The Effectiveness of Supplementary Reading Materials in Improving Students’ Reading Comprehension: A Systematic Literature Review

A systematic literature review, adhering to PRISMA guidelines, analyzed thirteen articles published between 2020 and 2024 from Malaysia, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Cambodia. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of supplementary reading materials in improving reading comprehension, identify the most beneficial types, and examine variables influencing their success.

Supplementary reading materials significantly improved students' post-test reading scores, showing an average increase of 21.34%. Beyond scores, these materials positively impacted student motivation, engagement, vocabulary acquisition, language comprehension, and critical thinking skills across different educational levels.

The review found that older students generally responded better to text-based supplementary materials, while younger students showed greater benefit from digital resources. A crucial factor influencing the success of these materials was their relevance to students' cultural and personal backgrounds, highlighting the importance of contextualization.

Given the findings, future research is recommended to explore how supplementary teaching materials can be effectively integrated and utilized within online and hybrid learning environments. This focus could uncover new strategies to enhance learning outcomes in the evolving digital educational landscape.