Reading Workshop: Priming Activities 1 and 2

Priming Activity 1: My Teaching Philosophy

Let us revisit our beliefs and values in teaching.

Priming Activity 2: Why Reading Matters

What new research reveal about reading and the human brain.

 

STARS Grade 1 is Coming!

 

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The 2024 Philippine Book Festival is ON

Kuwentong Bangtan: What If

Because “What If” is the track I am most intrigued about in JHope’s “Jack In the Box” it is also my most awaited track in HOTS Volume 1 and in the upcoming documentary. The song is peppered with doubts and possibilities.

The first two lines begin this way:

“Tens of times, I ask myself

Am I really like that?”

and it ends with a question:

“Can I do that shit?”

JHope is introspective here. Brave enough to imagine life without the many triumphs and accomplishments he and BTS have reaped through the years. It is a flex and at the same time, a way to caution himself of the trappings of fame.

I am really excited to see how “What If” is rendered into a dance choreography with a story to go along with it.

What song or track in HOTS are you anticipating to listen to and see in dance?

Source of lyrics: https://doolsetbangtan.wordpress.com/?s=what+if

ARMY Glow-Up Goal Recreation: Work in Progress

Seeing the glazed and fired projects give me a sense of accomplishment. Making them is my therapy. An act of creation that leads me to a quiet space to listen and just be. I trust the potters who walk me through this journey of healing through engagement with the elements: water, earth, air and fire (yes, mala-Avatar levels — not kidding) until I get my own studio with glazes and kiln. I ask for your continued prayers .

Thank you @potterynuvali and @studio_mari.ph!

I have something to tell Seokjin when he returns!

Go and be, my Griffin!

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Giyeok, Kim Namjoon's First Precious Memories

March 21 is World Poetry Day. It is an international celebration of the diversity present in languages and multicultural understanding which UNESCO spearheads since 1999. For this reason, I’m sharing a video clip of Namjoon reading aloud his poem, “Giyeok”, (which became Giyeok Memories as Jimin called it, towards the end of the show) in Episode 56 of Run BTS (circa 2018).

In Giyeok, Namjoon lists objects and memories he has of each member when they were first starting out in the Kpop industry. He did it with the intent to evoke not just nostalgia but to move his members in remembering who they were and where they stand in the here and now. The former being explicitly conveyed and the later expressed as an implication. The members knew and felt the unspoken message. They listened and “read between the lines” as Namjoon lovingly recalled V’s half buzz cut and Jimin’s chubby body to Jin’s pre-Dad Jokes era; the clothes JK, Hobi and Yoongi wore and words that defined their triumphs, losses and hard work for the past five years.

It seemed that each line, object and memory holds a special meaning for a member and for the team only they know. Such is the effect of a list poem as literary device and tool. And Namjoon, who seemed to have adapted this technique from the dead poets, Homer, Walt Whitman, Cristina Rossetti and Shel Silverstein, was in his element. He is the philosopher who raps. In that moment, he seized the day and became the leader who is gentle and steadfast.

Such is the transformative power of poetry.

The second video clip has the members explaining their purpose for writing the poem they shared at the campfire. How natural they all were and deliberate in communicating their ideas and intentions. 2018 for Bangtan was indeed a turning of the tide. Something has changed and BTS was taking courage to face it. Well, we know what happened next. And here we are, waiting and anticipating beautiful moments, yet to come.

Link to the full video: https://youtu.be/m0r9Sa8deiQ?si=WKgsdSkBlX0XxylF

The 2023 Readership Survey by the National Book Development Board

The Asian Literacy Conference: A Proposal for Themed Panel

 Themed Panel: Research and Academic Writing, Information Literacy Skills, Literacy Skills Assessment, Library and Research Skills Instruction

Proponent: Zarah C. Gagatiga, Teacher Librarian, The Beacon Academy

The Pioneer: The Research Skills Hub of the Beacon Academy Library

The Diploma Program (DP) of the International Baccalaureate has three capstone projects requiring students to apply skills in research and academic writing. These are the Extended Essay (EE), the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Essay and the Creativity Action and Service (CAS) project. Known as the DP Core, it is an exercise on creativity and critical thinking. The Beacon Academy (BA) Library, being an academic department facilitating research and reference programs conducts a yearly assessment of students’ research skills. 

