the student teacher

Bus Tickets

2009-12-07T20:12:00.004+08:00

I am not going to make you guess where will you see such a scene because obviously it is the inside of a bus.
The photo above was taken as the bus began to move out of the terminal.
My hand jerked so my phone's camera was tilted to the right.
You can see Manong Konduktor punching holes into tickets.
At this point you might be wondering why would I take such a photo?

As Manong Konduktor (I apologize I did not get his name) distributed tickets, I looked into my wallet for my fare and found more bus tickets.
Provincial bus tickets are longer than city bus tickets.
The former had to be punched with holes to indicate the bus number, date, price of fair, kilometer of departure and destination.
My tickets were folded in a certain way that will make me a borderline OC.
Anyway I always keep my tickets just in case there will be an inspection.
It just so happened that I never got to dispose them after the trip.
So now I find myself with a collection of bus tickets which will soon find its way to the trash receptacle when I arrive home.

Two tickets tell a story of when I got on the bus with my sister after waiting for an hour.
Four tickets recall of a time when my brother, my brother's girlfriend, my sister and I strategically positioned ourselves in order to reserve seats so the four of us will be accommodated.
One particular ticket stayed with me through the ten long hours of being stuck on the bus at the express way when it rained cats and dogs because of the typhoon.

As I took the ticket from Manong Konduktor, I wondered what story this ticket will tell.
Nothing special, perhaps.
Just another journey on my way back to Metro Manila.

My Annual Project

2009-11-29T21:13:00.008+08:00

Once again I am done with my annual project - decorating the family Christmas tree.
It is not much, I know, but it somewhat sets the mood for the upcoming holiday season which does not follow that decors and other superficial things are the reasons for this yearly celebration.
If fake trees, plastic wreaths and artificial snow create a wrong perception of "the most wonderful time of the year" then I for one would be against them.

My mother has been asking for the nth time since the start of the month on when will I be decorating the tree (and the rest of the house so my project is actually a package deal) which I always answered "next week" so I was long overdue in putting aside my project.
Well the long wait is finally over because once again I have successfully set and decorated our tree and our home.

Usually I have a theme every year but this year is a year to be frugal so I just combined all our previous decors and came up with a "recycled" Christmas tree which earned compliments so I think I did a good job.
I took photos of the tree with my camera phone which obviously did not give justice to my effort.
Kidding.
Too bad I do not have a better camera.

Now that I am done with my project, I am going to focus on the more important aspect of the upcoming season - the real reason why we are celebrating.

My Fear of Poetry

2009-11-28T22:47:00.003+08:00

Last week as I struggled in starting a poem in Literature class, I found out why I shy away from poetry when I could basically write about anything when it comes to prose.

Back in high school I never liked poetry even when I had to memorize a lot of pieces like "O Captain, My Captain", Annabel Lee, sonnets of Shakespeare and a lot more.
Then when it came to composing poetry, I was very weak in rhyming words.
Free verse or free writing was okay but the use of rhyming words was a standard to follow.

It came to me that it was a shame on my part being awarded as the Best in English in our batch when poetry was my Achilles' heel; and it still is.
It dawned on me that it mattered not that only a few could match my skills in grammar and prose.
Back then it was very useful especially in answering essay-type of exams and only a few brave souls dared converse with me out of fear of being corrected but now as I pondered on it, it was not enough.
It seemed I was weighed on a scale and then was found wanting.
It was not enough. It is not enough.

I asked myself, "Why was I weak in poetry?
Was there something that I did not get?
Something that I did not understand about poetry?"
Then I remembered something.
I am not sure if I heard or read it, it just popped into my head.
Understanding.
To understand is to be vulnerable.

I had my answer.
I was weak in poetry because I never dared try to be weak - to be vulnerable.
To be able to write poetry, I needed to search for my deepest emotions and express them.
Poetry is a work of the mind but more importantly, it is a work of the heart.
It is the work of the spirit.
Little or none of those technical stuff in grammar.

Last Wednesday, our professor instructed us to critique the work of one another.
So we read the poem of a classmate that was assigned to us then we said our two cents worth to improve the piece.
While most of my classmates nearly dissipated from their seats when their poem was read, I paid close attention when my classmate read mine.
It was short, given only twenty minutes and then the fact that I struggled at first but it was okay.
It felt that someone else wrote it.
But it was mine. I wrote it.
Now I no longer fear poetry.
This could be the start of something new for me.
Thank God there is poetry.

Thoughts in Verse

2009-11-23T11:49:00.003+08:00

Last week we were asked to memorize a poem to be presented in class this morning.
We could choose from

The Road not Taken by Robert Frost
Sonnet XLIII by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Invictus by William Ernest Henley
A Psalm of Life by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Being weak and lazy in memorization, I chose Invictus because it only has four stanzas.
Pathetic I know.
Then as I internalized on the poem, on its message, I felt empowered by its words.
I spent hours reciting and getting the emotions that comes with every line.
I pictured myself presenting it in class.
Over and over.

And so this morning, I faced the class, I took a deep breath and recited this inspiring poem.

Invictus
by William Ernest Henley (1849 – 1903)

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Being the first to present in front proved to be an advantage for me because I was able to deliver well and set the pace for the rest of the class.
I even amazed myself for exceeding my own expectations.
Taking time to comprehend the meaning of the poem and practice my delivery proved helpful to me.

After reciting poems, we were asked to write a poem for twenty minutes to unleash the creativity within us.
After channeling emotions brought about my various experiences, I was able to wrote this poem.
I even forgot to have a title for it but our professor said it was okay.

Yesterday you said you are leaving
Now I am sad, I am hurting
What to do I do not know
Beg you to stay or let you go

I did listen, I did try to understand
I even offered you my helping hand
Then you told me you should be on your own
And now here I am, all alone

For me things are still blurred
I kept on repeating the words you uttered
I wanted to shout, I wanted to cry
Now I am throwing our dreams to the sky

I am now reading poems written by the great Tupac Shakur.
Again I need to memorize one out of these eleven choices.
I am now beginning to like poetry.

The Line-up for this Semester

2009-11-20T14:39:00.002+08:00

I have five subjects this semester.
Three units per subject, a total of fifteen units.
My subjects are as follows:

Life and Works of Rizal (Monday and Wednesday) 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Literature 2 (Monday and Wednesday) 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
General Principles of Health Care (Tuesday and Thursday) 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Social Dimensions of Education (Wednesday) 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Science, Technology and Society (Friday) 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Life and Works of Rizal
In this subject I am to study the life, works and writings of a genius, writer, scientist and national hero of the Philippines who is Jose Rizal.
My classmate and I had to buy our book at Recto, a place known for cheap, new or second-hand books.
We found our bargain book for a hundred pesos.
Our subject which is conducted so early in the morning will surely wake me up from my deep slumber.
Being a weakling in History, I have a feeling that I will spend more time and effort in this course.

Literature 2
We will be focusing on poetry in this class which would awaken the inner Shakespeare in me even though I do not really like poetry.
Our first assignment is to memorize and present in class a choice among four literary pieces.
My choice will depend on the number of lines and the needed emotions in presenting the piece.
My criteria will be: the shorter the better and the less emotional the better.

General Principles of Health Care
I am very interested in this subject.
It is not because my classmates where taking Pharmacy; I just find it very informative and practical.
We are to study the different domains of health and the stages of development of human beings.
Two weeks from now, my group mate and I will be reporting on our assigned topic: CHILDREN.
Nice.

Social Dimensions of Education
A lot of reading in this course for it covers social theories, social systems and other aspects of society.
I may need help from Sociology majors.
This subject will be useful when I take the Licensure Examination for Teachers.

Science, Technology and Society
Being a Science major, I was made for this subject!
That would be all for this one.

Hopefully this will be my last semester. So good luck to me!

See You Soon!

2009-11-19T15:30:00.003+08:00

It has been awhile.
Nearly two weeks ago I spent an afternoon with my high school friends.
One of them, Crisa came home from Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates for a two-week vacation.
Since she will be going back to UAE after her short break, we opted to see each other.
From the original ten+ members of the group, we found ourselves down to five.
Indeed, a lot has changed since the carefree and happy high school days.

