Friday, September 30, 2022
Thursday, September 29, 2022
Back in the National Museum of Fine Arts with Titas of BTS
It is Namkook Month. Our biases and idols, Kim Namjoon and Jeon Jungkook celebrate their birthdays on September. Among ARMYs, Namjoon is the group's leader and Jungkook is the golden maknae. Casual listeners would identify them as Kpop idols. However, Joon and JK have evolved into global ambassadors of art and culture. One is an aesthete and the other is a natural visual artist. This visit at the country's National Museum of Fine Arts is a fitting Namjooning activity celebrating JK's artistic inclinations as well.
As lead coordinator of the tour, I was nervously excited. But all ARMYs know this: You never walk alone. In the morning of Saturday, September 24, 2022, we trooped to the National Museum of Fine Arts with high expectations.
The National Museum did not disappoint. It is brighter and brilliant from the one I knew back in 2019. The Spoliarium is glorious and Botong Francisco's mural at the Old Senate Session Hall is awe inspiring. Select light wells and stairways have installation art pieces punctuated by chandeliers that glow of yellow and white light. Gone are the dark and creepy corners! Even the hallways and alleys are well lit that paintings of the Quincentennial Anniversary of Manila were exhibited there. There are new exhibit halls and the tour guides and staff are uber friendly and approachable.
Indeed, there is so much to see and enjoy from the tour. A half day visit is not enough. We will definitely go back!
Many thanks to the admins of Titas of BTS and the moderators whom I share this love for BTS, especially our bias and favorite maknae, Lynnette and Chellay. The tour was made extra special as I met my dear friend from way back, Rosette Crelencia who now heads the Research, Collections and Conservation Division.
Borahae! ApoBangPo!
Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Monday, September 26, 2022
Sunday, September 25, 2022
Thursday, September 22, 2022
Reading Matters: Comprehension and the Cognitive Model
In this era of Covid, I had the opportunity to go back to reading clinician work. In late 2020, I joined the team of CRAIN (Center for Reading Assessment and Intervention, Inc.) as literacy coach and intervention teacher. I am learning and relearning reading and literacy concepts all over again. This informs my teaching practice and intervention teaching.
Every Tuesday night, CRAIN teachers come together and discuss matters important to us like, Reading Comprehension.
Reading Comprehension can be viewed in this Cognitive Model by McKenna and Stahl (2009). From a Bottom-Up (left going right) perspective reading comprehension can be taught from the basic skills. Seen the other way (right to left) is an approach to identify strenths and weaknesses on reading comprehension skills. This is leaning more on an evidenced based teaching practice using reading assessment as tool to aid teachers in planning units of study.
Another way to use this model as a framework for teaching reading comprehension skills is to combine both approaches of Bottom-Up and Assessment Informed Teaching mindful of the results. This way, the model becomes a framewrok that will help teachers identify gaps in learning and specific reading comprehension skills that need intervention or enrichment.
Preparing lessons and making a unit of study is a science as well as a craft.
Wednesday, September 21, 2022
Monday, September 19, 2022
Sunday, September 18, 2022
TOB Namkook 22: Tour of the National Museum
Let’s enjoy this museum tour by:
· * Wearing
comfy clothes and footwear
· * Taking
pictures with the flash turned OFF
· * Being
mindful of other people visiting the museum
· * Not
touching the artworks or paintings
· * Asking questions
to the tour guide if you have some
· * Being
aware of the artworks that affected you in one way or the other
· * Reading
and taking note of the names of artist and their works
Important things to remember:
· 1. ART is an
expression communicated through a specific medium or media.
· 2. Not all ART
is perfect but all ART is purposeful.
· 3. ART is open ended and prompts us to think: who
gives meaning and value to art? There is no one answer to this question; however,
it provides us with opportunities to make a choice; to exercise our agency in
the creation, communication and curation of art pieces; and, to be inspired to
seek ways in expressing ourselves in an art form we know best.
· 4. ART challenges us to see the perspective of
others; to go beyond our own realities; to be delighted and in some cases, the
effect an artwork can evoke can be disturbing or offensive.
· 5. Whatever the effect an art work has on you, hold
your truth lightly in your hands and allow the artists’ works to speak to you.
😊 Have a conversation with the artists and their
art works and there you may discover new insights you never thought you have 😊
· * What does the artwork convey to you
through its colors, lines, shapes and perspectives?
· * What feelings does it evoke in you?
· * How does the art work move you?
The
guided tour can provide us with information on the artworks. When we go solo in
our visits of the exhibition halls of our choice, it is when we can engage in
art and the artist in a more personal way.
Have
fun Titas!
