Teachers Engage in Creative Workshop for Literacy Enhancement

The SDO San Juan City, through the Curriculum Implementation Division, a conducted a three-day training-workshop on Literacy Enhancement through Creative Storytelling on February 6-8, 2020 at the Linden Suites, Ortigas Center, Pasig City for 30 teachers under the leadership of the English and Filipino supervisors, Ms. Marnelli B. Tolentino and Ms. Eulafel C. Pascual, respectively. The training supported the Division’s thrust to intensify the Reading Program of the schools while aligning it to the challenge of 3 Bs or Bawat Bata Bumabasa. This is the Department’s response to the dwindling performance in reading in partnership with the city government of San Juan City through its Project FRANCIS which stands for Fun Reading and Nurturing Comprehension in San Juan. This is the flagship program of the city mayor, Hon. Francisco Javier M. Zamora, that envisions to achieve zero non-reader in the city.

Further, it discussed the Big 6 components namely, Oral Language, Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Vocabulary Instruction, Fluency, and Comprehension and the four qualities of effective Reading Program (professional development, instructional tools, school system, and assessment) to invite reflection on where they are in terms of these measures.

“As 21st century teachers, we accept the challenges that DepEd gives in pursuit of a functional literacy campaign. We appreciate this kind of training so we can truly engage our learners and help them improve in their reading abilities,” remarked Ms. Magdalena S. Rosopa, Master Teacher at Pinaglabanan ES.

Further, the dynamic resource person Ms. Mary Melody Remorca, talked about the different strategies of creative storytelling. She demonstrated the ways on how it can engage the pupils more, highlighting the performance art and the comprehension part which can contribute to the development of reading proficiency of the learners. They had performance task where the speaker discussed the strong points and improvement areas of the teachers after applying what they have learned in the discussion.

Ms. Marilyn Oro of Salapan ES said, “I enjoyed the activities we had. I gained more confidence telling animated stories in support to DepEd’s campaign Edukalidad.” The rest of the participants unanimously agreed with her because they found the approach fun and entertaining without losing sight of the academic purposes of narrative texts in the classroom. The strategies were explicitly demonstrated with high regard for the enjoyment of the learners because reading happens naturally and it builds on their experiences. Ms. Danica Mae Rivera, a neophyte teacher at Sta. Lucia ES added, “I already know what I am doing here in the public school. I see myself making meaningful contribution to my learners as I see the gap and I feel the support that the Division and the other schools provide to each one of us in our fight for zero non-reader in San Juan.”

In conclusion, it was recommended that a network of storytellers be organized in the Division to serve as a pool of talent to sustain the creativity generated by this training-workshop. The school heads present were vocal in their interest to invest further on a continuous professional development especially that the speaker pledged commitment to help in coaching and mentoring interested teachers to enrich their literacy instruction. The program ended on a positive note to embrace the advocacy and make every San Juan learner a functional reader.