ISSN: 2782-893X
eISSN: 2799-0664
ISSN: 2782- 893X
— This educational research studied the literacy development of Grade 3 learners at Cabagtasan Elementary School in the mountainous area of San Carlos City Division of Negros Occidental Philippines through educational screen time and digital reading activities. The research employed descriptive-quantitative methods to collect views from 147 participants who included teachers and learners together with their parents or guardians. Most teachers and parents or guardians expressed skepticism about educational screen time benefits because they were concerned about learner cognitive and emotional and psychological well-being. Teachers strongly disagreed that screen time enhances literacy development, but parents mostly expressed disagreement. Learners expressed more positive views about digital tools because they believed these tools helped them learn both basic literacy skills and advanced reading techniques. The study identified three major issues which included learners’ distraction problems and decreased traditional reading habits and blue light effects on learners’ attention. The research confirms previous findings about digital fatigue together with reduced attention span. The Pearson correlation test established meaningful relationships between educational screen time and literacy development aspects including emergent literacy and reading fluency. The study supports a balanced educational strategy which merges digital tools with traditional reading methods while recommending caution. The research proposes teacher training programs and parental involvement and additional studies to understand long-term digital tool effects. Keywords — Administration and Supervision, Educational Screen Time and Digital Reading, Learners’ Literacy Development, Descriptive-Quantitative Research Method, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental