Developing Montessori-Based Movable Alphabet Media to Enhance Early Reading Skills

Abstract

The Montessori-based movable alphabet media is a learning tool designed to improve students’ early reading skills. This study was conducted in response to the low initial reading abilities of first-grade students and the limited use of instructional media in classroom learning. The research aimed to develop, determine the feasibility, and evaluate the effectiveness of Montessori-based movable alphabet media in improving the early reading skills of first-grade students at SDN 1 Kupang Raya Bandar Lampung. This study employed a Research and Development (R&D) approach using the ADDIE model, which consists of Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation stages. The participants were 34 first-grade students involved in small-group and large-group trials. Data were collected through observation, interviews, documentation, questionnaires, and tests. Quantitative and qualitative data analyses were applied, including a paired-sample t-test. The results showed that the developed movable alphabet media met the criteria of being highly valid, obtaining validation scores of 95.83% from media experts, 100% from material experts, and 95% from language experts. Students responded positively to the media, with attractiveness scores of 97.5% in small-group trials and 99.54% in large-group trials, while educators’ responses reached 93.75%. The media also improved students’ early reading skills, as indicated by an increase in average scores from 59.83 to 72 in small-group trials and from 60.68 to 73.22 in large-group trials. Statistical testing showed a significance value of 0.001 (< 0.05), indicating that the media had a significant effect on improving students’ early reading skills