ACED and Ateneo Grade School teachers conduct workshops to help public school teachers address literacy and numeracy challenges

Public school teachers from three partner schools recently participated in half-day workshops organized by the Ateneo Center for Educational Development (ACED). These workshops were facilitated by teachers from the Ateneo Grade School (AGS) to help address the pressing literacy and numeracy challenges their students face. A total of 129 teachers attended the sessions: 18 from Felix Elementary School (Cainta) on 27 January, 28 from Raymundo Punongbayan Elementary School (Quezon City) on 6 February, and 83 from Payatas B Elementary School (Quezon City) on 21 February.

The workshop, entitled “Closing the Gap,” focused on strategies for literacy and numeracy remediation, identified by teachers themselves as a top challenge. Before the sessions, ACED conducted a needs assessment with all teachers from the three schools to understand the specific difficulties learners face. These findings guided AGS in designing a practical, needs-based program that directly responded to the schools’ most urgent learning gaps.

What made the training especially impactful was that AGS teachers brought the training directly to the schools, conducting the workshops on-site in the public school classrooms. This approach allowed participants to experience strategies in their actual teaching environment and made it easier to see how the techniques could be applied immediately with their own students. Instead of long lectures, the sessions used a demonstration-based format, with AGS teachers showcasing short, practical interventions that participants could easily replicate to support struggling learners.

The workshops also illustrated how Ateneo units can collaborate to serve partner communities. ACED contributed its extensive experience in working with public schools, while AGS brought their extensive experience in classroom instruction. By combining their strengths and delivering the training directly in the schools, the two units created a program that was practical, relevant, and immediately applicable to teachers’ daily work.

Teachers from AGS who served as trainers generously shared their time and expertise during the workshops. The session at Felix Elementary School was facilitated by Ms Ma. Sarah Patricia E. Songco, Mrs Grace A Galvez, and Ms Guadalupe S Asonza. The training at Raymundo Punongbayan Elementary School was led by Ms Ariette L. Pacle, Mrs Carmina Bianca A Dela Cuesta, Mrs. Grace U Yn, Ms Mirasol Jade S Gabor, and Mrs Mary Grace A Pates. Meanwhile, the workshop at Payatas B Elementary School was facilitated by Ms Dominique Felize N De Guzman, Mrs Barbara Francis B Torres, Mrs Jennifer Millette G Balisi, Mrs Nina Monica V Lopez, Mrs Ingrid Katrine H Pasion, Ms Maria Margarita C Madroño, Mrs Rachelle Anne S Suba, and Ms Maria Lourdes M Quijano.

Feedback from participants confirmed the program’s impact. Teachers praised the facilitators as knowledgeable, well-prepared, and engaging, noting that the examples used were relatable to real classroom situations. Many highlighted the variety of practical strategies for literacy and numeracy, emphasizing that the activities were simple, effective, and adaptable for learners who need extra support. They also recognized the importance of identifying specific skill gaps, using learner-centered approaches, and connecting reading and math lessons to everyday life to make learning more meaningful.

The training prompted teachers to reflect on their own practices as well. Participants shared that the sessions reinforced the value of being flexible, patient, and resourceful in the classroom, adapting strategies to the needs of diverse learners, and creating opportunities for students to succeed.

The workshops were also grounded in a spirit of service, reflected in the prayer shared during the sessions: “We are loved by God so much that He gave us many blessings. We are called to share God’s love with others by making others feel and experience that God loves them too.”

Through this needs-based initiative, AGS and ACED continue to support public school teachers in closing learning gaps and helping every learner reach their full potential.