Effectiveness of Marungko Approach with Mentor-Mentee Arrangement on Reading and Comprehension

The study aimed to assess how effective the Marungko Approach, when combined with a mentor-mentee arrangement, is in improving elementary students' reading levels and story comprehension. A pre-reading test revealed alarming results, prompting the research. Third-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEED) students volunteered as mentors, receiving training on the Marungko Approach. Each mentor met with their mentees twice a week for one-hour sessions over a six-week intervention period.

After the intervention, learners showed significant improvement in both reading level and story comprehension. A strong rapport developed between mentors and mentees. Mentors expressed gratitude for early field exposure, while mentees reported learning to read and approving of the mentors' teaching strategies. The study concluded that the Marungko Approach, especially when paired with a mentor-mentee setup, significantly enhances reading performance and comprehension.

The study recommends that elementary teachers adopt the Marungko Approach to boost pupils' reading and comprehension, noting reading's critical role in learning. It also suggests that mentoring is beneficial, particularly in online learning environments. Furthermore, it is highly recommended that teacher education institutions (TEIs) collaborate with DepEd schools to provide pre-internship real-world exposure for their students, fostering partnerships and practical experience.