Uygongco Foundation Incorporated Scholars

     Hi there! Here I am again sharing my thoughts and reflections on another school year that has ended. 

     

     This year, I was assigned to be the adviser of the class in which majority are scholars of Uygoncgo Foundation  Incorporated. This foundation has been one of our school’s major stakeholders, and has given scholarships, provided feeding and educational programs and donated equipment and infrastructures to our school. One of the reasons why I decided to accept the advisership was the armchairs they donate to every class the UFI scholars are into. I was glad that they did donate armchairs for my classroom thus making it more comfortable and conducive to learning.

     This batch I must say was more manageable. I had less problems with regards to their absences and study habits since most of them are beneficiaries. Though the usual naughtiness was still there, I didn’t get stressed that much. Most of the parents were as well cooperative and were easy to deal with.

     This year, we also did some income generating activity because we planned to buy a TV set. We sold candies and fortunately, together with our PTA fund, we were able to acquire one. We were also thankful that the General PTA of our school sponsored the frame for our TV set to protect it from getting stolen.

     I am still teaching in a university after my class, so this year, I felt that my students were quite distant from me. This personal issue has been chronic and I have been thinking about this since last year. Before, I am used of having some students wait for me after class, but for this year, again, there were none. I actually had no time to stay at school after class because I needed to report to my moonlight class. I once again ended the school year feeling that I could have done this or that. I questioned myself if I have done enough, and if I really did leave a mark on their lives.

     If there is one thing that I learned for the school year is that the life of a teacher is a cycle. It goes round and round. Students come, students go. I have come to realize that I need to gradually accept this fact. This way, I won’t get saddened of my students leaving and at the same time embracing the idea that if they do move on to the next chapter of their lives, I myself must also move on.

P.S. Next year, I decided that I will no longer pursue my moonlight teaching job. Practically and professionally, the job was necessary, but personally, I felt unfulfilled. I hope I made the right decision and be positive for the coming school year.

Seminar-Workshop for Illustrators and Graphic Artists

     One of my greatest childhood dreams is to become an animator/manga artist or a children’s book illustrator. Aside from teaching, my passion and shall I say, my “God-given” talent is drawing. I have been drawing since when I was two or three I think. My father was an upholsterer, and he used to lay leatherette on our floor. The other side of the leatherette was actually my first canvas where my father taught me to draw elephants and other animals. Animals then turned into human characters like angels and saints (not kidding, I love to draw cherubs and archangels, Mama Mary, St. Antonio and many more…hehe...talking about how religious I am, or was?..hehe). At about 11, I became an otaku and turned my drawing style to anime. When I was in high school, I was a regular contestant in poster making contests (and bragging aside, I usually end up in top three places). In college, drawing helped me a financially since I usually was asked to draw SIMS for my classmates whenever we had demo teaching. 

   

    All my techniques are self-taught. I remembered going to National Bookstore just to read “how to draw” books. I didn’t watch TV that much back in high school and all I did was to be in my room drawing and drawing until I get contented with my work.

    Now talking about my present job as a teacher, it became obvious among my colleagues that I was quite good in drawing. My bulletin boards which I posted last time caught a lot of attention whenever my colleagues come in my room, and because of this I started to become a judge or a coach in poster making contests.

    My break in drawing actually started when my former teacher and now a colleague asked to illustrate a big story book for her. It was a story of a fairy and a cat. I said yes since it was Christmas vacation and I had nothing to do and of course, a fulfillment of being a children’s book illustrator. To make the story short, our LRMDS (Learning Resources Management and Development System) supervisor got impressed with our work that the big book with my illustration got approved for display and reproduction in our division. It was also followed by another two story books all of which also got approved.

My first big book illustration...I forgot the title sorry..heheh

My second drawing..Ang Damgo ni Miyo (Miyo's Dream)

    Last September, I was honored that I got chosen to be one of the representatives to attend a regional seminar-workshop for illustrators and graphic artists in our region. The seminar was held in Magic Island, Guimaras which was the same resort where we had our faculty summer outing last 2015. There was a typhoon at that time and we actually had second-thoughts if the said training will push through. Thank God we got to our venue safe and sound despite of the bad weather. The seminar was attended by more than a hundred participants from Panay and Negros Island Region.

    The seminar-workshop was my favorite seminar so far. It wasn’t cerebral but more of a development and a showcase of our drawing skills. We were taught how to illustrate based on the guidelines given by the Department of Education in making textbooks and learning materials. We were also trained how to use computer application like Photoshop to efficiently and aesthetically improve our drawings.

The drawing I made during seminar,,,"Lupad Pinalangga" (Fly, My Beloved)

     I got a specific style when I drew my illustration and I decided to stick with it in every book that I do so as to have my own identity as an artist. And I am happy that my fellow illustrators appreciate my work. They called it “doodling” but I thought I was doing zentangles. One illustrator commented that my work has similarities to those with “award-winning” children’s story book illustrations in the country. All I do was to smile and got embarrassed because I don’t think I am that good. If my drawing will be placed side to side with the work of other artist, my drawings are amateurish though it has specific style. Perhaps this made my illustrations unique from others.

