Reviewer for the RAP (Reading Association of the Philippines) Journal

In the last quarter of 2013, I was invited to do a blind review for the RAP (Reading Association of the Philippines) Journal. Early this February, I was sent a copy of the entire issue. I'm posting the Editor's notes so that interested blog readers may check the journal since it regularly publishes current research and perspectives on Reading education and instruction.

 

Here now is a scanned copy of an abstract of one of the three research articles published in the RAP Journal's 2013 issue. The study on the Reading Habits, preferences, and contexts of school age children in a community library was done by Prof. Ana Margarita S. Salvador. Her paper has relevance to school librarians and public librarians in particular, as well as to literacy teachers and coaches.

The RAP Journal is available to members of RAP. The UP REGALE, College of Education keeps copies of past issues and current ones. The RAP Website has updates on their annual publications. Check the website for more information.

From RAP Prezi to PBBY Chair

I got this email from Prof. Melissa Orencia, current President of the Reading Association of the Philippines.

Dear Zarah,

Greetings from the Reading Association of the Philippines!  

We would like to ask your assistance to provide us with a list of "must-read" tradebooks for Filipino children from K-12 both local and international. We would like to recommend these to public and privates schools that are setting up libraries. 

I whipped up a list of around twenty titles. I hope to send some more titles to her this month. Below is the recommended titles I put together for her request.

Recommended booksfork 12-1 from Zarah Gagatiga

    

Literacy Through the Ages

Here is an invite from the Reading Association of the Philippines - 

Reading Association of the Philippines (RAP) is pleased to invite you to its Annual National Convention to be held at Bayview Park Hotel, 1118 Roxas Boulevard corner United Nations Avenue, Manila on April 6 to 8, 2011.   It will be a gathering of reading teachers, professors, and specialists in Filipino and English, focusing on the theme “Literacy through the Ages”.  The convention aims to be an avenue for sharing best practices and research on literacy in relation to the following strands:  Reading Ages and Reading Development; Socio-Historical Ages and Literacy Contexts; Technological Ages: How Technology Changes Literacy and Literacy Behavior; and Ages of the Reading Teacher Professional Development : From Novice to Expert. Plenary speakers include International Reading Association (IRA) Board Member Dr. Maryann Manning; former Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Regional Language Center (RELC) - Singapore Language Specialist. Dr. Melchor Tatlonghari;  internationally published historian Dr. Ma. Serena Diokno, and British Council Philippines Program Manager Mr. Jansen Mayor. Concurrent session presenters include specialists from the University of the Philippines, Ateneo De Manila University, De La Salle University, and Philippine Normal University;  Palanca award winning writers; and teachers from both public and private schools. Please pass to those who might be interested.

I will be attending the conference as presenter for a paper on technology use in literacy instruction. Hope to meet friends and colleagues there! 

Book Talks and Literacy Initiatives

The Reading Association of the Philippines' Asian Literacy Conference is on its second day of consummation. The program contained a mix of local and international teachers, practitioners, professionals and scholars in the field of education, reading instruction and library science. It has, if my memory serves me right, five to six break out sessions of paper presentations, panel discussions and poster sessions. There are also literacy categories for every paper presented, posters displayed and discussion panels.

Here's a photo of my friend, Kinchay Villafranca, who had two sessions on reading and IT instruction in the middle years. As for myself, I had a panel discussion on the literacy initiatives of the PBBY -- The Salanga and Alcala Prizes; Wan Dey Isang Araw; Salaysayan; the National Children's Book Day and the 1st National Children's Book Day.

Yesterday, I was at the National Library of the Philippines for a lecture on Reading and how it shapes the mind. It was organized by the Book Talk Society of the Philippines. It's president is Prof. Mike Cobaria who was my former professor at the Philippine Normal University.

I had the opportunity to book talk four of the books who made it to the Best Reads 2010 - 1st NCBA. I could tell that it was at that time when the participants were engaged all the more. Another highlight of the day was the inclusion of Sambat Trust's grass roots school library development project in Tanauan, Batangas. At the end of my lecture, donated books were turned over to Pathways to Higher Education for the high school libraries they help develop.

There are more library and literacy activities slated for the month of November. I'll be blogging about those I will attend and conduct. So stick around for more news on the literacy and literary scene in Manila!

RAP's Ruby Year Literacy Awards

More! More! More awards for reading and literacy!

DO YOU KNOW OF ANY PERSON/ INSTITUTION/PROGRAM OR PROJECT WORTHY OF AN ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR PROMOTING LITERACY AND LOVE FOR READING? HERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE SUCH EFFORT!

Awards will be given by the Reading Association of the Philippines (RAP) in connection with its RUBY JUBILEE Celebration in November 2010

WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA?

