Author Visit at Jubilee Christian Academy 2024

Book Review: Days at the Morisaki Bookshop

Days at the Morikasi Bookshop

Satoshi Yagisawa

Harper Collins, 2023

I finished reading Days at the Morisaki Bookshop just in time for my Bibliotherapy workshop today at St. Paul’s College Pasig. I am going to talk about the book to kickstart the workshop with faculty, librarians and guidance counselors of SPCP. 

It’s a a fun and comforting read, to say the least. There is something impressive about Satoshi Yagisawa’s handling of narrative time that I can’t yet explain. This is only my third book written by a Japanese author in the past seven months and all three books have characters that seamlessly weave themselves in the present to the past, onwards to the future and back again. I will read more! 

What makes this book truly meaningful is that, it is Zoe’s copy. She writes on her books and underlines sentences, phrases and passages. Much like the way ebooks on Kindle goes, I see the highlights other readers made. It makes reading a social experience connecting readers in a way that’s both intimate and reflective, allowing glimpses into their thoughts and emotions as they engage with the text. I appreciate this because, when I read, I am not alone. 

This time, what I held and read is a printed copy of the book. 

I took notice of my daughter’s highlights and I can’t help but discover where we converge in thought and emotion, and where we diverge. It makes reading this book extra special as it opens doors and windows between me, the fictional lead character and my daughter. While Takako’s world reveals a great deal of who she is, I witness my daughter’s too. 

And then I realize that while Takako, my daughter and I share similarities in experiences, we are taking different paths that somehow converge. Like Takako who will remain tethered to her family and heritage, leading a life all her own, so does my daughter. And she is beautifully doing so in all its authenticity and grace. 

Rating: 5/5 Bookmarks

#bookstagram #rageandgrace #gracegriefgratitude #readingislife #thereadingarmy

New year! New books!

 

Year in Review: The Lighthouse Diary Entries of 2024

16 diary entries for the The Lighthouse Diary this year! Can I publish a zine out of these?

The Lighthouse Diary #51: Research Is A Way of Life - Over the years, I have taught our Diploma Program (DP) students the idea that research is a process. Recently, I realized that research is a way of knowing. Like Theory of Knowledge (TOK), the Extended Essay (EE) is designed for students to know and understand their process of finding solutions and answers to a research question. Inquiry and Reflection weaves in and out of the Research Design Cycle. A cycle that students, even teachers, have challenges navigating.

The Lighthouse Diary #52: When there is still more to learn... - On days when teaching and coordinating the Extended Essay weighs heavily on my shoulders, I go back to the message I received from our workshop leader.  

The Lighthouse Diary #53: The Power of Visual Maps and Graphic Organizers - How many times has a visual map or graphic organizer saved me and my students from being stumped on a task? 

The Lighthouse Diary #54: The Beacon Academy Library Fundamentals - I had my first library session with our new teachers today. Previous to the meeting we had this morning, I sent them some materials to read and and a priming activity.

The Lighthouse Diary #55: BA Library Fundamentals Students' Version - And we kicked off the first week of the Academic Year! Here is what I sent the members of the community from our experiences with the students during Foundation Days. 

The Lighthouse Diary #56: The Beacon Academy Library Fundamentals - Questions from teachers during in-service with the BA Library

• How can we teach students to utilize AI (such as ChatGPT) as a learning tool and not a main mechanism that will do all their academic tasks?
• How can teachers drive AI as an enhancing tool for teaching and learning instead of AI being a substitute to teachers?
• How can we minimize or maximize use of AI as we develop the research skills of our students?

The Lighthouse Diary #57: Alumni Talk on the Research Process - Our alumni, Artie Cabezas and Zoe Gagatiga (Praelius, 2020) served as guest speakers during the Core Session with the seniors last September 9, 2024. They shared their experiences on the EE and SP, focusing on the essentials of research, crafting an outline, and the challenges seniors face when writing an academic essay. 