   What I love the most about the seminar is the conglomeration of such talented people. I am not saying that I am “talented” but I felt “belonged”. It is so nice to be surrounded with people with the same talents as you have and whom you share a common passion. And the best part of this is the fact that each artist respects each other. Each artist has their own style and to necessarily compare each is futile. Hopefully, there still will be another seminar similar to this and I will still be chosen to attend…hehe…

   

Magic Island Resort, Guimaras, Philippines

     

    
     As our summer getaway, our faculty went to Magic Island Resort in Nueva Valencia Guimaras. From Iloilo City, the trip was a 15-minute motor-banca ride to Guimaras island, a more or less 1-hour road trip from Jordan wharf to Nueva Valencia and a 15 minute-ride to Magic Island  Resort itself.

    The resort has a major island and a second one. We were accommodated in the second island which was more private since the island was reserved only for us. It has five rooms, each with 6-person capacity and a bathroom. Aside from the rooms for overnight use, there were also cottages for day guests. We also had our own videoke machine for 5 pesos per song and rented mahjong for 100 pesos until the end of our stay.
     We arrived just about lunch time. We were served with garlic crabs, caramelized shrimps, and fish sinigang with pineapple juice as our drink. The food was great especially the seafood. It tasted fresh. I can taste the ocean which I usually look when eating seafood.

      The major island has a beach with coarse white sand for the guests to enjoy. Our island, though private, has no beach or shoreline. If the guests want to swim, there is a stair down for them to do swimming. Anyway, the water is not that deep depending on the tide. In fact, during low tides at dusk, guests can cross from the the resort's major island to the nearby mainland. You can actually see intertidal creatures like starfishes, jellyfishes, seaplants, slugs etc. exposed in their habitat. I just would like to emphasize however, that the sea is their territory, not ours. Just observe and look at them, and avoid taking them out of their habitat just for the sake of taking selfies. 

    At dinner, we were served with grilled liempo, sweet and sour fish and talaba. After eating, some of my colleagues went back to their usual videoke and had hard drinks which they ordered from the major island. (The food, the drinks and other necessities can actually be brought from the major island through motor banca in which guests can go to and fro for free depending on the schedule). I, on the other hand, just enjoyed looking at the night sky and its countless stars while lying in a native hammock. As night went deeper, the perfect view of the bright moonlight shining above the sea and the hills was really relaxing. 

  The next day, we went island hopping. We saw a lot of islands with variety of shapes depending on one's imagination like turtle and crocodile islands. We also got the chance to stop over an island with a sort of cave and crystal clear water. 

      Perhaps my most favorite part of the trip was our stopover in a sort of submerged sand bar with powdered white sand just like in Boracay. However, what amazed me was how it was very isolated and no human habitation was visible. It was uncorrupted and only the neighboring islands and lush green trees in the mainland can be seen in the view. According to our guide, it is under the care of the University of the Philippines which I was glad to know because I was hoping the place wouldn't be developed for commercial use. The place was so tempting that even some of us who had no intention of getting wet were enticed to have a swim. It made me so proud of the Philippines that this paradise is just kilometers away from home and we were blessed to be given with this beautiful God's creation. 

    At lunch, we packed our belongings and went home.  

    I think what also stood out in our stay was the exceptional hospitality of the staff. The man who assisted us whom we taught to be just the motor-banca operator was actually the owner's brother. The owner was as well very humble and the staff members were friendly and approachable. They really treat their guest with utmost importance and hospitality. 

    In terms of the accommodation, the rooms where we stayed were just newly constructed so it was clean and neat. If I could suggest something, perhaps it would be that their bathrooms should have something (sorry I don't know what it is called...hehe) to hang the towels and clothes on when changing. The windows in the bathroom are a bit lower so one can actually see the upper part of the head of the person inside especially if the light is on. I hope they could put curtains on the bathroom window to provide more privacy...hehe..

          Over-all, our one-day stay at Magic Island costs 1, 300 including 3 meals, 2 snacks island hopping. This package is available in groups with a minimum of 4 or 6 (notsure..hehe)  people. I think the price is very affordable and reasonable.  

Teacher Essay: Paglalayag sa Puso ng Isang Bata

        Hey there, it’s march one again and I just passed by my blog to update the readers out there that I am still alive..hehehe…Anyways, my main reason why I posted here is because I wanted to share my reflections and thoughts about a school year that has passed. I think some of you might have missed me being a discusser of LET topics but I’m sorry to tell that I have finished through that stage. I am now a full-fledged teacher so if I ever would be posting something in this blog, it might be most probably about teaching and my experiences as a teacher. Don’t worry, if I get inspired, I would still post some LET topics. You might wonder about my  title. Just read on and you'll realize why...hehe

       I actually love the batch this year because most of them are really characters inside the classroom and perhaps in the whole grade level. Since they were all characters, I think there were a lot of dramas happened. This reasserts my love for teaching because I actually enjoyed the “unfolding” of events everytime there is a drama. There were crying, shouting and fighting because of irreconcilable differences amongst some of my students. All I could do as to sigh and be calmed as I tried to settle things. This year, I did a lot of “pep talk” with my students and I found this effective both as counseling and disciplinary tool.