I am very glad that these friends of mine still take time to stay in touch with me.
Surely, they made friends with other people during their stay in college and now at their workplace but they never fail to stay connected.
We may have found different paths to traverse but they make sure that our paths still cross and so the friendship is maintained.

So what did we do that afternoon?
The same things that we do whenever we meet - and so we ate, talked and took photos!
Meeting them revived a lot of memories in me.
It sure made me reminisce the times when the world just revolved around making projects for Science, writing scripts for a play in Values Education, memorizing dates in World History and finding derivatives in Calculus.
Of course these things would pale in comparison with the cherished moments spent with my friends and the rest of the class.

Meeting them also made me look forward to the days to come, years even.
We have come a long way to think that we really have just started.
Afternoon passed and evening came, again it was time to part ways.
I remembered how sad I was whenever we had to say farewell but that night I was happier than sad.
There was no reason to be so sad.
I guess deep inside I know we will always find our way back, and we will meet each other soon.
From left to right: JINKY, CRISA, ROMMEL and TJ

I saw Hillary Clinton...NOT!

2009-11-15T21:58:00.005+08:00

I thought I will see Hillary Clinton last Friday at the University of Santo Tomas.

Unfortunately I was not allowed to enter the theater where the forum transpired.
All because of two things; first - my name was not included (although I thought it was included) in the list that was submitted the day before the forum, and second - I only had one ID with me which is my school ID.

Thursday afternoon: I received a group message from the Dean of Student Affairs informing the officers of colleges that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be at UST for the forum that will be attended by selected universities. Interested officers were supposed to reply so their names will be included in the list of attendees. Call time will be five in the morning the following day.
Still pondering if I will say "go" or "no", I asked the Vice President of the Student Council who is a good friend of mine if she will attend.

She replied, "I already told the Dean that you will go so expect your name to be in the list. Besides, I feel that only a few will be interested so please come."

Great. Just great. I am no fan of politics and I stay away from celebrities.
I have nothing against Mrs. Clinton, it is just who I am.

Halfheartedly I said "Okay, as the President of the Education Council I will go."
I know I should not do things halfheartedly but I thought it would be disappointing if no one from the college will attend. I could have asked a classmate to replace me but then it came to me that most of them were still in vacation mode so I convinced myself that I was on my own.

Friday morning: I woke up at three in the morning so I would be at school at five.
I arrived at around five-thirty. I was late but someone came later.
Fifteen minutes before six the bus left for the forum.

The trip did not take long for our school is near UST.
We alighted from the bus and assembled at the field where we were greeted by a lady accompanied by Thomasians.
She checked our names one by one in the list.
My name could not be found. So my name was not in the list that was passed to them.
She asked if I have two ID's with me so I could be permitted to enter.
I only had one with me.
The lady apologized that she had to be strict; I replied that it was not her fault but ours.
I guess I was not meant to personally see Hillary Clinton.

My friend, the VP of the Student Council decided to accompany me so it turned out that we were not able to see Hillary Clinton. We spent our time taking photos of the buses of the universities that attended the forum.
Pathetic, I know, but what were we supposed to do?
Besides, it is very rare that these buses could be found parked near one another.
It was unfortunate that my friend and I were not able to see and hear Hillary Clinton. I know she is a very smart woman and maybe if I was there at the forum, I would have asked a question or two.
I should always bring an extra ID.

I am the Voice

2009-11-14T20:00:00.001+08:00

It happens every enrollment - students in our college experience problems with their schedules and areas of specialization subjects.
After voicing out our concerns the previous semester, I thought all will be well and good this second semester.
Unfortunately, problems were still encountered.
My fellow students and I were just being silent and patient but there are times when we reach our boiling points.

We are there.
We do understand that due to our small population, it will be impractical for the university to open subjects with only less than ten students in the class.
We do understand that times are hard.
We were patient.
We still are.

As the president of the college, I could not help but be concerned with my fellow students.
In a college where smart and active students are enrolled in, I could not just simply be silent about this.
I waited for things to change and I guess I still need to wait.
I know the people seated in high positions have the best intentions for their students.
I always say that we are very lucky to have very supportive deans.
They are approachable and open-minded.
They are willing to listen.

This week, again, I voiced out some concerns and recently I heard more so I need to speak again.

I never desired special treatment be given to us.
I am not saying that the current system does not work.
It does but it needs to be ironed out.

If the number of students is too small, then merge subjects if possible, even classes if possible.
If some of us must be absorbed in another class then so be it.
I just hope that each and every student will get the quality education that they deserve.

How can the future teachers treat their students well if they are not fairly treated now?

No special treatment needed, we just want what we deserve.
My duty is to be the voice of the student body.
This voice needs to be heard.
And so this week, I will speak again.

Teach me how to Fly

2009-11-14T11:31:00.005+08:00

I am a fan of the series Glee.

In its 9th episode, Kurt and Rachel battled it out to go solo for the song Defying Gravity which came from the musical Wicked.
It is a very inspiring song so I would like to share it with you.
I got the original rendition which I personally find better.

A Teacher's Prayer

2009-10-30T00:17:00.004+08:00

After the Final Demonstration Lessons, before the semester ended, we made a narrative report about our experiences in Practice Teaching.
In the last chapter which is The Appendix, we included poems, articles and other compositions about teaching.
A Teacher's Prayer was one of those compositions.

James J. Metcalf

I want to teach my students how--
To live this life on earth,
To face its struggles and its strife
And to improve their worth.

Not just the lesson in a book,
Or how the rivers flow,
But to choose the proper path,
Wherever they may go.

To understand eternal truth,
And know right from wrong,
And gather all the beauty of
A flower and a song,

For if I help the world to grow
In wisdom and grace,
Then I feel that I have won
And I have filled my place.

And so I ask your guidance, God
That I may do my part,
For character and confidence
And happiness of heart.

A great way to end the Semester

2009-10-29T19:28:00.007+08:00

Finally Practice Teaching is over!
Now we could rest for awhile during the two-week break before the second semester starts.
Anyway, before the semester ended, we had a culminating activity.
Our guests were the principal, our cooperating teachers and fellow Education students.
We really had fun!
Here are some photos during the program.
Teacher Amie and yours truly hosted the said event.
Teacher Mildred said the Invocation.
Teacher Liezl led the singing of the National Anthem.
Prof. Josephine T. Antonio, our Student Teacher Coordinator formally opened the program.
Principal Rowena R. De Guzman inspired everyone with her message.
The cooperating teachers were awarded with certificates.

The student teachers were awarded with certificates of completion by their cooperating teachers.

The students of the College of Education ate and posed for the camera.

The cherry on Top

2009-10-29T19:19:00.003+08:00

LIEZL’S FINAL DEMONSTRATION

“Finally the butterfly has emerged from her cocoon.”

The last but certainly not the least to demonstrate was Liezl who just recently gained a lot of self-esteem after a lot of encouragement from the people around her. I saw her organizing visual aids minutes before her lesson and at that moment I knew she will do great. She told me that she is nervous but I replied that she could do it because she knew what to do. The Grade 1 class was very lively and cooperative in answering Liezl’s questions. Some pupils were inattentive that the cooperating teacher had to discipline the pupils but most of the time Liezl was able to handle their misbehavior. They also did well in the evaluation. I compared Liezl’s final demonstration to a cherry on top of ice cream. It was the finishing touch to the final demonstration week of the student teachers. It really was a success.

A songbird Teaches!

2009-10-29T19:12:00.004+08:00

AMIELYN’S FINAL DEMONSTRATION

“My teacher is a songbird.”

It was very unfortunate that I was not able to see how Amielyn executed her lesson. In her

dry-run during the weekend before the day of her demonstration, I felt that she would do well;

and I was right. According to the observers, she was very good. She was not always present in

her practice teaching but she made sure that she knew what she was doing – from her lesson

plan to her execution. I always see her as someone who could do really well through effort and

dedication. She may be hesitant at first but she is very willing to learn because she is very open

to suggestions. She had command of the English language which is the result of the training she

received in her specialization subjects. Her exposure to the stage as a contestant and winner to

singing competitions greatly helped in developing and improving her craft.

