Literacy among children is one of the key factors that determines how well a school intervention progresses and its development should be a combined effort between home and school. However, reading development program is a challenging task for the school to implement because of the pandemic situation.

          To make it possible, the important component is to apply a variety of strategies especially in this fast-paced, technology-driven age. Various activities on Reading Readiness of the incoming students including virtual teaching should be implemented in school to prompt children in making reading as regular part of their routine whether they are reading solo or together with their reading teachers, parents, or friends during home-based learning. Teachers should be given a structured time to touch base with each pupil over a period, assess progress, and target instruction. Even more important, pupils should be given a time to read what they want to read, share what they have read, and received the support they need for further reading explorations and reflections through video or online presentation. 

        A massive campaign for literacy awareness should be always done to inform the community that reading is very important particularly to the primary pupils. Additionally, all teachers should be instructed to provide reading materials during the distribution of learning packets. In this way, students will be given a chance to show their enthusiasm in attending reading readiness activities by spreading the importance of reading in the community. This kind of program would result to a better achievement which could also make a positive impact to the parents… that reading could be the best gateway for their children’s literacy improvement.

By: Anamarie M. Emano | Teacher II | Cataning Elementary School | Balanga City, Bataan