The Ugnayan ng Pahinungód University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) conducted its first teacher training program on 28 October 2019 at the Centennial Center for Digital Learning (CCDL) Auditorium, UPOU Headquarters, Los Baños, Laguna.

Focusing on the subject matter Reading Remediation for the Early Grades (Kinder to Grade 3), 42 Kinder to Grade 3 public school teachers from Bay and Los Baños, Laguna participated in the programs. Ms. Fides Minella Lladoc Mendoza, a Reading Intervention Specialist from The Literacy Ladder, facilitated the training. Some of the topics she discussed were ‘Profile of Reading Difficulties’, ‘Structured Language Approach’, ‘Individualized Education Program’, conduct of informal assessment in the classroom, and techniques on teaching letters and on using flash cards for reading activities.

The training program was also participated in by 11 teachers through video conferencing. These teachers converged at the UPOU Mega Learning Hubs located in Cebu and Davao.

This activity is part of the Teacher Development Program, one of Ugnayan ng Pahinungód’s core programs that aims to develop public school and higher education teachers’ competencies in content, research and pedagogy. Some UPOU graduate students and alumni from different regions also joined to assist in the training.

As what Ugnayan ng Pahinungod UPOU Director Rhonna Marie Vereña emphasized “Like every good thing, let what is learned be passed around,” the training is just the first phase of the planned series of activities under the programs of the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod Office. The succeeding activities for this teacher training shall be delivered in blended mode, an integration of face-to-face and online teaching strategies.

Established in May 2019, the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod is the volunteer service program of the University of the Philippines Open University. (RVerena and MLaksamana)