Saturday, July 16, 2005

From Sunshine Girl...

If you dare to teach
then you must dare to learn
-HARRY WONG
I have learned in my profession, after observing the effective and accomplished teachers, that teaching is not just covering chapters or doing activities. Being a teacher have a very minimal thing to do with reform; the controversial, the cutting-edge, or outrageous ideas proposed, we leave them to the people in the political arena. To be an effective teacher, one has to know the tried and true, fundamental, basic things that good teachers know and practice to get results. I would want to become effective too in my teaching, so I watch good teachers and read about effective teaching and then adapt them all to my particular classroom setting and real life situations. Effective teachers do not assume that they know it all; they are willing to submit themselves to lifelong learning, impart the wisdom that they have learned, and affect lives. Yes, it is as simple as that to be a great teacher and the person we all want to be.
"It takes just as much energy to achieve positive results as it does to achieve negative results. " HARRY WONG
The most crucial stage of the teaching profession is the first days of school. This will determine the teacher's success or failure for the rest of the school year. The teacher would either win or lose the class on the first days of school. Scary. That's why I always prepare myself during that first days of school; full of excitement I give my students a warm welcome and optimistic expectations to join me in a fun and enjoyable highly intellectual classroom. I start with them in a positive tone.
Remember our school days? Didn't we all want a classroom like that when we were students? How different is a classroom from our real life?


I consider my students my friends too; I always learn from them. I also engage in open and encouraging discussions with them. I take quizzes with them.

My blogger friend, Sunshine Girl, asked me to take this quiz. Here are the questions:

- What are the things you enjoy, even when no one around you want to go out and play?
I love blowing bubbles, watching them float and pop in the air. Very therapeutic for me, alleviates stress at the end of the day. Who would want to do that with me?

- What lowers your stress/blood pressure/anxiety level? Make a list, post it in your journal...
* Another good thing about blogging (aside from Blowing Bubbles, *wink*) is that it gives me a good avenue to unwind.
* I write to express whatever is in my heart and my mind.
* I get good feedbacks about my writings which enhance my self-esteem and give me more appetite to write.
* I talk a lot; good thing my blogger friends (I haven't met most of them) are willing to listen to my rants.

...and then tag 5 friends and ask them to post it in theirs. Wag na magtampo yung iba, sa susunod ulit kayo naman *wink*
ISABELA, PATRICE, KAREN, LIZ, NIKKI.

********

Thanks EdBlogger Praxis for going out of your way to post an entry about us in your blog. We really appreciate your unconditional support and extra effort. Check these out:

TEACHER SOL's blog: "Special Education Teacher Maria Lourdes Solivia Angala of Washington, D.C., shares her thoughts on important topics of the day. She is also a teacher leader in for the Washington Area Writing Project. She notes that blogging has helped her grow as a professional."

PINOY TEACHERS NETWORK blog: "Wishing our fellow educators of the Pinoy Teachers Network happy blogging as they get started on this collaborative blog. "

LIZ's blog: "An enjoyable blog from Elizabeth of L.A. I love the clip art and photos that enhances her personal and educator stories. Enjoy some photos of her in the computer lab. She is a member of the Filipino Educator "Pinoy Teachers Network".

16 comments:

duke said...

hi teacher sol! I was watching tv today and saw this really interesting program on BBC. I suddenly remembered you! I actuallly forgot the title of the show but I was amazed with it. It was a documentary of sort having students exchange roles with their teachers.. making them the teachers for one week. The students had to teach them stuff thay they ( the kids) were good at which were acting, rap, and dancing. It was very interesting how the exchange of knowledge took place between them. Both parties were open to the idea and it was a fun and good way of learning!

nikki said...

teacher, i'll just post my answers in my blog. :-)

i hope all teachers start their class in a positive tone para naman hindi matakot ang mga students. i will always look forward to my classes if i know that i will not only gain knowledge but have fun too will at it.

Anonymous said...

