<![CDATA[ABSTRACT This study aims to determine the effect of using word card media on the early reading skills of first-grade students at UPTD SD Inpres RSS Oesapa Kupang. The problem was the students' low basic reading skills caused by monotonous conventional methods, leading to quick boredom and confusion in distinguishing similar letters (b-d, p-q, n-u). This research was quantitative applying a pre-experimental method with a One-Group Pretest-Posttest Design. The population and sample were all 20 first-grade students at UPTD SD Inpres RSS Oesapa Kupang in the 2026/2027 Academic Year, selected using total sampling. The data collection instrument was an individual oral test of early reading skills. Data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially using the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test and N-Gain score. Descriptive analysis showed that the students' average score dramatically increased from 15.20 during the pretest to 38.75 during the posttest, with the highest achievement reaching the ideal maximum score of 44. The Wilcoxon hypothesis test yielded a Z-statistic of -3.942 with an Asymp. Sig. (2-tailed) of < 0.001. Since the significance value was < 0.05, the Null Hypothesis was rejected and the Alternative Hypothesis was accepted, meaning that using word card media has a highly significant effect on students' early reading skills. Furthermore, the N-Gain score resulted in a classical average percentage of 82.68%, categorized as highly effective. In conclusion, word card media is proven to be highly effective in boosting the basic literacy competence of early-grade students. Keywords: Word Card Media, Early Reading, Elementary School. ABSTRAK Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh penggunaan media kartu kata terhadap kemampuan membaca permulaan pada siswa kelas I UPTD SD Inpres RSS Oesapa Kupang. Masalah dalam penelitian ini adalah rendahnya kemampuan membaca dasar siswa akibat metode konvensional yang monoton, sehingga siswa cepat bosan dan kesulitan membedakan huruf yang mirip (b-d, p-q, n-u). Jenis penelitian ini adalah kuantitatif dengan metode pra-eksperimen menggunakan rancangan One-Group Pretest-Posttest Design. Populasi sekaligus sampel penelitian adalah seluruh siswa kelas I UPTD SD Inpres RSS Oesapa Kupang Tahun Ajaran 2026/2027 yang berjumlah 20 siswa, diambil menggunakan teknik total sampling. Instrumen pengumpulan data berupa tes lisan individual kemampuan membaca permulaan. Data dianalisis secara deskriptif dan inferensial menggunakan uji peringkat bertanda Wilcoxon dan uji N-Gain score. Hasil analisis deskriptif menunjukkan lonjakan nilai rata-rata (mean) siswa dari 15,20 pada saat pretest menjadi 38,75 pada saat posttest, dengan nilai tertinggi mencapai skor maksimal ideal yaitu 44. Hasil uji hipotesis Wilcoxon menghasilkan nilai Z-hitung sebesar -3,942 dengan signifikansi (Asymp. Sig. 2-tailed) sebesar < 0,001. Karena nilai signifikansi < 0,05, maka Hipotesis Nol ditolak dan Hipotesis Alternatif diterima, yang berarti terdapat pengaruh yang sangat signifikan dari penggunaan media kartu kata terhadap kemampuan membaca permulaan siswa. Selanjutnya, uji N-Gain score menghasilkan persentase rata-rata klasikal sebesar 82,68% yang termasuk dalam kategori efektivitas tinggi. Kesimpulannya, penerapan media kartu kata terbukti sangat efektif dalam mendongkrak kompetensi literasi dasar siswa kelas awal. Kata Kunci: Media Kartu Kata, Membaca Permulaan, Sekolah Dasar.]]>