     On a more serious note, this year was my first time to have an accident involving one of my students. He accidentally slipped on the floor while playing and broke his arm. I honestly felt guilty to the point that I wasn’t able to sleep for a couple of days. I find myself responsible because I could have avoided that incident to happen. A part of me tells that I could have done something to avoid the accident. I could have asked my students to do seat works or just be seated and not to play (I usually have a “play time” for my pupils as part of my reward system). While a part of me tells that accidents are accidents…and no enough “what ifs” could turn back time. All we can do is to move forward and correct our mistakes and make sure that no accident again will happen. However, what struck me the most as a teacher is that I need to take utmost care my students. It made me feel more responsible because we are entrusted by their parents to take care of their kids and to protect them from any danger. A student, no matter how unattractive, naughty or dull, is a precious child in the eyes of his/her parents.

     The most significant thing I think I realized this year is the fact that being liked as a teacher is different from being valued. Students may say that they like you but they may not value you as a teacher. Being liked sometimes results to familiarity and thus most of the time breeds contempt. You know our school just recently opened middle high school levels. I was quite excited about it because some of my students would not be enrolling in other schools anymore and I could see them everyday. Now I have this bunch of students who always say that they want to go back to grade 6 because they liked me a lot. When I do my classes, they were always at the door or peering at the window of my classroom. I was a bit happy about the feeling of them visiting me quite often. However, it became annoying and distracting to the flow of my lessons because they were butting in as I talk. I tried to tell them that this is inappropriate but they keep doing this for several times. One day, I was full about their behavior and I tried to count 123 until they go away. As I count 1, one of them sarcastically butted in saying 2. I didn’t initially get mad at them rather I was forced to go out of the classroom and tell them to go away. However, one of my older students in that class got angry at them and said I deserve respect. I just then realized that I actually got disrespected and I felt embarrassed in front of my class.

     About the value over like idea, I did a sort of test. I tried to experiment if they would try to win me back if I got angry with them. If they truly “value” me as their teacher, I suppose they would apologize to me or perhaps show that they were sorry for what they did. This experiment was actually inspired by my favorite short story of a teacher and a boy which I actually posted HERE!!! YOU'LL LOVE THE STORY...HEHE. This was in Filipino so let me share the synopsis in English:

   There was a boy who always does things for the teacher without the teacher telling him to do so. After the class, when all his classmates are rushing out to go home, the boy always remains and arranges the seats and places the teacher’s slippers in its proper place. After doing these chores, the boy never neglects to say “Goodbye teacher!”

     The teacher grew affection and closeness to the child, and both of them develop a friendship. But one day, the teacher, perhaps because of personal problems or stress that day, yelled and somewhat hurt the feelings of the boy. The teacher felt remorseful about what she did to the boy. On that day, the boy still did his usual tasks, but didn’t look nor talk to the teacher. After all the work has done, the boy left the classroom quietly. This saddened the teacher a lot. She knew that she expected the boy to say goodbye to her. But after what she did, she is more worried that it caused a rift between the two of them. However, to her surprise, the boy went back, and said “Goodbye teacher!” Time seemed to stop for the teacher. She realized that at that moment, the boy became her teacher.

     Now, going back to my test, when this group of students tried to standby at my classroom door, I raised my voice and told them to go away. I quite assumed that they know I was mad at them (though this is just acting for the sake of the test…hehe..) and perhaps they might realize that they did something wrong. I also quite expected they would perhaps do an effort to make amends for what they did. But….they did nothing. What happened next was that they didn’t greet me anymore nor approach me. I don’t know why maybe because they were afraid or shy to approach me because I got mad at them, or I wasn’t significant enough for them to do efforts to win me back,  or maybe they just didn’t care. Was my experiment successful? Perhaps yes. It only asserted that they may like me, but I am not the teacher enough for them to value me. I remembered we had a teacher back in high school, she got angry at our whole class and most of my classmates were in tears. Our class really wanted to win her back and we were very sorry to that teacher because we valued her. But in my case, that didn’t happen. Hehehe….These students, as of the date of posting, didn’t anymore approach me perhaps because of whatever reason unknown to me. Am I saddened? It is hypocrisy to say no. As I always say, every student that I have always has a space in my heart. For them to act that way a bit saddened me. However, as long as there is but one student who values me as a teacher, this is more than enough for me to still love teaching. The thought of still having just one or perhaps a lot of students who value me as their teacher compensates the “loss of some of my sheep”. Perhaps I would just let time do its job. Perhaps in the near future, these kiddos would approach me once again. And who am I not to respond right?  

     Bottom line, some of our students may like us. But never let this be a reason for them to do things that that will break the boundaries of respect between teacher and student. Don’t let respect be compromised for the sake of being liked as a teacher.  Yes, we may be their friends, but I think any friendship won’t work without mutual respect.  Yes they may feel too comfortable or familiar to us, but they still have to remember that we are their teachers. Teachers, that if they truly value, deserve as much respect even they are not under our tutelage anymore.