The Lighthouse Diary #58: Gratitude Week at the Beacon Academy (1 of 5) - We are asked to reflect on gratitude this week in school. This is in part an activity of our Counselling Center for Mental Health Week. Joining in the Gratitude Bandwagon, I wrote to the Community.

The Lighthouse Diary #59: Gratitude Week at the Beacon Academy (2 of 5): Collaboration and Teachers Reaching Out - This morning, as we collaborated with our teachers, we uncovered both strengths and areas for growth within our library collection.

The Lighthouse Diary #60: Gratitude Week at the Beacon Academy (3 of 5): I am grateful for bring your friend, Ouie - 

You made the simple sublime

A tasteful aglio olio
A sphere’s shadow
Acts of love in everything you do

The Lighthouse Diary #61: Gratitude Week at the Beacon Academy (4 of 5): Grateful for the support of leadership and external partners -  UPDATE On our BA Library management System (LMS aka KOHA). In our meeting with our LMS partner, Mr. Tamayo, this morning we were able to add new features in the BA Library LMS such as: 

1. the extension and renewal of borrowed books; 

2. identifying the reference of books to weed out and to whom these old books will be donated; 

3. and polishing a reporting system for auditing of existing book collections versus the ones deselected from the recent inventory. 

The Lighthouse Diary #62: Gratitude at the Beacon Academy: Learning for Life - Back at work for Professional Development Day.

The Lighthouse Diary #63: I Love Studying in the Library - Our grade 10 Philosophy class had research in the library today. I heard one student say, "I love studying in the library".

The Lighthouse Diary #64: Direct Instruction in Teaching Research Skills and MIL - Here is a key takeaway from yesterday’s library skills and research class: 

The OPVL was used as a method for analyzing and evaluating sources. Source evaluation must be taught explicitly. Direct instruction is a teaching approach that can be used to facilitate the learning of research skills.

The Lighthouse Diary #65: Towards a Combined Expertise for Student Achievement - For the past two weeks, we have had the pleasure of collaborating with MYP subject teachers.

💙 We helped them identify technology and texts that meet learning objectives.

💚 We facilitated research skills sessions for MYP students in grades 7, 8, and 10.

💙 We selected and curated books for a small library for our grade 7 students to explore in the coming days.

💚 We recommended texts and sources for guided research in grade 10.

The Lighthouse Diary #66: Welcome, Friends from Woodrose! - Teachers and librarians from Woodrose PAREF visited the Beacon Academy Library for a collaborative exchange of ideas. 

What a year of collaboration, engagement and nostalgia. Truly, 2024 was a tough year in all aspects but there are sparks of hope and wins - in big and small ways, that are worthy of celebration. Onwards to 2025!

Workshop Title: Empowering Growth and Healing Through Bibliotherapy

Workshop Title: Empowering Growth and Healing Through Bibliotherapy

Duration: 3 hours  Audience: Teachers and Librarians  

Prepared by Zarah C. Gagatiga, RL

Program Schedule

A. Introduction to Bibliotherapy (30 minutes)  

Objective: Understand the concept, history, and importance of bibliotherapy.  

Activities:

  1. Welcome and Icebreaker Activity (10 minutes): "What’s Your Favorite Story?" Participants briefly share a story or book that has impacted them emotionally.  

  2. Presentation (20 minutes): Cover the history, definitions, and three types of bibliotherapy (Developmental, Clinical, Institutional) with real-life examples.  

B. Frameworks and Processes of Bibliotherapy (40 minutes)  

Objective: Learn the structured process and frameworks for bibliotherapy.  

Activities: 

  1. Discussion (15 minutes): 

     - Introduce the Identification, Catharsis, and Insight process.  

     - Highlight the 3-2-1 Framework (Sanacore) and its application for group or individual settings.  

  2. Hands-On Group Work (25 minutes):  

     - Divide participants into small groups.  

     - Each group analyzes a provided story using the bibliotherapy framework and identifies potential questions or activities they could develop.  

