APPROACHES TO TEACHING WRITING IN FILIPINO

This study examined the instructional approaches used by Grade 1 teachers in teaching writing in Filipino within the Malinao District, Schools Division of Albay. The research sought to identify commonly employed strategies, evaluate their effectiveness in developing pupils’ writing skills, and propose a creative instructional model aligned with the MATATAG Curriculum. Approaches considered included direct teaching, process-based instruction, interactive and shared writing, experience-based learning, and the use of visual aids. Data were collected from twenty Grade 1 teachers and ten education experts through surveys and structured interviews. Findings revealed that learner-centered and interactive approaches were most frequently applied, with the process-based approach, interactive writing, and visual aids perceived as highly effective in helping pupils’ express ideas, construct words, and form simple sentences. Experts emphasized that meaningful, creative, and participatory learning experiences are essential in early writing instruction. Based on these insights, the researcher developed the Sulat-Saya na Pagdulog, an innovative approach integrating multisensory activities, songs, games, movement, and real-life experiences to make writing engaging and enjoyable. Results showed that this approach significantly improved learners’ confidence, motivation, and writing performance. The study concludes that varied, learner-centered, and creative strategies are vital in building strong foundations for literacy among beginning learners.