(P.S. Perhaps others may say that I am presumptuous to expect that my students owe an apology to me since I am not their teacher anymore. Don’t get me wrong. As a teacher, I don’t want to expect something from my students especially those who already have passed through me. I expect nothing for everything I have done for them. If they would still remember me, then I am grateful. If they change and do not, I feel noble. I think this is also one of the reasons why teaching is a noble profession-it is unrequited.  And noble professions like being a soldier or a priest, or a teacher, include selfless and unreciprocated service. Students pass through us and go on with their lives, and it is their prerogative whether or not they would still acknowledge us after they have left our classroom. We have done our part anyway.)

     Now, I am very happy to present to you my batch this year. I have two students who have cleft chins like Taylor Lautner or Ben Affleck or Jude Law, one who has a big forehead like Tyra Banks, one with sleepy/lazy eyes like KPop stars, one who has the voice like Alvin and the Chipmunks, students named Julia Robert and Diana Ross, and a whole lot more. This batch is star-studded!!!hahaha

Security Bank Teachers' Training

     I felt privileged that I was chosen to be one of the delegates of our school to Security Bank Teacher's Training in Cebu City, Philippines. This training is just one of the series of trainings aimed to improve teachers' skills and competence in teaching various subjects. I attended the seminar-training on Mathematics since I am the grade 6 Math teacher in our school.

Together with my coteacher, Maam Arpa...This was at the lobby...

     The venue of the training was Betania Retreat House. This is actually a retreat house run by nuns. The place was very peaceful and solemn. I was very happy that I had my own room which was a perfect place to learn and to relax at the same time. Also, since I was chasing the deadline of my thesis, the place was really perfect that I was able to pass my thesis on time. But wait there's more...they have a free wifi...hehehe....
     The training was divided into two groups: primary and intermediate. I belonged to the intermediate group since I teach grade 6. Our resource speaker was Maam Virgie from Ateneo de Manila. I really liked the way her discussion went through because there were a lot of activities and rewards..hehehe...She tried to present the topics with activities and not just her talking and talking. She also gave us prizes for winning groups which made me excited..hahah..(I'm just after for the rewards..joke).
    I learned a lot in the training especially the various ways in presenting and teaching Math lessons. Our speaker gave us more than enough of ideas for us to apply in the classroom. She also presented the current trend in Mathematics education like the Singaporean Method which uses higher ordered thinking skills and constructivist approach to learning.

My co-participants from Iloilo City with our resource speakers at the center..Maam Virgie is in yellow and Maam (I forgot her name sorry...hehehe) in black and white...

    Overall, the experience was great and productive. Aside from the training, we were able to stroll around Cebu City and bought pasalubongs. (I just bought a green Sto. Nino for my mother and a few packs of Rosquillos..hehehe).In fairness to the venue, I couldn't ask for more. The food was great because they cook their dishes themselves no to mention the atmosphere was serene and was really conducive for learning, The speakers on the other hand were competent and approachable. And most of all, the organizer, the Security Bank Foundation, who made this possible, was very generous. They shouldered all our expenses going to and fro Cebu City, plus we were given freebies and extra pocket money. Of course, we were as well very grateful for the learning experiences and the opportunity to improve our competence as teachers.
      I am just amazed on how this big company, like Security Bank, is very humble and generous enough to help and invest in education. Some companies just want to increase their revenues without social responsibility. The bank is just an example to the cliche that in great wealth, comes great responsibility. I think they never neglect that with their wealth and power, they can actually bring positive changes to the world by helping improve the quality of education.  My highest respect to the people who are behind this noble endeavor.
     This doesn't just end after our training. We have the responsibility as participants to share what we have learned to our fellow teachers and at the same time apply these to our own classroom teaching, I think it is just a way of paying forward.

P.S. Here it is..applying what I have learned..hehehe...again thank you to our speakers and Security Bank!!!!

Buwan ng Wika 2014

    Last month, we had the culminating activity for Nutrition Month. This month, in celebration of Buwan ng Wika (National Language Month), we had the "Pista sa Nayon" where again, my students and I had a simple feast in our classroom. I was glad that my students never failed to cooperate in this activity. Bragging aside, and with all due respect to other sections,our class always has food to be shared compared with other sections in our grade. The food may not be a lot or extravagant, but this makes our section share a lot of fun memories as we consume and eat together the food that we prepared.

    It is really a joy to watch capturing my students in photos. I just enjoy the candidness of their shots and how they exude the energy and fun of being a child. These moments will never be exactly repeated so I always see to it to capture every moment. When they grow up, I hope these will also bring back a lot of happy memories of childhood and them being my students.

The student at the leftmost is Carlo. He loves doing wacky and funny faces. I don't know why but whatever he does to his face, he still looks cute...hahaha

   By afternoon, we had the coronation of the celebration king and queen,or the "Lakan and Lakambini ng Wika". And I was very proud because my student was the runner-up.

The future Miss Universe together with the adviser...hehehe

Of course, class groufie with our muse....hehehe

   P.S. I forgot to mention that this year's theme is "Wikang Filipino: Wika ng Pagkakaisa" (Filipino Language: The Language of Peace).

