EFFORTS TO IMPROVE BEGINNING READING SKILLS USING LETTER CARDS IN CLASS 1 STUDENTS

Abstract

The background of this research is the low reading result due to the lack of initial reading ability in first grade elementary school students. Reading is a means for students to learn something that is not yet known and can broaden knowledge. What are the teacher's activities in using letter card media, how are students' activities in using letter cards and how to improve students' initial reading skills using letter cards. To improve initial reading skills in grade I elementary schools, it is necessary to use letter cards in schools. Therefore the purpose of using this letter card media is: 1) to know the teacher's activity in the learning process; 2) to find out the activities of students in the learning process in class; and 3) to improve students' initial reading skills. To see students' initial reading ability, this study used Action Research in the Kemmis and Taggart model classes whose stages consisted of planning, implementing, observing and reflecting. The research subjects were the 1st grade students of SDN in Yogyakarta, totaling 28 students. Collecting data with observation and test techniques. Analysis of the data using the percentage formula. In the use of letter card media to improve the initial reading ability of grade 1 students, the results of teacher activity in cycle I were 78% and cycle II 90%, the activity of students in cycle I was 70% and cycle II was 88%, and the initial reading ability of students in cycle I was 54% with an average of 58%, while in cycle II it was 82% with an average of 80%. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that by using letter card media in improving the beginning reading ability of students in grade I there was an increase.