Sparkle and Dazzle

2009-10-29T19:07:00.003+08:00

KRISTINE’S FINAL DEMONSTRATION

“She is a deadly combination of brains, energy and laughter.”

The vivacious and energetic Kristine delivered an impressive demonstration. The smart students of Second Year Section A were very cooperative and gave intelligent answers which made the discussion lively. The student teacher’s very contagious personality lightened up the topic that seemed very serious at the start of the lesson. While observing, I took pictures of her final demonstration which I am sure will find their place in her narrative report. Her lesson showed how updated and aware the students are not only about the events happening around us but also the famous personalities that were involved. The happy-go-lucky girl that is Kristine demonstrated that a lesson could use some dash of sparkle especially from the teacher.

The shyness Gone

2009-10-29T18:48:00.005+08:00

KATHLEEN’S FINAL DEMONSTRATION

“I advised her to breathe deeply before conducting a lesson and she said that it worked for her.”
Kathleen started the third day of the demonstration week. She taught at the Grade 1 class under the supervision of her cooperating teacher, Ms. Annie Rose Z. Antoni. I immediately noticed Kathleen’s well-modulated voice which was totally different from her usually soft-sounding voice. Also I felt how confident she was during her demonstration; once again proving what Mrs. Antonio told us that you will have confidence if you know what you are doing. Indeed, Kathleen took the advice that our Student Teacher Coordinator imparted to her for she delivered her lesson well. She also used a variety of teaching aids in presenting her lesson. Although she experienced minor problems with the pupils’ inattention, she was able to manage the class. In her lesson, Kathleen demonstrated how one can change from the shy and timid type to someone who is confident and poised.

Your Instructional Materials Rock!

2009-10-29T18:39:00.003+08:00

MILDRED’S FINAL DEMONSTRATION

“One of the ‘key’ qualities of a teacher is the creative use of visual aids.”
Following Gerald’s final demonstration was Mildred who executed her lesson in the Grade 3 Science class of Ms. Maria Luisa Llaneta. Her very colorful visual aids showed how prepared she was in her demonstration. Everyone was impressed with the way she presented the Health Inspection during the Sharing Period. Her pictures and drawings of plants were very helpful in the lesson. All would agree that she had the best instructional materials in the batch. During the group activity, the pupils were asked to color and label a plant that was assigned to them. There was interaction and most of the pupils participated actively during the activity. The leader of each group was able to present their work well. The pupils also did a great job in the evaluation. Mildred truly showed that she is someone to look up to, that she is the “ate” of the group. Her perseverance is remarkable.

The Alumnus Returns

2009-10-29T18:31:00.003+08:00

GERALD’S FINAL DEMONSTRATION

“The product of the Basic Education Department came back to teach.”

Gerald conducted his final demonstration lesson in the Grade 2 class of Ms. Ethel M. Jabat. His pupils participated well in the lesson. They were very enthusiastic in answering the exercises and in giving applause for every correct answer. Gerald was very relaxed and he had confidence in presenting the lesson. It was evident that he had mastery of his subject. His charts were organized and his instructional materials were very appropriate. The pupils were able to understand the lesson for they got high scores in his formative test. The observers found some points to be improved in his lesson plan and delivery but all in all he was very effective in teaching.

My Fellow Student Teachers' Final Demonstration Series

2009-10-29T18:22:00.003+08:00

MY FELLOW STUDENT TEACHERS’ FINAL DEMONSTRATION
“You can do it guys!”

RONELSON’S FINAL DEMONSTRATION
“This is one of the few times when I really enjoyed a lesson in Filipino.”
The class has already started when I arrived at the room of Third Year Section A. I had a feeling that Ronelson will exceed all expectations and do a splendid execution that day. He did deliver. The lesson went very well because the students were very active and motivated. Ronelson had mastery of the language and the subject. He did not have a hint of nervousness which means that he practiced a lot. He was very relaxed and kept the students up to their feet thinking and answering with his thought-provoking questions. Interesting and meaningful answers were given by the students who enjoyed the lesson. Seeing him carrying out the steps made me reminisce of the times when we talked about teaching. In him I saw the dedication and passion that most aspiring and even practicing teachers do not have. Though there were times when we had difficult and challenging days, he made sure that he delivered the lesson well. That was the first time I saw him teach and I was not even impressed because I was amazed. I am very proud of my classmate.

Post Final Demonstration

2009-10-29T18:11:00.002+08:00

AFTER THE FINAL DEMONSTRATION

“Finally I am done!”

Being happy and contented with my performance, I could not help but smile after the final demonstration. It was far from perfect for I made a lot of mistakes but the fact that I was able to execute was enough for me. It really was a learning experience – humbling, encouraging and enlightening. I was reminded of the very difficult task that was placed on teachers; a task placed not only on the shoulders but more importantly in the heart and in the mind.

While I was reorganizing my things, my students approached and congratulated me. Some helped in removing adhesive in the charts that I used. Some asked for the toy trucks. Some apologized; maybe they felt they were not able to participate actively. All of them were concerned if I had a passing mark or not. I told them that I received a high mark which really made my day. No time to ponder whether I deserved such a high evaluation or not for I felt loved by my students. Before I left the room to observe Ronelson’s final demonstration, a student of mine asked if I will be teaching them in the near future. I then answered, “Yes! Of course I will be teaching you. See you soon!”

Final Demonstration Week

2009-10-29T17:59:00.003+08:00

“Science is a very cool subject because it is fun and you have a cool teacher like me. Good morning First Year Section A!” These were the words that launched my final demonstration lesson last October 13, 2009 at Room 401 of the Basic Education Building. It also marked the start of the final demonstration week of the student teachers of National University.

PREPARATION FOR THE FINAL DEMONSTRATION

“Get plenty of rest before the final demonstration.”

The Final Demonstration Week which was originally scheduled on September 14 – 18 was postponed and re-scheduled a couple of times. It gave me enough time to prepare my topic, detailed lesson plan and instructional materials. Fortunately my cooperating teacher was very kind to let me choose a topic for my final demonstration which had pro’s and con’s. The good thing was I got to choose a topic wherein I was very knowledgeable and comfortable. The not-so-good thing about choosing one’s topic was the feeling that I settled for a topic that was too easy. For a moment, I thought and felt that I sank to mediocrity which was the last thing that I wanted to achieve.

Doing the lesson plan was laborious for I lost count on the number of times I reviewed and edited my lesson plan which does not mean that my lesson plan did not have errors. I opted to use instructional materials which are simple and not flashy. A total of twelve plain white cartolinas were used in my demonstration.

Then I was also able to practice the steps in executing my lesson and the things that I was supposed to say. During my spare time, whenever I was alone, I talked to inanimate objects like stuffed toys – I imagined them as my students. Oftentimes I talked to myself in front of the mirror to see my facial expressions which was very odd and sometimes funny but it proved to be helpful in improving my oral communication. In my mind, I pictured the atmosphere during my final demonstration – the room packed with students, my classmates and fellow students seated at the back, the principal, the student teacher coordinator and the cooperating teacher evaluating my “performance”, and of course myself executing the steps in the lesson. It somewhat lessened the nervousness and pressure that I felt.

ON THE DAY OF THE FINAL DEMONSTRATION

“This is it!”

I arrived at school at six-thirty in the morning. It was the Thursday, the 14^th of October, 2009. The students of First Year Section A greeted and asked me whether I was feeling nervous or not. I answered that nervousness is normal but I will not let it ruin my demonstration and that I will do my best. They cheered and assured me that they will actively participate in the lesson. At seven-fifteen my ever-supportive cooperating teacher, Mrs. Gloria I. Beo arrived. She encouraged her class to be disciplined and be dynamic during my demonstration.

