Leading in reading: How the Bright Minds Read program makes a difference

MANILA, Philippines -  Teaching children learn how to read is hard, and getting children to learn from what they are reading is even harder. For most youngsters all over the world, reading has become less regarded as an essential skill, and Filipino children are no different. Despite enjoying high literacy rates – that is the ability to read and write text – there seems to be a disparity when it comes to academic competency among various schools in the country. Bridging the education gap has been a long-time struggle and here lies the crux of the problem –with poor reading comes poor learning.

However, the story has taken a bright turn for two young girls who have come to discover reading in a different light – through Bright Minds Read (BMR). BMR is a beginning reading program designed for Grade 1 students developed by Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) in partnership with the Department of Education. The program provides select public schools with 33 illustrated Adarna books, 28 of which are in Filipino, and five in English. Public school teachers are trained by a core of experienced educators from the DepEd in facilitating the BMR sessions and providing them with teaching modules to conduct the sessions.

Eight-year-olds Reichelle Montañez and Bernadeth Botor are classmates in a public elementary school in Makati, currently in the third grade. Already showing great potential and interest in learning back when they were in Grade 1, Reichelle and Bernadeth were selected to join a class of first graders to develop the all-important skill of reading through BMR. The group served as the pilot class for the school, and, with its success, allowed subsequent first graders to experience the same kind of learning that Reichelle and Bernadeth enjoyed.

“We had a BMR session once a week where we read books,” recalls Reichelle. “And then Teacher asked us questions to see if we understood the story.” Reichelle takes pride in being able to improve her reading skills, though she admits that it wasn’t easy. “Noong nag-uumpisa pa lang kami, hindi ko masyadong iniintindi yung story. Basta nagbabasa lang ako. Pero noong natuto akong umintindi ng story, mas nagustuhan ko yung mga binabasa namin. Kaya palagi akong excited mag-BMR kasi gusto kong mabasa yung sunod na libro.”

Bernadeth, however, learned to read and write at the age of four. She tells of the books she reads and the pictures she draws at home, which is precisely why she loved attending the BMR sessions. “Mahilig ako mag-basa pero wala kaming masyadong books sa bahay,” she says. “Marami akong nababasa sa BMR na iba-iba ang kwento kaya masaya. Kung may BMR ulit, gusto kong sumali ulit.”

The result is not only an obvious improvement in reading skills, but also the development of curiosity and personality that Russell and Elsie, Reichelle’s and Bernadeth’s moms, did not expect. Both being hands-on mothers, Russell and Elsie noticed the positive change in the way their children approached learning.

“Reichelle reads faster now,” says Mommy Russell. “Dati, marami siyang mga salita na hindi maintindihan, lalo na sa English. Ngayon, kaya na niyang intindihin yung mga binabasa niya. ‘Pag mayroon siyang hindi alam na word, siya mismo naghahanap ng meaning sa dictionary.” Russell also saw how much more interested Reichelle became in reading books other than children’s stories. “She reads her text books like she reads storybooks. Mas napadali para sa kaniya ang pag-aaral.”

Mommy Elsie agrees, saying, “Bernadeth used to be a shy girl. Hindi siya masyadong nakikipag-usap sa mga tao. Pero noong nag-BMR na siya, mas naging makwento siya.” She fondly remembers how excited Bernadeth always was week after week. “Pagka-uwi niya galing sa school, lagi niyang kinukwento sa’min ng Papa niya yung mga nabasa nila sa BMR.”

BMR did not only help Bernadeth, but also gave Elsie a way to help her daughter. “Now, Bernadeth knows how to ask questions,” Elsie says. “Nakikita ko na talagang sinusuri niya yung mga binabasa niya. Dahil din nagtatanong siya tungkol sa mga binabasa at inaaral niya, nakikita ko rin kung ano na ang mga natutunan niya at kung saan siya nahihirapan. Alam ko kung saan ko siya puwedeng tulungan.”

In the midst of poor measurements on education for the vast majority of public schools, there are diamonds in the rough in the form of Bright Minds Read that provides a glimmer of hope for the future leaders of the country. In 2002, an NCR study revealed that 40% of Grade 1 students were non-readers, triggering the launch of BMR in 14 pilot schools in the region. Within the same year, the rate of Grade 1 non-readers dropped to 4% - a testament not only to the success of the program, but to the untapped potential of the Filipino youth in developing their competency in reading and learning. To date, the BMR program helps equip Grade 1 students in over 3,000 public elementary schools all over the country with the educational tools for a better future.