When nominee is a PERSON, he/she should be a Filipino citizen who;
Ø Has unquestionable integrity;
Ø May be still in active service, retired or diseased;
Ø Must have created an impact on a Filipino community in terms of at least five of the following aspects of achievement:

a. research yielded;
b. number/quality of achievers trained;
c. number of learners served
d. one or more significant ideas initiated;
e. actively involved in unpublicized literacy project
f. has published professional articles on literacy and reading education;
g. has wide extension work in reading/literacy education;
h. has helped raise the qualitative standards of achievement/service.

When nominee is an INSTITUTION, it:
Ø May be nationally or internationally based but serving the Philippines/Filipinos;
Ø Must have been in active operation within the last five years;
Ø Must have had professional impact on a Filipino community based on five of the Aspects a to h under the criteria for individual nominees.

When nominee is a PROGRAM or PROJECT , it:
Ø May not be Filipino –initiated but has record serving the Philippines/Filipinos;
Ø Must have been in active operation within the last five years;
Ø Must have had professional impact on a Filipino community in terms of five of Aspects a to h for individual nominees.

WHO MAY NOMINATE FOR ANY OF THE CATEGORIES?

Ø Nominations may be submitted by:
- Any RAP member
- Any head of public/private school or office ( director, superintendent,
president , rector, dean, principal, )
-Any NGO head (president, director, coordinator)

Ø Nomination can be done in writing following this format:

NOMINATION FORM
Achievement Award: for Individual / Institution /Program/Project Category
(Underline Intended Category)

Full Name of Nominee:___________________________________
(Print in Caps)
Postal Address: ________________________________________
________________________________________
Contact Nos.: Landline: __________E-mail__________________
Fax: ______________Mobile No. ______________

For Individual Nominee, include:
Date and Place of Birth ________________________
Highest Educational Attainment:_________________
When and Where Taken _______________________
Current Occupation: ________________________
Name and Address of Employer__________________


Data about Nominator:

Name ___________________________________________
Postal Address:____________________________________
Contact Nos. Landline:_________E-mail:________________
FAX ____________ Mobile No.:____________
Date of nomination__________________________________

Signature _________________________________________

TAKE NOTE: For any type of Nomination, please attach a typed:
1. One-page description of the nature of literacy work done for the last five years of more;
2. One half –page justificaton for the nomination; and
3. A passport-size photo of the nominee (for individual nominee) / a photo of the nominated institution/program or project (Optional).

Ø Submit all nominations to:any RAP Board Member or send them by mail to

Office of the Dean
UP College of Eduication
Diliman, Quezon City

Call for Papers: RAP Demofest 2009

The Reading Association of the Philippines (RAP) is pleased to announce its Midyear Demofest 2009 to be held in Dagupan City, Pangasinan on November 12 (Thursday), 13 (Friday), and 14 (Saturday), 2009. This demonstration festival of RAP members and literacy educators, professors, and specialists is on the theme: Reading Comprehension Across the Curriculum.

To enrich the experience of participants in this demofest, the RAP enjoins enthusiasts, researchers, academics, practitioners, and teachers of literacy education (in the mother tongue, Filipino, and/or English) to submit proposals for demonstration lessons. Through this, the RAP aims to bring together professionals and advocates from various parts of the country to share their best practices on literacy education in relation to the following strands:

1. Comprehension in the Language and Literacy Curriculum
2. Comprehension in the Disciplines
3. Comprehension among Struggling Readers and Special Learners

Please take note of the following guidelines:

1. Outline of Proposal
I. Strand:

II. Title of Lesson:

III. Target Audience: (Early Grades/Primary, Intermediate, High School, or Tertiary)

IV. Proponent/s (maximum of 2) and Contact Information

A. Name/s:
B. Institutional Affiliation/s:
C. Mailing and/or Email Address/es:
D. Telephone/Fax/Mobile Number/s:

V. Lesson Plan
A. Objectives
B. Subject Matter and Reference/s
C. Materials
D. Procedure
E. Assessment/Evaluation
2. Length of Proposal: maximum of 3 pages (8.5” x 11”), single-spaced, Arial 12, with 1” margins all over
3. Duration of Lesson: 1 hour

The deadline for the submission of proposals is on September 15, 2009. Proposals may be submitted to the RAP Midyear Demofest 2009 Conference Director, Prof. Portia P. Padilla, through rapdemofest09@gmail.com or the Reading Department of the UP College of Education (Diliman, Quezon City). Notice of acceptance will be given by September 30, 2009.

Proponents of accepted proposals have to submit a final semi-detailed lesson plan (maximum of 5 pages: 8.5” x 11”, single-spaced, Arial 12, with 1” margins all over), together with an explanation of its theoretical underpinnings (maximum of 2 pages: 8.5” x 11”, single-spaced, Arial 12, with 1” margins all over), not later than October 15, 2009. These theoretical underpinnings will be explained to the participants before the start of the actual teaching demonstration.

Presenters will not pay any registration fee. However, they are responsible for their transportation and accommodation.