Effectiveness of Using Independent Reading in Teaching Philippine Folk Epics to Grade 7 Students in the Selected Schools in the Division of Quezon

Striving readers often found themselves with little or no support once they entered high school. The success of independent reading that targeted students’ reading levels and accommodates student interest. The students’ progress through the distance learning was practiced to spend more time in reading most of which is a part of their learning process. As teachers, they monitored the learner’s progress through home visitation and guide those who need special attention. This research investigated the effectiveness of independent reading in teaching Philippine Folk Epics, the problems encountered, and the factors affecting successful independent reading. The study used the quantitative method employing the descriptive method in the research. The respondents of this study were the Grade 7 English teachers of the selected schools in the Division of Quezon. The data collected was analyzed and interpreted through the use of percentage, 4 Likert scales, 5, Likert scale, and weighted mean. The data revealed that independent reading is very effective to use as a method in teaching Philippine Folk Epics to Grade 7 students. This method helped in transforming the learners to look at the connection of the text with social and cultural realities and institutions. One of the problems encountered in reading is students have the difficulty in determining the most important details or concepts in a passage. Learners having their choice of reading materials is a factor that helps independent reading to be successful. Independent reading is an effective method in teaching where it can be recommended to others teachers, students, and future researchers to use. Teachers must develop or create a way to develop the connection of the students to some books to read that they want. Students must learn how to explore to find that one book that will spark their interest. Future researchers should be an advocate of having a passion on reading by making a study that would focus on how reading is effective in developing other skills.