😊 Team Namkook 22 😊
Kuwentong Bangtan: Pearl ARMYs as a Force of Good
Because fanbases, especially those composed of women, can be a force of good.
I am a proud member and moderator of Titas of BTS (TOB), an online community of working women, empowered and accomplished in their own field of discipline who stan BTS. For nearly two years now, I have an active involvement in the many activities which the TOB Admins and Moderators design, plan and roll out for its members. The experience is not for the faint of heart, but it is equally fulfilling. Besides the usual "kilig" over BTS, we come together to live out the experience of what BTS stands for.
Bangtan speaks of many things of value to living a full and happy life in the face of challenges and struggles that are personal and societal. They inspire ARMYs to constantly seek meaning and self worth. Through their songs, they invite ARMY to walk with them as they have expereinces similar and significat to fans despite their "idol" status. If not intentionally, they promote fun and play, intelligent humor and the nurturing of deep friendships in the most natural way. I am still perplexed at the display of authencity of the Bangtan Guys but, they are sincere people without even trying. They are not perfect and in many interviews, live vlogs and socmed postings, they express their fears, admit their mistakes and show ways to make up for it. Over the years, they have learned to draw the line between their personal lives and "idol" or artist persona.
Needless to say, they are learning constantly. Theirs is a journey of becoming. As ARMY, it's a ride I am willing to take on with them. So, it is not surprising how Tobbies (a nickname we fondly call each other) such as myself can organize activities and events for a good cause. It's Namkook Month this September and we have a book club discussion for self care and personal growth; a book donation drive to share this love for oneself to others; and a tree planting activity at Happy Farm, Pototatn Iliolo. For those saying that ARMYs are freaking, shrieking 15 year old girls, think again.
Also, 15 year old girls who shreik over their idols are a collective force to be reckoned with. That is the future you are mocking. STOB it. There are ways to guide, harness and grow such energy into something creative and beautiful.
Friday, September 16, 2022
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
Kuwentong Bangtan: TOB Namkook22: Tour of the National Museum of Fine Arts
Tour of the National Museum of Fine Arts
Saturday, 9AM – 12NN September 24, 2022
Number of Participants: 30 participants, members of Titas of
BTS (plus tag-alongs)
Lead Program Coordinators: Titas Zarah, Chellay and Lynette
Schedule and Groupings
8.00 – 8.45: Meet up at NatMu FA and orientation
8.45 – 9.00: Registration at the NatMu Desk
9:00 – 9:45: Guided Group Tour c/0 NatMu Guide
*Before we break into our own explorations and
visitations of the exhibit halls, as one big group, let us convene at the Old
Senate Hall.
9:45 – 11:15: Going Solo: Individual Tour of the Exhibit Halls
11:15 – 11:30: Group Game
11:30 – 12:00: Processing of Experience
Priming Activity: Something to think about before
the visit/tour
When was the last time you visited a museum?
What was your intent or purpose for visiting a museum?
What are you most excited about on this tour of the National
Museum of Fine Arts?
Why are you excited to join and take this tour with Titas of
BTS?
* These questions are aimed to help you and us, TOB Admins and Mods, in making the experience more meaningful on a personal level and relevant to our growing fanbase, Titas of BTS.
Friday, September 9, 2022
About the NCBA Kids' Choice Award
Around mid-August, I received some questions from Ms. Neni Sta. Romana Cruz on the awarding of the Kids Choice Awards last July. Here is our brief exchange on the awards. If anything there is plenty to talk about the KCA which I hope to do with our school library people soon!
Why is it important to have a Kids' Choice?
For children to be able to make choices on books and reading materials is an act of freedom. It is empowering to exercise this choice. When kids read the book of their choice, they have agency. Of course, the selections come from an industry who love children and whose passion for books and reading is genuine. As a literacy coach and teacher, I have observed how engaged my students are in learning challenging comprehension skills when they read a text of their choice.
How were the child judges chosen?
This year, PBBY and NBDB partnered with Teach for the Philippines in choosing kid judges.
What are their ages?
They are children in the elementary grades. The first criterion in selecting kid judges is that they must be readers.
Don't their titles coincide with Best Reads?
No. And I am glad :-) So much to learn from children!
Thursday, September 8, 2022
Tuesday, September 6, 2022
Book and Bangtan Song Review: Kafka on the Shore and Butterfly
Butterfly is the third track in BTS' fourth mini-album The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt.2. It has grown on me since we officially launched the TOB channel on Stationhead, TOB 0709 Radio, last June. The music is soothing and yet, in Bangtan fashion, "may kurot sa puso". And the lyrics, ohmama-my!