reports, blogs, journals and research papers ( M=2.88) which were both interpreted as
materials like dictionary and thesaurus to give meaning to the word is (M=3.31) and
Using the structure of the word like prefixes, suffixes and root words to give meaning to
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the difficult word ( M=2.56 ) which ranked 3rd and 4th in the least employed reading
When taken according to sex, male got the mean of 3.92 which is interpreted as
often and female got the mean of 4.04 , which means that female teachers always
Table 7 Rank of the Common Reading Strategies Employed by the Male Content
Based on the reading categories, the male content area teachers employ
and last is rank 4, strategies using reading tools ( M= 3.56). making connections and
reading comprehension strategies are Always while building vocabulary and using
Teachers
a word..
Guiding students to connect prior knowledge to 4.67 Always 1
students
Asking questions after the students read to help 4.67- Always 1
reading
Guiding students to get the main idea or key 4.67 Always 1
The most common reading strategies employed by male content area teachers
are: Helping students create a visual image of a word; guiding students to connect prior
knowledge to the new one; relating new knowledge to the experiences of students; asking
questions after the students read to help shape their thinking for the remainder of the
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reading and guiding students to get the main idea or key concepts of the lesson. All of
these have the same mean ( M=4.67) and these strategies are Always employed by the
male teachers. All the above strategies are Always used by male content area
teachers.
Table 9 presents the least used strategies of male content area teachers.
Rank 1 as the least used strategy is using video clips and presentations to stimulate
thinking among students( M=2.00); then rank 2 ,exposing students to different types of
texts and reading materials such as newspaper, reports, blogs, journals and research paper
( M=2.50) and rank 3, using the structure of the word like prefixes,suffixes and root
words to give meaning to the difficult word ( M=2.58). These strategies are sometimes
categories are Always used by female content area teachers and Rank 4 is using reading
tools ( M=3.80) which is interpreted as Often used by female content area teachers.
Teachers
a word..
Organizing the lesson from the easiest to the 4.60 Always 1
complex.
Identifying the meaning of the word based on the 4.50 Always 2
respondents. Rank 1 are: helping students create mental or visual image of a word and
organizing the lesson from the easiest to the complex both have a mean of 4.60 which
mean that these strategies are always used by female teachers.Rank 2 is identifying the
meaning of the wordbased on the context or on how it is used in the sentence ( M=4.50)
which is always used strategy. Rank 3 are: activating students prior knowledge before
presenting new concepts or topics, guiding students to get the main idea of key concepts
of the lesson and making students summarize the lesson or the topic ( M=4.40). These
strategies are also Always used by the female content area teachers.
word
The least employed reading strategies are: Rank 1 exposing students to different
types of texts and reading materials such as newspapers, reports, blogs, journals and
research papers and using video clips and presentations to stimulate thinking among
students , both with a mean of 3.10 which is often used by the female respondents. Rank
2 is Making use of reference materials like dictionary and thesaurus to give meaning to
Table 13 Reading strategies Employed by the Content Area Teachers when Grouped
to Subject Taught
Math 3.61 Often 6
Science 4.35 Always 2
AP/HEKASI 4.15 Always 3
CL 4.00 Always 4
MAPEH 4.52 Always 1
TLE 3.56 Often 5
teachers have the highest mean ( M=4.52) Rank 1, followed by Science teachers
teachers Always employ the reading strategies. While the TLE /HELE teachers have a
41
mean of 3.56 Rank 5 and the last are the MATH teachers( M=3.61) Rank 6 which mean
that TLE and Math teachers Often use the reading strategies.
reading comprehension skills ( M=3.85), Rank 3 is using reading tools (M=3.25) and the
last is building vocabulary M=3.20 which are also interpreted as Often employed
reading strategies.
a word..
Guiding students to connect their prior knowledge 4.50 Always 4
complex
Relating new knowledge to the experiences of 4.25- Always 5
students
Using guide questions and prompts that will help 4.25 Always 5
lesson
reading strategies employed by Math teachers are: Rank 1, Getting the main idea or key
concepts of the lesson. ( M=5.00); Rank 2, Asking questions after the students read the
section to help students shape their thinking ( M=4.75), Rank 3, helping Students create
mental or visual image of a word (M=4.60) ; Rank 4, Organizing the lesson from the
easiest to the complex ( M=4.50); Rank 5, Relating new knowledge to the experiences of
students ( M=4.25); and Using guide questions and prompts that will help students
predict or make assumptions about the lesson ( 4.25). All the above strategies are
word
content area teachers. Rank 1 is using video clips and presentations to stimulate thinking
among students ( M=1.5) and Rank 2, exposing students to different types of texts and
bothe are Rarely employed by Math teachers and Rank 3 is making use of reference
materials like dictionary and thesaurus to give meaning to the word ( M=2.0 ) which is
Sometimes used.
Building Vocabulary ( M=4.41), Rank 3, Making Connections ( M=4.13) and the last is
using reading tools ( M=4.06) Rank 4. Al;l these are Often used by Science content
area teachers.
difficult word.
Making students summarize the lesson or topic 5.00 Always 1
Providing opportunities for students to make 4.67 Always 2
generalizations
Using pictures, diagrams ,concept maps and 4.67 Always 2
word.
using the structure of the word like prefixes, suffixes and root words to give meaning to
the difficult word and making students summarize the lesson or topic ( M=5.0) which is
45
Always. Rank 2 are providing opportunities for students to make generalizations, using
pictures, diagrams ,concept maps and charts and other materials to facilitate effective
understanding of the topic, Activating students prior knowledge before presenting new
concepts, helping students to create visual image of the word ( M=4.67) which are also
The least employed reading strategies of the Science teachers are: Rank 1
making use of reference materials like dictionary and thesaurus to give meaning to the
word, exposing students to different types of texts and reading materials such as
newspapers, reports, blogs, research journals,papers, using video clips and presentations
comprehension skills ( M= 4.00) and the last Rank 4 is using reading tools (M=3.94). All
word.
Activating students prior knowledge before 4.67- Always 1
There are seven reading strategies that are Always employed by the
AP/HEKASI teachers with the same mean, ( M= 4.67): Helping students to create visual
image of the word; activating students prior knowledge before presenting new concepts;
Identifying the meaning of a word through context clues or how it is used in the
sentence.; Providing time for students for brainstorming and buzz sessions for them to
share insights to stimulate prior knowledge and thinking processes ; Making students
summarize the lesson or topic ; Helping students create visuals and other forms of notes
to show their understanding of the topic.; Helping students create visuals and other forms
hypothesis or guesses or predictions of what might be coming out of the text or lesson.
Teachers
video clips and presentations to stimulate thinking among students; Exposing students to
different types of texts and reading materials such as newspapers, reports, blogs, research
journals, papers; Teaching students to evaluate their own learning ; Allowing students to
classify and categorize ideas from the lesson. They all have common means of 3.33
The Christian Living (CL) teachers employ the following strategies based
reading comprehension skills ( M= 3.95), Rank 3 , using reading tools and the last is
Using guide questions and prompts that will help 4.50 Always 2
students predict and make assumptions about the
lesson or the topic.
strategies employed by CL teachers are: Rank 1, relating concepts and new knowledge to
the situations and experiences of students ( M= 5.00) ; Rank 2 are: Helping students
create mental and visual image of the word ; Associating the unknown words to ideas and
concepts that students have already known ; Activating students prior knowledge before
presenting new concepts and topics ; Asking questions after students have read the
section to help shape their thinking ; Using guide questions and prompts that will help
students predict and make assumptions about the lesson or the topic. ( M= 4.50). They are
thinking of students.
based on table 23 are: Rank 1 Using video clips and presentations to stimulate thinking of
journals and papers and Using models,replicas,representations and mock upsin presenting
among the categories of reading strategies (M-= 4.7) ; Rank 2 Building Vocabulary
( M=4.60) ; Rank 3 developing reading comprehension skills ( M= 4.55) and the last is
Using reading tools, rank 4 (M= 4.25). They are all Always employed by MAPEH
teachers.