Nothing is more scarier than seeing your boss inside the classroom on the first day of class. I will never forget my very first class day at the graduate school. Like most professors, I was very prepared and excited to meet the graduate students. When I entered the room, I saw our VP-Student Welfare sitting at the back of the room. “What on earth is he doing here?”, I wondered. Initially, I thought he was there to evaluate me. After the usual introduction, I checked my rooster to find out if our VP is enrolled in my class. Lo and behold, his name didn’t only appear on the list but also the names of our VP-Academics and some of my former college professors. To overcome my fears, I just said to myself “the reason why you’re here is because you’re better than these people”.

maila said...

Sol, I can still recall my very first day of school here in the US. I had only been here for a little over a year at the time and had no idea what to expect in class whatsoever.. I was a shy girl and fresh off high school with little English.. I felt like an alien from another world...I had never been so anxious in my entire life as I had been on that very first day of class. I could write a whole story about it. It felt like I was being wrapped and put in a bottle as I walked in the class.

I have never been to college in the phils, didn’t know nothing about the system here...all these had made me feel anxious. As soon as the instructor stepped in the room...guess who she noticed first...this shy flipina girl!!!..But the good thing was.. she made an effort to make me feel welcome in the class.

The following days, weeks and mos I was ok. I got used to it eventtually. Like you said ..teachers need to start with their class in a positive tone and make sure everyone feels welcome...which she did and that made alot of difference., otherwise I would have walked out...

Anyway, that was loong long time ago. Im back in school for the second time –pursuing another career..it’s a whole different story now. I have to put up with some not so kind instructors..but it never affected me in any way :-)

maila said...

oopss..sorry marisol..di ko pansin..napahaba.. :-)

Teacher Sol said...

DUKE, that's so nice of you remembering me as a teacher in a child-centered environment. This is a great idea you shared her, thanks, I am now excited to do this in my class. My students would surely enjoy this activity, this activity would also enhace their self-esteem aside from their creativity.

NIKKI, I'll check your entry soon, *wink* There are mediocre teachers and there are great teachers. It's good to be idealistic about them, but we also have to be realistic sometimes. I wish all my daughter's teachers would fall under the latter category (great teachers). I want all the best for her.

Teacher Sol said...

JOHN CLARK,ooohhh..that was really scary! The VP Student Welfare was enrolled in your class for the whole year, a popular figure in your school, your boss! How did you handle the rest of the school year?! How was he as a student (teehee!!)? Your content area must be really interesting that a lot more popular figure in your school enrolled in your class. I would like to sit-in your class too *wink* My collegues here (the other Teacher Consultants), whenever I would give lecture presentations for veteran teachers from all over our school district would always tell me that nobody else is an expert about my topic but me. I share my expertise on Integrating Writing and Technology inside the classroom, they trust me being the Technology Liaison to the DC Area Writing Project. They too had the same respect for you then, being an expert than they were, though you were younger.

KAREN, first time to comment, welcome! You impress me with your good shifting from Tagalog to English and vice versa, you're good at both. You are lucky too for having teachers who didn't only teach but inspire. They're very few but when they do it, they do it well. My daughter last year, her first year in an African-American school had difficulty adjusting too, I guess the culture-shock to top it all. But she's well adjusted now, having a lot of friends, and her teachers love her. She doesn't care about the fact that she's different, but she firmly believes, and would tell anyone with strong conviction, that she's a Filipina.

Ka Uro said...

duke,
that's very interesting. i'm sure it was fun for both students and teacher.

mam sol,
talking of first impressions, i remember the movie "pay it forward" when on the first day of class the teacher asked the students to think of a project that will change the world.

the other thing i want to say is that whenever i read your posts the effect in me is to want to go back to school again either as a student or become a teacher, which was a vocation i did consider in my early years in college. that's a testament to how much you inspire.

RAY said...