As the time drew near, I told myself “This is it!” and breathed deeply. Prof. Josephine S. Antonio, together with the student teachers and students in Field Study and Principles of Teaching arrived and found themselves chairs located at the back and side of the classroom. Mrs. Nelly S. Arrojado, another cooperating teacher of mine, was there too. We waited for Mrs. Rowena R. De Guzman, the Principal to arrive. For an instant I felt worried because I thought she forgot about the demonstration lesson; well she did not. With all the important people present, I started with my final demonstration lesson.

The class started with a prayer. Afterward, I greeted my class who then also greeted their teacher and the visitors. Then my students enumerated the “standards” to follow while in class. I posted my drill on the board which made me forgot about the weather report. The class found the drill confusing for it required mathematical skills but a student was able to solve it correctly. Being fully aware of my lapse, I then asked about the weather which made Ma’am Antonio and some of my classmates smile.

The review went well; the class participated actively and answered the crossword puzzle correctly. I was able to use the review as my spring board to the lesson. In my motivation I used pictures and asked a variety of questions in drawing the answers needed for the lesson. The students gave smart and sensible answers which made me think that I was able to motivate them.

Deriving the problem was a challenge for I was not able to use the so-called art of questioning to my advantage but my students were very willing to raise their hands and share their ideas. The group activity took most of the time due to some groups who had difficulty in determining the speed of the toy truck. Being conscious of the time, I made haste with the discussion and application. I skipped a step in my lesson which is the validation.

The results of the formative test were good. Most of the students understood the lesson. Then I gave the assignment which was the end of the lesson. I thanked the class for their participation. Ma’am De Guzman also thanked my students and told them to give me a round of applause. She and her fellow visitors congratulated me as I gave them tokens, thus ended my final demonstration lesson

Thoughts on Ondoy

2009-10-02T08:51:00.003+08:00

Much could be said when disaster strikes.

I won't even try to analyze and discuss all angles, just a few flashbacks and mental notes on the recent calamity that is typhoon Ondoy (international name: Ketsana).

While Ondoy poured, I was on the bus back to Metro Manila.

We got stranded on the expressway for ten hours. I left the province in the morning and reached Manila at around ten in the evening. Good thing the bus had a television so we got to watch what has happening in and around the metro. My fellow passengers and I felt hunger but it would pale in comparison to what other people experienced during that time. I was reminded at that moment that just when you thought that "world is on your shoulders", better try other people's shoes first.

I guess one of the thoughts that crossed the affected citizens of the typhoon was "When is help going to arrive?"

Some may argue that help came late. Maybe some even wondered where were the government officials - the so-called public servants during their time of need? I even heard one dj on the radio commented: We do not need your big posters and banners telling us "Merry Christmas" or "Congratulations Graduates", we need you now. That is why we elected you to office.

When there is a calamity and people need donations, do not "donate" your trash.

Why are there people who take these donation campaigns as an opportunity to dispose their used underwear? I even heard of expired canned goods and food. Aren't we supposed to help people? I do not know about them but that is not my definition of donating.

Another typhoon is withing our area of responsibility. I hope we will be more prepared for this one.

The School Visit: Meet the Student Teachers

2009-09-30T22:20:00.003+08:00

I think now is the perfect time to enumerate and describe my fellow student teachers. They may or may not read this blog of mine but I am doing this so forever I will be reminded of this group of smart and dedicated student teachers.

In the picture above: Standing next to me is Nelson. He is the charming Filipino major who is also very knowledgeable in History. If ever he decides to pursue teaching after graduation, surely his students will be very blessed to have him.
Sitting to the right of Nelson is the shy but very nice Liezl. She is also a Filipino major. She maybe afraid to teach and show her expertise but I believe in her. She has a lot to share to her students; just a few pushes will do the trick.
Beside Liezl is Kathleen who looks like a famous sexy actress. She is an English major who never gives up on any challenge. She is very willing to learn and improve herself.
Gerald is the guy at the back of our professor and coordinator. I am impressed with the way he uses English as medium of instruction - a true mark of an English major.

At the left is Mildred. She is the "Ate" or older sister of the group while I am the "Kuya" or older brother. She never fails to remind us of the responsibilities that comes along with being a student teacher. She is very dedicated in her work which makes her a great leader.
At the center is Tine, the gal with the bubbly aura matched with a well-modulated voice. Do not be fooled by her petite stature, she is a strong woman (physically and emotionally).
Between Tine and I is Amielyn. She is the singing diva of the batch. Her sweetness could win anybody's heart.

There you have it. The student teachers of National-U. I really learned a lot being with them for almost three years. I know I will always reminisce the times that we struggled and survived. Of course we could never have done it without our mentors - our professors who inspired us to become dedicated and passionate student teachers.

The School Visit: Science is Cool

2009-09-30T21:41:00.002+08:00

The class greeted us when we entered the Science room.

Isn't Science the coolest subject or what? Teehee. I know I know, teachers in other subjects would love to beg to differ; it is just that I really love Science, ergo, it's my Major.

So from Ms. Visaya's English class, we made our way to Ms. Revister's class in the Science Room. The Sharing Period included Checking of Attendance and Health Inspection by group leaders, Weather Report, Science News and Science Trivia. Again the students showed command with the use of language which was impressive. Inside the Science Room were different instructional materials like models, diorama and apparatus used to facilitate learning. The walls were painted with concepts in Science, Technology and Ecology.

Ms. Revister is a lively and energetic teacher. Her enthusiasm motivates students to participate. I made a mental note that I will always smile when I teach.

The School Visit: At Ms. R. Visaya's Class

2009-09-30T18:30:00.004+08:00

Ms. R. Visaya and her Grade 6 Class giving their best pose for the camera.

Ms. R. Visaya is a Grade 6 English Teacher at P. Burgos Elementary School. Their lesson that morning was Two-word Adjectives. What was amazing in her class was the way the students conducted their routine activities like Vocabulary Words, Thoughts for the Week, Trivia and Recitation of Poems. Each student knew what to do. No one was hesitant to participate. It was evident that they were trained well which means their teacher is effective.

A lot of times my classmates and I looked at one another, amazed and impressed at the class. Our presence only motivated the entire class to recite and take part actively in the lesson. I told myself that these students are great and that they have a good foundation in English which will prove helpful even when they reach college.

The student teachers learned a lot from Ms. Visaya. She effectively delivered her lesson for we all saw the steps enumerated in her lesson plan. We all admire her. She was so relaxed throughout the lesson which we will try to emulate. Kudos to all teachers like Ms. Visaya.

The School Visit Part 1

2009-09-30T18:03:00.004+08:00

The student teachers of National-U from left to right: Liezl Pinca, Gerald Neil Ruiz, Kathleen Bermudez, Ronelson Bulao, John Audy Ibarreta, Mildred Marfil and Amielyn Madduma, with their Coordinator Prof. Josephine Antonio at P. Burgos Elementary School during their school visit.

At seven o'clock in the morning, last Septmeber 25, my classmates and I met at the gates of P. Burgos Elementary School for our school visit which was set up by our Student Teacher Coordinator, Prof. Josephine Antonio. There were plans of having our off-campus training in this school, unfortunately we ran out of time but we got to hold a visit which was an eventful day for us.

The picture above was taken minutes before we entered Ms. R. Visaya's class. Here we got to see a program being held at covered court of the school.

The School Visit Intro

2009-09-30T17:25:00.005+08:00

Before typhoon Ondoy wreaked havoc to Metro Manila and other provinces of Luzon, the student teachers of National-U together with Prof. Josephine Antonio went to P. Burgos Elementary School in Sta. Mesa for their school visit. Dr. Jesusa Caraig gracefully welcomed her visitors to her school. On the other hand, the student teachers were very thankful for the experience they had in the said educational institution where they learned a lot from the teachers who effectively demonstrated their lessons.

My reason is to teach.

2009-09-23T13:57:00.003+08:00

I heard or read somewhere that life is not planned but it is just what happens along the way.

