July 23, 2009 - Posted by donihak_saplo - 0 Comments
Hearing the talk given by a speaker in one of my classes inspired me..
With the discussions, I learned that students learn best when student-centered learning is being promoted in the classroom. I personally agree with this because it would really cater the different types of learners. It’s another way of giving chances to students having difficulty academically. Most traditional schools go for exams that are done through paper-and-pencil alone. I think with this set-up, it would be limiting to the students to explore their potentials and skills. With student-centered learning, all kinds of learners are considered. The answers are not attained through the teacher, rather explored by the students. This type of learning is not spoon feeding the kids with the learning they need to acquire. I believe that it would be meaningful for the students to get answers by themselves rather than just receiving from the teacher. Having this kind of learning in the classroom makes the role of a teacher a facilitator. Facilitating in the class would mean doing less talking, listening more and allowing the students to attain learning using their preferences. I find this very important because it gives students the opportunity to speak their minds and develop their potentials and skills.
I looked back in my student years from elementary to college and I found out that I was able to experience traditional styles of teaching from my teachers and I could remember having bad days in school. The traditional style of teaching may work for some subjects for me but not all. It’s just now that I realized how important it is to be involved in the class. Being involved would mean learning things using all my senses. I believe I’m more inclined visually and kinesthetically because it’s not enough for me to just listen to a discussion. I need to work on things by seeing and literally doing them.
After hearing the testimonials of Mrs. Rowena regarding her experiences outside the country, I was able to see and feel how it is there. I know it’s very hard to teach nationalities that are different from ours and how to gain respect and trust from them. That is why I admire the teachers who are there working their hearts out for these kids. It’s just so sad to know about the situation there. She said something about being tough in class and that’s one thing I want to learn in my preschool class. I know I should not be strict in class but I want to make it balanced between being true to my word because there are times that I consider my kids even if they commit mistakes. I can’t deny that when it comes to children, I have a soft and considering heart most of the time. Lately, I learned that there are times wherein I need to be tough and a little strict with them because if I don’t, then, they would not be listening and obeying me. In a class, I believe there should be a structure everyday to help the students learn and practice organizing themselves. Being organized would really help them become successful in their student life and for the future.
The speaker also discussed on Living Curriculum and that is to teach with excellence. I browsed the material given to us by the speaker and I learned a lot. It reminded me try my best to be a good teacher to my students. Our M.A. class wasn’t able to join the entire part of the seminar but we were able to hear a little of her talk on substantial topics. There was a part in our class that she asked us to form a group of four and come up with a chant about what kind of teachers we will be. Our group formulated a lyric containing the thought of becoming listening teachers instead of talking ones. Our group tried to emphasize that it would be meaningful if we let the students come up with answers than giving it to them. Actually most all the topics discussed in the talk were helpful and vital for teachers and parents. A simple thing such as having love for the kids was stressed in the talk.
There was a point that our speaker pointed out that struck me most and that was to have love for the students. I strongly agree on this because without love, I don’t think a teacher would be able to function well and become effective in promoting learning and success among students. I am thankful that I am working in a Christian School wherein all of the employees are Christians. I am very new to the teaching career and I sometimes feel what I’m giving to my students is not enough but there is one thing I shouldn’t forget. I should constantly remind myself to wear a smile and carry a light heart everyday. I believe this would work if I consider my students being part of me and making my life as if I’m one of the responsible people for their development. Being serious in the teaching career is important because it requires commitment and trust that a teacher can either make or break a student. If it’s only for the sake of teaching the lessons and not care about the students’ individuality, then, I think the teacher is not successful and happy enough with the work. I believe it’s really love that we all need everyday. A little of love for every child can make things work. It can help children build and attain their dreams. Thus, love is one of the ingredients needed for effective and substantial teaching.
July 23, 2009 - Posted by donihak_saplo - 9 Comments
The topic on Multiple Intelligences wedged my consideration on how I teach my students everyday. It helps me gain more understanding on how kids learn. I believe that all of us have different sets of learning styles. One strategy may work for a child but not for another and this is why it is important to put into consideration the children in a class who are academically delayed. Those who cope in class a little slower than the average should be guided and assisted constantly. Attention, understanding, love and affection should be provided for these students. These are the things they need for them to develop, function well in class, and become successful individuals in the future.
