Reading Comprehension Performance of Grade 11 Students Before and After Reciprocal Teaching

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23326717

Abstract

When a student reads a book, it shouldn't just be about decoding words on a page. It is about a conversation of a genuine connection with the ideas and stories within the text. Yet, for many Filipino students, this conversation feels one-sided. They struggle to extract meaning, analyze information, and engage critically, a challenge highlighted by international tests like PISA and national assessments. This isn't just a number; it's a silent academic struggle that can hold students back. To address this, a new approach is needed as one that actively teaches them how to have that conversation with the text. This study explored the effectiveness of the Reciprocal Teaching Approach (RTA). The researcher worked with 25 Senior High School students from the STEM section Galileo at Wesleyan University-Philippines. This research used a pretest-posttest design, where the students were introduced to the Reciprocal Teaching Approach's four core strategies: predicting, questioning, clarifying, and summarizing. This approach wasn’t just abstract ideas; it is an active tool the students learned to use. The sessions, guided by the researcher, were structured to foster a dynamic, collaborative environment. The results showed a significant improvement in students’ reading comprehension scores. The pretest mean score was 12.64 (Satisfactory), while the posttest mean increased to 18.88 (Very Good), with a mean gain of 6.24 points. A paired t-test confirmed the significance of this improvement (t = 9.26, p < 0.01), indicating that the observed gains were statistically significant. Beyond the numbers, students demonstrated increased engagement, collaborative learning, and metacognitive awareness. Reciprocal Teaching not only enhanced comprehension scores but also empowered students to actively participate in discussions, clarify difficult concepts, and critically analyze texts. This study confirmed that the use of Reciprocal Teaching Approach immerse value as a tool for bridging persistent literacy gaps. The researcher recommended integrating the Reciprocal Teaching Approach into Senior High School English instruction, turning reading from a chore into a skill for a lifetime.