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Rank 1 with mean of ( M=5.0) Organizing lessons by clarifying simple ideas first then
proceeding to the complex; Getting the main idea or key concepts of the lesson ;
Allowing students to categorize ideas: main ideas and supporting ideas ; Using pictures
,diagrams, concept maps and charts and other materials to facilitate effective
presenting concepts or ideas ; Asking questions after students have read the section to
help shape their thinking ; Using talk aloud and think aloud strategies to facilitate
Teachers
Rank 1, Exposing students to different types of texts and reading materials such as
newspaper ,reports, blogs, research journals and papers ( M= 2.5) which is interpreted as
sometimes ; Rank 2 are: Using video clips and presentations to stimulate thinking of
might be coming out of the text or lesson, with the mean of (M=3.5) which are often
employed.
comprehension skills ( M= 3.70) ; Rank 3 , Using reading tools ( M=3.42) and Rank 4 is
building vocabulary ( M=3.2). They are all Often used by TLE teachers.
Using guide questions and prompts that will help 4.5- Often 1
students predict and make assumptions about the
lesson or the topic.
same means of 4.5 which is interpreted as Often employed. They are: Helping students
create mental and visual image of the word ; Relating concepts and new knowledge to the
54
situations and experiences of students ; Asking questions after students have read the
section to help shape their thinking and Using guide questions and prompts that will help
students predict and make assumptions about the lesson or the topic.
Rank 1 are Making use of reference materials like dictionary and thesaurus to give
meaning to a word and Using video clips and presentations to stimulate thinking of
students ( M=2.5 ) which are sometimes employed.. Rank 2 is, Encouraging students to
55
make hypotheses or guesses or predictions to what might be coming out of the text or
teaching status:
Permanent 3.83 Often
Continuing- Probationary 4.05 Always
Newly Hired 4.01 Always
teachers which Rank 3 and 4 are Often employed , Using reading tools and building
vocabulary respectively.
Rank 1 is, Guiding students to connect prior knowledge to new ones ( M=5.0) ; Rank 2
are: Helping students create mental and visual image of the word ; Activating students
prior knowledge before presenting new concepts and topics ; Asking questions after
students have read the section to help shape their thinking ; Organizing lessons by
clarifying simple ideas first then proceeding to the complex. ; Getting the main idea or
key concepts of the lesson ; Allowing students to categorize ideas: main ideas and
supporting ideas ; Teaching students to compare and contrast and using analogy of
concepts and ideas ; Providing opportunities for students to share their insights and make
generalizations about the topic or lesson and Making students summarize the lesson or
topic with the mean of 4.5, which means that they are also Always employed by the
permanent teachers.
Teachers
are: Rank 1 is Exposing students to different types of texts and reading materials such as
newspaper, reports, blogs, research journals and papers ( M=1.0) which is rarely
employed and Rank 2 with the mean of 2.0 which are sometimes employed , Using video
clips and presentations to stimulate thinking of students and Making use of reference
teachers based on reading categories are : Rank 1 Making Connections ( M=4.90) ; Rank
employed. Rank 3 is using reading tools ( M=3.94) and Rank 4 is building vocabulary
Probationary Teachers
probationary teachers Rank 1 with the same means ( M=4.67) Using pictures ,diagrams,
concept maps and charts and other materials to facilitate effective understanding of the
topic ; Organizing lessons by clarifying simple ideas first then proceeding to the complex
and Making students summarize the lesson or topic. These reading strategies are
Always employed.
Probationary Teachers
Table 38 shows the least employed reading strategies are: Using video
clips and presentations to stimulate thinking of students ; Giving meaning of the word
based on context clues or how it is used in the sentence and Making use of reference
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materials like dictionary and thesaurus to give meaning to a word ( M=2.33) which are
Rank 4 is Using reading tools ( M=3.71). Rank 1 and 2 are Always employed while
Rank 1 Guiding students to connect prior knowledge to new ones and Making students
summarize the lesson or topic ( M=4.72) which are Always employed ; Rank 2 is
Helping students create mental and visual image of the word ( 4.52) ; Rank 3 are Asking
questions after students have read the section to help shape their thinking and Getting the
main idea or key concepts of the lesson with the means of 4.45 which are Always
Teachers
are : Rank 1 Exposing students to different types of texts and reading materials such as
newspaper,reports,blogs, research journals and papers ( M=2.81) and rank 2 Using video
clips and presentations to stimulate thinking of students ( 2.90) which are Sometimes
-0.22 25 -1.96
Female 4.04
P 0.05
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strategies employed by content area teachers when grouped according to sex. Results
yielded the t-value of -0.22 is greater than the tabulated value -1.96. The null hypothesis
is rejected, hence; the reading strategies employed by male and female content area
teachers vary.