Nutrition Month 2014

        
     This year's theme for the celebration of Nutrition Month 2014 is "Kalamidad paghandaan: Gutom at malnutrisyon agapan!”. According to the National Nutrition Council, the 2014 Nutrition Month Theme aims to uphold interventions in addressing the nutrition needs of the Filipinos extending from preparedness, response, recovery and rehabilitation phases. Moreover, it stresses a public responsibility to develop an attitude of “I am ready” especially among the most nutritionally vulnerable population and hazard-prone areas in the country. It is believed that underpinning nutrition awareness is a great key to better prepare and efficiently respond to Nutrition in Emergencies!

     Every Nutrition Month, our school holds feeding activity where students bring nutritious dishes for the class to share. I like this kind of co-curricular activity because this proves that school is not just lessons lessons lessons rather fun and enjoyable as well.
     I was very happy on how cooperative the parents are since most of my students brought a lot of food for our section. Aside from sumptuous food,  (wow sumptuous!) the students also had the opportunity to have bonding time since we eat together as a section.

Our "sumptuous" feast...heheh

Oishi!!!!

    

Stop eating and pose for the camera....

 

Of course, I also need to have a pose with my students...hehehe

   By afternoon, we had a culminating program where some of the students showcased their presentation related to the celebration. 

Pupils enthusiastically waiting for the program to start

    Overall, this day was a lot of fun and filling as well.This was the first celebration I had for the school year together with my new students. I am looking forward for the next celebrations we will be sharing for this school year. 

Teacher Essay: Accepting Your Students

     Hellow, hellow, hellow! Long time no posts! Any updates about me? Of course, I have not yet finished my thesis! hehehe... Anyway, graduation comes once a year and, I can't help but to share my thoughts about another year finished.
   This year, the group of students I had is quite different compared last year. Most of the time, I tend to believe that every school year is like a new season of a reality show. New contestants, new stories, new dramas. This is also one of the things I like about teaching - spontaneity. It is like every single day in the classroom is a new episode in a reality show. Going back to my students, this bunch is less mature both physically and mentally. I find most of them cute because they don't look and act like sixth graders, rather more of 3rd or 4th graders. This I find quite challenging, because they are a bit difficult to control.
    This year, I realized that teachers should not be personally angry to students. They may be naughty or talkative sometimes or even most of the times but as students and as kids, it is part of their nature. It is natural for students to be noisy at times, to play while your are not around, etc. Don't be angry and treat this as a big deal. We are teaching kids, not robots. We must not expect total silence from our students. They are kids. They are humans, so they talk. Never learn to dislike or hate them because of their misbehavior. I said this because some teachers start to dislike teaching because they dislike their students. And they are just dragged to teach because of the salary. It is a hypocrisy if I say that never did I get angry with my students. But always, if this is unavoidable, I explain why I got angry. If a teacher gets angry and students are confused why, they will never get the point or the lesson you want to inculcate to them.Of course, everything that is in excess is wrong, so we need to teach students to control their "naughtiness". But as teachers, we need to forgive the students. We must love them as they are. Teachers are not perfect, but so as our students. Sometimes we tend to see our students imperfections but neglect to see ours. Hate the sin, but not the sinner.
    Second, as teachers, we have an inclination to be fond of students who are smart, well-behaved, pretty/handsome, etc. But this year, I realized that we should also have a sincere attention to those students who are the opposite. I would not say the words but you know what I mean. I have to be honest but sometimes, I tend to play favorites. But never did I make this obvious but I do have favorite students...hehehe....However, I always adhere to the idea that as teachers, we are teachers to all kinds of students, smart or not, pretty or ugly, whatsoever. (This is also one of the reasons why I took up Special Education as may master's because of this philosophy.) And I said sincere because we should not give them the attention because we have to, but  because we care and love them as our students.
     Lastly, since I am teaching in sixth grade, I find it a bit hard knowing the fact that you are the last teacher that the students will have before ending their elementary years. I don't know why but the idea of them leaving and going on with their lives bit saddened me. I know that it is impossible to let them stay for the rest of their lives. But I am just hoping that at some point, I was once significant to them and has inspired them for the good. I may sound sentimental again but perhaps because I consider every student a part of my heart, and not just my memory. Every mingle and interaction with them is sincere and not just because it is "work" or "I am getting paid" mentality. In contrast, I am also happy and excited for what will they become in the future. I think the these thoughts and feeling overpower my sadness of them leaving. I am thrilled to see them grow and become who they want to be in the future. And I would be very ecstatic to see them successful or have grown even better.
   Here are my harvest this school year...League of Legends-inspired (because they are as naughty as minions and as impulsive as the heroes)....try to find me...hehehe....

