Department of Education

Region X
Division of Misamis Oriental
Balingasag North District
Balingasag Central School

Improve the Reading level of the

Grade IV- Humble through the dependence
on dictionary and synonym books to
enhance comprehension

Submitted by:

CRISTINA M. VILLAGANAS
Teacher III
Part I. Situation

The Philippines scored the lowest when it comes to reading comprehension

based on the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment. According to
this study conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD), the Philippines scored 340 in reading comprehension. This
is below the OECD average of 487 .This study aims to identify what specific tasks
are needed in Grade IV- Humble to daily monitor the pupils’ progress in reading
comprehension through dependence on dictionary and synonym.

Part II. Findings and Insights

Pre oral reading test was given to Grade IV Humble pupils using set of
passages to determine the reading level of each pupil. Moreover,reading
comprehension is the act of understanding what you are reading. This requires an
urgent attention as these kids are in the Age of Information where everything they
want to know could be found in their quick type clicks.
On other note, it is not only pupils’ reading comprehension that would be
enhanced in this research but more on their values and decision making when they
reach adolescence. Recent statistic results cannot be denied and it should not be
put into negligence.
Part III. Summary

Reading comprehension is an essential skill that one should have. It allows

us to understand what is being written. With reading comprehension, it allows the
society to better understand what is happening around them. Thus, these young
minds should start their dependence on using dictionary and synonym to enhance
their comprehension. Through these basic tasks, the pupils will grow to be inclined
to have dictionary and synonym books while doing their study habits at home.

II. Acknowledgement

I thank all who in one way or another contributed to the completion of this
research work. First I give thanks to God for protection and the ability to do work.

I appreciate the changes in the progress of this action research project that
led me to this remarkable cause in pursuing this incredible project.

I won’t forget how helpful the internet in releasing the vast variety of
information needed for this project.

I am deeply thankful of my eldest daughter, Mary Grace, who despite the

miles away distance continued to contribute to bring this project into full
completion.

This project will not be possible without the full support given by my
precious family. I love them much and God knows how grateful I am for their
remarkable efforts.

May the Almighty God richly bless all of you.

III. Introduction of the Research

This research aims to be clear in understanding the study of what how

improve would be the Grade IV pupils’ reading comprehension through
dependence in using dictionary and synonym books. To achieve that, it is urgent
attention to identify what tasks needed to be implemented to attain such objective.

The workload of modern Filipino teacher is growing heavier as the demand

for the nation’s quality education is fast rising to keep up with the modern world
competition. The weight grows larger when the recent statistic result in reading
level comprehension came out that brought larger concern in the whole
Department of Education for the welfare of the young minds.

This is a large scale concern but this can be solved through continued
efforts even in small sustaining efforts. These pupils were caught in this fast
changing Age of Information. There are plenty of distractions that kept them away
from what is valuable skill to grow into sensible adolescent, the improved reading
comprehension. To be a sensible adult, these pupils should understand what it
means to be practical and functional which they could start to comprehend through
reading simpler words until they progressed themselves into higher understanding.

Through this remarkable cause, this research aims to motivate more

teachers to implement the necessary tasks for the pupils to increase dependence
on dictionary and synonym. In this modern age, it is not limited only to hard
bonded books but also those online references that could be found in trusted
websites.
 IV. Literature Review

This research endeavours to obtain clarity through gathering data and

findings on study of implications of the pupils’ increased dependence in dictionary
and synonym to enhance their reading comprehension. The main idea
underpinning this view ,”dictionary use has long been recognized as one of
vocabulary learning strategies” (Gu and Johnson 1996, Scholfield 1997, Nation
1990, 2001, Gu 2003, Nation and Meara 2010).
This excerpt would connect to portion that ,” recent years have witnessed
steady development of dictionary use research which includes investigations of the
use and usefulness of dictionaries for various language activities. This study
attempts to evaluate the effectiveness of dictionary use for L2 vocabulary learning
in reading context.”( International Journal of Lexicography, Volume 25, Issue 2,
June 2012, Pages 216–247, https://doi.org/10.1093/ijl/ecr031)

By evaluating the effectiveness of such dictionaries for vocabulary learning

and identifying the problems with dictionary use, this research attempts to shed
some light on vocabulary pedagogy and dictionary use instruction in a Filipino
average classroom environment.
III. Research Question:

This research aims to find out what are the implications of understanding
the study of what how improve would be the Grade IV pupils’ reading
comprehension through dependence in using dictionary and synonym books. To
achieve that, it is urgent attention to identify what tasks needed to be implemented
to attain such objective.

Not all Grade IV pupils are willing to incline to using dictionary as it is not
exciting as indulging into mobile games.

