Early Language Literacy and Numeracy Program

Early Language Literacy and Numeracy Program (Day 14)

by Rey Laguda

(This is the 14th day of 50-day journey of DepEd Undersecretary Rey Laguda as being serialized here with his permission, culled from his Facebook account - Blogger/owner)

To be able to read, write and count are three of the most basic skills every learner should acquire. These will help them advance through school and ultimately succeed in life. But learning these fundamentals doesn’t develop naturally. It takes careful planning and instruction at the right age.

This is where the manner of teaching is given importance. Reading, writing and counting has to be taught effectively at the right early age. One teacher emphasizes that the “quality of teaching in the early grades is crucial to the quality of learning in the higher grades.” And this is what the Early Language Literacy and Numeracy program addresses through the professional development of the teachers.

The ELLN program, which looks to complete its nationwide in-service training for teacher development especially for K-3 teachers, has brought a lot of opportunities for these participant teachers: from being able to express themselves and their ideas on teaching effectively to committing to do their responsibilities as “life-touchers.” The program reminds them that the profile of their students are paramount in defining appropriate teaching strategies.


Innovation is the resounding theme. More effective and interactive teaching styles were created at the school-level. Social media was vastly used so that the participant-teachers could stay connected and still share with each other their best practices. Even the method of the training itself was alternative—employing school-based Learning Action Cells or LACs that allow teachers to creatively produce their teaching methods based on their school and cultural setting.


Because of these innovations, children are able to acquire more depth and meaning from their lessons. The immediate results were simply astounding: the students understood the topics better and enjoyed them too--all because they can relate well to the topics and had fun while doing so.

The success that this program has brought to most is encapsulated in the realization of one of its forerunners: “Here is an opportunity for our teachers to realize that they are responsible for the learning and instruction of all learners no matter what grade level. That collaboration is key in creating a successful learning environment.”

--- Contributed by Patrick Hilata Hernandez (one of my staff) after interviewing the program implementers of ELLN.

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source: https://www.facebook.com/reylags/posts/10153464484482307