CSWD, Xavier Ateneo hold training for volunteer-teachers

• Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1007722
• Wednesday, May 2, 2018

By Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat (Lea Mae N. Caburatan/XU Comm)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) -- The Arrupe Educational Center (AEC) of the School of Education (SOE) of Xavier Ateneo, in collaboration with the Cagayan de Oro City Social Welfare Department (CSWD), recently conducted a training for Supervised Neighborhood Play (SNP) volunteer-teachers at the XU-AVR1.

Dubbed as "Effective Early Learning Through Supervised Neighborhood Play," the training was participated by 33 SNP volunteer-teachers from various CDO barangays.

Supervised Neighborhood Play is "a home-based Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) program which serves as a good alternative to day care services. SNP utilizes play and various enrichment activities in stimulating the psychosocial development of a child."

The training was aimed at equipping SNP volunteer-teachers with the essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes so they can be effective providers of early learning through child-centered (play-based) activities and child-rearing support for the parents.

The training was conducted by Dr. Roderick M Aguirre, co-author of the kindergarten curriculum and consultant for the ECCD program of the Philippines.

Aguirre shared that SNP program serves children as young as age one, where playing is central to their growth.

For him, children learn best through playing games, including singing, storytelling, and art activities.

He also emphasized that SNP volunteer-teachers must learn how to employ play as an activity-based technique where learners participate actively and as an opportunity for children to engage using their mental and physical processes.

During the three-day training, participants were able to create local-based stories, core word list for children, and transition songs in the mother tongue (Binisaya).

They were also given a session on creating materials for various games as well as playing techniques.

These materials for playing are commonly found at home, such as empty boxes and water bottles.

“[This is] the best training I have ever had in the field of teaching," said Aipsecel Mondelo, SNP volunteer-teacher from Upper Kiam-is, Lumbia.

"I hope that there would be more training [programs] related to this,” she added.

The event culminated with teaching demonstrations by the SNP volunteer-teachers.