phonemic awareness

The purpose of this study is to determine pre-service early childhood teachers’ views and perceived competency levels regarding neurolinguistic-based science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) applications in phonemic skills instruction, and to examine whether these perceptions differ significantly according to demographic (gender, age, and grade level) and professional/experiential (having received phonemic awareness training, STEAM experience, and familiarity with the concept of neurolinguistic programming [NLP]) variables. Adopting a descriptive survey design, one of the quantitative research methods, the study group consisted of 179 pre-service teachers enrolled in an early childhood education undergraduate program at one university in Kazakhstan. The research data were collected through a demographic information form, a structured views questionnaire, and a data collection tool measuring pre-service teachers’ perceived competency. The findings show that participants’ overall perceived competency was high. However, 36.9% of participants regarded phonemic awareness as a naturally developing process and 31.3% viewed STEAM as unrelated to language skills, which may indicate conceptual gaps; and although 41.9% stated that the art component made phoneme discrimination more concrete, 53.6% considered art either unrelated to phonemic awareness or merely entertaining. Perceived competency did not differ significantly by gender or age, whereas third-year pre-service teachers reported lower perceived competency than first- and second-year students; a “reality shock” after practicum is a possible but untested explanation, as practicum was not measured. In addition, pre-service teachers who had previously received phonemic awareness training, who had STEAM experience, and who were familiar with the concept of NLP reported significantly higher perceived competency. The findings suggest that teacher educators may consider adding applied, STEAM-integrated phonemic awareness modules supported by microteaching, including a critical examination of the evidence on NLP and learning-styles claims. The findings are limited by self-report data and a single-university convenience sample.

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 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.