Advisers

Ryan Christopher M. Villalon, PhD

Discipline

Education

Abstract

Reading proficiency is a fundamental component of early literacy and is related to learners’ academic success, comprehension, and cognitive development. In the Philippines, many Grade 1 learners experience difficulty acquiring reading skills, prompting initiatives such as the Department of Education’s Bawat Bata Bumabasa program. Alpabasa Flashcards use a multisensory approach that integrates visual, auditory, and kinesthetic elements to promote engagement and retention. The study used a quantitative, quasi-experimental design. Eighty-five Grade 1 learners from Gabriela Silang Elementary School were selected through stratified random sampling based on reading-skill levels. Pretests and posttests measured reading skills before and after the intervention, while a researcher-made survey gathered teachers’ perceptions of the visual, auditory, and kinesthetic features. The experimental group used Alpabasa Flashcards, whereas the control group received conventional instruction. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, weighted mean, ranking, Likert scale, the Shapiro–Wilk test, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Learners exposed to Alpabasa Flashcards demonstrated gains in syllable recognition, vocabulary acquisition, and expressive reading. Teachers reported that visual aids supported recognition and comprehension, auditory repetition strengthened phonemic awareness, and kinesthetic activities supported retention and engagement. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test indicated a statistically significant difference between pretest and posttest scores, supporting the alternative hypothesis. The findings suggest that the multisensory features of Alpabasa Flashcards helped address gaps in early reading skills and encouraged active participation. By integrating visual, auditory, and kinesthetic elements, the intervention addressed diverse learning preferences and supported comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary. The findings are consistent with differentiated instruction and support the use of interactive, learner-centered materials in early education. The study recommends using Alpabasa Flashcards as a supplementary reading tool and conducting further research on long-term outcomes and use across grade levels and linguistic contexts.

Keywords

reading skills, grade 1 learners, multisensory learning, alpabasa flashcards, filipino literacy