Reading Comprehension Difficulty in English Subject of Grade 5 Pupils in Balnasan Elementary School, School Year 2010-2011.

“ Models of the reading process often depict the act of reading as a communication event between a sender and a receiver of information ”(Vacca et al., 2012). Models are developed to describe the reading process and how a reader interprets language and gains meaning from print. Bottom up models of reading “assume that the process of translating print to meaning begins with the print”, where as a top down model of reading, “assume that the process of translating print meanings begins with the reader’s prior knowledge” (Vacca et al., 2012). The bottom up model of reading is driven more by data where as the top down model is more conceptually driven. When using a bottom up model, letters, syllables and words are used in order to initiate reading. The use of letters, syllables and words helps the reader to form meaning. Where as the top down model is based off of a reader’s prior knowledge and experience. With many different literacy programs, a teacher’s belief system helps to determine how students can best be taught how to read. “One way to examine your beliefs about reading and learning to read is to connect them to theoretical models of the reading process” (Vacca et al., 2012). Depending on the teacher, he or she may have a bottom up approach or a top down approach. Teachers, who feel a bottom up method is best, may feel that his or her students must decode letters and words and feel

It has been shown that if students start at an early age to learn to read and write their learning in all content areas will improve. It is for this reason it is important for secondary teachers to understand early reading acquisition as to incorporate those reading skills in lesson to accommodate students with reading deficiencies. Educators can understand the building blocks of how a student learns and develops into a successful reader in order to help them develop their reading skills. If teachers understand reading acquisition they can better assess their students’ reading level. As such, the role of professional judgement in understanding the selection of reading or writing material is to know their students reading needs and select materials

Sebastian was provided with 4th, 5th, and 6th grade. In the 4th grade passage Sebastian read the passage in 1 minute and did not miss words, placing him at an independent level for reading, comprehension, and retelling of the passage. In the 5th grade passage, Sebastian missed two words, he reversed the word “everyone” with “everytime” and the word “with” with “what.” This placed him at independent reading, comprehension and retelling of the passage level in reading. Lastly, in the 6th grade reading passage, Sebastian substituted 4 words and did not read the suffix of -ed for 1 word. Sebastian read “colossal” as “caleal,” “Eldwood’s’ as “Edward’s,” “felt” as “fell,” and “clothing” as “learning.” The word that Sebastian omitted the -ed from was “riled” instead he read it as “rile.” The errors indicated that Sebastian was at an instructional level in reading. In the comprehension questions, he missed 1 question which placed him at an independent reading level. As for retelling the passage, he was also placed at an independent level.

As time goes on the familiarity with reading and writing is essential for an individual to better themselves in life, for the world we live in is a place for competition between every human to succeed. The value of literacy is not only for high-end people but anybody that want to gain knowledge. As one gains knowledge through literacy, it can extend toward one achieving their goals or achievements in life. The strategies when going over a reading assignment is a significant part of what one is trying to comprehend the text.

Reading comprehension may be the most important skill for any student to acquire and is therefore an area of particular interest to educators. Without adequate comprehension skills, students are limited in their reading, analytical and occupational abilities. To many, including the student’s themselves, comprehension or “good reading” skills begin and end with simple decoding. It is thought that if students can ‘read’ and define the vocabulary they are reading, then they also comprehend what is read. True comprehension goes far beyond decoding, however. True comprehension requires visualization of a text, predicting events in the text, making inferences about the text and clarifying what is not

Students may be able to read a text, pronounce words, but have no idea what is being interpreted. Not understanding what is being read can make reading seem like a chore or just boring to students as they see no point in reading since they have no idea what is going on. Teachers need to make sure they teach students how to monitor their comprehension so students can make sure they are comprehending what they are reading and gaining a meaning experience from it not just reading

Student survey responses corresponded with the most expressed concerns of teachers. Of the 45 students surveyed (proficient and deficient learners in reading comprehension), all expressed that the vocabulary within a text is difficult and makes it hard to comprehend a reading. Furthermore, 73% of students said that language (the language used in the text and the format of a text) in historical or English readings were confusing. Finally, 86% of students said that most of what they read in class was boring and they found very little interest in the reading.

Teachers can help improve student reading comprehension by generating questions that get students to think about what the text means, and by

Baseline measures of reading comprehension was conducted when intervention begin. According to the Mean scores on Comprehension quiz in each phase, the baseline results of two participants were 2.5(31%) and 2.1(26%). During the self-questioning training phase, both students increased to 7.2(90%) and 6.8(85%). Maintenance and generalization phases were administered to the students 3 to 6 weeks after the self-questioning phase. At generalization phase of intervention test, both students scored 8.0(100%) and

The theoretical framework is founded on the pretense that much has been written concerning the problems that many students have with the comprehension of reading materials, especially content texts--science, math, and social studies. Alexander (1988) suggested that these children may be those who have little trouble with their basal readers or trade books, yet are unable to derive meaning from what they read in content area textbooks.

In the study conducted by Carr, reading comprehension was given focus. The teacher or examiner relied on activation of prior knowledge or schema of the students to increase comprehension. Before the reading activity itself, the examiner inquired about the prior knowledge of the students regarding the topic of the passage. The examiner read five questions, and aided the students in answering them. After reading, five inferential questions were asked and responses were recorded. The results of the study showed positive effect of the approach, emphasizing that students with LD were able to cope with the reading ability of their reading-level counterparts.

Good reading comprehension is a fundamental element that students must have to attain. Through researches, it is clearly stated that reading proficiency has a strong relationship between reading proficiency and academic success at all ages included in the university level. It is definitely important to discuss what strategy is the best way to practice to improve BSIE students reading comprehension for the sake of students’ success in the field of teaching.

Many students are passed on through the education system without having proper reading skills. These skills consist of fluency, comprehension, and phonemic awareness. Reading skills are foundational building blocks for elementary aged students. Students who lack proper reading skills, such as fluency or the rate in which they read, will ultimately lack comprehension of what they are reading due to the amount of time in which it takes the students to read. This leads to the question, how does fifth grade students lack of fluency affect his or her reading comprehension? Unfortunately, because reading skills taught in kindergarten and first grade focus mainly on phonemic

Good reading habits are the key to the success of all the lessons at school. Reading is an individual effort that is sensitive to information needs and the development of science. Reading is an activity that involves physical, mind, and emotion. Therefore, reading habits among students become indispensable in learning activities. The role of students in building reading habits is necessary. Students are required to have awareness in reading

In this information–driven age, preparing students to read a variety of texts with complete understanding should likely be one of our educational system’s highest priorities. Understanding is more than just the ability to produce information on demand (knowledge) or the ability to perform learned routines (skills). “Understanding is the ability to think and act flexibly with what one knows.” (Active Learning Practice for Schools, n. d.) A review of the literature in the area of reading comprehension of elementary-age students shows two principle areas of focus. There is a body of literature that examines the development of proficient vs. struggling comprehenders and another body of literature that compares methodologies for teaching