Week # 18

Week # 18

December 09-12, 2014

Cost an Arm and a Leg

My Accomplishments

     This week I was able to facilitate 4 sections in grade 8 for Poetry in Motion presentation. I was also able to execute my rated demo in grade 8-Matatag with Sir Villiam C. Ambong who observed me.

My Significant Experiences

     My Significant experience during this week is when we make our IM with my fellow practicumer Elvie. Yes, we did our very  best to make the IM in 2 days since we don’t have classes on Friday until Monday. Our IM is Cost an Arm and a Leg, we spend money just to impress our students, cooperating teacher, SI, and to make learning interactive and cooperative.

My Insights

     We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort. Through this, we could surely achieve a good result. Like what my SI said to me “Effort in making the Instructional Material is recommendable”. I’m so happy because I made it! I impressed my students and my SI. J

Problems

     The problem that I encountered during this week was when my cooperating teacher told me to make her lesson plan Monday-Friday. She just told us last week to make the lesson plan for our rated demo teaching but, she changed her decision a night before Monday. I don’t know what I will do. I felt pressure because I still have to practice and re-write my lesson plan for my demo. My partner Elvie and I were very disappointed because that must supposed to be the job of our cooperating teacher. She must also know her responsibility because we don’t know the content of her next lesson since we already done with our 10 lessons, we only need to execute our rated demo teaching to our SI.

 Moreover, there are times that our cooperating teacher make face to us so we felt disappointed because we don’t know if we commit mistakes or what. As far as I know, we just following her commands properly even though we skip our meals just to finished every task that she required us to do.

Solutions

     We did the lesson plans overnight and we send it to our cooperating teacher through FB. I was very disappointed about her behavior but we just follow her commands just to avoid issue. Anyway it’s a Blessing!! I promise to myself not to pressure my students and I will not pass my duty as a teacher to my students in the future.

Goals for Next Week

     

     My goals for next week is still go to school early and I will organize my files for our practice teaching clearance.

Week # 17

Week # 17

December 3-5, 2014

Patience Calls for a Prize!

My Accomplishments

This week, I was able to teach 1 lesson which make my over-all required lesson plans 10. I was also able to make Instructional Materials (IM) for my CT and checked papers of grade 8 students.

My Significant Experiences

Before I start my story about my academic stay in the school, I just want to share this short story.

            In an Indian temple, when the priest had gone for lunch, the Idol of the Lord and the Stepping Stone were conversing.

            Stepping Stone, “What a good fate you have. We both were the same lump of rock for millions of years. The sculptor carved an idol out of you and everyone is worshipping you. And look at me, I am a stepping stone and every one stands on me and stamps on. What kind of life is this?”

            The Idol kept smiling and never bothered to answer this, now, routine murmur from the stepping stone. But the stepping stone (stone used as a step) will never stop his constant bickering.

            The Idol replied: “But do you remember that when the sculptor set out to carve an idol, it was you he chose, first. You were so impatient. In one strike, you broke in to two. But when he tried on me, I grinned and bore all the hammers and chisel strikes with PATIENCE. Here I am the worshipful and happy Idol and you are the Stepping Stone.”

The difference between success and failure is patience and persistence.

 The story above really describes what I have done in the past few weeks.

            I have faced different types of students and these students may make me, as their teacher, feeling disgraced or disrespected. I was not able to execute what I want and what I like, but instead, I would just continue my lesson, though they’re not listening. What I kept on reminding myself is to be patient. I kept on believing that there will be time when I will sigh and will rest.  As I stop on thinking about giving up or quitting, I also am strengthening my belief that the challenges I am facing are attributes that would mold me a better person and better teacher in the future.

           In addition, my most significant experience during this week was on Tuesday. My cooperating teacher told me to send the concept of my lesson about Poetry in Motion on Wednesday but, I was just waiting for nothing. My lesson which is Poetry in Motion was not found in the book even in the internet, what I did was to search and search until I found the concept of poetry in motion. I immediately made my lesson plan and my instructional materials (IM). On Wednesday, early in the morning, I checked my message and I was surprised because my cooperating teacher told me to change my concepts and she just sends me the content of our lesson that time. I don’t know what to do because it’s already 4am and my lesson plan and IM was already done.

My Insights

As a teacher, we must know our responsibilities. We must cater the needs of our students, give what they need especially educational matters. A teacher is not just a teacher, we must also consider and understand others feelings and condition. And we must set our goals ahead of time; we must not rush our work so that there is a quality output.

