Paper-Based I-Padlet to Enhance Letter Formation and Handwriting Skills Among Grade 1 Learners

This action research examined the use of the Paper-based I-Padlet in supporting the development of letter formation and handwriting skills of Grade 1 learners at Salay Central Elementary School, Division of Misamis Oriental. The study was conducted in response to the increasing difficulty of young learners in handwriting and letter formation, which was observed alongside excessive exposure to mobile devices at home. Fifteen (15) Grade 1 learners, all six years old, participated in the study. A one-group pre-test and post-test research design was utilized to describe changes in learners' letter formation and handwriting skills following the implementation of the intervention. During the pre-test, learners demonstrated difficulties in proper letter formation, particularly with lowercase letters included in the assessment tasks. Several learners also exhibited inconsistent letter size, spacing, and handwriting legibility despite being able to identify and write simple consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) words. To address these writing difficulties, the researchers introduced the Paper-based I-Padlet, a low-cost, interactive, and non-digital writing tool designed to simulate the appeal of gadgets while strengthening handwriting skills. The intervention involved structured activities such as word hunts, missing letter exercises, drawing tasks, and storytelling activities that encouraged active participation and repeated writing practice. The findings indicated observable improvements in learners' letter formation, handwriting fluency, and confidence in written expression following the implementation of the intervention. Comparison of the pre-test and post-test outputs suggested improvements in handwriting legibility, lowercase letter formation, spacing, and consistency. However, these findings should be interpreted within the limitations of a classroom-based action research design using descriptive analysis. The findings suggest that the Paper-based I-Padlet may serve as a promising classroom instructional material for supporting the development of foundational writing skills among Grade 1 learners.