Using TRAILS, Tools for Real Time Assessment of Information Literacy Skills by the Kent State University (KSU), the BA Library adapted and adopted TRAILS to identify and determine strengths and areas of improvement of students’ research and information literacy skills. TRAILS have six areas or skills for assessment which are: (1) narrowing and broadening topics of research, (2) selecting and locating appropriate sources of information, (3) evaluating sources, (4) identifying and following research steps, methods and processes, and (5) documentation, referencing and citing of sources.  

The results of the assessment inform the Teacher Librarian in crafting Reference and Research programs and services that meet the needs of the DP students; creating Information Literacy Skills modules that builds and enhances research and writing skills. The programs, services and modules are on a Google Site known as The Pioneer, the Research Skills Hub of the Beacon Academy Library.

Asian Literacy Conference 2024 and 52nd RAP National Conference on April 19-20, 2024 in Manila!

 

Summer Workshops on Pottery!

 

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My ARMY Glow-Up Journey: BTS X ARMY Inspired Pottery and Ceramic Art

Titas of BTS and ARMY Connect PH are asking for Glow-Up stories to share with Jin when he returns. Here is a progress report on the pottery journey I set out to do last September 2023 falling under #AGU_Recreation.

Together with friends from Titas of BTS, we have had three AGU Recreation activities in November 2023; December 2023 and January 2024. The first one was in Persaro's in Ortigas; the second one was in Sonoma, Sta. Rosa Laguna and the third was in Gyud Fud UP Diliman, Quezon City. Although the first AGU Recreation activity was a session on Pabalat Art, led by Prof. Anna Marie Hernandez Bautista, it inspired us to explore hobbies we share in common. The Pabalat Art session was attended by members of the TOB Book Club Sonyeondan and the TOB Southietas tribe ( a group of TOBbies living and are based in the South of Manila and Southern Luzon.

For the Sta. Rosa and UP Diliman pocket events, we had a joint session on Pabalat and Pottery, plus watercolor painting! We were joined by new members from TOB who thoroughly enjoyed the activities. These sessions have given us an opportunity to bond and express our fangirling in creative ways. Speaking for myself, I have had the honor and privilege to meet and interact with women in my age group. We come from different backgrounds but we are ARMY. The camaraderie and friendship we share are rooted in BTS.

@titazeeh7 Pottery, pabalat and watercolor fun with Tita ARMYs. Thank you @Poochie Tablan 😊💜😊 #AGURecreation #AGUSkills #AGUMindPower #ARMYGlowUp2025 #BetterARMYsforBTS ♬ Good Day - BTS

Learning pottery alongside TOBbies makes me confident. I strive to be better at my handbuilding skills. Using the handbuilding technique, I have made pinch pots and trinket dishes. Moving up one level higher, I attempted to make a pen holder using the slabbing technique with surface decorations.

At the time, I was missing Jin so much I made a half moon and seven stars to embose on my pen holder. I am thankful to potter friends in the pottery community for helping me glaze and fire my projects as I have yet to make my own kiln (when circumstances allow). Clay, pottery and ceramic art have been therapeutic for me. A hobby that has given me the space to be calm and patient. To breathe and just be.

Right now I have more than fifty ceramics! A hobby that began as a way to relieve me off anxiety is turning out to be a small enterprise I am slowly growing and developing. Visit @silver_linings_t.zee on Instagram!

What is your Glow-Up story, ARMY? Do tell. TOB is a safe space we all share.

Online Author Talk with Scholasticans of St. Scholastica's Academy, Marikina

Among the many things we learned from the Lockdown Years in the Covid Era, it is the skill to go online for meetings, assemblies and learning sessions. When Brianna, a high school student from St. Scholastica's Academy Marikina hit me up on Messenger asking about a writing workshop, I offered to do one via online. After months of planning, it pushed through!

As a priming activity, I sent her a link to a video recording on developing character and made her a member of our Early Readers' Project on Facebook. That is why, when I met her and her club members online, they had questions prepared for me.

