The Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. (TYKFI), in partnership with DepEd Region I headed by Regional Director Teresita M. Velasco, brought 27 Grade 3 teachers from La Union, Ilocos Sur, and Nueva Vizcaya to attend a 3-day Teachers Training program at the Reading Dynamics Center at Ortigas Center, Pasig City last April 7-9, 2014. The program is aimed to provide academic, technical, and moral support and guidance for Grade 3 teachers for the K-12 system of education. The focus is on Grade 3 as pupils in this level face the challenge of transitioning from mother tongue-based instruction to English-based instruction.
The educator, Dr. Aurora Roldan, imparted her knowledge on Theory of Concept Development and other teaching models:
To address creativity in order to tap into the other kinds of intelligence besides linear, logical, cognitive IQ, namely linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalist. Creativity is involved in the higher-level thinking skills of concept development. Thus, there is a balance between what to teach and how to teach, between cognitive mastery and creativity enhancement;
To address, assess, and enrich the teacher’s own concept of teaching reading unto the ultimate goal of developing conceptualizing students. This is because the teacher is the single most important factor in the educational system; and
To shift the teachers’ paradigm from the traditional approach in the teaching of reading to acquiring and internalizing a general knowledge of the conceptual approach, applying Understanding by Design (UBD) in the process, thus reaching each student whether gifted, average, or slow learners.
“The teacher is viewed as a concept developer who will be trained to gain an in-depth understanding of the pedagogical and psychological impact of an interdisciplinary approach to content reading. Through his/her own gifts and talents, he/she will be able to unlock his/her pupils’ verbal potentials.”
The first day was spent on a series of tests including non-language mental capacity test, comprehension test, and teacher personality profile to establish a baseline of each teachers’ aptitude. The textbook, “Concept Development, Children’s Reading Laboratory 3” was also distributed. Topics discussed included:
- Rationale of a reading teacher
- 3 factors for change
- Understanding by Design and CRL series
- 9 aspects of understanding
- Backward Design
- 3 stages of UBD
- Reading as a concept development
- The foundation of the CRL texts with the process of concept development
- Expected outcomes of the CRL series
- The CRL series in action
An individualized Myers-Briggs report was also given. Of course any training will not be complete without administering a feedback session and survey.
Some teaching tools touched were: Process of Concept Development (Sensory Experience, Analysis, Abstraction, and Concept Development) and the 3 Factors of Change (Environment, Process, and Content).
“The Foundation is generous in helping DepEd in addressing issues in the field. I’ve heard that aside from giving assistance to teachers they build schools and train teachers. By doing this they are attaining a holistic approach in helping DepEd. I hope they will continue with this vision and mission in sharing resources to continue to touch lives of our DepEd family members,” shared by Dinah Bonao, DepEd Officer – Region 1.
The teachers showed their appreciation of the event: “The conceptual approach program is really important for us, reading teachers especially in helping our pupils. I can say that this three-day training workshop is really inspiring. It opens my mind that being a concept developer, I can make a big difference especially on the part of my pupils. I think the most challenging in applying this is making a non-reader to read. But I know this training will be of great help to make this come true. (The training will help me when I go back and teach) through applying the things that we have learned in the training workshop. Tan Yan Kee Foundation is really a big help to us especially for us in the public school especially in the financial aspect. So, we thank you for sponsoring this kind of seminar workshop and for this opportunity to be one of the trainees,” said by Liza T. Rabe, Teacher III, Ilocanos Elementary School.
“This program is a big help for the learners who are non-readers. I am inspired with Dra. Roldan our speaker that even she is already old she still have the heart to help learners making them a good reader not only by mind but also by heart. (The most challenging part in applying concept development is) to make non-readers to good readers. (When I go back to teach), I will be having a weapon now to teach the students with confidence,” shared by Maryan A. Costales, Teacher III, Santa Cruz Central School.
After the training, Chief Elementary Education Division (EED), Dr. Vivian Luz S. Pagatpatan under the guidance of Regional Director Teresita M. Velasco met with the trained teachers as well as their respective school heads for a Writeshop on Daily Learning Log for Grade III English applying the conceptual approach to reading education. They were able to come up with a Daily Learning Log where K12 competences were included and became the guidance for their teaching.
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