METAMORPHOSIS: THE PHASES OF CHILD’S READING DEVELOPMENT

KIMBERLY ANN M. PARAS

Juan was called by his teacher to read the CVC words shown on the LED screen. Reluctantly, he tried to pull himself up from his seat and glanced sideways at Ms.Paras. Moments have passed but still, Juan could not even utter the sounds of the words’beginning letters. Juan is 10 years old. The astounding yet unfortunate fact is that he is still in Grade 2.

Sir Francis Bacon, an English philosopher and statesman, said that reading makes a full man. The question is, what has happened to the leaders of our future? How can Bacon’s claim be fully realized if even the smallest units of sounds cannot be recognized by our students? What seems to be the major dilemma? Is it the teacher? The parents?The environment?Or the curriculum? Who is to be blamed in this catastrophic educational problem?

I vividly recall my childhood moments when I sit by the window and read small story books like Winnie the Pooh and Friends, The Ugly Duckling, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Cinderella, and Pinocchio. Never in my life did I get bored even if I read those same materials each and every day. I even practice reading aloud in front of the mirror and imitating the voices of the animals in fables. Back then, I think I had so much time in my hands. After reading, I reread. I have no other important things to do than that, along with coloring and scribbling.

As I look at my younger brothers (ages 6 and 8) playing with their Android phones, I cannot help but think how the world has changed. How education has changed, to be specific. How do we solve this reading problem among our students? Let me explain my arguments, claims, and propositions by integrating mitosis, the phases of cell division.

PROPHASE. A cell gets the idea that it is time to divide. First, it has to get everything ready.

My version: The student gets the idea that it is time to read. First, the Department of Education has to get everything ready.

Based on my experience and feedback from colleagues, the students are not yet ready in the sudden change of the curriculum. I am not undermining the power of the new system. But how can we expect the students to fulfill the competencies stipulated on paper if they do not know how to read in the first place? Words look like codes to them and they have difficulty in appreciating things around them because first and foremost, they could not even recognize the letters. I think that if the competencies for students in the primary level will be rethought and reconsidered, we might not be producing a generation of non-readers in the near future.

ANAPHASE. Here we go! The separation begins. Half of the chromosomes are pulled to one side of the cell; half go the other way.

My version: Here we go! The reading begins. Half of the students are pulled to one side of the future; half go the other way.

We might not want to see our students to course through the road which is less travelled by. We do not want to see half of our students savoring every moment of the lesson because they can read while the other half are left with their mouths open, gaping, and hungry for knowledge because they could not understand anything that is written on the board. It makes my heart ache everytime I teach the students how to read but there are no follow-ups at home. I believe that the home should still be the first school of students. We want ALL of them to achieve their dreams. And it begins by joining our hands in teaching these little souls how to read.

TELOPHASE. Now, the division is finishing up. This is the time when the cell membrane closes in and splits the cell into two pieces.

My version: Now, the reading remedial is finishing up. This is the time when a student learns how to read and shares his or her learning to another student.

At the end of the day, the fulfilment is not only for the students but also for us teachers. If we at least affect one soul, that learning would travel far. That student can teach others who are having reading difficulties as well.

INTERPHASE. This is the normal state of a cell. It’s just going about its daily business of surviving and making sure it has all of the nutrients and energy it needs. It is getting ready for another division that will happen one day.

My version: This is the successful state of Juan. He’s just going about his daily business of surviving and making sure he has all of the competencies and skills he needs. He is getting ready to share what he learned to other students one day.

As educators, it is always our priority to make our students life-ready. That small act of teaching one Juan in our class will definitely change the world.

It is never too late to do the right thing. Let us make every Juan a reader and a leader.

— oOo—

The author is Teacher I at Lara Integrated School, Barangay Lara, City of San Fernando, Pampanga