Reading Skills and Reading Anxiety Symptoms in Youth

Reading comprehension is an essential skill that enables learners to understand texts, interpret information, and determine the meanings of unfamiliar words. However, some Grade 8 learners experience difficulties in comprehending reading materials because of limited vocabulary knowledge and difficulty identifying context clues. This study, titled Improving Grade 8 Reading Comprehension Through Targeted Context Clue Strategies, aimed to improve learners’ reading comprehension by implementing targeted, structured context clue strategies. The study involved 33 Grade 8 learners and focused on five categories: definition and explanation clues, synonym and restatement clues, antonym and contrast clues, example and illustration clues, and inference and general context clues. A pretest and posttest were administered to determine changes in learners’ performance following the intervention. The pretest results revealed an overall mean score of 2.48, interpreted as Low, while the posttest results showed an overall mean score of 3.60, interpreted as High. A paired-samples t-test revealed a statistically significant difference between the pretest and posttest scores, t(32) = −10.615, p < .001. The null hypothesis was rejected, indicating that the difference between the learners’ pretest and posttest performance was statistically significant. The findings suggest that targeted, structured context clue strategies may help improve learners’ ability to identify contextual information, infer unfamiliar word meanings, and understand reading passages. The study recommends the continued use of context clue strategies, with additional instructional support for example and illustration clues and definition and explanation clues, to further strengthen learners’ reading comprehension skills.

This study examined the reported levels of reading skills, writing skills, academic success, and challenges in literacy development among Grade 5 and Grade 6 learners. The study was conducted in selected public elementary schools in Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat during the School Year 2025–2026. A quantitative descriptive-correlational research design was employed. The respondents were 56 learners selected through proportionate sampling. Data were collected using a researcher-developed 40-item questionnaire covering reading skills (comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency); writing skills (syntax, grammar, and morphology); academic success; and challenges in reading and writing. The instrument obtained a mean validity score of 4.36 and a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.762, indicating acceptable internal consistency. Mean, standard deviation, and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient were used to analyze the data. The findings showed that learners reported a very high level of reading skills (M = 4.40) and writing skills (M = 4.51). Academic success was reported as Very Satisfactory (M = 4.50), while challenges in developing literacy skills were reported as Challenged (M = 3.71). The correlation analysis showed a negligible positive relationship between reading skills and academic success (r = 0.119) and a negligible negative relationship between writing skills and academic success (r = -0.097). Neither relationship was statistically significant at the 0.05 level. The findings suggest that although learners reported high levels of reading and writing skills, these skills alone were not significantly related to their reported academic success. Other factors may also contribute to learners’ academic development.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of the ARAL-Reading Tool in improving reading fluency and comprehension among Grade Six learners in the Third District of Bohol during School Year 2025–2026. Anchored on Automaticity Theory, Schema Theory, and Sociocultural Theory, the study employed a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control-group design involving 15 purposively selected learners. Seven learners received the eight-week ARAL-Reading Plus intervention, while eight received regular reading instruction. Data were gathered using the Philippine Informal Reading Inventory (Phil-IRI) and the Division of Bohol District Reading Assessment Template. Descriptive statistics and paired-samples and independent-samples t-tests were employed. Before the intervention, both groups demonstrated Frustration-level performance in reading fluency and comprehension. Following the intervention, the experimental group achieved 98.48% in fluency and 85.71% in comprehension, while the control group obtained 96.21% and 57.14%, respectively. Both groups demonstrated significant pretest-posttest improvements. However, between-group comparisons revealed a significant difference in comprehension (p = .019), but not in fluency (p = .185). The findings indicate that the ARAL-Reading Tool supported reading development, particularly comprehension. Strengthening structured reading interventions, instructional resources, teacher support, parental involvement, and continuous assessment was recommended. The study aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) by addressing foundational literacy gaps and promoting equitable learning opportunities. Its contribution to educational and institutional sustainability emphasizes evidence-based reading interventions, stakeholder collaboration, and continued support for improving elementary learners' literacy outcomes and strengthening school-based educational recovery initiatives. The findings also provide a basis for school heads and education officials to refine implementation, allocate resources, and monitor reading progress.

This study assessed the reading comprehension skills and academic performance in English of Grade 3 learners in selected public elementary schools in the Albuera District, Department of Education (DepEd), Schools Division of Leyte, Region VIII, during School Year 2025–2026, as a basis for developing interactive reading activities. A descriptive-quantitative research design was employed, involving six teachers and 90 learners from six public elementary schools. The learners were selected through simple random sampling. Data were gathered using a structured paper-and-pencil questionnaire covering respondents’ profiles, learners’ performance in five reading comprehension strategies, academic performance in reading comprehension, vocabulary, and storytelling, and the issues and concerns encountered in implementing reading comprehension activities. Frequency counts, percentages, and weighted means were used to analyze the data, together with a test of association to examine the relationships between instructional strategies and learners’ academic performance. The findings revealed that the strategies used in reading comprehension obtained an overall average weighted mean of 3.26, interpreted as Highly Effective. Story mapping and the use of photographs received the highest ratings, with weighted means of 3.30 each, followed by activating prior knowledge at 3.23 and monitoring and clarifying at 3.20. In terms of academic performance, learners demonstrated a lack of mastery in noting details (M = 2.20), decoding (M = 2.23), phonics (M = 2.40), vocabulary (M = 2.30), and storytelling (M = 2.40). The findings further revealed that monitoring and clarifying and the use of photographs had statistically significant associations with selected academic competencies, whereas activating prior knowledge and story mapping did not demonstrate significant associations with the measured competencies. The specific association coefficients and p-values were not available in the supplied results. These findings highlight the need to strengthen learners’ foundational reading skills, particularly identifying details, decoding words, applying phonics, developing vocabulary, and organizing narratives. Based on the findings, interactive reading activities are proposed for consideration and implementation by the concerned school officials, in collaboration with teachers, parents, and the DepEd Schools Division of Leyte, to address learners’ literacy needs and improve their reading comprehension and academic performance.

Abstract : This systematic review examined evaluative studies on reading interventions affecting schoolchildren’s comprehension outcomes, published from 2020 to 2026. Per PRISMA 2020 guidelines, 265 records were reviewed overall, out of which 166 unique records were screened, 52 full-text articles were reviewed, and 18 satisfactory records matched the inclusion criteria. The records included studies from 11 countries and comprised more than 2900 learners across 17 studies, with sample sizes ranging from preschool to high school. Due to heterogeneity among interventions, designs, and measures taken, a synthesis without meta-analysis was conducted, classifying 5 different intervention types and summarizing the overall findings. The results showed that 12 of 18 studies were positive, 2 had mixed results, 2 showed no effect on the outcome, and 2 were ambiguous in their reporting. The four studies that used explicit comprehension strategies yielded the most reliable results; among them, a tier one intervention had an effect size of +0.79, and a two-stage instructional approach had an effect size of +0.26. Code-based instruction was effective in three of four studies that used this method. Technology was effective in four of six studies, but the largest evaluated experiment did not show convincing results. Out of seven total experiments made by random sampling, five had positive outcomes, and it should be mentioned that no research was conducted in the Philippines. The studies’ outcomes emphasize the importance of supporting word recognition alongside explicit comprehension instruction.