Teachers’ Efforts for Students’ Literacy Development Through Extensive Reading

Abstract

It is a report of the investigation on how teachers of elementary schools in SD Negeri 1 Jekulo Kudus made efforts for developing their students’ literacy through extensive reading activities. Through questionnaire and observation, the study tried to explore the strategies of organizing extensive reading activities applied by the teachers at SD Negeri 1 Jekulo Kudus to develop the students’ literacy. By a qualitative-narrative approach, through a questionnaire, an interview and focus group discussions, the study found that the teachers of elementary schools in SD Negeri 1 Jekulo Kudus implemented several strategies of engaging students with extensive reading activities, those are (a) providing fun bilingual (English-Indonesian) reading resources, such as short stories, fables, legends and local history; (b) assigning students to work in groups; (c) asking simple questions related to the reading topics; and (d) providing reading corners in every classroom. These efforts had been proven to be successful in motivating students to read. It can be seen from the students’ enthusiasm in getting involved in every classroom’s activity. Based on the research result, it is recommended that (1.) The school needs to provide more reading resources to facilitate the reading corners, (2) The teachers should improve and increase their knowledge strategies in applying higher order thinking skills at school. (3) There should also be teachers’ regular meeting for teaching reflection periodically.