Over the past years the Department of Education has seen a decline in the reading level of its students and increased concern among educators and parents, along with renewed interest and accelerated research into the teaching of reading. Thus, DepED encourages all teachers for a balance in the way reading is taught. Since that, many schools and districts have been attempting to design and implement comprehensive reading programs that will aid their struggling readers. Bangoy District for one together with its seven schools is one with this goal in uplifting the reading level of every school child.
On October 22-23, 2011, Bangoy District conducted a seminar on emergent reading and reading intervention program. The participants include all the teachers in Grade One and Two levels and all the newly hired. The English and Reading coordinators were also invited to attend. The seminar was spearheaded by the District Reading Coordinator, Mrs. Estrella Piaon along with the different English and Reading coordinators of the schools in the district. Prior meetings were conducted to plan for the event along with the topics to be discussed and given emphasis on the seminar. Mrs. Piaon assigned the coordinators for a certain topic that embodies the important components of emergent reading. The first day started with an opening program with the presence of the District supervisor, Mrs. Julie N. Jamiana along with the seven principals of Bangoy. After the opening, the assigned coordinators discussed their topics which were indeed interesting and beneficial to the teachers. Along with the discussion was a close interaction among the participants for they were given situations wherein their opinions would really matter. The highlight of the first day was the discussion of Dr. Mary Jeanne B. Aldeguer from the National Training Center, on reading recovery. She cited various underlying reasons why reading difficulty occurs and she made an overview of the existing reading recovery of the region. On the second day, the district adviser on English and Reading, Mrs. Jinky B. Firman, who is also a School Administrator, facilitated the discussion and later on the critiquing of the Reading Intervention Program (RIP) of the different schools. She also gave an input about reading and the correct way in identifying the readers and non-readers in the class. There was also a demonstration teaching by Ms. Joan Soliva, one of the 12 teachers trained in the procedure and teaching of Reading Recovery. She used the different strategies she learned in her training and she provided situations where a teacher can use such in their respective classrooms. There was a positive reaction among the participants because they found that RR can bring about good result to their students. After all the topics has been discussed, the seminar ended with a closing program and giving of certificates.
The Bangoy District is hoping for the best on its Reading Intervention Plan to accelerate reading until its goal is achieve to make every child to read at or above the class average and can continue to learn without later remedial help. With the support of the administration and the perseverance of all teachers, surely, students can achieve their full potential in reading.