Identifying Reading Miscues and Reading Performance in the Oral Reading Verification Test in English: Basis for an Intensive Reading Program

Reading serves a vital role in achieving quality education. However, it is alarming to note the learners' poor reading performance in national and international assessments, which schools must address. In this study, the pupils' reading performance is looked into through the Oral Reading Verification Test (ORVT). It is a tool that assists in determining the reading strengths and weaknesses. It also helps to identify the pupils struggling with decoding and comprehension fluency. This study aims to determine the pupils' reading performance profile and the common reading miscues in the pupils' ORV pretest and posttest results. The study employed the descriptive method and was conducted at San Isidro Elementary School, Pilar, Bohol, with 200 pupils as participants from Grades IV, V, and VI. The One-Way-ANOVA F-test was used in identifying the significant mean difference in the pupils' ORV pretest and posttest scores of the control group. The pretest results showed that most of the pupils were at the frustration level, meaning they were slow readers and had poor comprehension. The posttest shows an evident improvement in the pupils' reading performance from frustration to instructional levels. This result was verified when it found a significant difference between pupils' Oral Reading Verification pretest and posttest. The pretest also showed several reading miscues, significantly improving during the posttest. Findings also reveal a significant difference in the pupils' performance when grouped according to grade levels. This study recommends that teachers conduct remedial classes in reading for pupils at the frustration level category and encourage them to read more English reading materials. Likewise, peer tutoring initiated by learners at the independent level is encouraged to help those who are slow readers. Teachers should apply different teaching methods and strategies in reading to catch the pupils' attention, boost their confidence, and read fluently with good comprehension.