Summer break is fast approaching, classes will be over in a few days, and students will be off-school to enjoy their vacation. But for the 648 Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela (PLV) students, summer break is the time to wear another hat — being big brother or big sister to this year’s Summer Reading Camp beneficiaries. 

As the City prepares for the Summer Reading Camp for students who are non-readers, frustrated readers, and instructional readers, the Teaching Camp for teacher aide volunteers kicked off on March 24, 2018, at the Valenzuela City Social Hall. 

Vice Mayor Lorena Natividad-Borja emphasized the student-volunteers’ role in the actualization of the City’s vision of making every Valenzuelano children independent readers. Currently, there are 213 non-readers; 3,725 frustrated readers; and 14,712 instructional readers from Grades two to six. 

Partners from Synergeia Foundation headed by CEO and president, Dr. Milwida Guevarra facilitated the whole day training which consisted of workshops on phonemic awareness, story comprehension, storytelling, and how to effectively teach these to students. “A sound makes a difference,” Dr. Guevarra reiterated as she untiringly corrects how the student-volunteers say specific words. 

“I am excited for this training’s outcome. Alam kong as a big brother, may maitutulong talaga ako sa mga batang nahihirapang magbasa (I know that as a big brother, I can be of help to children who have difficulties in reading),” shared Aaron Claire Villamor, a 3rd year Marketing Management student. 

On the other hand, second time teacher aide volunteer Thomascine Agatha Meneses, expressed her delight with the teaching module provided for them. “Noon po kasi journal lang ang ibinigay sa amin, now we have our own daily guide para mas maging effective kaming teacher aides (Previously, only the journal was given to us, now we have our own daily guide to help us become more effective teacher aides),” said the Education major student. 

The module entitled “Big Brothers, Big Sisters Reading 360°” solely for the teacher aide volunteers as a guide for the activities to be performed in the Summer Reading Camp. It consists of six topics namely: Phonemic Awareness; Spelling; Comprehension, Spelling, Communication Skills, and Creative Thinking using Story Reading; Some Questions to Develop Higher Order Thinking Skills; Steps in Reading 360°; and Rhymes and Poems to Enjoy. 

The Teaching Camp and the Reading Camp are part of the City Government’s Education 360 Degrees Investment program which aims to revolutionize the public education system. The program has been recognized locally and internationally for its holistic, systemic, comprehensive, and student-centered approach in giving Valenzuelano children the best education possible.