Problems

     

The problems that I encountered during this week were the following:

Ø  My schedule in rated demo. It was difficult for us to adjust my schedule because we don’t have lesson since it’s English month.

Ø  My one of my fellow practicumer who was actually late in 5 minutes. We were just surprised when we saw her log-in 7:15 supposed to be 7:20. It was so unfair on our part especially in going to school early in the morning just not to be late.

Ø  There was no time that me and my partner Elvie, had a proper rest because my cooperating teacher always asking a favor for us to do. Sometimes, we forgot to eat just to finished the things that she required us to do.

Solutions

I told the coordinator what happened about the log in of one of our fellow practicumer and the English majors told me to write the real time she arrive so, we changed her log in because it was unfair to us. Moreover, I consult my cooperating teacher about the schedule of my rated demo so she gave me the topic. Though, I was tired and stress, I did my best to finish all the things that my cooperating teacher asked me to do.

Goals for Next Week

My goal for next week is to prepare for my rated demo with my SI Sir Villiam C. Ambong. I should also make a manipulative IM to use in my demo teaching.

I used to believe that anything was better than nothing. Now I know that sometimes nothing is better. ~Glenda Jackson

Week # 16

Week # 16

November 24-28, 2014

“Take a DEEP breath!.. hold it!. .and Let the Stress out”

My Accomplishments

I was able to complete 1 rated demo which made my current over-all total of my rated lesson plans 9. I was also able to facilitated 5 sections in making their logo. On Friday, I processed the Official Business (OB) forms of the fourth year students in the Principal’s office.

My Significant Experiences

I absolutely say that my most significant experience this week was when me and my fellow practicumer (Elvie), facilitated the 5 sections in logo making. It was difficult for us to facilitate the 5 sections because of our shoes having high hills; we were standing until the end of the period to facilitate our students work.

          In addition, On Friday, we were tasked by our CT to process the Official Business (OB) forms of fourth year students in the Principal’s office. As we process the OB forms, we did not expect that the processing of OB forms was very difficult and very demanding. Yes, I said difficult and demanding because we must look for the Principal, Assistant Principal, and the Coordinator of English teachers to sign the OB form. We were so tired to go to the senior high building and return to the junior high building (10 times).

The processing of the OB form was supposed to be on Thursday but my CT did not process it.

My Insights

When you are stressed, you feel overwhelmed and you may not be capable of thinking as clearly as you should. If you feel yourself jumping from task to task, take a deep breath, hold it, and let that stress out. You can accomplish everything if you take one thing at a time

Problems

The problem that I encountered during this week was when we facilitated in G8-MApayapa, our advisory class. There’s this student who transferred a seat, she is supposed to be seated in front but she kept on standing and transferring seat.  When we instruct that student to go back to her proper seat, she answers back “K FINE!”. We were so insulted and disrespected as if we were not her teacher.

Moreover, me and my fellow practicumer Elvie, is somewhat complaining because my CT is always giving us a task to do. We all check the papers of 5sections and record it as well. Yes, we are complaining because our CT has 6 observers and it’s unfair in our part that we are always the ones to check. We also need time to do our lesson plan, IM and to practice our lesson for the day’s lesson.

Solution

As a teacher, we have the right to discipline our students’. But, sometimes students are hard headed to abide their teachers so they tend to disrespect them.

I was hurt when that student of G8-Mapayapa answers us back. What we did was to tell her to my CT. My CT told her that she must also respect us not because we are only a practice teacher but we are also their teacher.

Goals for Next Week

My goal for next week is to be able to complete the required number of rated lesson plans which is 10 in Private school.

“Watch your thoughts they become your words

Watch your words they become your actions

Watch your actions they become your habits

Watch your habits they become your character

Watch your character it becomes your destiny”

Unanimous

Week # 15

Week # 15

November 17-21, 2014

“ADD an Affix to a Word”

My Accomplishment

This week, I was able to execute 2 lesson plans. All in all I have a total of 8 lesson plans. We also made Instructional Materials about Song of the flowers and Affixes together with my fellow practicumer Elvie. I was also facilitated in the tongue twister contest, spelling bee contest, the essay writing contest, declamation contest, and the poem writing contest. During my vacant, I also checked activity papers on affixes spelling words and record them.

My Significant Experiences

My most significant experience during this week was when we taught as a team teaching (Me and my fellow practicumer Elvie) in our class. Our cooperating teacher (Ma’am Tenaza) was not around because it was the recollection of her advisory class. At first, we are nervous because we don’t know yet the substitute teacher who will be observing us at 7:40- 8:40 in G8- Makatarungan but, we just imbibe positivity from that moment. After the morning rights, we already met the substitute teacher. She is the Coordinator of Math teachers in Grade 8. When we enter the classroom, she told us that she will be the one to give the rules and expectations in the class before we start discussing. We were nervous because she’s too strict and I observed that the classroom was full of silence.

