On May 30, 2025, the Reading Ambassadors' Training was successfully conducted at the CED ICT Laboratory, aiming to prepare 18 volunteer students from the Department of Professional Education, College of Education, for their crucial role in supervising Grade 1 learners during the RISE Program’s Pre-Assessment scheduled on June 19–20, 2025. These reading ambassadors will act as facilitators in the absence of Grade 1 teachers while assessments are carried out by the RISE members and assigned faculty.

Dr. Ruben Abucayon led a comprehensive session on the professional norms and ethical conduct expected of teachers. He emphasized the importance of punctuality, patience, empathy, and maintaining a learner-centered approach. Supplementing his discussion, he provided situational examples and best practices that align with the Department of Education's Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers. This segment ensured that ambassadors internalized their responsibilities not just as facilitators, but as role models for young learners.

Dr. Grageda shared innovative strategies for integrating music and singing in teaching early-grade learners. Drawing from her classroom experience, she highlighted how rhythm and melody can enhance student engagement, memory retention, and participation. She demonstrated practical singing activities and encouraged ambassadors to adopt these playful methods to maintain attention and create a positive learning environment during their sessions.

To promote consistency across the 10 partner schools, the team facilitated a collaborative planning session where reading ambassadors proposed various learning activities. Their suggestions were consolidated, revised, and finalized for implementation. The group also participated in preparing instructional materials, including visual aids and worksheets, to ensure readiness for the upcoming field deployment.

During the latter portion of the training, Ambassadors demonstrated their storytelling skills, which were recorded and critiqued for improvement. The feedback process allowed them to refine their delivery, expression, and engagement techniques, strengthening their ability to hold young learners' attention and convey comprehension skills effectively.

Overall, the training was successful in equipping the reading ambassadors with the necessary pedagogical skills, professional grounding, and collaborative strategies to support Grade 1 learners. The session fostered a shared commitment to literacy development and ensured all volunteers are prepared for a uniform and effective implementation of the RISE pre-assessment activities.