Certainly every college student was asked why he/she chose the degree that he/she is currently taking. Surely each has a reason:
"I really see myself being a (the profession they chose) for the rest of my life."
"...because I love to do this so I decided to take this degree."
"...because it is the popular degree."
"My parents told me to take it."
"I really do not know what to do with my life right now so what the heck I am taking this degree."
"I chose this degree because I plan on going abroad."

When my parents asked me of my plans after I graduate, I told them that I will teach, then pursue post-graduate studies, teach and teach. For now that is my plan. That is my path. My reason for pursuing this degree is because I really want to teach.

Our professors in the College of Education never fail to remind us that the Teaching profession is both a mission and a vocation. That it is the "noblest of all professions".

Before we started with Practice Teaching, most of us were all determined to become teachers. I am not going to say "all of us" because, sad to say, I know from the very start that some of my classmates just wanted a diploma and won't become teachers. A few weeks into Practice Teaching, some of us changed their minds. Those who were determined were no longer determined to become teachers. They had their own reasons which I will never dare question. I talked with them but I did not try convincing them to reconsider.

It came to me to convince them to reconsider, maybe try teaching for a year then decide if it is really not the career path they feel they ought to take. It dawned on me to encourage them to practice the profession after we graduate. But no.

I happen to be one of those people who do not like to force things may it be on myself or on others. As much as I want to convince my classmates to reconsider, I still respect their decision. Surely they must have thought about it a hundred times, a thousand even. Their reasons may not be sufficient for me but it is they and not I who decided.

After all the things that we went through in Practice Teaching, deep inside I am hoping that my classmates will reconsider. That they will try to practice the profession first then think and decide after. I am hoping for I see in them the passion and dedication in doing things. Then again I would never impose my plans on them because that is mine alone. My plans are pretty simple but I know that as I go along, things change and may be so do my plans.

A few more steps

2009-09-21T08:42:00.003+08:00

The Final Demonstration Lesson of the student teachers was moved to the end of the month so it gave me and my fellow students enough time to physically, emotionally and psychologically prepare for it. While all of us still experience some degree of nervousness, we managed to disregard the jitters so our lessons won't be affected. Time and time again we were advised by our mentors not to be overcome by fear. Fear of speaking in public is one of the challenges one must overcome which applies not only to aspiring teachers.

Being the President of the student teachers, I also offered my advice to my fellow students. Not that I no longer experience jitters, it is just that I had my fair share of speaking in public.

The first time I hosted a school program, I was in Grade 4. I was ten. My co-host and I were trained by our teacher who happened to be an idol of mine when it comes to English and Public Speaking. The program was a success. Our teachers, parents and classmates congratulated us for a job well done. After that hosting experience, I was tapped by the school to be the emcee of other activities.

A classmate once asked how was I able to speak in front of people without a hint of nervousness. I answered, "I practice a lot. I speak to myself in front of the mirror. I breathe deeply before I speak." Then I added that I feel nervous too but I don't let it ruin what I am supposed to do. She couldn't believe it at first but then she tried and it worked for her.

When you speak in front of people, sometimes you get the feeling that your audience is "judging" you and is waiting for you to commit a mistake. Sometimes you feel you are inadequate and undeserving to be heard. Sometimes you feel that you just couldn't do it. We have to get over such feelings.

Contrary to what most of us believe, not everyone is judging you and not everyone is just waiting for you to commit errors so they could laugh at you. Our professor once said that your audience happens to be human beings and that most of them are willing to listen and understand. If they listen then you have their attention and that is good. Of course they will assess you based on what you are going to say because they are rational beings.

Before we started in Practice Teaching, I noticed that most of my fellow student teachers do not have the confidence to speak in front of people. After weeks of teaching, I saw that the shy-types could now deliver and execute their lesson. Now they are more willing to take responsibilities. They always seek help from one another for ideas and solutions. They may be tired and stressed out but they are better than before. They have changed.

I noticed that I changed too. This is because I learned a lot from my fellow student teachers, from my cooperating teachers and from my students. Just a few more steps and then we will be teachers.

the Lesson Plan

2009-09-07T09:42:00.002+08:00

Currently I am working on my detailed lesson plan for my final demonstration dated two weeks from today. I hope my experience will be enough to deliver the lesson well. Thinking that many a great teacher went through the same experience gives me a sense of confidence. On that day of my demonstration, I am prepared and I will do my best so my students will learn. Funny that I care less about my grades; I guess there is really more than just the grade that I will get. After the final demonstration, I will fill this blog with all the things that happened this semester. For now, it is back to the Lesson Plan.

Welcome to the Family!

2009-07-13T11:13:00.002+08:00

"We may be few in number, noisy, talkative and hyperactive but I have to say that this is one of the best, if not the best College in the university. Welcome to the College of Education and Liberal Arts! Welcome to the family!"

I ended my Welcome Remarks with those lines during the First General Assembly of our college with the last statement meant for freshmen and transferees. I fervently hope they will take to heart the term "family" for it really means a lot to me.

While it is true that our college is one of the smaller colleges in terms of population, we never lacked unity and sense of responsibility. In every school activity there is at least one Education and Liberal Arts student participating actively. I remember last year, it was University Week, our college was tapped to head the preparations after another college backed-out the last minute while my classmate and I were asked to host the Singing Contest minutes before the event. Not that I am quantifying efforts and work but name a college in National-U that you can depend on to support and participate, that will be the College of Education and Liberal Arts. We act like a family, we have a goal and we are united.

In our family, we have no rivalries. We need not compare to see who is on top; instead of comparing, we help each other to survive and realize one's potential. One member's success is the success of everyone.

Our sense of oneness and closeness could be traced from our small number of students. We found strength in that small number. There is respect whether you are a senior or a freshman. We interact with each other, allowing no gaps to materialize. Of course a larger number of students is very welcome but unity should always be maintained no matter what.

With twenty-plus students joining this school year, I hope we will be able to pass-on to them the ideals that the college stands for. We may not be the brightest and smartest but what we have are unity, passion and dedication. These make us one of the best, our college, our family.

We Need for Very Good English Teachers

2009-07-10T07:30:00.007+08:00

When I was still in high school our English teacher gave the class a project. We were to take photos of wrongfully done ads and signs. The title of the project was "Boo boos in Advertisement". So armed with point-and-shoot cameras we searched the whole city for such ads and signs. A few meters from our school we found a banner that said "HOLLOWEEN PARTY". After taking our first picture we searched again and found more. At the end of the day we collected more than twenty photos.

The pictures shown here reminded me of that project. Clearly English teachers have a very challenging "job" in educating their students with the use of correct grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc. We need very good English teachers. While fellow Asian countries consider Filipinos as more knowledgeable when it comes to the English Language, a lot of us still need to be taught well. We should not be contented with the fact that we could express using basic English words. Let us continue to practice and improve so we will become effective communicators.

p.s. My thanks to www.facebook.com/filipino.kami. Follow the link to view more photos.

Re-elected

2009-07-09T22:00:00.003+08:00

In a week or two, my classmates and I will be sent to the "battlefield" for our Practice Teaching. On the other hand, Sophomore and Junior Education students will be observing classes for their Field Study. I am both excited and nervous, that is more excited than nervous; and I hope my classmates are too.

The Practice teachers or student teachers or apprentice teachers will first observe an assigned class under the supervision of a cooperating teacher. Then they will participate and help the cooperating teacher in handling the class and lastly the cooperating teacher will let them handle the class. Those who are taking Elementary Education will be exposed to different subject areas while those who are taking Secondary Education will only focus on their Major Subject. I am a Science Major so I will spend my time on General Science, Biology, Chemistry and Physics subjects.

I am already preparing myself with the responsibility that comes of becoming a practice teacher. It will be practice teaching from seven in the morning until noon and then classes in the afternoon. It will be challenging on my part for I hold positions in the Education Council and in the Newsletter. A student-teacher, a president and an editor-in-chief - these are my new roles for this year in addition to my previous and default ones.