Aside from assisting them the necessary prompts in class, it is important to provide activities that would supply their different abilities, strengths and inclinations. The theory on Multiple Intelligences explains how people learn differently, thus, having varied strategies and activities used in classrooms are considered. It may not be paper-and-pencil tests alone but also providing students activities that will develop and enhance their abilities through their intelligences. With this approach, it is not limiting for the students because the outputs of the activities doesn’t necessarily be delivered orally or written because other inclinations are considered. The outputs can be conveyed through a role play, drama, written or oral report, drawing, or dance depending on the child’s interests. With this, the strategy is helping the child discover his or her talents and interests.
I find the topics under Multiple Intelligences very interesting because it gave me the chance to appreciate how students come up with ideas in a number of versions. Though the thought is the same, but the presentations are varied. This is how interesting the class would become if the teacher is sensitive and considerate enough to handle the contrasts of preferences among students. This is the time where the students can showcase their talents and enhance them. Who knows that through this, the kids’ abilities will be discovered and somehow inspire other learners to do well in their lessons.
There may be some who doesn’t agree with the MI theory but I personally agree with it. Some are claiming that the theory suggests that the intellectual aspects considered in class are taken for granted but actually the theory is only stressing that the things we should learn in school can be explained or expressed through different means. The critics are saying that it focuses on the abilities and not the intelligence of the child but I think the abilities that they are referring to are really intelligences. I believe a person is considered intelligent enough to be good in dealing with the people and one’s self. Being intelligent doesn’t necessarily mean being good academically.
Another topic was discussed and that is on the holistic approach for teaching linguistically and culturally diversed students. I find this topic very relevant. Aside from the good presentation of the reporters, I also gained a lot of guidelines on how to consider diversed students in a class. I haven’t tried teaching a class with students coming from varied cultures but with the reports, I was able to see the picture on how it is like. There are points the reporter stressed that it is important to first know who the students are. Knowing them is very important because it would help the teachers on how to deal with these kids. Studying their cultures, economic, educational, and family backgrounds can provide the teachers on what to consider with these kids.
Having different cultures in a class can provide rooms for misunderstandings among students and teachers. It also affects their interactions and in abiding rules for class behaviours. With varied cultures, these kids may not be using the same language, thus, resulting to confusion of the content being studied in the class. This is why careful consideration and understanding from the teacher is needed.
Understanding the second language learning of students is very vital for success in schools. It was emphasized that it is not easy for the second language learners to cope up with the discussions in class. So it is the responsibility and concern of the teacher to be considerate with these kinds of students. I see this topic relevant because I can relate it with my teaching experience. I have second language learners in class and I know that patience and understanding are important for them to become achievers. I have students who can converse and express their thoughts by using the vernacular. I’m sometimes having a hard time extending my patience for teaching the lessons to these kids using the English language but I don’t want to give them a limitation on learning the lessons because of this concern.
July 23, 2009 - Posted by donihak_saplo - 0 Comments
I appreciated the topic on Affective Issues because I can see the importance and usefulness of the guidelines being presented. For the point on providing the ELL students with activities that help them understand the topics being discussed in class, I can see the focus of the procedure to cater those having difficulty. It suggests that the teachers are not limiting the gauge of a learner’s ability to comprehend a lesson. With the use of the journal and making it interactive can really help the students communicate and express themselves well. With this, I believe gradual improvements can be visible to students if given the chance to expand the means of expressing themselves. I feel sad for teachers considering only the students who can orally answer questions accurately and gives less meaning to the answers of the students having difficulty expressing themselves in English. I think it’s not only the understanding of the lesson being enhanced here but also the relationship of the teachers with their students. If the relationship is open, wherein the students can openly share their thoughts and raise questions, there is a big possibility that the students would not feel inferior or scared of their teacher. This is one thing I would want to stress to teachers that it’s a must to make the students feel comfortable in their classroom.
Another point is that I find it very important for teachers to use concrete examples for their discussion so that the students will have a high percentage in grasping, or relating to the topic being discussed. Not only to use examples which students can relate well, but also considering the point on making the students feel being part or active in the class and this is why in my preschool class, I really find it important to provide my kids quality circle time with their classmates and teachers. Through quality circle time, the kids will be able to express themselves freely and learn a lot from their interaction with classmates.
