Advisers

Abraham P. Muyrong II, PhD

Discipline

Education

Abstract

Phonemic awareness is a foundational component of early literacy that strongly influences learners’ reading fluency, writing development, and overall academic performance. Grade One pupils are at a critical stage of transition from basic sound recognition to more complex reading tasks, making initial-sound identification an important skill to master. To address this need, multisensory instructional strategies have been developed, including the Alpha Sound Mat. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the Alpha Sound Mat in enhancing initial-sound identification among Grade One learners at Pajo Elementary School in Meycauayan City, Bulacan. A total of 30 purposively selected struggling readers participated in the study. A quasi-experimental research design was employed to compare the learners’ performance before and after exposure to the Alpha Sound Mat. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, weighted mean, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and paired t-tests to determine the significance of the results. The findings revealed that the learners’ average pretest score of 4.70, interpreted as “Proficient,” increased to a posttest average of 6.97, interpreted as “Highly Proficient.” Statistical analysis indicated a significant difference between the pretest and posttest scores at the 0.05 level of significance, leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis. Learners also displayed greater confidence, improved retention, and more active participation during phonics activities, although 77% still relied heavily on teacher assistance and 80% struggled to complete tasks independently. The results indicate that the Alpha Sound Mat was effective as a multisensory instructional tool for improving phonemic awareness and initial-sound recognition. Its visual, auditory, and kinesthetic features supported learner engagement and provided a developmentally appropriate approach to early literacy instruction. The researchers recommend that teachers continue using multisensory tools such as the Alpha Sound Mat to strengthen literacy instruction in the primary grades. Curriculum planners and school administrators are also encouraged to allocate resources for multisensory learning materials that support inclusive and engaging literacy programs.

Keywords

alpha sound mat, phonemic awareness, multisensory instruction, initial sound identification, early literacy