THE

SECRET
TO DEVELOPING A STRONG READER
AND INDEPENDENT LEARNER
TABLE OF CONTENTS

03 INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1: THE READING

04 STRUGGLE IN THE PHILIPPINES

CHAPTER 2: BEYOND THE BASICS:

07 RETHINKING THE FOUNDATIONS OF READING

EDUCATION

CHAPTER 3: UNRAVELING THE READING

09 PUZZLE: THE SCIENCE BEHIND EFFECTIVE

READING INSTRUCTION

CHAPTER 4: NURTURING A
15 LIFELONG LOVE FOR READING

17 THE SECRET

18 THE AUTHOR
 INTRODUCTION
Curious ka rin ba about the challenges that
hinder reading proficiency? Or have you ever
wondered bakit maraming students ang
nahihirapang magbasa despite being taught? In
"The Secret to Developing a Strong Reader and
Independent Learner", pag uusapan natin ang
isa sa mga national concern that we are facing
today. Let us explore the unique landscape of
reading education in the Philippines, dissect
modern learning challenges, and delve into the
science behind successful reading instruction.

Ready ka na bang malaman ang secrets that

lead to empowered learners and build a lifelong
love for reading?

YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT PAGE BECAUSE

THE JOURNEY BEGINS HERE!
 CHAPTER 1:
THE READING STRUGGLE IN THE
PHILIPPINES

The Challenge of Reading Proficiency

The struggle to read is real. Kaya noong naglabas

kami ng mga scholarship, na-overwhelm ako dahil
napakarami pala talagang bata ngayon ang hindi
pa marunong magbasa. For the past 3 years, or
nearly 4 years, we have been delayed due to the
pandemic…

And if you have been following me on my social

media accounts, hindi na ito bago sa inyo kasi
even before, talagang ito ay isang issue na. It's a
genuine concern, to be honest, isang pambansang
pangangailangan nga eh.

An International Comparison

Imagine this: out of numerous countries worldwide,

a total of 79 participated in the Programme for
International Student Assessment (PISA) to assess
the reading comprehension ng mga estudyante,
tayo pa ang kulelat? And let me tell you, hindi ko
malilimutan ang panahon na, talagang sobra-sobra
yung epekto nito sa amin. I recall sabi ni Education

04
Secretary Briones "That is a wake-up call for us.
We have to look at ourselves in relation to the
global system of education". Pano nga ba naman,
that is the first time that DepEd participated in a
global ranking testing system and nakakalungkot
pa ang place natin. It was in 2018 and 2019 nang
lumabas yung resulta, then pandemic came,
naging online na ang new normal natin, and now
2023, so, ano na kaya? Paano na? Paano na natin
itutuloy ang paghahanap ng lahat ng solution para
dito?

At sabi nga niya, with boldness and recognition,

na kailangan nating tingnan kung paano tayo
magra-rank, kung paano tayo kumpara sa ibang
bansa. We've had successes in having access sa
edukasyon. Ngayon, it's the time naman para
tingnan natin ang quality at i-assess ang
kalagayan ng edukasyon, not only as a national
concern, but in terms of what the rest of the
world is like.

05
The Disconnect: Reading Ability vs. Grade Level

Nakakapanlumo rin na napakaraming batang

Pilipinong , galing pa sa public at private schools,
they could read pero they could not understand.
Madami nang news tungkol dito, may mga balita
na lumabas na maraming estudyante sa high
school sa National Capital Region ang hindi
makabasa. Paano nangyari yun? Nakapag-high
school na, pero hindi pa marunong magbasa.

And to add, napansin ko rin na marami sa mga

studyante ngayon, if you will agree with me, na
ang actual reading age level ay hindi kapantay ng
current grade level nila. For example, kung nasa
grade 5 sila, ang kanilang kakayahan sa pagbasa
ay para lang sa grade 2 or kaya naman, nasa high
school na sila pero ang reading ability nila is pang
grade 3 o grade 5 pa lang. So, hindi ito
nagtutugma, diba?

Now, let's delve into a crucial question: Why do

today's children and students struggle with
reading? Ano bang dahilan? Bakit nagkakaroon ng
ganyang struggle sa pagbasa?

06
 CHAPTER 2:
BEYOND THE BASICS: RETHINKING THE
FOUNDATIONS OF READING EDUCATION

The Modern Challenges of Learning

Ang mga kabataan ngayon, often referred na as

“the most distracted generation”. Ang mga
gadgets, parang naging mga babysitters na sa
kanila. And because of that, sobrang limited na
ang attention span ng mga bata ngayon. Ang bilis
mag-shrink, ang five minutes, parang forever na.
Not only that, because of this pandemic,
emotionally affected sila. Kasi hindi na nga sila
nakakalabas, diba? Plus itong new technology,
mga computers, mobile phone, Netflix, TikTok,
social media, games, at kung anu-ano pang online
stuff, sobrang laki rin epekto sa kanila. It's true,
nakuha na talaga ang oras nila para magbasa.

Educational Overload and Technology Impact

Adding to the complexity, ang sobrang daming

itinuturo sa kanila. Sobrang dami ng subjects na
kailangan aralin, but their time, kulang na kulang,
lalo na ngayon na puro module na lang o online
class pa. And worst? kapag may aberya sa
internet, as in wala ka nang connection?

07
Wala ka nang chance makipag-communicate sa
teacher. Plus, yung mga assignments na kailangan
tapusin. Grabe, hindi na nila alam kung saan
magsisimula. Parang overload na nga, pero kulang
naman sa pagkakaintindi. Parang hindi na nila
naco-conceptualize yung mga bagay-bagay, and
to think, mga bata pa lang sila nung nag-start 'to,
di ba?

Reassessing Fundamentals: Beyond the Alphabet

Reflecting on our early educational experiences,

we often associate reading with learning the
alphabet. It's the foundation we all started with—
memorizing and understanding the sequence of
letters.

But here's a thought: Is teaching the alphabet

truly the first step toward fostering reading
skills?

Kasi di ba, lahat naman, like ako noong bata, ang

unang tinuro din naman sa akin ay yung alphabet.
Pero alphabet ba dapat ang una nilang
matutunan?

08
 CHAPTER 3:
UNRAVELING THE READING PUZZLE:
THE SCIENCE BEHIND EFFECTIVE READING INSTRUCTION

A Lifelong Dedication to Reading

Throughout my years of work, reading has been a

deeply personal and dedicated pursuit. Having
been teaching reading for the past 20 years
already, I have really proven na teaching the
alphabet first slows down the process of reading. I
have consistently advocated against the
conventional approach of teaching the alphabet
first, and while my stance has sparked
controversy, my confidence in the effectiveness of
this alternative method has only grown stronger.

Why? Why does it slow down the process of

reading? Kasi it goes against the natural process
of learning to speak, which is an important skill a
child needs to acquire before he learns to read. So
yung pagtuturo ng alphabet goes against their
natural faculties, their natural way of learning how
to read.

09
A Glimpse into Natural Language Development

Consider this: Bago siya magbasa, kailangan

nagsasalita muna siya, di ba? So kung babalikan
natin, tanda niyo pa ba kung ano ano ang unang
word na sinasabi ng ating anak bago siya talaga
magsalita, bago siya bumuo ng isang sentence o
ng mas maraming words? Ano yung unang word
na kanilang sinasabi?

In my experience sa tatlo kong anak? Ang unang

ina-utter o words na sinasabi nila is mama, dada
and papa. Di ba nag sasound sila? Pag kailangan
nila ng water, mamam, pag gusto nilang uminom
ng milk, they used to say dede. Mayroon silang
little sounds na sinasabi and it's very natural for
toddlers to sound out even before they speak.