Our school tried using alternate grouping strategies in our school. We have a child who was diagnosed with ADHD and we tried to let him join the big class but it doesn’t work. The school provided a program for him, wherein he would first join a smaller class with a maximum of 4 kids then if progress is visible, he can begin joining the big class. During activities in the big class, he will first work with a partner and if he can get along well, he can have more kids joining him in activities. With God’s grace, he was able to overcome some of his difficulties and became sociable with his classmates. From there, he is more capable of learning and improving his skills and abilities.
I have students having difficulty expressing using the English Language and I also have students who can speak English with comprehension. At first, I find it very hard to let my ELL learners understand what I’m saying or asking them. I begin to get impatient in getting the correct response but later on I realized there are even points in my readings that I find hard to understand the sentences or instructions I was reading. I try to always bear in mind that these kids are learning and it would be very hard for them if their teacher isn’t considerate enough for them to understand the second language.
It is also important to consider the family members’ participation. With constant practice of involving the family, there is a great tendency that the students’ parents or the students will help each other in any way. The support given by family members may not only limit in the classroom programs but outside as well. This is a good start for parents and students to work for progress and development. Holding high expectations for all learners is one of the ingredients in attaining success in school. This works for me as a preschool teacher. Even if they are just young kids, they are still capable of being affected by the expectations their teachers have for them. This is why the teacher can either make or break the students. I try to master the use of encouraging kids that they are capable of anything and can do the things they want to attain or achieve. A simple praise or encouragement can bring out the best in a child.
I know it’s hard to teach students to write, read and speak in English and at the same time teaching the content knowledge. That’s why I find it important for the teacher to be considerate and creative enough to modify a curriculum to suit the needs of the students. I believe this modification can be done generally or individually. I appreciate what our teacher in one of my M.A. classes did because she revised and modified the curriculum provided by the school. She does this to cater the needs of students. It’s a plus point to have the initiative as a teacher to do this because not only that the students under her class find the topics familiar but also appreciate the art of modifying or rewriting a curriculum that could best fit the learners.
The elements mentioned about Instructional Conversations are very useful for me because it reminded me to give importance of the art of questioning and answering inside the classroom during discussions. I’m reminded to maintain an atmosphere wherein all learners feel accepted and heard. I appreciated the Mainstream and Sheltered class conversations between a teacher and students because through these, I was able to see what difference it would make if the discussions are being guided and handled properly. It is very common for my class to have remarks or answers from my kids that are far from the topic being discussed that’s why I think it would help my kids if I try to closely monitor the discussions in class. Overall, the topics discussed are vital and helpful for me as a teacher. I’m looking forward to learn more about the topics in line for discussion in the upcoming meetings.
July 23, 2009 - Posted by donihak_saplo - 1 Comment
The second day of reporting was a bit intense for me because I was able to come up with a new set of realizations as a teacher. During the course of the discussion, the reporters gave insights and tips on how to go with their classes and I was able to jot some of the points. I appreciated the topic on learning strategies because it basically talks about the guidelines needed for effective teaching. I’m very new with my work and I learn with the people I work with everyday. I gradually understand the essence of effective teaching from the discussions in this class. I am inspired to start my class organized and with a happy mood because I believe being unorganized and cheerless in class can affect the kids’ enthusiasm to learn. I begin to wish I only hold 5 kids in a class because I want to focus more on the development of each child. I don’t want to end my day without making sure that my students had substantial learning from their daily lessons. I want to make the most out of my kids by knowing, monitoring, guiding them individually. I feel so sad when I end my class without even knowing if they had fun or learned something from our discussions. The topics of the reports somehow reminded me to give my best in teaching the young kids. Handling 11 kids in a class is huge for me because there are times when I can’t manage and guide them appropriately and this is why it’s very helpful for me to review the guidelines in using the different learning strategies. A learning strategy may be effective for one child and not for another. Basically, teaching is very vibrant because I believe it depends on the teacher handling the class. This is when I see the essence of a teacher in a class. They say, “A teacher can either make or break a student.” I believe in this statement because the teacher can greatly affect the learning motivation of the student. That is why I always remind myself about this because I believe kids look up to their teachers. They even imitate or listen to whatever their teacher say. This is where my responsibility as a teacher comes in. I try my best to be gentle and encouraging to them. I don’t want my students to see me as someone who is strict and close-minded, instead, someone they want to talk and be with. Using the correct set of strategies can really help cater the kids to their development. I want to be confident enough in handling my kids especially during classes. It’s very hard to get their attention and trust. It may take a long time before we could work together and proceed. I don’t want to be too confident that I end up believing in myself. I want to be confident enough by being flexible and creative in maintaining harmony in the class. It is also important to consider the pacing of each child. Without noting the pacing of the class, they is a huge possibility that the teacher may fail in attaining effective learning among the students. This is also hard to manage because the entire class can either slow down or speed up depending on the level of each child. I also think it would be unfair for one child to be left behind in the class discussion because he or she wasn’t able to master a particular topic. This is why it’s important to learn the skill in using learning strategies in school because this will serve as the pathway to develop the kids’ potentials. I also appreciate the use of the higher order thinking questions in the classroom because this will help the students use their minds in thinking big.