C. Practical Applications of Bibliotherapy (60 minutes)  

Objective: Explore and design bibliotherapy sessions for their own contexts.  

Activities:

  1. Case Study Presentation (15 minutes): Present a successful bibliotherapy session 

  2. Workshop Activity (45 minutes):  

     - Groups create a sample bibliotherapy session tailored to their context (e.g., helping children deal with pressure to do well in an exam, fostering empathy).  

     - Include pre-reading, during-reading, and post-reading activities with an emphasis on storytelling and reflective practices (art, writing, movement).  

D. Reflection and Sharing (30 minutes)  

Objective: Consolidate learning and inspire collaboration.  

Activities:

  1. Group Presentations (20 minutes): Groups present their session plans to the audience.  

  2. Open Forum and Q&A (10 minutes): Participants ask questions and share insights on how to integrate bibliotherapy into their work.  

E. Closing and Call to Action (20 minutes)  

Objective: Empower participants to apply bibliotherapy.  

Activities:

  1. Debriefing Activity: Participants write one insight and one action plan on a card to share with the group.  

  2. Distribution of Resources: Provide a curated list of books and activities, including tools from your Bibliotherapy Guide.  

Materials Needed 

1. Presentation slides with the guide’s key concepts and frameworks.  

2. Copies of sample stories and activity templates.  

3. Art supplies for post-reading activities.  

4. Screen and projector; Feedback forms for evaluation (Can SPCP provide this?)

Designed and prepared by Zarah C. Gagatiga, RL

Email: zarah.gagatiga@gmail.com

Mobile number: 09209672884

Blog: https://lovealibrarian.blogspot.com/

Socials: @zarahgeeh on IG | @https://www.facebook.com/authorZarahG815 on FB

School Library Hacks: Calendars as Teaching Aids and Posters

 

@titazeeh7

Recycling and repurposing in the school library These posters from an old calendar can be used as visual aids for a class - Filipino, Art and Design, Civic Education and the Humanities.

♬ International Day of Human Rights Song - The Lyrical Lanterns

Stories for Growth and Healing: The Kite of Stars and The Hobbit and Philosophy

Over the holidays, I revisited a story and two books that continue to leave an impression on me: The Kite of Stars by Dean Alfar, The Hobbit and Philosophy, and Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha. Each offered its own blend of magic, reflection, and wisdom, aligning with my personal journeys the past year. These books reminded me of literature’s transformative power and the unique ways stories heal connecting us to ourselves and the world.

Dean Alfar’s The Kite of Stars remains an enchanting tale, brimming with poetic language that defies convention yet feels intuitively right. I revisited it in preparation for a literature lesson, drawn once again to its magical phrasing and layered meanings. The story’s portrayal of love as both a fulfillment of time and presence struck me deeply. The nameless butcher’s boy, who sacrifices his life’s essence for a dream that isn’t his own, embodies devotion in its most profound form.

Sigh. Maria Isabella, that bratinella, does not deserve the butcher's boy. And to this day, I fear that one of my children loves the way the butcher's boy loves. Ah, there! The Kite of Stars' magic lies not only in its fantastical world but in the truths it reveals about the human heart.

In The Hobbit and Philosophy: For When You Lose Your Dwarves, Your Wisdom and Your Way (edited Bassam, et al) invites a more introspective journey, delving into the wisdom behind Tolkien’s beloved characters and themes. I focused on my favorite chapters, which explore how walking connects us to the earth and our thoughts, the power of language in shaping meaning, and the essential role of play. These insights gave new depth to the familiar phrase “choose your battles,” reminding me of the justice and the necessity behind struggles worth undertaking.

This semester, our grade 8 English teacher will take on The Hobbit in class. I will request for a sit-in since he read this book in earnest. What a delight to share our own passions and geekiness to our students who, born in this generation of Zs and Alphas, may not respond the way we gen Xers do. Then again, this is the challenge of reading and teaching literacy where in we derive much joy.

For Siddhartha, my review can be read here.