Igniting a passion for reading: strategies to enhance engagement and achievement

By Wilma Z. De Villa

Teacher 2, Cabungan Elementary School

Igniting a passion for reading is crucial for enhancing both reading engagement and achievement in learners of all ages. A love of reading fosters a lifelong pursuit of knowledge and understanding, impacting academic success and personal growth far beyond the classroom. This passion translates into increased reading comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, and critical thinking skills. Furthermore, engaged readers are more likely to develop empathy, creativity, and a broader worldview. The restructuring of the curriculum is part of an ongoing effort to improve the quality of learning by focusing on the basics of improving literacy and developing vocabulary skills. Every teacher shall uphold the highest possible standards of quality education and shall make the best preparation of teacher-made culture-based learner materials. The number of non-readers is an alarming fact that triggers the DepEd to sincerely implement one of its Thrusts per DepEd Order Number 45 s. 2002, the policy ECARP-Every Child a reader program. This aims to ensure that every child is a successful reader. This could be attributed to the lack of relevant contextualized reading materials of the teachers in the district which weave together the national competencies and the learner’s community’s realities and knowledge leading to meaningful and relevant lessons.

Reading is a tool of a person to gets information from written letters and words. A person can read using sight of touch. Reading is the process of looking at a series of written symbols and getting meaning from them. When we read, we use our eyes to receive written symbols (letters, punctuation marks and spaces) and we use our brain to convert them into words, sentences and paragraphs that communicate. Thus, the teachers are advised to innovate and strategize beyond the recommendations of the DepEd order and memorandum. Conclusively, all stakeholders of the basic education in the nation must work together for the welfare and benefits of the learners. The success of these programs is not measured solely by test scores. It is seen in the confident smiles of children who once struggled, in their increased vocabulary and comprehension, and in their newfound ability to access information and explore the world through the power of reading. Reading is one of the most significant language skills that learners have to master at school, and it is important that this should be performed in the Foundation Phase (Grade 1 – Grade 3). It is a crucial area of focus in educational research and practice. At this stage, learners are expected to move beyond basic decoding skills and develop the ability to read for comprehension and learning. It is a skill that permits learners to understand the meaning of written and printed material and a means of communication and language acquisition, sharing ideas and information. These constitutional provisions mandated the government to provide free quality education to all levels. Also, to produce functionally literate graduates is one of the aims of the government under this provision. That is why the curriculum under the banner of the Department of Education (DepEd) should be in accordance with the needs of the changing time. The school as the battle ground for survival of a longed quest for excellence challenges the wisdom of the esteemed educational leaders to initiate reforms and utilize various programs and approaches to the teaching-learning of the different disciplines just to cope up with competitive challenges waited ahead of the clienteles. Engagement becomes evident when students exhibit curiosity, resilience in the face of challenges, active participation in the learning environment, and meaningful interactions with their peers and teachers. When students are truly engaged, their learning is enhanced. As an educator, it is crucial to employ effective strategies that foster student engagement in reading. Engaged students are students who are actively acquiring knowledge. By immersing themselves in the learning process, they allocate more time and attention to the subject matter, resulting in improved focus.

By implementing these strategies, educators can create a classroom environment where students not only meet reading achievement goals, but also develop a genuine and lasting appreciation for the power and pleasure of reading. Addressing foundational literacy gaps is a critical first step to ensuring that every learner can meaningfully engage with the curriculum and succeed academically. By focusing on early literacy remediation, the Program supports the development of an environment where learners can thrive, empowers teachers through targeted capacity-building initiatives, and contributes to strengthening the efficiency and responsiveness of the learning system. Moreover, by ensuring that struggling readers are provided with the necessary interventions early, the Program promotes the overall well-being of Learners and lays the groundwork for building a future-ready, competent workforce in alignment with national development goals. It empowers the teachers to delve into complex subjects, interpret information critically, and develop a strong foundation for lifelong learning. This essential skill is not just the domain of academia; it fuels success at every educational stage.

For primary school students especially, a well-developed reading capacity lays the groundwork for future academic success. In essence, effective reading is the linchpin of a high-quality education. In conformity with the above goals, the Department of Education placed as one of its priority programs recognizing the significance of reading proficiency as an important building block in learning. Learning to read is one of the most important educational outcomes of primary education. The ability to read is fundamental to children’s learning, including their development of broader literacy skills. It is a lifelong skill that improves memory, builds a robust vocabulary and foundation of knowledge, and adds a richness and depth of meaning to life for all those who can access true, deep comprehension. Reading intervention provides additional strategies and activities to boost reading skills. Through literacy programs implemented at Cabungan Elementary School to develop a lifelong appreciation for reading with the help of their parents and teachers that serves them throughout their academic years, that contributes to lifelong learning and the establishment of a solid foundation for intellectual growth.