Tungkol sa sinasabi ni H. Wong sa reform medyo kakaiba yata nangyari sa akin noong ako ay nagtuturo. Palibhasa hindi ako BSEED at walang karanasan sa pagtuturo diskarte ko na lang at uwido ko ang ginamit ko. Pati nga textbook hindi ko ginamit kasi panahon ng kamamatay pa lang ni Ninoy at ang librong ginagamit ay puro papuri sa rehimeng Marcos. Pinabayaan naman ako ng Catholic School na pinagtuturuan ko. Doon ko na kita na ang mga bata ay may sapat na kakayahan na maintindihan ang mga bagay na akala ng karamihan ay beyond their grasp. Hinayaan ko silang magkamayroon ng malayang talakayan sa mga isyung nagaganap sa bayan.Tungkol sa pagkamatay ni Ninoy, mga laman ng censored na dyaryo at alternative press, pati na ang isyu ng base militar at ang bataan nuclear plant at nakakatuwa ang kanilang mga pagpapalitan ng mga kuro-kuro at paliwanagan. Nakakaantok na subject ang araling panlipunan para sa karamihan ng mga mag-aaral ngunit pinilit kong mabuhay ang dugo ng aking mag-aaral sa pamamagitan ng pag-gamit ng iba't-ibang teaching devices, mga kontes, pati nga pakikinig ng mga musikang mensahe kapag ang paksa ay related sa kanta ginagawa ko, tulad ng kanta ng Asin tungkol sa Kapiligiran, Tayo"y Mga Pinoy ng Banyuhay, Everybody Wants to Rule the World ng Tears For Fears.Kung hindi nga lang ako operado sa sinus at allergic ako sa chalk siguro hindi na ako umalis sa pagtuturo sapagkat yong apat na taong inilaan ko doon ang siyang pinakasatisfying na nagawa ko. Tinanong mo dati kung aktibista ako, oo aktibista ako kung ang kahulugan nito ay ang hindi pagsunod sa nakagawiang bagay. Hindi kasi ako takot sa mga pagbabago lalo't alam ko na ito ay tama at makakabuti sa karamihan.

Teacher Sol said...

Dearest Parts,

Ipinadala ng isang kaibigan kong guro ang mga katanungang ito. Si Teacher Sol. Kilala mo siya ‘di ba? Siya ‘yung laging masakit ang ngipin pero nakukuha pang mag-blog nang walang humpay. Sagutin nating dalawa. Baka sakaling hindi na niya kailanganin ang root canal. Napakasakit noon! (nanakot pa, ‘no?)


Lifted from KABLOGSTUGANGPINOY

ISABELA, Tawang-tawa ako sa intro mo kaya inilagay ko dito. Salamat sa pagrespond agad sa TAG ko, at nagulat nalang ako nang makita ko na nagawa mo na agad ang "quiz" kahit na di mo na ipinaalam sa akin, hehe. At least alam mo na kahit kumikirot ang ngipin ko pag ngumingiti ako, sumisilip pa rin ako sa blog mo para sa halakhak na ibinibigay mo sa entries mo.

Teacher Sol said...

HONEYPOOH, Pasensya ka na dahil tayo lang yatang dalawa ang magkakaintindihan sa mga papahulaan ko sa iyo. Naalala mo pa ba ang teacher na parating naka violet na pag nagdadasal tayo ng "Ama Namin", ay walang tigil ang pagkutkot nya ng kuko sa daliri nya? Eh yung teacher naman na putol ang daliri dahil naputukan ng fire cracker noong bagong taon, ang tigas kasi nang ulo, sinabi nang bawal hawakan ang paputok eh!? Sino naman yung teacher na ang pag-pronounce nya sa "outside" ay "outchide" at tamang with conviction pa nya sinasabi yoon, at nope wala syang pustiso o ano pang speech problem, yun lang talagang word na yun, naalala mo? Ang punto ko, kahit na matatanda na tayo, di talaga natin makakalimutan ang ating mga guro. Matatandaan natin kahit kailang ang kanilang mga nakakatawang "antics", at pati na rin ang mga itinuro nila sa atin na mga values at lessons in life.

KA URO, I watched the movie "pay It Forward" and I am deeply touched by the movie, still hoping that the child's project of "paying it forward" would continue to spread around the world. Sabi sa book ni harry Wong, "The mediocre teacher tells, the good one explains, the superior one shows, the great one inspires". Thanks for telling me that I belong to the latter category.

Teacher Sol said...

SHA, still waiting for your email *wink* I am very interested to feature you here because your personal story is very inspiring. I rant about life in general, not my style to rant about somebody else. Hmmm, that's a good idea to "upgrade" eventually, but that is if my pay check would increase in direct proportion with my readers, hehe. I agree with all your definitions of an effective teacher, especially the last one.

