Author

Charizma-May M. Nagaño*
Northeastern College, Santiago City, Isabela, Philippines

Abstract

Reading is a fundamental skill that supports academic success and lifelong learning, particularly in the early grades where foundational literacy is developed. However, limited localized evidence on the specific nature, prevalence, and contributing factors of reading difficulties among Grade 2 pupils constrains the development of responsive and targeted interventions. This study examined the nature and prevalence of reading difficulties in Quirino District, Isabela, using a descriptive-normative design with 26 teacher-respondents. Findings revealed that reading difficulties are often observed and affect many pupils, particularly in phonemic awareness, decoding, fluency, and comprehension. These difficulties are influenced by interconnected factors related to learners, home environment, instructional practices, and resource availability. Teachers also encountered serious challenges, although implemented interventions were found to be very effective. The study stresses the need for sustained, collaborative, and context-based strategies to improve reading outcomes among early-grade learners.

Keywords: Reading difficulties, phonemic awareness, reading comprehension, instructional strategies, early-grade learners.

*Corresponding author/ Email: charizma11984@gmail.com
DOI: http://doi.org/10.69651/PIJHSS0502964

Recommended citation:
Nagaño, C. M. (2026). Nature and prevalence of reading difficulties among Grade 2 pupils in Quirino District, Isabela. Pantao (The International Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences) 5 (2), 1097-1105. http://doi.org/10.69651/PIJHSS0502964

Read the full text

References

Adriano, I. (2015). Evaluation of the implementation and effectiveness of Every Child A Reader Program (ECARP) in a Bulacan public elementary school. Harvest, 11(1). https://ejournals.ph/article.php?id=10263

Akyol, H. (2006). Turkce ilkokuma yazma ogretimi [Teaching first reading and writing in Turkish]. Pegem.

Akyol, H., & Boyaci-Altinay, Y. (2019). Reading difficulty and its remediation: A case study. European Journal of Educational Research, 8(4), 1269–1286. https://doi.org/10.12973/eu-jer.8.4.1269

Akyol, H., & Kayabasi Ketenoglu, Z. E. (2018). Improving the reading skills of a student with reading difficulties: An action research. Education and Science, 43(193), 143–158.

Anderson, R. C., & Pearson, P. D. (1984). A schema-theoretic view of basic processes in reading comprehension. In P. D. Pearson (Ed.), Handbook of reading research (Vol. 1, pp. 255–291).

Armbruster, B. B., Lehr, F., & Osborn, J. (2010). Put reading first: The research building blocks for teaching children to read (3rd ed.). National Institute for Literacy.

Basaran, M. (2013). Okudugunu anlamanin bir gostergesi olarak akici okuma [Fluent reading as an indicator of reading comprehension]. Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice, 13(4), 2277–2290.

Bender, W. N., & Larkin, M. J. (2003). Reading strategies for elementary students with learning difficulties. Corwin Press.

Bodrova, E., & Leong, D. J. (2007). Tools of the mind: The Vygotskian approach to early childhood education (2nd ed.). Pearson Education.

Brassell, D., & Rasinski, T. (2008). Comprehension that works: Taking students beyond ordinary understanding to deep comprehension. Shell Education.

Bronfenbrenner, U. (2000). Ecological systems theory. In Oxford University Press eBooks (pp. 129–133). https://doi.org/10.1037/10518-046

Cabalo, J., & Cabalo, M. (2019). Factors affecting pupils’ reading proficiency in multigrade classes among rural elementary schools. International Journal of Science and Management Studies, 2(2). http://www.ijsmsjournal.org/2019/volume-2%20issue-2/ijsms-v2i2p114.pdf

Caldwell, J. S. (2008). Reading assessment: A primer for teachers and coaches. Guilford Press.

Carrell, P. L., & Eisterhold, J. C. (1983). Schema theory and ESL reading pedagogy. TESOL Quarterly, 17(4), 553. https://doi.org/10.2307/3586613

Catts, H. W., Hogan, T. P., & Fey, M. E. (2003). Subgrouping poor readers on the basis of individual differences in reading-related abilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 36(2), 151–164. https://doi.org/10.1177/002221940303600208

Cimmiyotti, C. (2013). Impact of reading ability on academic performance (Master’s thesis, Dominican University of California). Dominican Scholar. https://scholar.dominican.edu/education-masters-theses/6/

Davis, G. (2021). Why is reading important? Learn to Read. https://www.learn-to-read-prince-george.com/why-is-reading-important.html

Department of Education. (2002). DO 45, s. 2002 – Reading literacy program in the elementary schools. https://www.deped.gov.ph/2002/09/11/do-45-s-2002-reading-literacy-program-in-the-elementary-schools/

Ditona, G., & Rico, F. (2021). Reading level of Grade II pupils: Scaffolding for reading program of Eastern schools in Botolan District, Philippines. American Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Research, 5(8), 86–94.

Fuchs, L. S., Fuchs, D., Hosp, M. K., & Jenkins, J. R. (2001). Oral reading fluency as an indicator of reading competence: A theoretical, empirical, and historical analysis. Scientific Studies of Reading, 5(3), 239–256.

Gough, P. B., & Tunmer, W. E. (1986). Decoding, reading, and reading disability. Remedial and Special Education, 7(1), 6–10. https://doi.org/10.1177/074193258600700104

Hoover, W. A., & Gough, P. B. (1990). The simple view of reading. Reading and Writing: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 2(2), 127–160. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00401799

McNamara, D. S., & Kintsch, W. (1996). Learning from texts: Effects of prior knowledge and text coherence. Discourse Processes, 22(3), 247–288. https://doi.org/10.1080/01638539609544975

National Reading Panel. (2000). Teaching children to read: An evidence-based assessment of the scientific research literature on reading and its implications for reading instruction. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

OECD. (2023). PISA 2022 results: Philippines performance in reading. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. https://www.oecd.org/pisa

Ozbay, M., & Melanlioglu, D. (2008). Turkce egitiminde kelime hazinesinin onemi [The importance of vocabulary in teaching Turkish]. Yuzuncu Yil Universitesi Egitim Fakultesi Dergisi, 5(1), 30–45.

Rambuyon, E. C., & Susada, B. L. (2023). Factors affecting reading comprehension in English of Grade 4 pupils in Owabangon Elementary School. International Journal of Advance Research and Innovative Ideas in Education, 8(5).

Rasinski, T. V. (2009). Fluency for everyone: Incorporating fluency instruction in the classroom. In C. M. Mooney (Ed.), Essential readings on fluency (pp. 17–20). IRA.

Sesma, H. W., Mahone, E. M., Levine, T., Eason, S. H., & Cutting, L. E. (2009). The contribution of executive skills to reading comprehension. Child Neuropsychology, 15(3), 232–246. https://doi.org/10.1080/09297040802220029

Snow, C. E., Burns, M. S., & Griffin, P. (Eds.). (1998). Preventing reading difficulties in young children. National Academy Press.

Snow, C. E., & Matthews, T. J. (2016). Reading and language in the early grades. The Future of Children, 26(2), 57–74. https://doi.org/10.1353/foc.2016.0012

Swanson, H. L., & O’Connor, R. (2009). The role of working memory and fluency practice on reading comprehension of students who are dysfluent readers. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 42(6), 548–575. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022219409338742

Uysal Kanik, P., & Akyol, H. (2018). Reading disabilities and intervention: An action research. Education and Science, 44(198), 17–35.

Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Harvard University Press.

Published in

Discover more from Pantao (The International Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences)

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading