Improving students’ reading comprehension by using pq4r (preview, question, read, reflect, recite and review) strategy at grade VIII SMP Negeri 5 Padangsidimpuan

This research was talking about improving students’ reading comprehension by using PQ4R (Preview, Question, Read, Recite, Reflect, and Review) strategy at grade VIII SMP Negeri 5 Padangsidimpuan. Most of students had low achievement in reading comprehension, students did not have good strategy in reading, students were passive in the class, and students had lack of reading interest and also lack of motivation. This research purposed to describe the students’ achievement in reading comprehension and to identify the factors which influence students’ reading comprehension by using PQ4R (Preview, Question, Read, Reflect, Recite, and Review) at grade VIII SMP Negeri 5 Padangsidimpuan. The method used in this research was classroom action research, by implementing the Kemmis design which consisted four steps. Those were planning, acting, observing, and reflecting. Moreover, to solve the reading problems the researcher applied PQ4R strategy. In this research, the researcher used two reading tests and two cycles. Moreover, the participants of this research were the class of VIII-8 consisted of 24 students and also there was collaboration with an English teacher. Meanwhile, the data was derived among from reading tests, observation notes, and also interview. Based on the research result, showed the improvement mean score of the students. The first test in the first cycle was 68.12 (37%), and second test in the second cycle was 83.12 (95%). It can be concluded that the mean score in the second cycle was higher than the first cycle. Based on observation notes stated that the students got improvement and the students were more active and interested in learning reading comprehension. Related to the interview result, it could be known that students’ reading comprehension had improved. It asserted that by using PQ4R strategy improve students’ reading comprehension