MANILA, Philippines – “Catch-up Fridays” was launched by the Department of Education (DepEd), which schools need to implement in order to strengthen students' foundation in various skills, one of the objectives of the basic education curriculum. These skills are essential for students' learning and everyday life.
Currently, Catch-up Fridays are focused on "Drop Everything and Read (DEAR)." DEAR aims to reintroduce students to reading various printed materials, especially literary works.
Different schools and teachers have employed various methods to carry out DEAR. Teachers have tapped into their creative and imaginative faculties to capture students' attention and encourage them to read.
Many teachers and schools have indeed followed suit, and here we can see the emergence of teachers' creativity in how it is executed.
For award-winning writer and college professor Genaro Gojo Cruz, known for his children's literature, the implementation of Catch-up Fridays should not be made complicated.
According to him, some seem to be heading towards a party or acting as if they are already in the "Palarong Pambansa.”
Gojo Cruz appeals to keep it simple and not stray from its true purpose. He is afraid, he said, that it might also turn into a beauty pageant.
“Pakiusap po!”
“Iwasan po ang kung ano-anong ipinagagawa sa catch-up Friday sa inyong paaralan. Iyung iba nagiging parang party sa Jollibee, at ang iba naman, palarong pambansa. Ang ikinatatakot ko, baka maging beauty contest na itong programa sa pagbasa!” he said on his Facebook post last February 11.
The Palanca awardee provided suggestions on how to make the DEAR activity simple yet fulfilling its purpose.
“Simple lang po talaga sana. Kumuha kayo ng banig. Maupo kasama ang mga mag-aaral. Magkuwento kayo ng isang aklat-pambata sa kanilang wika.”
“Pakiusap po!”
“Ito lang po ang gagawin sana po ninyo:
“Gawain bago magkuwento”
Gagawin ng bata habang nakikinig (dapat guided sila ng objective/malinaw sa kanila bakit nila kailangang makinig).”
“Gawain pagkatapos magkuwento (processing, tahi-tahiin ang ginawa bago magkuwento at gawain habang nakikinig).”
“Diyos ko po naman.”
“Ang nasabi ko na lang talaga!”
Here are the netizens’ comments:
“Simple lang naman, magbasa kayo pag Friday… Tapos ipasa n’yo narrative report, intervention plan, compilation of materials, DLL hahaha.”
“Ang OA kasi ng iba eh haha, simple lang ginagawang komplikado.”
“Develop natin ang love for books muna. Kapag ang bata ay gustong-gusto ang libro, kahit tingin-tingin lang sa mga pics, buklat-buklat lang. Eventually napakadali na nyan turuan magbasa at with comprehension pa. Sa bahay din kasi nag-uumpisa ‘yan. Kaya kudos sa mga magulang ko na suportado ang hilig ko sa mga libro noong bata pa ko. Just my two cents.”
“sana nga ganon lang kasimple kaso parang naging komplikado yata. sa dami ng laman ng friday lessons yung para sa bata naiwan na naman ang mga bata.”
“Nice suggestion but guidelines ang dapat sundin.”
What do you think about it?
— Noel Ed Richards, The Summit Express
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| Photo courtesy: Facebook/Genaro Gojo Cruz, DepEd Philippines |
Currently, Catch-up Fridays are focused on "Drop Everything and Read (DEAR)." DEAR aims to reintroduce students to reading various printed materials, especially literary works.
Different schools and teachers have employed various methods to carry out DEAR. Teachers have tapped into their creative and imaginative faculties to capture students' attention and encourage them to read.
Many teachers and schools have indeed followed suit, and here we can see the emergence of teachers' creativity in how it is executed.
For award-winning writer and college professor Genaro Gojo Cruz, known for his children's literature, the implementation of Catch-up Fridays should not be made complicated.
According to him, some seem to be heading towards a party or acting as if they are already in the "Palarong Pambansa.”
Gojo Cruz appeals to keep it simple and not stray from its true purpose. He is afraid, he said, that it might also turn into a beauty pageant.
“Pakiusap po!”
“Iwasan po ang kung ano-anong ipinagagawa sa catch-up Friday sa inyong paaralan. Iyung iba nagiging parang party sa Jollibee, at ang iba naman, palarong pambansa. Ang ikinatatakot ko, baka maging beauty contest na itong programa sa pagbasa!” he said on his Facebook post last February 11.
The Palanca awardee provided suggestions on how to make the DEAR activity simple yet fulfilling its purpose.
“Simple lang po talaga sana. Kumuha kayo ng banig. Maupo kasama ang mga mag-aaral. Magkuwento kayo ng isang aklat-pambata sa kanilang wika.”
“Pakiusap po!”
“Ito lang po ang gagawin sana po ninyo:
“Gawain bago magkuwento”
Gagawin ng bata habang nakikinig (dapat guided sila ng objective/malinaw sa kanila bakit nila kailangang makinig).”
“Gawain pagkatapos magkuwento (processing, tahi-tahiin ang ginawa bago magkuwento at gawain habang nakikinig).”
“Diyos ko po naman.”
“Ang nasabi ko na lang talaga!”
Here are the netizens’ comments:
“Simple lang naman, magbasa kayo pag Friday… Tapos ipasa n’yo narrative report, intervention plan, compilation of materials, DLL hahaha.”
“Ang OA kasi ng iba eh haha, simple lang ginagawang komplikado.”
“Develop natin ang love for books muna. Kapag ang bata ay gustong-gusto ang libro, kahit tingin-tingin lang sa mga pics, buklat-buklat lang. Eventually napakadali na nyan turuan magbasa at with comprehension pa. Sa bahay din kasi nag-uumpisa ‘yan. Kaya kudos sa mga magulang ko na suportado ang hilig ko sa mga libro noong bata pa ko. Just my two cents.”
“sana nga ganon lang kasimple kaso parang naging komplikado yata. sa dami ng laman ng friday lessons yung para sa bata naiwan na naman ang mga bata.”
“Nice suggestion but guidelines ang dapat sundin.”
What do you think about it?
— Noel Ed Richards, The Summit Express