July 23, 2009 - Posted by donihak_saplo - 1 Comment
I find this course very interesting. Not only with the subject but with my classmates as well. I learned a lot from them. Their testimonials are realizations and tips for me. Being new to the teaching career, I really find it advantageous to be part of the class. I sometimes feel I’m too young for this class because most of my classmates had years in teaching but this doesn’t hinder me from learning and understanding the nature of this career. Among all the subjects I took, I consider this as one of the substantial and fun class. I realized a lot from the testimonials of my classmates. Since most of my classmates are new to me, I somehow find ways to mingle and know them. After the rapport-building prior the discussions, I realized that I am very blessed because I only handle 11 kids in a class. Comparing to them, I don’t think I would be able to survive in their setting having 70-80 students in a class. After knowing that, I keep on asking myself, “How would one teacher know and monitor all those students?” From that day, I always feel grateful that the Lord gave me a number of kids which can be manipulated and handled easier. I have two classes with 11 kids per class and even with this small number of kids, I still can say it’s hard to go on like this. I even thought of changing my teaching career but from this class, I learned a lot. I begin to appreciate more my students, fellow teachers, boss, and teaching profession. When the class discussed on the hierarchy of positions, I was able to understand the directress in our school. I’m not saying she’s strict and all. Instead, she’s warm-hearted, kind, soft-spoken, organized, and considerable which I should be very proud and thankful for. I understand her trying to keep up on something with the DepEd and the way she is addressing those concerns to us is in a very polite way.
There are four principal elements in the language learning/teaching process namely the community, language teaching profession, teacher and the learner. I begin to understand how the roles of each are. The community plays a vital role in paving the way to education because it provides the needs of the learning process. Here comes the argument over the overcrowded classes, low standards of teacher recruitment, lack of books and materials, examination neurosis and etc. This is very sad because these, indeed, are happening. I just can’t imagine how one would go about his/her lessons facing a lot of students in a small room. I begin to appreciate the efforts of many teachers having this kind of set-up every day. I know how hard it is to lack one book for one of my students, and comparing to their experiences wherein they only share books. A ratio might be 1 book per 3 students or more. This is so hard because the teacher won’t be able to monitor and guide all those students sharing a few books. Thus, learning might be impossible to take place or flourished. Again, I was reminded of how blessed I am to have my education different from the situation mentioned above. I remember to have all the books for my subjects, having my own chair in the classroom, having a manageable number of students, and most especially having good and competent teachers. How I wish all kids would at least experience the good life of schooling.
Nowadays, some or most of the kids are not paying much attention to education. Some factors would be parental, environmental, emotional and etc. This is very true for some kids because the parents themselves are discouraging their kids to go to school and learn. I really understand how my parents encourages me to take up all those units and courses because they are emphasizing to me that education should me my treasure for life. I should not take it for granted and I know that valuing education can somehow help me have a stable life in the future.