10.54 2.27
The One Way ANOVA result shows that significant difference existed in
the reading strategies employed by the content area teachers when grouped according to
subject taught. Result yielded F-value 10.54 is greater than the tabulated value 2.27. The
null hypothesis is rejected which means that the reading strategies employed by the
content area teachers were not the same when grouped according to subject taught.
2.57 3.12
strategies employed by the content area teachers when grouped according to teaching
status. The computed value 2.27 is less than the tabulated value of 3.12. The null
CHAPTER V
Summary
The study dealt with the reading strategies employed by content area teachers of
the College of St. John Roxas for the SY 2012-2013. Specifically, the study attempted to
1. What are the common reading strategies employed by the content area teachers
2. What are the common reading strategies employed by the content area teachers
content area teachers according to sex, teaching status and subject taught?
Based on the statements of the problem, the researcher advanced the hypothesis
that there is no significant difference among the reading strategies used by the content
The study was conducted in January 2013 at the College of St. John-Roxas Basic
Education Unit. The respondents of the study were the 16 teachers from the grade school
and high. They were grouped according to sex, subject taught and teaching status.
The data were gathered using the researcher-made checklist based on the reading
Developers (ASCD).
The date obtained from the study were subjected to appropriate statistical
treatment. Mean and rank were used for descriptive data analysis of the common and
least employed reading strategies by the content area teachers. t-test is used to determine
the significant difference in the reading strategies employed by content area teachers
when grouped according to sex while One Way ANOVA was used to determine the
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significant difference in the reading strategies employed by content area teachers when
Findings
1. When taken as a whole, the content area teachers always use the reading strategies in
teaching.
2. When taken according to sex, male got the mean of 3.92 which is interpreted as
often and female got the mean of 4.04 , which means that female teachers always
3. When the respondents are grouped according to subjects taught, MAPEH teachers had
the highest mean ( M=4.52) Rank 1, followed by Science teachers ( M=4.35) Rank 2,
Always employ the reading strategies. While the TLE /HELE teachers have a mean of
3.56 Rank 5 and the last are the MATH teachers( M=3.61) Rank 6 which mean that TLE
4. When grouped according to teaching status, the reading strategies were Always
teachers ( M=4.01) rank 2. Meanwhile they were Often employed by permanent faculty
( M= 3.83) Rank 3.
5. When taken according to reading categories, as a whole, the category of the reading
strategy commonly employed by the content area teachers is Rank 1. Strategy in making
Strategy in building vocabulary and the last Rank 4., the strategy in using reading tools.
6. Based on the reading categories, the male content area teachers employ reading
strategies ( M= 4.10); Rank 3 is vocabulary building strategies (M=3.67); and last is rank
comprehension strategies are Always while building vocabulary and using reading
7. The reading categories most commonly employed by female content area teachers are:
Rank 3, reading comprehension strategies ( M=4.04). The three reading categories are
Always used by female content area teachers and Rank 4 is using reading tools ( M=3.80)
8. When taken according to general reading categories, Math teachers often use
comprehension skills ( M=3.85), Rank 3 is using reading tools (M=3.25) and the last is
building vocabulary M=3.20 which are also interpreted as Often employed reading
strategies.
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( M=4.41), Rank 3, Making Connections ( M=4.13) and the last is using reading tools
( M=4.06) Rank 4. Al;l these are Often used by Science content area teachers.
Rank 3 , strategies in developing reading comprehension skills ( M= 4.00) and the last
Rank 4 is using reading tools (M=3.94). All categories are Often employed by
AP/HEKASI teachers.
11. The Christian Living (CL) teachers employ the following strategies based on
reading comprehension skills ( M= 3.95), Rank 3 , using reading tools and the last is
12. MAPEH teachers employ strategies in making connections as Rank 1 among the
; Rank 3 developing reading comprehension skills ( M= 4.55) and the last is Using
reading tools, rank 4 (M= 4.25). They are all Always employed by MAPEH teachers.
13.The common reading strategies of TLE teachers based on general categories are :
skills ( M= 3.70) ; Rank 3 , Using reading tools ( M=3.42) and Rank 4 is building
14. Permanent teachers employed the following reading strategies based on reading
which Rank 3 and 4 are Often employed , Using reading tools and building vocabulary
respectively.