          Moreover, as we started our lesson we are happy because the students are very cooperative and participative. They enjoy our lesson especially the activity " Add an Affix to Word". We have this student; he is a silent type person and smart. I asked a question, “Kindly give me an example of suffix ending with or”? Then suddenly, this student recited and answers “EMPERADOR”. I was shocked by his answer. His classmates were laughing because of his answer but I instruct them listen for the explanation. Though it was hard to process that kind of answer, I tried my best to process it. I asked them to bring out their dictionary and look for the word “Emperador” and its root word. And they told me that there is none. I explained to them that the word Emperador is just a brand name of liquor so there is no root word and it’s not even a suffix. So, the student who answers that word was also agreeing to my explanation.

After the class, the substitute teacher told us that we delivered well our lesson and we have a very good Instructional Materials. We felt happy because we overnight/ don’t have sleep just because of our IM and lesson.

My Insights

An assertive teacher is the one who clearly and firmly communicates her expectations to her students, and is prepared to reinforce her words with appropriate actions. She responds to students in a manner that maximizes his/her potential to get her own needs to teach met, but in no way violated the best interest of the students.

Problems

The problem that I encountered during this week was the behavior of one of my student in G8-Matatag.She talked to us as if we are not her teacher. I know that she is just testing our patience.

Solutions  
        During dismissal, I talked to that student to be conscious of his attitude. I told her that we are also their teacher and we deserve respect. I’m happy because she asked forgiveness to her action.

Goals for Next Week                                                             

Herewith, I planned to accomplish my rated lessons in private school to meet the 10 number of the required executed lesson plans. I will be facilitating my students in making their logo for next week.

“If we believe in active student learning, we must consider the variety of ways in which students are encouraged to participate.”

Barrie Bennett and Peter Smilanich

Week # 14

Week # 14

November 10-14, 2014

“Stressful but Rewarding”

My Accomplishment

This week, I was able to execute 3 lesson plans. All in all I have a total of 6 lesson plans. I was also able to check journal notebooks of Grade 7- Makatarungan, essay writing of Grade 8- Mapayapa, Grade 8-Makatarungan, Grade 8- Matapat and Grade 8- Matatag. Moreover, I recorded some of the scores of my students that I already checked. Each day was very tiring but I enjoyed it!.. 

My Significant Experiences

My most significant experience during this week was on Wednesday morning. We went to GD building specifically at function hall to have our recollection. I was motivated because our speaker was very inspiring. He discussed about crossroads and lamp posts in life. Moreover, our speaker said this phrase that strikes me “Do not let other people affect your happiness”. Yes, “Do not let other people affect our happiness because we have our own freedom to do what is right and good in our life.

In addition, we were tasked by our CT (Ma'am Tenaza) to make IM for Spelling Bee and Scrabble for our Lessons this week. Me and my fellow practicumer Elvie, did the IM even though we don't have enough money to buy the materials.

IM for Scrabble

IM for Spelling Bee

My Insights

Sometimes, when faced with a lot of work, I always remember the words of Robert Louis Stevenson, "Life is not a matter of having good cards, but of playing a poor hand well." When I'm having a stressful day, I feel that my body also weaken but, I have to deal with the paper works that need to be done. I’ll just smile and sighJ. I tried to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once.

Teaching at the same time checking papers, making I’M is very stressful but, if you finish your work on time, it’s rewarding!.

Problems

The problem that I encountered during this week was dealing with a lot of paper works. My cooperating teacher gave me a lot of papers to check during this week. I allotted a time to check the papers of my students since I have a demo teaching and I still need to accompany my Cooperating teacher and my fellow Practicumer (Elvie Sumbad) to every class.

Moreover, me and my fellow practicumer (Elvie), is complaining because we have a lot of paper works to do and we also need time making our IM’s. We’re wondering why our coopering teaching did not give to her obsevers since they are 6. We also have to assist the cleaners in our advisory class before we go to Deckaesteker Building for our class in Teaching Prof. Anyway,we just finished checking all the papers and recorded it. It’s a BLESSING!!

Solutions  
        Though this week is stressful, I just deal with my problems with a smiling face. I and Elvie helped each other hand in hand to finish checking the papers of our students. We also informed our CT (Ma’am Tenaza) that we have class at 5:00-6:00pm at GD building. The smile and greetings of our students to us makes us motivated to finish our work during this week.