Teacher Essay: A Pivotal Turn

     Hello there!!! After how many months of hiatus in posting, here I am again just to pass by my own blog. I am sorry again and again if I rarely post because things have changed a bit to me personally and professionally.
      First, I think I am a little burnt out with my thesis that I became less motivated to finish it as I was before hehehe. Before, I was very impulsive and hasty to finish my graduate school so that I could apply in a higher education institution. But sometimes, things just don't go as planned. As much as I wanted to finish in respect to my time table, I couldn't because of the external factors that were beyond my control. What were these factors? You know...conflicting schedules, thesis advisers, resource persons, etc...Honestly(and bragging aside),without these constraints, I could finish my thesis in less than a month. Second, I am now happy and fulfilled as an elementary school teacher, and so I have little changes with my priorities.  Before I started teaching, all I want for myself is to be an academic, a scholar, an expert of my field. But then as I went along being a teacher, I realized that the best teachers aren't necessarily the most intelligent. I think there is an "X-factor" for one to become a good teacher; one that can inspire and can motivate students to learn.  I know some teachers who are eloquent yet failed to win the hearts of the pupils. Some have excellent teaching skills yet students feel coerced. While there are teachers who do not necessarily have exemplary background yet are well-loved and appreciated by the students. I don't know what this "X-factor" is, and honestly, I am still on the process of developing myself to have this X-factor and become a good teacher. Perhaps this might be one of my unconscious reasons why I am less motivated to finish my thesis (hehehe). I feel that God has given me a lot of blessings (which include a considerable amount of intelligence), but I think that as a teacher my priority now is  to educate my pupils and not just myself. I know that some might say that I could make myself and my pupils educated at the same time, but what does priority mean in the first place? A thing that is regarded as more important than another. And my priority.again, educate my students and make them self-reflecting individuals. Inspire them and motivate them to learn so that in the end they will become persons with character and values. Lastly, in my state of being a teacher at this moment, my achievement for me is no longer about the medals or the awards that I receive just like when I was a student,nor a master's or doctorate degree. I think I had enough of that. My achievement is knowing that my students learn something that they never knew before; seeing the spark and happiness in their eyes when I tell them inspiring stories; to be trusted and be able to hear their stories and most precious secrets; and soon if I get invited in significant moments of their lives like wedding or their child's baptism. hehehe. I don't know if I sound too sentimental but this is what I think and want to share to my readers, and to present and soon-to-be teachers. Some established teachers may have different beliefs and philosophy. But for me, teaching is never just teaching per se. It is never just discussing the lesson or solving grades. Teaching is more than that. You can never say these unless you become a true teacher yourself.

By the way, here are my harvest for the school year 2012-2013. I am very proud of them.

P.S. (Don't worry..I still will finish my thesis..hehehe).

Teacher Essay: Why Take Up Education

        

     

Throwback: College days during our Organic Chemistry class...

         I ask myself many times why did I take education as a course. Is it my choice? my parents' choice? or no choice? Let me just take the second question out and leave the rest of the two questions with a tie. I took education perhaps it was my choice and at the same time, no choice. Why my choice? It is because I love to share what I know (and perhaps the reason why I made this blog myself). I find my knowledge useless if not shared to others. According to Dalai Lama, "Share your knowledge. This is a way to achieve immortality." And what job would best fit this "calling" of mine is of course to pursue education, to become a teacher myself. Now, on the second question, why no choice? Because if given the chance, I would also love to enroll in a different course.  I want to enroll in fine arts, architecture, music, law, computer engineering and the list doesn't stop, but because of financial constraints, I can't. Most of you might agree but I think education course is one of the cheapest courses a student can enroll in college. This is also one of the most common courses being offered with scholarships.

       Furthermore, I chose education course because it is also practical. When one enrolls in education, you become a jack-of-all-trade. After graduation, aside becoming a teacher, you can be a trainer, a human resource officer, a customer service representative, an office staff, a receptionist, tutor and many other job opportunities. Perhaps this is because that part of being a teacher is to become gregarious, to become more social and to deal with various kinds of people, not to mention being trained with various kinds of situations. Remember that when one becomes a teacher, you will deal with many students, each with his/her own uniqueness, the parents with various personalities plus the superiors and administrators and stakeholders. Every day in the classroom or in school is like a microcosm of everyday challenges in the society.

wahahaha......

      One important point I also considered was the fact that the world never runs out of school. Schooling or education is almost a necessity in all parts of the world. A teacher can find a school to teach given his/her competencies and credentials. In the corporate world, businesses or establishments may close and are most of the time, age-bias. In education, private schools may close but never public schools. Age is never an issue. The older a person is, the more respect and dignity is given to him/her as a teacher.

       To be honest, it is actually ironic that I became a teacher when in fact most of my heartaches and sad experiences happened in school and were caused by some of my teachers in the past. However, no matter how painful these experiences were, these made me realize that there really are good and bad teachers. And I will always remind myself that I will never be a bad one. I may be imperfect but I always try to reflect on my words and my actions toward my students. And through this blog, perhaps I could share my reflections and practices in teaching that would be helpful to all the readers interested in this blog. I hope you can find this blog useful to you, teachers and soon-to-be teachers.

         Finally, for new and old teachers alike, let us learn to love this profession no matter what. Becoming a teacher is not a desperate move in the first place. Whether it is your choice, your parents' choice or no choice, one thing is for sure: you will love teaching. You will later realize how fulfilling it is as a profession. Love teaching and teaching will love you more.

