LOVE FOR READING. Pupils of Filipinas East Elementary School in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte stand by at the newly-installed reading corners near the school park on February 21. Under DepEd Memorandum 173, series of 2019, the education department encourages offices from central to division levels and schools to intensify their advocacy for reading and make every learner a reader at their grade level and turn teachers into effective reading instructors. (Photo courtesy of Orlando Pascua)
LAOAG CITY — At a time when school children are glued to television sets or cellular phones during their free time, several schools in this city and the province are trying to catch children’s attention to promote fun reading.
At the Laoag City Elementary School (LCES), at least four corners under the stairs are being utilized as reading nook for all pupils, said Athelene R. Sampayan, Master Teacher I of the LCES on Monday.
“During their lunch break, pupils gather in the said nook to read, scan and do some assignments instead of running around at noon time,” said Sampayan as she reported pupils are motivated to read when passing by the reading corner.
To promote reading with comprehension which has become a major concern in schools nationwide, the Badio Elementary School (BES) in Pinili, Ilocos Norte also declared a 4 o’clock reading habit among its learners.
“When they go to the school canteen, our pupils particularly those from Grade I pass by a reading corner where they read out loud as a group,” said Aileen Rambaud, Principal of BES on Monday.
Since they intensified the reading habit of their pupils, Rambaud said some of them have indeed showed great improvement.
Similar to other schools, school principal Orlando Pascua of Filipinas East Elementary School also established a reading park near the school playground. While taking time to play, the pupils stand near the newly-installed reading readiness corners as they read selected short stories and words to enrich their vocabulary.
Early on, the Department of Education has launched a program called READ to LEAD as part of Bawat Bata Bumabasa (3Bs-Every Child Can Read) initiative, an advocacy to make every learner a reader at grade level.
Under DepEd Memorandum 173, series of 2019, DepEd’s 3Bs initiative encourages offices from central to division levels and schools to intensify their advocacy for reading and make every learner a reader at their grade level and turn teachers into effective reading instructors.
On March 5, Education Secretary Leonor Briones is expected to visit some Ilocos schools to personally consult with teachers and students about various concerns and to discuss possible ways to address them. (PNA)
