“Ang puso ng bawat guro, dapat bukas para sa edukasyon”

Contributed by: Glenn-Joy S. Guila, Teacher I, Division of City of Balanga

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – To update knowledge on the different techniques and strategies on teaching children with special needs, a two-day Division Seminar on Special Education (SPED) in K to 12 Curriculum was conducted at the Plaza Hotel, this city, last December 10-20, 2016.

As per Division Memorandum No. 140, s. 2016, participants of this seminar are SPED Coordinators, Kindergarten teachers, Balanga Elementary School (BES) receiving teachers, as well as SPED teachers of Slow and Fast learners. A total of 70 participants gathered in this event to keep abreast with the current trends and issues in Special Education in relation to K to 12 Curriculum.

“Ang puso ng bawat guro, dapat bukas para sa edukasyon. Hindi lamang para sa regular students, more so with children with special needs,” emphasized Sir Armando Capili, Assistant OIC, Office of the Schools Division Superintendent, in his short yet inspiring message.

To check the presence of the school representatives, teachers serenaded the crowd with Christmas Carols in a Roll-Call led by Sir Randy N. Tallorin, SPED teacher. Dr. Jennifer G. De Guzman, BES principal, warmly welcomed the participants and encouraged everyone to be productive and make each moment worthwhile.

An overview of the two-day activities was discussed by Maám Lorna V. Guinto, SPED Supervisor and proponent of the seminar. Mr. Rodolfo A. Mendoza, Regional President of Central Luzon Foundation of Persons with Disabilities (CLFPWD), raised the bar of awareness of teachers regarding the United Nation Convention on the Rights of PWDs and other PWD Domestic Laws. Mr. Mendoza stressed that persons with disabilities do have rights and that they should be treated equally with others.

Meanwhile, Programs and Services of the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) office were comprehensively discussed by Mr. Jonjon De Leon Flores, City Youth Development Worker. He further informed the participants of the benefits and privileges of the PWDs that the their office has to offer.

Characteristics of gifted and talented children and youth as well as assessment and strategies for teaching were discussed by Dr. Jennifer G. De Guzman. She also shared some insights on Multiple Intelligences, Differentiated Instruction, as well as the Definition of Intelligence.