The Ugnayan ng Pahinungod University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) conducted a training on dialogic reading for parents titled “Sama-sama sa Pagbasa: Paggamit ng Dialogic Reading Method sa Pagbabasa Kasama ang Pamilya” on 16 July to 13 August 2021.

The project aimed to train parents on the application of the dialogic reading method as a technique in teaching reading to children.  Dialogic reading is a reading technique developed by Grover J. Whitehurst which encourages adults to prompt children with questions and engage them in discussions while reading to them. Through the guidance of an adult who assists the child in dialogic reading, the child learns from interactions, prompts, and questions.  Ms. Genevieve Aguinaldo, a UPOU Diploma in Language and Literacy Education alumni and current Master of Arts in Language and Literacy Education student,  is the project proponent.  She is a Ugnayan ng Pahinungod UPOU volunteer. 

For the pilot implementation, five parents of Grades 2 and 3 pupils were tapped as participants.  The participating parents were provided with parent kits which contain four storybooks and dialogic reading guides. Drawing materials for the children were also included in the kit since the goal of the program is for the child to show comprehension of the story by drawing the favorite character or a particular scene taken from the story by the end of each week.  Two focus group discussions (FGDs) were scheduled with the parents on the first and last day of the program. 

Ms. Genevieve Aguinaldo, Ugnayan ng Pahinungod UPOU volunteer and project proponent, orient the participants of the Sama-Sama sa Pagbasa program

The project orientation and training were conducted on 16 July 2021 via Google Meet. The first FGD with the parents was also done on this date. Ms. Aguinaldo explained the dialogic reading method to the parents and demonstrated its application in teaching reading to children. 

A Facebook Messenger Group was used to monitor the progress of the students and to serve as an avenue to raise questions and clarifications. Ms. Aguinaldo and the parents met every Friday via Google Meet to demonstrate the first reading of the assigned storybook to the parents.  The stories they read for the entire period of the training included (1) Si Ching na Takot sa Dilim  on 16 July 2021; (2) Ang Pambihirang Sumbrero on 23 July 2021;  (3) Anong Gupit Natin Ngayon? on 2 August 2021; and (4) Filemon Mamon on 6 August 2021.

Melanie Karikitan, one of the parent participants, shares her experience during the Sama-sama sa Pagbasa  program

The final FGD with the parents and awarding of certificates was held on 13 August 2021. The parents shared their experiences in using the dialogic reading method with their children, the challenges they encountered and how they coped up with the challenges. They also shared how dialogic training helped with the children’s understanding of the story books they read throughout the program. 

Children draw their favorite scenes from the storybooks

UPOU partnered with the San Antonio Elementary School in Bay, Laguna for this project.  The Ugnayan ng Pahinungod UPOU was established in May 2019 and functions as the volunteer service program of the University of the Philippines Open University. (JPGuimbao) (Photos from Ugnayan ng Pahinungod UPOU) (Edited by ACLlamas and RMRVereña)