UNLOCKING COMPREHENSHION: UTILIZATION OF FOUR SQUARE GRAPHIC ORGANIZER IN SUMMARIZING A STORY OF GRADE 6 STUDENTS

This study explored the effectiveness of the Four Square Graphic Organizer (FSGO) as an instructional intervention to improve the reading comprehension and summarizing skills of Grade 6 students at Magatos Integrated School. Motivated by persistent challenges in students’ ability to understand and summarize narrative texts, the study implemented a structured three-week action plan aligned with the English curriculum. A total of 20 purposively selected students participated in the intervention, which integrated guided reading, interactive activities, and the use of FSGO to help learners systematically organize story elements—namely, setting and characters, problem, main events, and solution. A quantitative-descriptive design was employed using pre-test and post-test assessments. Descriptive statistics revealed that students’ mean scores improved from M = 4.25 (SD = 1.16), categorized as "very low," to M = 17.15 (SD = 1.04), categorized as "high" proficiency. To determine the significance of this improvement, a paired samples t-test was conducted. Results showed a statistically significant increase in students’ performance, t(19) = 29.61, p < .001, with a large effect size (Cohen’s d = 6.83). In addition, qualitative data from student interviews supported the quantitative findings, highlighting themes such as improved understanding, strategic thinking, engagement, and increased confidence. These results affirm that visual scaffolds like FSGO enhance students' ability to synthesize and articulate story content effectively. The study recommends integrating graphic organizers into regular classroom practice to foster deeper comprehension and independent summarization skills among elementary learners Keywords: Reading Comprehension, Summarizing A Story, Four Square Organizer, Four Square Graphic Organizer, Visual Scaffolds, Elementary Education, Literacy Instruction