Last week, I thought I will be passing my position as president of the college to someone younger, more active and more responsible. I was expecting that last Friday's meeting will be the last meeting that I will call being the outgoing president. Into the meeting, I gave some sort of a speech and then gave the floor to two teachers who will officiate the election. I was ready to wish the next president the very best of luck and to challenge him/her to do better than I did. So I sat next to a classmate of mine who gave me a sandwich and juice which they prepared for everyone. I was about to take a bite into the egg sandwich when the table of nominations for the position of president was announced. While chewing the best egg sandwich I ever eaten, one of my classmates nominated me.

Being nominated was totally fine by me since I was not expecting to win but my fellow students had it differently. The majority voted for me. Yours truly was reelected into the position. I continued officiating the election after that one bite.

I thought it was a joke, a prank perhaps but it was not. I guess they still wanted me to lead them, out of desperation or out of choice, I need to ask them still. Anyway I will say the best of luck to myself. I need to outdo myself this year.

New Set of Officers

2009-07-09T21:01:00.003+08:00

Congratulations to the newly-elected officers of the College of Education and Liberal Arts!

President: John Audy Ibarreta
Vice President: Jhai Tecson
Secretary: Cherry Ann Damayan
Treasurer: Mildred Marfil
Auditor: Matthew Buenbenuto
P.R.O: Anne Rose Escamillan and Paul Padua
Muse: Jenny Rose Rasay
Escort: Alvin Avinante
Year Level Representatives:
1st Year: Bonn Jovi Estrella
2nd Year: Daniel Valenzuela
3rd Year: Christy Alvasan
4th Year: Ronelson Bulao

We've done well last year, we've been active as ever and we've achieved a lot. We will do better this year.

I love this Ad

2009-06-14T11:35:00.004+08:00

There was a time when I watched a lot of television shows. From cartoons to music videos, drama to comedy series, movies to teen shows, documentaries to home shopping shows; I've watched them all. And nothing is worse than spoiling my t.v. time than annoying, badly-produced and written commercials.

Thanks to creative minds of people, now there are television advertisements that go beyond promoting products. Not only do they catch the viewers' attention, they also instill good values especially to children. One of those commercials is the one below. I hope companies and advertising agencies will produce more ads like this one. I am not posting this to promote the product; I just love the concept behind it.

"The Educated Man"

2009-06-14T01:01:00.008+08:00

I was glad when I found a copy of Former Senator Jovito R. Salonga's Speech at Silliman University way back in 1964. In the said speech, he presented his view about an "educated man". Known for his greatness in speech and as a man of ideals and morals, Ka Jovy as most people call him, described what makes a person educated. Let me share with you the words of Ka Jovy.

"When I use the term "educated man," I do not mean the individual who has memorized a thousand facts and assembled in his mind a million data, on the basis of which he has earned a string of academic degrees. I do not mean to minimize the importance of memory, for it is stating the obvious when I say we should be able to observe, sort out and remember relevant facts so we may have a sound basis for each judgment. Of Themistocles, it has been said that he knew by heart the names of twenty thousand citizens of Athens; and Cyrus, it is recorded, knew every soldier in his huge army. Indeed, how refreshing it would be for our youth to learn by heart Jesus' inimitable Sermon on the Mount, the magnificent soliloquies of Shakespeare, the unforgettable dialogue of Plato and in our own land, the lofty language of Arellano and Laurel, the trenchant outbursts of Manuel Quezon and the elegant prose of Claro M. Recto. How inspiring it would be for our young men and women to remember the historic landmarks in our struggle for freedom — from the heroism of Lapu-Lapu to the lonely battle of Del Pilar at Tirad Pass, from the field of Bagumbayan where the young Rizal met his tragic death to the dark dungeons of Fort Santiago, where the youth of the land suffered a thousand times and met a thousand deaths! Nor do I minimize the significance of degrees and diplomas in a degree-conscious society such as we have, except to emphasize the danger of mistaking a degree for intellectual worth. A college graduate has once been described as one who at the end of his studies is presented with a sheepskin to cover his intellectual nakedness.

When I say "educated man," I do not refer to the skilled engineer, the able trial lawyer, the talented musician, the gifted writer, or the expert surgeon. Far be it from me to underrate the importance of skills and talents. Sometime ago, I made reference to the fact that while we have abundant natural resources in this country, we do not have sufficient skills to make this country great. Japan is relatively poor in natural resources, with land scarcely enough to sustain her tremendous population, but despite a war that laid waste her towns and cities, she has recovered and come back with greater vigor because she has a people of abundant skills.
But I would like to submit the proposition that one becomes a great scientist, an able lawyer, or a noted writer, only because he is first — and pre-eminently a good man. An abundant talent employed to serve an evil end is a prostitution of divine endowment.

What, then, is the educated man? Is he the man who has read a lot? Partly yes, because his reading is serious and discriminate and uplifting. Is he the man who remembers many facts and events? Partly yes, because the training of memory is a wholesome discipline that requires effort and application and because one cannot make a sound judgement without respect for remembered facts. Is the educated man, then, one who because of his skill is able to provide for himself and his family? Partly yes, since education should teach us how to make a living. But there is one thing we should always remember and it is this — that far more important than the making of a living, is a living of life — a good life, a meaningful life, an abundant life.

The educated man lives this kind of a life, because he has opened the windows of his mind to great thoughts and ennobling ideas; because he is not imprisoned by the printed page, but chooses to make a relentless, rigorous analysis and evaluation of everything he reads; because he is less interested in the accumulation of degrees than in the stimulation of his mind and the cultivation of a generous spirit; because his interest is less in knowing who is right but more importantly, in discerning what is right and defending it with all the resources at his command; because he can express himself clearly and logically, with precision and grace; because he is not awed by authority, but is humble enough to recognize that his best judgment is imperfect and may well be tainted by error or pride; because he has a deep reverence for the inherent worth and dignity of every human being, as a creature of God; because he has a healthy sense of values, a breadth of outlook and the depth of compassion which a purposeful education generates; because whenever he talks about good government he is prepared and willing to sacrifice himself for it; and because he lives a life of relevance to the world in which we live, a sharing in the problems of his time and doing whatever he can with intelligence and fairness and understanding.

p.s. Thank you to The Jovito R. Salonga Journal where I got the words of such a great man.

The Student Teacher

2009-06-13T14:45:00.004+08:00

I breathed deeply and then knocked on the door. Gently I opened it. I then saw a wooden table located on top of a wooden platform where a woman was seated. I smiled and greeted the woman. She told me to enter the room. I introduced myself as I handed her my letter. She opened and read what was written on the short bond paper. As I stood beside her table I shifted my eyes and started to survey the entire room. Mentally I started to count and arrived at around forty armchairs.

"Sir, magtuturo po ba kayo(Sir, are you going to teach)?", one of the students seated in the front row asked.
"Hindi(No).", I answered.
"Mag-oobserve lang(I will only observe).", I added.

The woman seated at the table on top of the platform addressed the class.
"Si Mr. John Audy Ibarreta ay student teacher na mag-oobserve sa klase niyo. Lahat ng ma-oobserve niya irereport niya sa principal. Yung mga nasa likod, pakibigyan siya ng mauupuan(Mr. John Audy Ibarreta is a student teacher who will observe your class. All his observations will be reported to the principal. Those who are seated at the back, kindly provide a seat for him)."

I thanked the teacher and as I made my way to the seat provided for me by the students, the teacher added,
"Sir, lahat ng maoobserve mo ireport mo ha, kahit yung negative(Sir, report everything that will you observe, even the negative things)."

I then smiled and replied,
"Yes, Ma'am, I will do that."
I breathed deeply and took my seat. That was my first day of my observation. Before the semester ended, I handed my fifty-paged report to my professor in Field Study 1.

I am now finished with observing classes. This semester I will be into Practice Teaching. Similarly, I will be nervous and excited on the first day but unlike last time, I am more excited than nervous. This is a test for myself. A test if I will be able to handle a class, to deliver my lesson well and establish a good relationship with students. Now it feels like I am more of a teacher than a student; but never will I forget that I am still a student. I am still learning like the rest of the class where I will be assigned. Come to think of it, even I am already a professional - licensed, practicing and all, I will always consider myself a student. A student teacher.