It is a good option that teachers should put into continue practice of the
pupils to daily write on their separate English notebook the writing exercises they
need to complete. In the first page of the notebook, the pupils are tasked to write
an essay introducing themselves. The essay must consist minimum of 3 up to 5
paragraphs only. The first paragraph should contain details about their name,
introducing their parents ‘name and including their siblings’. The further basic
details should write down such as birthdates, birthplace, home address, parents’
occupations and include also if they keep a pet in their home. The pupils should
write down in the second paragraph their likes and dislikes. These are questions
listed below that would serve them guidelines in completing the second paragraph.

1. What food is their most favourite?

2. What household chores do they finish at home?
3. Which school subject is their most favourite? Why?
4. Do they started to use mobile phone?
5. Did they own a mobile phone?
6. To whom they could easily talk to, Mom or Dad?

For the 3rd paragraph, there are questions listed below to guide them in
writing it down.
 1. How would they describe their homeroom adviser?
2. What storybook they would like to read?
3. What lesson do they understand from that storybook?

The pupils may add more sentences as to what they would like to add more
if they want to extend it into four paragraph. As part of the homeroom schedules,
the Grade IV homeroom teacher should allot 40 minutes for the whole class to go
to the school library to accomplish certain tasks.

Specifically, this research aims to answer the following questions:

1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of :
A. Age
B. Length of Service

2. What are the factors needed to implement effective classroom leadership?

3. What is effective classroom leadership?
4. What is the status of the teachers and pupils in implementing effective
classroom leadership?
5. What are the factors needed to sustain effective classroom leadership
throughout the school term?

IV. The Scope and Limited of the Study

This research is planned out to study of understanding the study of what

how improve would be the Grade IV pupils’ reading comprehension through
dependence in using dictionary and synonym books. This study is narrowed down
to the teachers and pupils in the Balingasag Central School. The participants of the
study will be 15 teachers and 15 pupils- respondents on the mentioned institution.
 The findings of this study will be limited to the sample teachers and pupils
through the results which could be useful to the whole teachers of Balingasag
Central School for the school year 2019-2020.
V. Research Methodology
This part contains the methods used in this study.It includes the following
methods ;sampling,data collection,ethical issues,plan for data analysis of the
study. Descriptive method of a research is an approach that is very useful
when researchers want to know, regarding events, who were involved, what was
involved, and where did things take place.

A. Sampling
The population of this study will be the teachers and grade IV pupils
of Balingasag Central School, Balingasag North District consisting of 15.
With that population the sample size will be the 15 number of teachers and
of pupils- respondents and they will be selected using the random sampling.

B. Data Collection
The respondents will be given answer the questionnaires distributed
to them by the researcher. The respondents can address their concerns or
queries,if any, to the researcher upon answering the questionnaires. The
assistance from the teaching staff is essential to easily retrieve the
questionnaires.

C. Ethical Issues

The researcher shall explain to the random group of respondents the

brief significance of this project so that they will be aware of how much
importance is their involvement to this project. Moreover, they will be aware
that whatever result from their answered and completed questionnaire will
reflect as their feelings and perception at real time. The focus and limit of
this study shall also be clarified with the respondents for them to be assured
 that their confidentiality and privacy in regards to this project shall be well
protected.

As much as possible, the most convenient method of data gathering

shall be implemented to avoid stressing the random respondents. This shall
also make sure that the simplest and kindest approach will be applied so
that they can easily provide the data needed by the researcher to complete
this project. The researcher shall ask permission from the responsible
authorities so that there are no violations crossed upon doing this project.
All the actions taken for this project shall proceed in calm and regulated
manner that all the parties involved had a clear agreement shared for the
good sake for the project’s completion.

D. Plan for Data Analysis

Research questionnaires shall be scored.The scoring method will be
applied in each item using the following scale values.

A score of 4.21-5.0 much higher than the average

3.41- 4.20 slightly higher than the average
2.61- 3.40 average
1.81- 2.60 slightly lower than the average
1.00- 1.80 much lower than the average

A score of 3.28-4.02 Strongly Agree

2.52- 3.27 Agree
1.76-2.51 Disagree
1.0 – 1.75 Strongly Disagree

The above scaling will be applied to determine the level in each item indicated in
the questionnaire. The results will be presented in tabular form for readability and
easy comprehension.
The frequency count and percentage will be used in the presentation of
respondent’s profile.The weighted mean will determine the weight of each item in
the questionnaire.
VI. Gantt Chart
VII. Financial Report
Research is an essential part in teacher’s efforts to elevate teaching
techniques to attain further pupils’s output. As necessary as it is, it is an
add on to the heavy workload of the teachers and more likely to the
teachers’ school expenses. The researcher believed that necessary costs
are accompanied to accomplish this essential research. More doing so,
modest support for the research cost from MOOE is equal essential to
actualize this research.
VIII. References

i. .( International Journal of Lexicography, Volume 25, Issue 2, June 2012,

Pages 216–247, https://doi.org/10.1093/ijl/ecr031)
ii. https://www.k5learning.com/vocabulary-worksheets/fourth-grade-4
iii. Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins by  Julia Cresswell