Teaching Reading in a Time-Constrained Environment: Challenges and Strategies for Effective Instruction

Despite ever-shrinking instructional time, reading teachers can harness technology, interactive methods, and a passion for literature to innovatively and effectively impart key reading skills. This descriptive qualitative study explored the challenges faced by reading teachers in a time-constrained environment and the strategies they employ to enhance reading instruction in their school. Through in-depth interviews with the four reading teachers from Lun Padidu National High School, Malapatan III District, key themes emerged. The primary challenge identified was the limited availability of effective reading strategies, compounded by the pressure to cover a vast curriculum within a short timeframe. This, in turn, affected teacher performance, leading to decreased productivity and difficulties in meeting learners' diverse needs. To address these challenges, teachers implemented various strategies, including appropriate reading assessment, technology integration and differentiated instruction. The study highlighted the importance of providing teachers with adequate training, workshops and resources to support effective reading instruction in time-constrained environments. By addressing the challenges faced by reading teachers, schools may improve learner outcomes, foster a love of reading, and promote lifelong learning.