Greatest Teacher

2009-06-12T21:39:00.005+08:00

If you found the video funny and hilarious then you are just like me who laughed so hard after seeing it. If you did not laugh then you must be dense or numb. If the you pitied the model then I salute you for sympathizing.

Clearly a model whose career is to walk on runways could still tumble and fall. A news anchor whose duty is to deliver news could still make such remarks on television. Let me relate that to our profession. Teachers commit mistakes too.

It is human nature to commit errors. In the field of Science, 100% accuracy could never be achieved. In acting, not every scene could just be in one take. That is why there are errors in experiments and bloopers when the end credits roll.

It was Alexander Pope who said, "To err is human, to forgive divine." This quotation is popular for many people swear by it even without the knowledge of the one who said it. Actually there are those who use it as an excuse in committing something wrong, all the time.

Perfection may be impossible but I for one am tired of using humanity as an excuse for being unwise in decisions and for doing the wrong thing. Some see "falling for the first time" as excusable but "falling the second time" is just plain stupidity. I sometimes think so too. But let us not stop at the first part of Pope's words for the second part is more important.

To forgive is easier said than done. How can you forgive someone who cheated on you? Who does very bad things but gets away with it? Who is the reason why you are in pain at the moment? How about a murderer? A rapist? A corrupt official? A drug syndicate?

Once there was a father who has a son. His son loved other people so much. He loved them more than he loved himself even if the people did not love him back. Then one day the people killed the son. They tortured him. They were angry at him. Worst, they crucified him.

"Seventy times seven" is the number of times one should forgive his brethren. A great teacher said this. If we take it literally, this would mean 490 times but the teacher meant that forgiveness is unlimited. Personally I consider him as the greatest. In him I see a teacher who is forgiving, patient, motivating and humble. While most of us are fond of correcting the mistakes of others, he not only corrects but also forgives. When a student of his falls, he would help his student and give another chance. Patiently he waits until his student finally learns.

Quotation and Reflection

2009-06-12T15:29:00.004+08:00

Today's quotation from Desiquotes: To teach is to touch lives forever.

Reflection: As I reflected on this quotation, I recalled all my teachers from the time I was in Day Care up to present. Surprisingly, I could still remember all their names. Maybe I have a good memory. But then as I recalled each name, a certain moment in my past flashed through my mind, an instance wherein I felt the "touch" of my teacher. The flashbacks ranged from the non-verbal: smile, a nod of approval, a two thumbs up, a tap on my shoulder, to the verbal: "very good!", "nice work.", "ang galing mo!", "the best ka talaga."

From there I continued to recall not only the subjects they thought me but how they made the subject interesting and enjoyable. Along the way I also remembered teachers who were angry most of the time, who were very strict, who gave difficult exams and who may be branded as "terrors". I could still vividly remember the feeling of being nervous, of not being able to speak even if I have an answer, of wanting to go out of the classroom and of hoping the class will soon end.

Then I found myself smiling and saying, "I learned from all of them and here I am." In one way or another, my teachers imparted to me a part of themselves; I carry them now and will carry them for the rest of my life. I chose to learn and carry with me the positive things. I will disregard and leave the negative to the past.

When I stand in front of the class, again I will be reminded of my teachers; my mentors who taught me well. I would like to make them proud of their former student. Like them, I will touch the lives of my students and impart to them positive things about me.

Prevention

2009-06-12T13:18:00.001+08:00

It is said that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Thanks to advancements in the field of Medicine, a lot of dreaded diseases could now be prevented through education and vaccination. By being immune and aware of the causes, symptoms and preventions, we have a fighting chance against such diseases.

This morning my family and I got ourselves vaccinated and tested. My father was tested for prostate cancer while my mother, my brother and I were vaccinated for flu and pneumonia. My sister also got vaccinated against flu, pneumonia and HPV.

HPV of the Human Papiloma Virus causes genital warts and some even cervical cancer. Women are encouraged to get vaccinated to protect themselves against such viruses which could cause to cancer.

The infamous A (H1N1) already brought a lot of scare to everyone, even delaying the start of classes at the tertiary level. The erratic weather that we are having are making a lot of people weak, causing colds, fever and flu.

The Department of Health is in full alert now that the country is facing A (H1N1) and Dengue. Dengue, through the years has already claimed a lot of lives especially children. We should be alert and fight these diseases. Let us live healthy and clean our environment to eliminate the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that carry Dengue. Let us prevent these killers before they could claim more lives.

When I was a high school sophomore, I contracted Dengue and got confined for nine days. Ten bags of blood was needed so my platelet count would not drop. Through those nine days I knew things could get worse and I could die. Most of the patients in the other rooms of the hospital were transferred to Manila because their condition worsened. With a lot of prayer and hope of surviving, my body was able to fight and eventually I recovered. So this is actually my second life.

Hope for Future Teachers

2009-06-12T01:38:00.002+08:00

I came upon this editorial at Philstar entitled "Children Teaching Children". In the said editorial, two students of Gumapak Elementary School in Tuy, Batangas namely Nichole Ashley Basco and Jean Karen Bayaborda are teaching their fellow students after the school supervisor asked for their help to address the shortage of teachers.

While there are a lot of unemployed and underemployed in our country, there is still a shortage of public school teachers especially in the provinces. The meager salary, large class size, insufficient school facilities are some reasons why a lot of college freshmen shy away from the teaching profession. In our University alone, the number of students in the College of Education is relatively low compared to other colleges. Then there are teachers who choose another career path in order to sustain their family's everyday life. As a student myself and one coming from a lower middle-class family, I could not blame them. These are trying times and most of us are just being practical.

I think there is another problem and that is the number of qualified teachers. There may be a lot of graduates but if they are not qualified then they will not be able to practice the profession. A quality pre-service training is needed by those who want to become teachers.

The bill which aims to increase the salary of teachers gives hope to the future public school teachers of the country. If passed, teachers will have more reason stay and more students will consider entering the said profession. Kudos to those students who are helping their teachers and their fellow learners. You inspire us future educators to stay true to our calling - The Noblest of All Professions.

Flashbacks

2009-06-11T00:33:00.000+08:00

*I would like to apologize for using the vernacular in this post. There are just some events in our lives that are best told in our native tongue.

Flashback --> Grade 6 sa Angeles University Foundation:
May nagdemo na practice teacher sa Math.
Ang naaalala ko, ang paksa ay Volume of Solids.
Gumuhit ng cube sa pisara.
May mali sa drawing niya.
Hindi mukhang cube, parang trapezium na three-dimensional.
Nagtinginan kami ng mga kaklase ko.
Alam naming mali ang iginuhit.
Ngunit walang nagtaas ng kamay upang sabihing mali ang drawing.
Nung matapos ang demo, sinabi ni Ma'am "Bakit hindi niyo kinorek yung drawing kahit alam niyong mali?"
Nahiya kasi kami.

At siguro sa panahon na yun, dahil nasa Grade school pa lang, mataas ang tingin sa teacher kaya ayaw ikorek.
Kakahiya rin naman kasi ang ganun.

Flashback --> Second year high school sa ACHS - SSC
Nagbigay ng quiz ang practice teacher sa English.
True or False: "Mahabharata is the longest epic in India."
Buong klase ang sagot ay TRUE.
Kasi totoo naman na pinakamahabang epiko sa India ay Mahabharata.
Nagkataon lang na ito rin ang pinakamahabang epiko sa buong mundo.
Ang sagot ng practice teacher: FALSE.
Sabi niya kasi hindi lang sa India kundi sa buong mundo.
Nagkagulo sa klase.
Lahat kinontra ang practice teacher.
Sabi ng isa kong kaklase, "Ma'am edi sana ang statement ay Mahabharata is the longest epic ONLY in India."
Ayaw pumayag ng practice teacher, ipinilit ang sagot.
Kinabukasan, pumasok siya sa klase at sinabing tama ang sagot namin.

Sa high school, palaban ang estudyante.
Kung mahalata nilang hindi mo masyadong alam ang itinuturo mo, ipapahiya ka nila.

