CTE makes reading fun for kids via Project Alisto

With the aim of extending learning beyond the classroom through meaningful community engagement, the College of Teacher Education (CTE) conducts another round of Project ALISTO (Accelerating Learners’ Interest in Reading by Strengthening Techniques to Achieve Desired Outcomes) by conducting reading tutorials to pupils of Puguis Elementary School in La Trinidad,Benguet.

Now in its third year, the Project Alisto (alert in Filipino) brought the 45 pre-service teachers from the college to take part in the reading tutorial.

“Through Project ALISTO, education students of Cordillera Career Development College transformed from learners into educators, bridging literacy gaps among elementary pupils while embodying compassion, adaptability, and social commitment,” Bliss Bacacao, CTE Focal Person for Extension Programs said.

The program was launched in April 2023 where pre-service teachers conduct a two-hour session on reading literacy to elementary pupils ages 6 to 8 years old.

Bacacao said the tutors demonstrated creativity and flexibility in addressing diverse learning needs. They modified their strategies to sustain engagement, shifting from traditional reading tasks to game-based learning when necessary.

Recognizing the persistent reading difficulties revealed in the Functional Literacy Assessment Tool (FLAT) results of Puguis Elementary School, a nearby school within the vicinity of CCDC, the Department of Education appealed for assistance to address this concern.

This led to the conceptualization of Project ALISTO —an innovative reading initiative jointly strengthened by Puguis Elementary School and the CTE to cultivate literacy and enjoyment among struggling readers.

For three years, Project ALISTO has implemented Game-Based Reading Sessions designed by the CTE to make reading more engaging and less academic in style. These sessions transform learning into play through fifteen interactive reading stations, each featuring unique games and leveled materials suited to learners’ abilities.

Over the years, a significant impact has been observed as learners have shown improved comprehension, fluency, and motivation to read. The program underscores the importance of early literacy development and proves that when reading becomes enjoyable, it lays the foundation for lifelong learning and discovery.

“Reading should never be seen merely as a school requirement but as an invitation to explore, imagine, and enjoy. True literacy begins in the early years of a child’s life, when learners find joy in reading and every page turned becomes a discovery rather than an academic task,” Bacacao said.

The Project ALISTO program is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals number four which is Quality Education, ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Through the project, CCDC aims to be part in accomplishing target 4.6 which is the universal literacy and numeracy, that by 2030, it ensures that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy.