University of Luzon

Perez Boulevard, Dagupan City

Student ID: 16-1522-529

Name: DOMINADOR E. ECHALAS, JR.
Course/Major: Master in Education/Literacy Education

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

LITERACY EDUCATION I

CONCEPTS OF LITERACY
Progress. Excellence. Success. These three ideas are what make every child a crucial specimen
to the viability of the experimented curricula of any institutions. Countless educational researches, bold
curricular revisions and well-designed teaching-learning activities have long been paving the way of
uplifting the current status of our country’s literacy rate. But sometimes, a complex problem requires a
simple solution. No matter how we strive to pull up the status quo of the quality of education we have,
it will boil down to the question: How solid is the foundation of our intermediate and high school learners
today?
Literacy is FOUNDATION.
Basically, relative terms for literacy are reading and writing. These two are the heart and soul of
any preparatory grade-levels. Children are expected to familiarize and master the basic skills of reading
and writing. The moment a child failed to develop his prowess in both reading and writing, the rest will
definitely follow.
Literacy is INVESTMENT.
It is imperative that we invest to the early learning engagement of every child-- emergent literacy.
Sufficient time and resources must be provided as we deal to any difficulties a child may encounter
while adopting the ways in learning how to read and write. In the end, once a child develops a strong
love for both reading and writing his/her interest in studying will surely capitalize as s/he progresses to
higher grade-levels.
Literacy is FUEL.
A curriculum is like a car. No matter how great the features are of that vehicle, if it has no fuel it
cannot serve its true purpose – to transport a man. It’s the same thing when it comes to curriculum. No
matter how well-crafted the courses and objectives are for higher grade-levels, if students have not yet
fully developed their skills in both reading and writing during their preparatory years they cannot attain
the main objectives of every course. On that note, literacy fuels the basic functionalities of every
curriculum.

FEELINGS ABOUT LITERACY

Programs for Early Literacy Development
Allow me to speak with my experience. If I were to consider my thoughts about the matter with
regard to how the Department of Education extends its effort to develop the literacy of the young, it
really is something worth applauding.
Since I started teaching in October, the department has been very consistent when it comes to
conducting seminars for teachers and implementing programs and interventions during the school year
just to make sure that teachers have the proper knowledge and skills in training the pupils/students
when it comes to reading and writing.
English Literacy Rate
Despite the effort of the government to elevate the literacy rate of our students, it is still sad to
note that there are students from higher grade levels who find it difficult to read and write.
That I must know, because I am teaching English to grade-five (intermediate) pupils. I suddenly
felt bad the first time I asked them to construct a simple paragraph about a five-sentence reading
selection. Almost 80% of the class was asking if I could rather translate the selection in Tagalog and if
they could write in Filipino instead. Such event can prove the veracity of some researches that could
show how the English literacy rate of our Filipino students dwindles.