Teacher Activities

      Hi..I made this post because think that the "About Me" section of my blog is already a bit outdated. Over the past months, lots of activities have happened to my teaching experience. Let me share some to you.

The most recent. This was during the Iloilo City 75th Charter Day Celebration. We teachers danced in the streets of Iloilo City. What do you expect? Teachers should be good dancers right? 

My co-teacher's wedding. 

Reunion with my elementary school classmates.

Mentoring the Mentors with other teachers from other schools.

Teacher Essay: Reflections on Teaching

       Teachers nowadays are required to have a portfolio. This portfolio is a collection of everything about a teacher: his/her credentials, achievements, linkages and many other important and relevant information. Part of this portfolio is for the teacher to write his/her reflection on teaching. And let me share to you my own personal reflection and insights about teaching which I have written in my personal portfolio. These reflections are actually the views and philosophy I uphold about teaching as far as my experiences, values and my principles are concerned. You may or may not agree with me...

Teaching for me really isn’t just a profession. It is a vocation. It requires self-sacrifice, and being able to offer oneself for the sake of the students. This job may not be one of the highest paid jobs in this world, but I think it is on top of the most rewarding and self-fulfilling job man has created. It is so because teaching creates other professions. This may sound cliché but this really is true. We will never have doctors, lawyers, architects and any other profession if not for a teacher who has painstakingly taught us and saved us from ignorance.

Being a teacher as far as my experience is concerned has opened my eyes to a lot of things. A teacher who may have exemplary credentials on his/her back can never be sure if he/she will be successful inside the classroom. It hit me in my head that I should not be complacent about myself. That there are things I need to improve and change about myself. I need to think creatively, innovatively and resourcefully in order to make my class successful. I need to prepare each and every day. Every day is always a brand new day. What happens inside the classroom is always unpredictable.

For me, a true “called” teacher isn’t just a person who teaches and comply all the things required by the curriculum. It is very true that to be a teacher, one has to be competent: an expert of his/her subject matter, has a command on the medium of instruction, a manager of his/her own right inside the classroom and has mastered the art of pedagogy. And I think these teachers are many. However, I can’t ignore the fact that to be a teacher, one also has to have the right attitude, the enthusiasm to teach, the respect to the dignity of the teaching profession, the care and love for the students, and to love learning itself. And I must say these teachers are rare. How I wish that I may belong to these rare finds.

As a teacher I wish to win the hearts of my students. I want them to be inspired, to be genuinely motivated to learn. I want them to remember me as a kind of teacher who has made them learn not by coercion but rather by inspiration. To be honest, I would rather wish to win the hearts of my students than to win the hearts of my superiors. I teach not for my superiors to be impressed of me. I teach for my students. They are my honest and sincere critics. This drives me to improve myself more and more every single day that I am a teacher.

The mediocre teacher tells.  The good teacher explains.  The superior teacher demonstrates.  The great teacher inspires.  ~William Arthur Ward

I personally believe that teachers are most remembered not on how they have made students learn, but rather on how they have made the students feel. And because of this, I learned to be very sensitive with the way I deal with my pupils. I learned to let them feel the care, concern and warmth of a teacher. I may sometimes hurt my students’ feelings intentionally or unintentionally, but I hope they know that learning sometimes is a painful process. We have to offer sacrifices and that includes giving up our old, comfortable but wrong ways. And to wake ourselves up from these wrong ways, we have to slap our face (and I don’t mean this literallyJ). I sometimes do this not because I want to but I have to.

Based on my experiences, I learned that we need first and foremost to motivate our learners. As Horace Mann said, teaching learners without motivating and inspiring them is like hammering a cold iron. As a teacher, I need to make them appreciate and develop the love for learning. They will never, ever learn unless they allow learning to occur in their minds. Learning is an experience which occurs inside the learner and is activated by the learner. This poses me a challenge, that as a teacher, I really need to think of various, creative and enjoyable activities that can arouse my students’ desire to learn.

Finally, I personally adhere that teachers nowadays must focus on the moral and the value side of learning. Yes, it is true that we need to make our learners competent, equipped with all the skills and knowledge necessary for them to become globally competitive. However, we need to mold well-rounded individuals, future citizens that can raise and morally recover our world’s present condition. It is through values that our learners can create meaning and connect the content and skills they learn to their lives. That they can use their learning for the common good, and make positive changes not only to their lives or family’s lives, but rather to other people as well, and to the world as a whole. Without focusing on values, we teachers may create persons with big heads but small hearts, intellectual giants but emotional dwarfs.

To end this, I hope and pray that God will provide me more strength and power to fulfill this mission. Sometimes, part of being a teacher is accepting the reality that not all students will appreciate you. Some students may not listen to you, some will just forget you and the worst, some will disrespect and back-stab you. And as a human being, this weakens me as a teacher. But like God who was also a teacher Himself, He never hated His students despite the neglect and betrayal He experienced. I hope that I can also be the same despite of my shortcomings. Bearing in mind that teaching and making others learn without asking in return is enough as a reward itself.

