Assistance in a Nias Folklore based school literacy movement to improve the reading interest of students at SMP Negeri 1 Gunungsitoli Barat

Abstract

This school literacy assistance activity based on Nias folklore was conducted to improve students’ reading interest at SMP Negeri 1 Gunungsitoli Barat. The activity aimed to describe the implementation of the School Literacy Movement (SLM) assistance based on Nias folklore and to identify students’ reading interest and reading ability. This study used a descriptive qualitative method involving 43 students. The data were collected through observation and questionnaires. The activity was carried out through preparation, implementation, and evaluation stages, including literacy socialization, reading Nias folklore together, discussing the content of the stories, observing students’ reading ability, and distributing reading-interest questionnaires. The results showed that most students had an initial interest in reading, but regular reading habits had not been formed optimally. In addition, students’ reading ability varied in terms of reading fluency and self-confidence. The use of Nias folklore as a literacy medium attracted students’ attention and supported the improvement of reading interest while preserving local culture at school.