EXPLORING THE CHALLENGES OF DROP EVERYTHING AND READ PROGRAM OF ELEMENTARY LEARNERS

EDUCATION

This study explored the challenges encountered by the teachers in the implementation of Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) Program among elementary learners. There were eight participants of this study who were elementary teachers from selected schools in New Bataan District for the school year 2023-2024. It was revealed that learners are struggling with reading, letter identification and overcrowded classrooms, selecting reading materials, and cannot read alone. They were also challenged with learners having dyslexia disorder and those learners who are harder to motivate. According to them, the most challenging strategies in reading were paired reading, individual assessment, multisensory, and round-robin. The reading approaches that were difficult to follow are implementing differentiated instruction, guided reading in DEAR, employing individual attention, encouraging kids to engage in close reading, technology-enhanced reading approach, multisensory and whole language approach. Among these reading approaches, the effective ones were small group instruction and personalized reading plans, integrating variety of literacy skills, peer reading, phonics approach and reading recovery approach, linguistic method, interactive read aloud, and reward system. The reasons found reading approaches effective were, the learners were given proper reading challenges and assistance, become more knowledgeable readers, foster students interests and preferences, and cater learning styles. Employing differentiated instruction, using visual aids and interactive reading activities, using encouraging reading resources, rewarding efforts, doing reading workshops and flexible reading assignments were the effective coping mechanisms employed by the teachers. The insights gained by the teachers in the implementation of DEAR program were patience adaptability, personalized support is important, never shoulder every responsibility, ensuring that learners have access to reading resources, needs to have collaboration and professional growth, encourage reading habits at home, and appreciate the roles of technology. These insights contribute to confronting challenges in reading program by reminding teachers and learners to be flexible, by creating a vibrant reading culture, taking part in developing students reading skills, boosting students’ engagement and excitement for reading, focusing on motivation, acquiring reading techniques, enhancing professional growth, and creating more individualized reading plans.

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