The Introduction of the Alphabet

It's at the introduction of the alphabet that the
complexity of reading emerges. Would you
believe? Why? Because it was not totally aligned
with the natural speaking and reading process of
a child.

Kapag naglagay ka na ng alphabet, instead of

them smoothly learning how to read o mag-
develop yung kanilang natural faculties for
reading, nahahamper talaga sila. I don't know if
10
you agree with me, but like as I've told you, this
had been my research for the longest time and
has really proven it.

The Overwhelming Introduction

Sa tagal ko nang nagtuturo, napakarami ko ng

batang na-handle, and I'm sure kayo din bilang
mga parents, bilang isang teacher, mayroon na ba
kayong na-meet na isang bata na kapag kailangan
niya ng isang bagay ang sasabihin niya ay W, Q, T,
R, X, A, V? Mayroon na ba kayong narinig na
ganun? Kasi ako talaga, wala pa. Every child
would utter sounds if they need something.

Another question ko sa inyo, are we being so

pushy when we teach our child to read early?
Others would say, "Bakit ba masyado
nagmamadali?", "Prepared na ba yung brain nila?",
"Masyado naman itong si Teacher Vicky,
napakabata pa nila."

Tama bang turuan na natin sila? Di ba dapat

paglaruin lang natin sila ng paglaruin?

Well, from 3 years old, ito na ang kanilang

formative years, parang sponge, madaling ma-
retain yung knowledge nila. May ibang nag sasabi
baka daw magsawa agad sa pag-aaral?

11
 Alam nyo ba na 90% of a child's brain
development happens before the age of 5?

The brain development is very rapid when a person

is below 12. Sobrang bilis, kasi below 5, 90% ready
na yung brain nila and between age 6 to 12, brain
will develop twice or even triple the normal rate.
But what happens after the age 12? Their brain
development will decelerate and stay constant,
after 12,at kung nasa ganyang age na sila at hindi
pa natututong magbasa, masasabi mo nalang na
struggle is real.

Another question, is 'phonetics' really the better

way to teach reading? Use of sounds instead of
naming letters?

But wait!

Ano ba yung phonetics method of teaching

reading na yan?

In phonetics method of teaching reading, students

are taught not just the letter but the sounds solely
confined to the 26 letters of the alphabet
deliberately categorizing vowels and consonant
letters...

Natatandaan nyo pa ba yung mga vowels nyo? Ano

ba yung mga vowels? a-e-i-o-u

12
When we say phonetics, hindi ka na lang
nakatingin dun sa letters but the sound of the
letters nanakabound or within it. To further
memorize the sounds, hinihiwalay pa yung vowels
to consonant.

Today, we must learn na hindi na lang basta

alphabet na lang ang ime-memorize but yung
sound.

The Impact of Inconsistency

Moreover, the inconsistent introduction of words
can be overwhelming for children. Kapag sinasabi
sa kanila na "A is for Apple," and later discover na
"A is for Apron" din or "A is for Abracadabra,"
confusion sets in. Similarly, the introduction of
multiple words associated with a single letter, like
"E is for Egg," "E is for Elephant," and "E is for
Earth," it creates a muddle of understanding.

Anong nangyayari sa isang bata, na tinuruan mong

magbasa pero ang daming inconsistencies?

The child will feel like they are trapped. Gulong-

gulo ang utak niya, and worst? nawawala yung
pagmamahal nila sa reading.

Kapag reading na ang usapan parang sinumpa na

sa kanila yung araw na yun na talagang mapapasabi
13
sila ng "no no no please." Lalo na kapag bibigyan mo
sila ng something to read na walang picture? Para sa
kanila torture na yun, and that is the sad reality.

The Picture Dependency

Traditionally, lahat tayo ay naturuan ng A is for

apple I is for igloo E is for egg C is for cat, D is for
dog. Usually yan talaga ang tinuturo at first, paano
naman ngayon tinuturo sa books? I don't know if
you're familiar, but mapapansin ninyo na ituturo ng
teacher ang mga different words with picture, for
example, the words are mat, cat, ball, dog, sun, pig,
tapos may pictures sa right side ng words, sa tingin
ninyo anong natatandaan ng mga bata?

