TRAINING. Supervised Neighborhood Play (SNP) volunteer-teachers strike a pose with resource speaker and kindergarten curriculum co-author Dr Roderick M Aguirre (fourth from left, top row), Arrupe Educational Center director Maria Victoria B Trinidad (second from right, second row), School of Education faculty member Nadenne Sumatra.
Report by Lea Mae N Caburatan
Photos by Ma Fely Almajar
The Arrupe Educational Center (AEC) of the School of Education (SOE) of Xavier Ateneo, in collaboration with the Cagayan de Oro City Social Welfare Department (CSWD), conducted a training for Supervised Neighborhood Play (SNP) volunteer-teachers from April 11 to 13 at the XU-AVR1.
Officially called "Effective Early Learning Through Supervised Neighborhood Play," the training was participated in by 33 SNP volunteer-teachers from various CDO barangays.
Supervised Neighborhood Play is "a home-based Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) program which serves as a good alternative to day care services. SNP utilizes play and various enrichment activities in stimulating the psychosocial development of a child."
The training was aimed at equipping SNP volunteer-teachers with the essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes so they can be effective providers of early learning through child-centered (play-based) activities and child-rearing support for the parents.
ART FOR PLAYING. Early Childhood Care and Development consultant Dr Roderick Aguirre demonstrates transforming common things found at home, like a newspaper, into an artwork during one of the SNP sessions.
The training was conducted by Dr Roderick M Aguirre, co-author of the kindergarten curriculum and consultant for the ECCD program of the Philippines.
Aguirre shared that SNP program serves children as young as age one, where playing is central to their growth. For him, children learn best through playing games, including singing, storytelling, and art activities.
He also emphasized that SNP volunteer-teachers must learn how to employ play as an activity-based technique where learners participate actively and as an opportunity for children to engage using their mental and physical processes.
During the three-day training, participants were able to create local-based stories, core word list for children, and transition songs in the mother tongue (Binisaya).
MYSTERY BOXES. Participating teachers decorate their "mystery boxes," which may enhance children's imagination and creativity when used in SNP sessions.
They were also given a session on creating materials for various games as well as playing techniques. These materials for playing are commonly found at home, such as empty boxes and water bottles.
“[This is] the best training I have ever had in the field of teaching," said Aipsecel Mondelo, SNP volunteer-teacher from Upper Kiam-is, Lumbia.
"I hope that there would be more training [programs] related to this,” she added.
The said event culminated with teaching demonstrations by the SNP volunteer-teachers.∎
PAPER QUILLING. SNP volunteer-teachers display some of their outputs from paper quilling. This activity helps develop the gross and fine motor skills of children.