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Of the many questions they asked, one stood out. To quote: What is the best approach in writing a story for children, the way Dr. Seuss wrote stories or Roald Dahl's?

The question shows the young writer's reading influences, her knowledge of children's literature and the desire to write her own story for children. To this question, I responded by telling them the purpose of Dr. Seuss and Roald Dahl as I perceive them and my own context as a reader of their books.

While both writers put forth a world of their own in their writing, Dahl is more purposive of retelling and presenting stories of childhood experiences. Dr. Seuss makes use of riddles, word play and whimsy in his storytelling which is perfect for learning phonics, phonemes in a fun and playful manner. So I asked the student her purpose in writing a story. When the intent and purpose are determined, the path to the writing process is clearer.

As a librarian, I can't help but wish to send a feedback to the teachers, parents and librarians of St. Scholastica's Academy Marikina. They have in their midst readers who dream of writing stories for children younger than them with the hindsight of their influences on books they have read growing up. Imagine what richness in stories they can bring if they too are knowledgeable of local writers! 

Our work never ends. 

March is National Women's Month!

@titazeeh7 March is Women’s Month. Let’s read books written by women and of women. #womensmonth2024🌺 #booktok #readingislife ♬ Isn't She Lovely - UNDRESSD & Ellie May

Sneak Peek! Another Book Project for Kids!

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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.  

Dear Zarah,

Congratulations, you have completed the workshop.

It has been real pleasure working with you again. You came in with a lot of knowledge and you have built so well on those foundations, seeing and making connections, appreciating how what you have been learning can be applied in your own situation.  Your Learning Journal in itself is impressive.  However much we know there is still more to learn - and we learn from each other.  So thank you too for sharing your thoughts and experience so generously too, others have and are benefiting from your thoughts and comments and advice. We said right at the beginning that the workshop is about far more than just ticking boxes, and your engagement throughout is much appreciated.

As you know, you can continue to access the workshop for 6 months so you will have more time to revisit the conversations and resources.

I wish you, your school and your students every success, enjoy telling those stories.

Do keep in touch.

With best wishes,

J

Setting the Record Straight

2024 PBBY-ALCALA PRIZE: CALL FOR ENTRIES

The Lighthouse Diary #51: Research Is A Way of Knowing (1 of 2)

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.

For this year, I have identified strategies and mechanisms to accompany students in the EE. With the support of our DP Coordinator and English Teacher, we have agreed to implement the following:

1. Utilize the Researcher's Reflection Space on Managebac;

2. Hold After School Activities for students who are not on-track;

3. Thinking tools and strategies like the KWL-Inquiry Chart and Annotated Bibliography to document research are requirements;

4. Dedicate a weekly writing time and consultation with the Teacher Librarian on sources and references needed to prepare for a topic proposal (which will become the Introduction of the essay);

5. Express expectations clearly as well as the rubric and marks of progress.

This time, given that I have attended a training in the IB on the supervision of the EE and a refresher course on Direct Instruction and Explicit Teaching, I approach the EE Coordinatorship from an interventionist's perspective. Let's see how things go.

Update: Watercolor Prompts for March

 

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On Using Online Images and Licensing

We received a Research and Reference query from one of our students on citing an image from Getty Images. Our student diligently cited the images on her paper and asked validation on the format and styling. It was correct following the APA Format. However, in our conversation, the student admitted that the photos are screenshots from the Getty Images website. This is an act of "reproduction" that needs additional attribution.

What could have been done before taking the screenshots?

• Read and understand what/who Getty Images is. A commercial platform for photos and images with licenses for commercial use. Applying due diligence in knowing a source, its content, when and how it can be used for academic purpose is a must.
• Read the conditions stipulated in the Rights and Clearance page and understand the Licensing Agreement. Pay attention to the clause on Intellectual Propert Rights. There are conditions and guidelines on use of content that is fair for the creator and the consumer.

What can be done in observance of Intellectual Property Rights, Academic Integrity and the APA Guidelines?

• Write a note or a disclaimer for non-commercial and non-editorial purposes.
• Attribution of source within the text must be visible or evidenced.

Let us know if this information is helpful.

Coming Soon! A New Picture Book