GOYONG, maganda nga na nai-share mo sa amin ang experience mo sa pagiging guro (di ako maniwala talaga, hehe). Pag teacher ka ng social studies o araling panlipunan, o political science, talagang politics at history ng bansa ang pag-uusapan ninyo sa klase di ba? Mas maganda ang interaction at discussion kung reporma ng gobyerno ang mga pag-uusapan ninyo dahil maraming ideya ang mga estudyante na mas feasible pa at realistic kesa sa mga implemented ng gobyerno. Sabi mo, "ang kahulugan nito ay ang hindi pagsunod sa nakagawiang bagay. Hindi kasi ako takot sa mga pagbabago lalo't alam ko na ito ay tama at makakabuti sa karamihan". Kung ganyan nga ang definition mo ng pagiging aktibista, matatawag din kaya akong aktibista? I am an advocate of change eh, non-traditional ang methods of teaching ko.

Anonymous said...

i'm constantly encouraged and inspired whenever i visit your blog, teacher sol. you always have either insight to share, a lesson to impart, or simply an idea that encourages reflection and/or discussion.

"Effective teachers do not assume that they know it all; they are willing to submit themselves to lifelong learning, impart the wisdom that they have learned, and affect lives."

i'm glad that you shared this thought. there's a quote that goes something like this: "a poor teacher lectures, a good teacher teaches, a great teacher inspires". (i'm not sure if that's the exact quote, but i think that's the gist of it).

from your posts here, i think you're one of those teachers who make a positive impact on her students and who, ultimately, inspires them. i for one am very proud of you! :-)

p.s.: it's been a while since i last blew bubbles for the simple, pure fun of it (and not as part of a wedding programme). it's nice to be reminded of simple things that gave us so much joy as children, no?

igor said...

"I consider my students my friends too; I always learn from them. I also engage in open and encouraging discussions with them."
*Sniff* That's how I felt when I was teaching. At that time I received a lot of flak for not being like everyone else. I was too "unacademic" for academe and "not scholarly" for school. I miss teaching, but I'd rather stay away since I feel I may be doing more harm than good. I knew from the start that I lacked content... but heck, in my profession no one wanted to teach, all wanted to go into industry.
Ay, sori, napahaba ang react. :D Aliw kasi ang topic posts mo, e.

Macross Kitty said...

What are the things you enjoy, even when no one around you want to go out and play?
I really enjoy eating--at home making meals, going to restaurants, going to friends & relatives house for homecooked meals. Who doesn't like food? I love trying different ethnic foods. My favorite is Thai, because it's a blend of many flavors!

What lowers your stress/blood pressure/anxiety level? Make a list, post it in your journal...

1. I love hearing jokes and talking to people with a sharp sense of humor. If I can laugh, I'm relieved from my stress. I'm so blessed to have Rommel and my two very hilarious younger brothers. To mildly describe them--are CRAZY! CRAAAZZZZYYY!

2. Visiting the nail salon for a manicure and pedicure once a month, for a good hour is stress relieving. The ladies are very nice and we have some of the best conversations in that nail salon. Mothers, grandmothers, college students, single women, career women, high school girls all gather together for the ultimate feminine bonding experience!

3. Watching TV, especially those funny reality shows that portray really off-beat characters have a way of making me think I shouldn't take everything too seriously. There should be a time of release, and let the good times roll!

4. Listening to good music, dancing to good beats and singing good songs!

5. Read magazines like Real Simple, People, Lucky, and Time. I get excited when these magazines in the mail!

-liz =)

Anonymous said...

Hey Teacher Sol,

I also read other people's comments on your blog. Goyong's comment caught my attention. Sana marami pang teachers like you and Goyong who advocate Change. Like Goyong's teaching style triggers "Critical Thinking". Ang paggamit ng mga bagay na makaka-relate ang mga students ay mabisa sa kaalaman. Lalo na sa ating lipunan na puno ng showbiz, kailangan ng awareness ng ating kabataan sa issues ng kinabukasan. May your tribe increase!

Promethean Planet

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The following is the opinion of the writer and is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, or individual. Any view or opinion represented in the blog comments are personal and is accredited to the respective commentor / visitor to this blog. This blogger reserves the right to moderate comment suitability in support of respecting racial, religious and political sensitivities, and in order to protect the rights of each commentor where available.

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