phonics

Foundational literacy is central to participation and subsequent learning, yet the instructional routes through which beginning readers encounter print are not equally accessible to all learners. In Tanzania, renewed attention to systematic phonics and early-grade reading has increased the relevance of decodable texts: texts designed to give learners opportunities to apply previously taught grapheme–phoneme correspondences. Their instructional value, however, cannot be assessed only in terms of the linguistic structure of the text. Classroom activities, teacher directions, response requirements, assessment procedures, and available formats can either widen or restrict access. This scoping review maps literature and policy- and curriculum-related evidence concerning decodable or phonics-oriented early reading in Tanzanian primary education and examines the extent to which the evidence engages with accessibility, learner variability, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). The review follows PRISMA-ScR and considers literature published between 2014 and 2026. The synthesis indicates a plausible pedagogical alignment between controlled text and the development of decoding, while also revealing a major gap in directly tested evidence on inclusive adaptations of decodable materials in Tanzania. Across the mapped literature, accessibility is more often treated as an implementation concern than as a design principle embedded in reading materials from the outset. The review therefore advances the concept of inclusive decodable-text pedagogy, in which systematic phonics is retained while unnecessary sensory, motor, speech, and communication barriers are reduced through multiple means of representation, action and expression, and engagement. Implications are developed for curriculum design, teacher education, classroom practice, formative assessment, and future research. The central conclusion is that decodability and accessibility should be treated as complementary properties: a text may be linguistically decodable yet still be instructionally inaccessible if participation depends on a single route that is unrelated to the intended literacy skill.

This study examined the relationship between teachers’ pedagogical approaches and the Kindergarten learners’ reading performance in selected schools in the Division of Cagayan de Oro. It assessed five approaches: context support, ICT integration, language experience, phonemic awareness, and the whole-word approach. It also evaluated learners’ performance in comprehension, phonics, and vocabulary. Using a descriptive-correlational research design, the study involved 115 Kindergarten teachers and 230 learners. Data were gathered through a modified questionnaire and standardized test, then analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient. The findings revealed that teachers demonstrated a very high level of pedagogical approaches, with the whole-word approach rated highest and language experience lowest. Meanwhile, learners achieved satisfactory reading performance, with comprehension as their strongest area and vocabulary as their weakest. However, no significant relationship was found between teachers’ pedagogical approaches and learners’ reading performance. The study concluded that teachers were well-equipped to facilitate reading instruction through various strategies. It recommended providing more opportunities for learners to connect reading and writing activities with their personal experiences, interests, and real-life situations. Teachers were also encouraged to explore alternative instructional practices that address learners’ specific reading needs and improve their overall reading performance.

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.

This study examined the reading skills of Grade 3 learners and their relationship with academic performance in English in selected public elementary schools in the Bantayan District, Schools Division of Cebu Province, during School Year 2026–2027. Specifically, it assessed learners’ proficiency in phonemic awareness, phonics, text recognition, vocabulary, and comprehension; described the profiles of the teacher and learner respondents; and determined whether a significant relationship existed between reading skills and academic performance in English. The study employed a descriptive-correlational research design involving 100 respondents, comprising 96 Grade 3 learners, with 24 learners from each of four schools, and four teachers from Pooc, Sta. Fe Central, Vito, and Baigad Elementary Schools. Data were gathered through a modified survey questionnaire and informal interviews. Frequency counts, percentages, weighted means, standard deviations, and Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient were used to analyze the collected data. The findings revealed that 70 of the 96 Grade 3 learners (72.92%) demonstrated effective foundational reading skills, while the remaining 26 learners (27.08%) were identified as potentially requiring additional reading support, depending on the established assessment criteria. These results underscore the importance of sustaining effective reading instruction while addressing the needs of learners experiencing difficulties in foundational literacy. The study proposes augmented reading skills learning activities designed to strengthen learners’ reading proficiency, improve comprehension, and support the development of essential literacy competencies. The proposed activities may serve as a basis for differentiated instruction, targeted reading interventions, and continuous monitoring of learner progress. Furthermore, the study emphasizes collaboration among teachers, school administrators, and parents in creating supportive learning environments that promote reading development and improved academic performance in English.