15. The common reading strategies employed by continuing probationary teachers based
reading comprehension skills ( M=4.3) which are both Always employed. Rank 3 is
using reading tools ( M=3.94) and Rank 4 is building vocabulary ( M=3.80) which is
16. Based on the reading categories, the common reading strategies employed by newly-
hired teachers are : Rank 1 Making connections ( M= 4.44) ; Rank 2 Building Vocabulary
Using reading tools ( M=3.71). Rank 1 and 2 are Always employed while Ranks 3
17. The common specific reading strategies employed by content area teachers are:
- Relating the concepts and new knowledge to the situations and experiences of
students
- Guiding students to get the main idea or key concepts of the lesson
18. The least employed specific reading strategies of the content area teachers are:
-Making use of reference materials like dictionary and thesaurus to give meaning to
the word
- Using the structure of the word like prefixes, suffixes and root words to give
19. There is a significant difference in the common strategies employed by the content
Conclusions
1. Generally, the content area teachers of the College of St. John Roxas most
frequently employ the reading strategies in teaching their content such as strategies in
2. Female content area teachers had higher extent of use of the reading strategies
3. When grouped according to subject taught, MAPEH teachers had the highest extent of
use of the reading strategies and the least extent of use of the reading strategies were the
4. Continuing probationary teachers lead in the use of reading strategies followed by the
5. Among the categories of reading strategies, the strategies in making connections and
reading comprehension strategies were the most commonly employed by the content area
teachers while strategies in vocabulary building and using reading tools were the least
employed.
6. The reading strategies employed by content area teachers vary when grouped
according to sex and subject taught. Hence, sex and subject taught were indicators of the
permanent, probationary and newly-hired were the same. The status of teacher , therefore;
Recommendations
formulated:
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1. The need to constantly orient, train and coach teachers to use reading strategies must
2. Special attention must be provided to the male teachers in terms of trainings and
strategies in teaching. Female teachers can be utilized to help the male teachers through
3. The need to strengthen the faculty development program specifically the Math teachers
in the use of reading strategies. They must understand that math instruction must not be
isolated to solving only but also to understanding and analyzing details and concepts.
They must continuously attack comprehension skills and vocabulary building in teaching.
Also, Math teachers must explore on using reading tools so that comprehension skills of
4. Since, the result showed that permanent teachers ranked last in the use of reading
and orienting teachers so that they push themselves to be better implementers of the
mentors to the new teachers. Through this, they would exert more effort in improving
themselves.
5. The strategies in making connections and building comprehension skills must be done
consistently by teachers and constant evaluation of the head must be undertaken if these
strategies were effectively utilized in the classroom and if they were translated to better
student achievement.
74
6. Special faculty development program on the use of reading tools and building
vocabulary strategies be put in place. It must be made clear to the content area teachers
that these strategies are not only for English teachers but for everybody. It should be
stressed out that all teachers must be reading teachers so that literacy rate would be
-Asking questions after students have read the section to help shape their thinking.
-Using guide questions and prompts that will help students predict and make assumptions about
the lesson or the topic.
Building Vocabulary
-Using the structure of a word like prefixes, suffixes and root word in order to give
meaning to it.
-Giving meaning of the word based on context clues or how it is used in the sentence.
-Associating the unknown words to ideas and concepts that students have already known
-Making use of reference materials like dictionary and thesaurus to give meaning to a
word.
7. The least used reading strategies below must be addressed by giving special attention
Provide resources on the use of media technology such as internet connection and the use
The school librarian must collaborate with subject teachers in the use of available
reference materials. He/she can help by providing teachers easy access to these materials
especially research papers and journals. The school must invest on these materials to
maximize learning of students and effective delivery modes of teaching by the teachers.
c.Making use of reference materials like dictionary and thesaurus to give meaning
to
the word
All teachers must be provided with dictionary and thesaurus so that vocabulary building
would be part of every teachers strategy. It is also recommended that all students be
required to bring these materials so that formal or incidental learning of words would take
place anytime.
d.Using the structure of the word like prefixes, suffixes and root words to give
analysis so that meaningful content area learning would be intensified. This can be
8. The school head must consider sex and subject taught as a factor in planning for
effective training program and faculty development activities for teaching pedagogy.
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9. Further studies are suggested regarding the use of reading strategies specifically on