IMPROVING STUDENTS"™ READING COMPREHENSION OF NARRATIVE TEXT USING PICTURE BOOKS AS THE MEDIA

Abstract

Abstract
This research aimed to improve students"™ reading comprehension of narrative text using
picture book, especially to improve students"™ ability in identifying details of story
elements, and recognizing words meaning. The writer applied classroom action research
with three cycles of meetings. The subject was the eighth grade students, in MTs Ika PGA
Pontianak, academic year 2016/2017. There were 20 students participated in the whole
processes. The data from observation checklist and field notes revealed that using picture
book improved students' reading comprehension of narrative text. Picture books
improved students in recognizing words meaning through pre teaching the words from
the story prior reading, and the use of picture-text relationship in contextual clues
activity. Picture books also improved students in identifying story elements through the
use of picture sequences discussion in picture walk activity and story mapping activity.
Discussing picture books also promoted students"™ interest in reading. The scores showed
students"™ improvement in recognizing words meaning and story elements. From the
research, the writer concluded that the use of picture book improved students"™ ability to
recognize words meaning, identify details of story elements and improved students"™
interest in reading comprehension of narrative text through shared reading with picture
walk, contextual clues, and story mapping.

Keywords: Picture books, Narrative text, Reading Comprehension