A teacher's purpose is not to create students in his own image, but to develop students who can create their own image..  ~Author Unknown

My Another Anime-Inspired Bulletin Board

   Another bulletin board uniquely found in my classroom (bragging aside..hehehe).

A Glimpse of My School

          Here are some snapshots of my alma mater now my workplace, the A. Bonifacio Elementary School. This is where I learned my first ABCs and 123s and now I am giving back what I owe to this place.

The statue of the great Andres Bonifacio. One of the great heroes who fought for Philippine freedom.

The way to the covered court. One of the improvements in our school. This was before a pond filled with swamp cabbages during rainy seasons.

Bulletin Board Business: My Naruto-Inspired Math Bulletin Board

       

      I said in my previous post that I will give you a tour to my humble classroom. And I would like to present to you my Naruto-inspired Math bulletin board. As much as possible, I would like to present my subject in such a way that my students will be interested with, and at the same time reflecting my own personality. I think it would be very effective if the lesson or the topics will be presented using children's interests like their favorite TV shows. In this bulletin board, I presented the overall topics about Math VI and with Naruto saying "Math is Cool!!!Wohoo!!!". Hopefully, if given the time, I can make my second bulletin board but this time, Dragon Ball-inspired...hehehe

Visavis: My Substitute Teaching Experience

     
         After the rankings for teacher applicants in our division were announced, I was blessed enough to immediately have my assignment as a substitute teacher at Iloilo Central Elementary School. Coincidentally, this was where I also had my internship when I was still in college, and I was a bit glad to return in the school where I had lots of good memories.

        I was tasked to substitute a Grade 6 Filipino teacher. I felt everything happened so fast that it was 2 pm when I received a text message instructing me to report to the division office, then at around 2:30 I was talking with the principal, and at around 3 pm, I was already attending a teachers' meeting! Adding up to the coincidences, I was surprised that the pupils who I will be handling were also the same pupils I had during my internship!
        This added to my excitement since I know that I'm familiar with them and vice versa. I was also happy to see them again, but now as grown ups being in Grade 6 and as pubescents.
     

(I think that's all...I find it too personal sharing this in the net. I'm kinda afraid that someone who are familiar with the people involved in my story will be talking this to them. hehehe...Just to wrap up this story, I really learned a lot in my 2-month tenure as a substitute teacher at ICES. I have to be honest but my experience there had been a pivotal turn for me not only as a teacher but as a person; not as to my professional relationship with my co-teachers, but greatly more on my relationship with my pupils.All I can say is that I value my pupils more than they value me as their teacher...)

Visavis: My Internship Experience

My beloved pupils...Grade IV-Dilaw

          I must admit that at first, I was quiet nervous that I will be teaching in a public school. I myself came from a public school so I know that pupils there are naughtier, noisier and more talkative. I have lots of worries in my head. How will I deal with my pupils? Can I hold my temper as long as possible? Will I develop hypertension before my internship ends? These are the questions I asked myself before I entered the portals of the school.

With their adviser, my critic teacher and now a principal, Mr. Angelo Tanoy

            I was right when I thought that public school pupils are naughty, noisy and talkative. During my first few days, they were angels with wings and halos. But soon, as weeks passed by, their wings and halos were turned into horns and tails. Hehehe... Seriously, they were uncontrollable. It was a total chaos most especially if the teacher was not around. Looking on the brighter side, I learned to control my anger. I learned to think of the ways to control my pupils. My classroom management skill was put to test so to speak. This gave me the opportunity to pressure myself and explore my capability as a classroom manager, to maintain order and enforce discipline inside the classroom.

Me with the little Egyptians...hehehe

During ICES Day...Walk like an Egyptian...hahahha

         As to my efficacy of being a teacher, I learned a lot especially from my critic teacher. Through him, I learned how to be a creative, flexible and innovative teacher. He has lots of bright ideas and various ways to present the lesson even without long time planning. What I greatly admire about his teaching was that pupils were having fun while learning.

I know that teachers shouldn't have favorites..but these are my favorite pupils...wehehehe...

      Lastly, I felt the fulfillment of the teaching profession during my offcampus internship. I really appreciate the politeness and courtesy of the pupils especially when calling me "Sir" or greeting me "Good Morning" and   "Goodbye". I also felt that they like and love me as their student teacher because they were saddened that I had to go. They even prepared a farewell party and gave me letters as remembrances. For me, these are the rewards of being a teacher which could never be surpassed by any amount or salary...

My self-made bulletin board...using of course...my God-given talent in drawing (hope this doesn't sound arrogant...hahaha)

5 Basic Hands and Feet Position in Dancing...with Pokemon at the side...hahaha...This happens when a teacher still loves to watch anime...back subject?

EMIS Corner...you know who they are right??? Naruto fan here...

The one-and-only Naruto Shippuden Characters doing Kodaly Hand Signs in the whole wide world!!! hahahaha....only found  in my classroom

(Note: This was written way back 2009 when I just finished my internship at Iloilo Central Elementary School.  My next post will be my experience when I returned to that same school with, coincidentally, the same set of pupils.)