Isa pang flashback:
Maingay ang klase.
Biology ang subject.
Wala si Ma'am pero nandiyan ang practice teacher.
Binawalan kami ng practice teacher.
Dedma, nag-ingay pa rin.
Kumuha ng yeso ang practice teacher at nagsulat sa pisara: PLEASE KEEP SILENCE.
Binasa namin ang isinulat.
Tumawa ang mga tao.
Lalong nag-ingay.
Si practice teacher ayun umiyak.

Kung mahina ang loob mo, huwag na huwag maging high school teacher.

Nung nasa high school pa ako, mahilig magbigay ng "nicknames" ang mga estudyante sa mga teacher lalo na pag ayaw nila ito.
May bininyagan na "Snorlax" dahil mataba at nakakaantok, "Kirara" dahil maitim ang kulay ng balat at "Magician" dahil nagsuot ng damit na kulang na lang magic wand at kuneho puwede nang magshow.
Pati mga practice teacher hindi nakatakas dahil sila rin may nicknames.

Huling flashback:
Yung practice teacher sa Asian History kamukha daw ni Roderick Paulate kaya patagong tinatawag na "Sir Roderick" o "Sir Roda".
Isang araw sa klase, naroon ang teacher na si Sir Masangcay at ang practice teacher na si Sir Roda.
Tinawag ang kaklase ko sa kadahilanang hindi ko na maalala.
Basta nagpapaliwanag siya tapos sabi niya, "Eh sir sabi kasi ni SIR RODERICK ganito ang gagawin..."
Nagulat ang lahat.
Tanong ni Sir Masangcay, "At sino si Sir Roderick?"
Lahat lumingon sa kinatatayuan ni Sir Roda.
Tahimik ang klase.
Nagpipigil tumawa.
At doon nalaman na Jun pala ang totoong pangalan ni Sir Roderick.

Next semester practice teacher na ako.
Nakahanda na ako sa lahat ng puwedeng mangyari.
Excited na ako.

The Newsletter

2009-06-10T23:12:00.001+08:00

Once again I was late for my first class thanks to the weather. Too bad I missed half of my classmates' report which was favorable for them because they didn't want me to ask questions regarding their topic.

With a smile on my face and sweat on my forehead I entered our adviser's office-turned-classroom. Every late student should enter the classroom smiling and trying to be cute to lessen the professor's ire for being tardy. Our adviser smiled upon seeing me. I guess she got accustomed to my tardiness. I smiled back. My classmates were halfway through their report with the rest of the class listening attentively.

A few seconds after finding a seat, one of my classmates handed me a copy of our newsletter. At last, after two weeks of preparation, interviews, writing, editing, rewriting and lay-outing, we were able to revive the newsletter. Then I found myself reading and not paying attention to the report. I didn't even raise my hand to ask questions.

On the last page, I saw the editorial staff box, there it was, my name with the title "Associate Editor" under it. A feeling of fulfillment enveloped me. How many times we printed a sample of the newsletter but those draft copies pale in comparison with the finished one. I felt proud that two Education students are editors of the newsletter and another two became contributors.

Before the class ended, we were asked to give our two cents worth about the topic - Speaking. My turn came and with a beaming smile I apologized first for being late and second for being inattentive.

"No matter how many times I've read and re-read the contents of the newsletter when it was still in its developmental phase, it feels so different after seeing and reading the finished copy.", I said.

So the newsletter was out and we received a lot of comments from the administration and school personnel. From what I heard they gave us a satisfactory mark. Not a bad start for us. There is a lot of room for improvements and we are all up to the challenge. Next issue will be on July.

Will I Use Calculus?

2009-06-10T22:36:00.000+08:00

Last month my classmates and I witnessed and participated in at least ten demonstration lessons of aspiring applicants for various teaching positions at school. Our adviser, Ms. Rowena De Guzman who happens to be the Principal of the Grade school and High school department was so kind in letting us participate actively in each demonstration.

Most of the applicants finished M.S or M.A. which for me was more than enough to be qualified for a position. Come on, finishing a bachelor's degree is one thing but pursuing post-graduate studies is another. Although having a Master's degree does not translate to being a "master" in teaching, I have such a high respect for professionals, especially teachers who are industrious and dedicated enough to finish post-graduate degrees.

Anyway, our adviser had papers to fill out in evaluating each applicant. All applicants were rated in different aspects - from delivery to grooming, motivation to assessment of the lesson, etc. I placed myself in the shoes of the evaluators and "evaluated" the applicants using my own personal criteria: first, if the lesson is difficult like in Math, the applicant should be able to make it easier for us to understand; second, if the lesson is easy and familiar, the applicant should have a new technique or strategy for us to enjoy the lesson more.

I found myself solving equations in Algebra, discussing sayings in Filipino and asking questions in Chemistry while "evaluating" the applicants. Sadly most of the applicants weren't able to pass my so-called standards. One of the things that I observed was most of them had a difficult lesson. Again I had no problem with the difficulty if they made it easier to understand. But no. They made what looked complicated more complicated. So why teach in the first place?

One applicant used Calculus in deriving the formula for velocity. He said that a student should have a knowledge of Calculus before taking up Physics. Then again, one need not a thorough knowledge of Calculus to be able to understand the derivation of the formula. My Physics professor did not use the "derivative of x with respect to time" in defining velocity. If she did, I bet most of the class would have bled to death.

My point: if there is a way of making the lesson easier for students to understand, why make it look so difficult? I believe there is a way of presenting the formula for velocity and other concepts in Physics without using Calculus which is a higher level of Math.

I then asked myself,

"If I were the teacher doing the demonstration, will I also use Calculus in my lesson in Physics?"

Teachers have freedom in choosing the method, strategy and technique in teaching the subject, for that, teachers have different ways in presenting the same lesson. For some reason, a hectic schedule or extra work, many teachers settle for worn-out methods in teaching which may be ineffective for students nowadays. Many could not see that students five years ago are different from the students at present. Then there are teachers who present lessons in such a way that it is difficult to understand.

If the students did not understand the lesson, then the teacher failed. I read that there is no teaching if there is no learning. This is so true. Teachers should adjust to their students and not the other way around. One of my professors told us, "If you need to sing and dance in order for your students to understand the lesson then do so."

My view of teaching may be too simple, naive even, but in designing a lesson plan, I always think of students who are inattentive, those who have failing grades and those who are "slow". It may take me hours or a whole day in designing for it is not easy, and it may be trial and error at first because there is no best strategy or technique in teaching; but in the end, I know it will be rewarding.

Oh by the way, my answer to the question awhile ago is a big NO.

This is the Beginning

2009-06-10T20:18:00.000+08:00

Last night, two students came up with the idea of creating a blog site for the students of their beloved College of Education.

A lot could be said about the life and journey of becoming a teacher.
The lessons, the experiences, the process.

With these, two students thought of having an avenue where would-be teachers can express their thoughts and experiences about their life and journey.
They thought of having this blog as a place of convergence of effort, creativity and thinking; a place where student teachers could express and exchange ideas resulting in learning from one another and reflecting within themselves.
Furthermore, through this blog, student teachers will be able to showcase their talents and skills in writing.
Instead of letting creative works like poems and essays gather dust in paper, posting and sharing them to other people online is a better way of keeping them.
Also, student teachers will find helpful blogs from other teachers and online resources for research, further learning and reflection.

Having said that, we, the students of the College of Education of National-U start this blog.

A Poem About Teachers

2009-06-10T19:45:00.000+08:00

We would like our first post to be a poem about teachers.

Why God Created Teachers

When God created teachers,
He gave us special friends
To help us understand His world
And truly comprehend
The beauty and the wonder
Of everything we see,
And become a better person
With each discovery.

When God created teachers,
He gave us special guides
To show us ways in which to grow
So we can all decide
How to live and how to do
What's right instead of wrong,
To lead us so that we can lead
And learn how to be strong.

Why God created teachers,
In His wisdom and His grace,
Was to help us learn to make our world
A better, wiser place.

p.s. Our thanks to Salem Homes for this poem.