Goals for Next Week                                                             

For next week, I am planning to make a manipulative IM to maximize the participation of my students. Also, I will be executing 2-3 lesson for next week.

"How we perceive a situation and how we react to it is the basis of our stress. If you focus on the negative in any situation, you can expect high stress levels. However, if you try and see the good in the situation, your stress levels will greatly diminish."

-Catherine Pulsifer

Week # 13

Week # 13

November 5-7, 2014

“Be a BLESSING”

My Accomplishment

        This week, was my first demo teaching at SLU-LHS on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, so I was able to execute 3 lessons. I was able also to check journal notebooks, poems, and quizzes of the 5 sections that we handle.

My Significant Experiences

        My most significant experience during this week was when I had my first demonstrating teaching and my lesson was focus on “Tongue Twister”. At first, I felt nervous but when I was already in front of the class, I didn't expect that they were participating in our class discussion. Moreover, I felt happy because they enjoy the activity about tongue twister that I prepared for them.

My Insights

         Life of a teacher has just begun. It may not be in the actual teaching field as a professional but in the arena of practice teaching. Enjoy everything you do and be a Blessing to everyone.

Problems

I’m handling 3 sections which make me look like a haggard and it actually makes me feel nauseous. My schedule is really frustrating because I literally get NO breaks between my executions of lessons in my 3 sections.  I’m getting burned out with no breaks. There was a time when I started coughing in front of my students because my throat dries up severely and my voice goes hoarse.

Classroom management is also my problem during this week.

Solutions

         I will just consider everything as a “BLESSING” and I always imbibe being optimistic in teaching my lesson. Furthermore, I set a rule so that my students will be informed about the Do and Don’ts during my class.

Goals for Next Week

For next week, I should be able to accomplish and demonstrate two lesson plans since these were already scheduled. I should also be able to use more appropriate strategy and lastly, to extend my patience.

"Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them - every day begins the task anew. “Saint Francis de Sales

French saint & bishop of Geneva (1567 - 1622)

Week # 12

Week # 12

October 27-30

“PRIVATE SHIFT”

My Accomplishment

     This week has been the start of our private shift at SLU-Laboratory High School. Yes, PRIVATE SHIFT! New school, new environment, and another challenge to be face in our second shift, just think positive and God will do the rest.

     Well, this week was not that busy as I ever thought so I had a time to take a little bit rest. On Monday, we decorated our quarters at Attic (English major quarters). On Tuesday, we were tasked to facilitate classrooms and I was assigned in G7-Mapagmalasakit. On Wednesday morning, we were oriented by Sir Ronaldo Pontanosa, the School Principal of SLU-Laboratory High School. Also, we were able to meet our new CT’s. I was assigned to Ma’am Sherene Tenaza and she asked me to observe all her classes on Thursday.

My Significant Experiences

This week has been the start of our private shift. Yes, PRIVATE SHIFT! Oh!No!

I really felt the impact of private shift. There is really a difference. Yes, there is a DIFFERENCE! Though both are high schools, I could personally spot the difference, from the students and even to the teachers. Some students in the private school (Saint Louis University-Laboratory High School) treat you just as a student, not as their student teacher. I may still be a student (a COLLEGE STUDENT), but not a HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT. I may have experienced this during the observation period but I just felt its impact after I have experienced being in a public school particularly in Baguio City National High School.

     Moreover, I felt nervous, anxious and at the same time excited when I observed the 5 sections that I will be handling; G8- Mapayapa, G8-Matatag, G-8 Matapat, and G7- Makatarungan. I observed that some students were not respectful, and they are very noisy even though their teacher is already in front. That’s why I’m uneasy and nervous because how much more if I’m the one in front teaching them, what would be their reactions?

My Insights

     

     These words remind me that teaching is a supreme act of optimism. Teaching requires hope in some larger purpose, faith in ourselves and our society, and love for our children—all of them. Learning requires hope in one’s own future and faith in one’s ability to get there, and love, in the form of patience, to sustain the effort.

Problems

     The problem that I have encountered during this week is that I was too nervous and uneasy. There are a lot of questions that bugling inside my mind. What would be the reactions of my students to me especially my Cooperating teacher?

Solutions

     I was uneasy and nervous, but I just keep in my mind that this is normal and I must get through with my nervousness. I should impress my Cooperating Teaching and my students in my teaching.

Goals for Next Week

     For the next week in my shift, I’m looking forward for more things to learn and to improve. And I should be able to execute 3 lessons next week.