PTC-CSJ and Synergeia Foundation, in cooperation with the Department of Education (DepEd) – Schools Division Office of Muntinlupa City, organized a half-day “Program for the Development of Kindergarten Compendium of Play-based Learning Activities and Other Developmentally Appropriate Practices”.

The training workshop, held on May 5, 2024 at Tunasan National High School, was attended by 80 Kinder teachers from Muntinlupa’s 20 public elementary schools.

“The workshop aimed to equip teachers with pedagogical strategies that incorporate play-based learning and other developmentally appropriate approaches in teaching kindergarten learners,” according to Dr. Marissa Andanza, DepEd-Muntinlupa’s Education Program Supervisor for Kindergarten and Alternative Learning System.

Prof. Shirley Equipado, an Early Childhood Education specialist, served as the Resource Person. As an introduction, she discussed the key concepts and principles of “guided play”, more commonly called play-based learning. She then cited the benefits of play-based learning, including collaboration, communication, critical thinking, creativity, and confidence, as well as social and emotional development, language development, and math outcomes.

During the workshop, the participants developed and presented play-based learning activities using DepEd’s MATATAG curriculum. In critiquing the outputs, Prof. Equipado emphasized that the teacher should always have a clear “learning goal” behind every play-based activity and subtly guide the child toward the goal during the play.

After the workshop, all participants have been tasked to each develop four play-based learning activities which will then be organized into a compendium for the use of other Kindergarten teachers.

Teachers’ Training is one of the components of PTC-CSJ Foundation’s flagship education program, Growing Good to Great Kids (3G), which has been ongoing in Muntinlupa City since 2011.