Lampara Books Showcases Science-Based Approaches to Help Filipino Children Become Better Readers

As the Philippines continues to grapple with gaps in foundational literacy, educators are looking for practical ways to help beginning and struggling readers build essential reading skills. This need took center stage at the 2nd International Literacy Conference on the Science of Reading and Learning, held August 21–23 in Naga City.

Lampara Books highlighted classroom approaches that put the Science of Reading into practice through talks by author-educators Victor A. Villanueva and Daisy Jane C. Calado, demonstrating how structured instruction, appropriate reading materials, and children’s literature can support early literacy development.

In his session, “From Sounds to Stories: Reading Remediation through Phonics, Comprehension, and Children’s Literature,” Villanueva presented a practical approach to one-on-one reading remediation for Key Stage 1 learners using the Lampara Reading Package, decodable materials, and genuine children’s literature. He emphasized systematic phonics to strengthen word reading and spelling, alongside explicit comprehension instruction to help learners understand and engage with texts.

Calado’s session, “Small Groups, Big Reading Gains: Beginning Reading with Let’s Read and Magbasa Tayo,” focused on small-group instruction for beginning readers. Using Lampara’s Let’s Read and Magbasa Tayo, she demonstrated how teachers can develop foundational skills in phonological awareness, alphabet knowledge, phonics, word reading, spelling, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension through systematic and explicit instruction.

The conference also recognized Villanueva with the Gawad Katapatan sa Paglilingkod, awarded by the Association of Fil-Am Teachers of America (AFTA), honoring his service and contribution to literacy education.

Lampara Books’ participation highlighted the importance of giving teachers practical tools that can help address reading difficulties early, while ensuring that children’s literacy development goes beyond learning to decode words to developing comprehension and a lasting interest in reading.