Yung pagbasa ng words or yung picture na kasama?

Teachers made sure that the aids are available and

handy. Madalas, pictures are placed beside every
word pero to be honest, this is not a very helpful
way para matuto silang magbasa.

Consider this dilemma: what happens kapag ang

bata ay nasanay sa images sa bawat word na
binabasa nila? Paano kapag kailangan na nilang
basahin ang words without pictures to represent
them, like "some," "have," and "come,"? their
reading experience suffers. A reliance on images
hampers their ability to grasp the inherent meaning
of words.

14
 CHAPTER 4:
NURTURING A LIFELONG LOVE
FOR READING

Reading: A Skill Beyond Natural Acquisition

Now let me tell you this fact, no? Ang reading

talaga, I would want to emphasize that, it's not a
natural process.

Hindi yan katulad ng paglalakad na kahit hindi mo

naman ituro ay magagawan nila ng paraan para
tumayo at maglakad from gapang, diba?

Reading is not a natural process because it is a

skill. The skill to read can never be acquired by a
normal child naturally. It is one of the most
complicated skills a child will ever learn. It is
something that is not easy to learn for most kids.
May mga bata pa na talagang kahit tinuruan na
sila sa school ng alphabet and all phonetics, hindi
pa rin talaga sila natututo agad. It's because ang
reading ay isang skill and not a natural process na
bigla na lang nilang matututunan.

15
The Importance of 5 Pillars of Reading Instruction

Above all of these, reading is nothing kung

walang comprehension. And do you know that
there are 5 pillars of reading instruction?

Para masabi mo na ang isang reading program ay

napaka-epiktibo? kailangan present sa kanila ang
5 pillars ng reading instruction.

Ano naman po yun? Unang-una is phonemic

awareness. Pangalawa lang po yung phonics,
which is andyan yung alphabet, yung name at
letter sounds ng vowels and consonant. Then
fluency, dapat maging fluent sila, para matuto
silang makapag blend. Kapag fluent na sila, that's
the only time na talagang ma-e-enjoy nila ang
pagbabasa. At pag nag-enjoy na silang magbasa,
doon pa lang talaga na de-develop yung kanilang
vocabulary. So kapag na-develop na po yung
vocabulary or marami ka ng alam na words, that's
the only time you'll be able to comprehend.

"EDUCATION IS LIKE LIGHTING A FIRE, NOT

JUST FILLING A PAIL."

WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS

16
 THE SECRET
So, wrapping up our journey in "The Secret to
Developing a Strong Reader and Independent
Learner," remember this:

real success in nurturing strong readers and

learners is about doing, not just absorbing.

We've dived into the struggles of reading in the

Philippines, tackled modern learning challenges,
and even explored why the typical alphabet
approach might not be the best.

Here's the takeaway:

17
 THE AUTHOR

Teacher Veronica "Vicki" Quintana-Arioder, the author

of this ebook, boasts an impressive three-decade-long
journey in education, characterized by unwavering
commitment. As the visionary founder of the Instant
Reader Program, she has profoundly influenced
education by nurturing students' passion for learning.
With a Bachelor's degree in Development
Communication from UP Los Baños and a Master's
degree in Education from UP Diliman, bolstered by her
role as a Research Associate at NISMED, Teacher
Vicki's academic prowess is unquestionable. Her
impact expands to her brainchild, "The Learning Place,"
nestled in UPLB Campus, which reflects her dedication
to fostering creative thinking and holistic growth.
Acknowledged with the 2019 UPLB Distinguished
Alumni Award and the esteemed Diploma with High
Distinction Award from the Blackford Centre for
Dyslexia in UK. Teacher Vicki's expertise shines as a
beacon of educational excellence and innovation, a
true inspiration for educators and learners alike.

TEACHER VICKI
AUTHOR
18