An ideal teacher for me is God-fearing, passionate, polite, creative, patient, skilled, and committed but how do we multiply the number of teachers having these qualities? I think it’s important to have this consideration first because it’s the teachers who would be teaching the kids every day. Some of the kids might be spending more time in school than at home and that is why it is this important to have qualified teachers for them. One point I would like to stress is the importance of having a teacher that is kind and passionate enough to encourage his/her students to come to school, learn, and achieve success. For me, it would work if my teacher is encouraging me about something which I can’t imagine attaining. This approach can be helpful to most kids and that’s why at home it’s important to remind the parents to be encouraging with their kids in school. I believe that if a parent has low expectation for his/her child, eventually, the child would also have low expectations for his/her self. How other people think about a particular child would greatly affect his/her perception of his/her self. This is basically a challenge for me to encourage my kids to be motivated in learning in school with their classmates. This one day class is too heavy for me because I realized and learned a lot from my classmates and teachers but this paper is not enough to equate all the thankfulness I’m feeling for my parents, teachers, classmates, students, and God.
July 23, 2009 - Posted by donihak_saplo - 0 Comments
“The elderly usually don’t have regrets for what we did, but for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets.” -Rose
(A big sigh) Indeed. It’s only the things we did not do make us fear death. We can’t turn back the time to make up for the things we failed to do. This reminds me not to waste every second in my life. I asked myself, “What are the times in my life I considered wasted?” Then I realized I wasted my time on procrastinating, fighting and worrying. As I looked back, I can say that I worry, complain, and argue so much. I think this isn’t healthy at all. I get sick because of worrying and doing nothing with the things I can’t change. I’m glad to realize how blessed I am to be this young. Young enough to do what I can.
Reading the story of Rose makes me appreciate the pressures I’m having right now with my work, family, and personal life. I can remember how my parents encouraged me to pursue with my studies. After graduation, it’s all about school, school, school. Having my work now, it’s again school. I realized that it’s true that most people fear death because of their regrets. I’m thankful that my mother helped me see how important education is. I was so young that time that I failed to see the essence of finishing my studies. With no regrets, I can say it is all worth it.
I loved the assuring message on the last part of the story which says, “God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.” This is so comforting because the road we all are passing through isn’t smooth at all. It is expected that we feel pain, discouragement, and experience failures. Without experiencing the bumps along the journey, we won’t get the chance to become grateful with everything God has been blessing us. In fact, we all should be thankful from the day we had our first breath.
July 23, 2009 - Posted by donihak_saplo - 1 Comment
THE STORY OF ROSE
The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn’t already know. I stood up look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming at me with a smile that lit up her entire being. She said, “Hi, handsome. My name is Rose. I’m eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug? “ I laughed and enthusiastically responded, “ of course, you may!” and she gave a giant squeeze. “ Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?” I asked. She jokingly replied, “ I’m here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of kids…” “ No, seriously,” I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age. “I always dreamed of having a college education and now I’m getting one!” She told me. After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Everyday for the next three months we would leave class together and talk non-stop. I was always mesmerized listening to this “time-machine” as she shared her wisdom and experience with me. Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she revealed in the attention bestowed upon her from the students. She was living it up.
At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I’ll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, “I’m so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I’ll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know.” As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, “We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor everyday. You’ve got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. WE have so many people walking around who are dead and don’t even know it! There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don’t do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do a anything will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn’t take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change. Have no regrets. The elderly usually don’t have regrets for what we did, but for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets!”
She concluded her speech by courageously singing, “The Rose.” She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives.
At the year’s end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it’s never too late to be all you can possibly be.
When you’ll finish reading this, please send this peaceful word of advice to your friends and family, they’ll really enjoy it! REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY, GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL!
We make a living by what we get! We make a LIFE by what we give. God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings you to it. He will bring you through it.
July 23, 2009 - Posted by donihak_saplo - 0 Comments
“The time for love is now… not tomorrow… ‘coz tomorrow might not be there.”
-Leo Buscaglia
True. The time for love shouldn’t be taken for granted. It should be cherished and shared. I believe love is one thing that will never run out in our hearts. No matter how cruel the world is, I think all of us can at least share a little love everyday. The simple example cited in the talk of Dr. Buscaglia regarding giving a “hello” to the person next to you, opened my sensitivity for other people. Who knows? My simple gesture could give hope to someone. At least with that thought, I can breathe happier.
Putting laughter in our lives could make impossible things possible. It can even replace the hatred in our hearts with love. It is not good to waste our time with things that can only make us sad or regress. It is better to do the work now and not wait for tomorrow. I believe there’s a possibility that regrets can kill people. A regret that I consider very painful and unforgiving is not doing the things that I am ought to do. Hope we won’t reach the stage in our lives wherein we can say it is too late for everything.
