Lights On: Weekly Journal # 17

Lights On

Weekly Journal # 17

December 3 – 5, 2014

Accomplishments:

        This week is also known as the week of lights because our school had their lantern parade at Session Road on December 1, 2014. It was a night full of nights. The next day was a rest for the students and on Wednesday, we had the poetry in motion. We rescheduled the demonstration teaching because those days were also drill lessons.

My Significant Experience:

        When we were watching at the lantern parade, I saw some of my students join the lantern parade. When they saw me, they called me “Ma’am.” Hearing those words from my students make me smile; I felt that they also value me as their teacher though I’m just a student teacher.

Insights:

        Simple things and simple words can either make a person smile or frown.

Problem:

        This week we had trouble again in our schedule for our rated demonstration teaching. We can’t be observed on that day because we will only discuss for 20 minutes and the rest of the period will be utilized for the practice.

Solution:

         The only remedy for this is to find another schedule for our demonstration teaching.

My Goals for Next Week:

         My ultimate goal for next week is to give my very best in the rated demonstration teaching.

Judge: Weekly Journal #16

Judge

Weekly Journal #16

November 24-28

Accomplishments:

 This week, we served as facilitators and judges for the English month activities. We had spelling, tongue twisters, song writing competition, and many more.   We also served as judges for the declamation contest and served as monitors for the scrabble.

My Significant Experience:

        This week was a very busy week. We have to be multi-tasking people. It was a great experience to be serving as judges and facilitators. I see the trust that our cooperating teachers give us.

Insights:

        No matter what happens, never destroy the trust that people give you. ^_^

Problem:

         So far this week, I did not encounter any problem regarding my practice teaching during the past week.

Solution:

Since I did not have any problem this week, I can’t suggest any solution.

My Goals for Next Week:

 My goal for next week is to prepare for the upcoming demonstration teaching. ^__^

Unfixed Schedule: Weekly JOurnal #15

Unfixed Schedule?

Weekly Journal #15

November 17-21, 2014

Accomplishments:

 This week, we prepared for the activities for the English Month. Our cooperating teacher was very busy listing the participants in each section. So we helped her out. In order for us to search for those who will compete for the other activities such as spelling, logo making, poetry writing, and alike, Ma’am gave it to us as our lesson for the whole week.

Significant Experience:

It was made mention that the month of November is the celebration of the English month. Given these topics for us to discuss in class, I thought it was just very simple to teach it; I thought it was just merely the activity, but as I taught the valuing part of these topics it was very hard. And as I was pondering on its valuing part, they’re very deep.

Insights:

Little things have big surprises. Simple things have extraordinary surprises. I’ve learned that I should not be little things.

Problem:

We had a hard time in fixing our schedule because we only have drill lessons on the set dates. One thing more our coordinator got sick so we set the schedule by ourselves.

Solution:

The only solution for that is to adjust the date and look for schedules where we can have lessons.

Goals for Next Week:

My goals for the upcoming week is to finish the 10 lesson plans and to add more activities in my activity form.

Believe: Weekly Journal # 14

Believe

Weekly Journal # 14

November 10-14, 2014

Accomplishments:

 This week, I was able to increase the number of my rated lesson plans. In our group, we were able to handle different sections and we exchanged sections with my other group mates. We were also able help each other in preparing lesson plans and PowerPoint presentations.

My Significant Experience:

This week I did not much have experience. There was one time when I was teaching, I was having a hard time disciplining the students. Though it was a tough one but I get to manage the class. All I thought that I will not be able to discipline my students but I was able to.

Insights:

From my experience, I’ve learned that teaching is all about believing in yourself that you can do it. Sometimes I tend to be nervous and doubtful that I may not be able to discipline the class but I was able to.

Problem:

The problem that I encountered this week was disciplining my students. I’m having a hard time in keeping them quiet and to pay attention in class. Sometimes they wait for me to get mad and then they start to keep quiet. I even shouted in class because they won’t keep quiet, though I did not want to shout but I lose my temper. After a while, they start again talking.

Solution:

 The solution for this is to keep stop discussing if they are very noisy. Just as Ma’am Magbual have said, we need not to compete their noise; we only have to stop talking and then they will start realizing that the teacher has already gone quiet.

 My Goals for Next Week:

 My goals are to of course research on techniques on how to manage the class, to increase my rated demos, to do my very best in teaching, and to keep believing that I can do it.

Weekly Journal #13: Extended Endurance

Extended Endurance

Weekly Journal #13

November 5-7, 2014

Accomplishments:

     This week, we already had our first rated demonstration teaching under Ma’am Michelle M. Magbual. Last Wednesday, she told us to have team teaching in her last three classes so we made use of our Monday and Tuesday as preparation for our team teaching. Our topic was about tongue twisters; we divided the tasks among ourselves and the demonstration teaching went good. Last Thursday, Ma’am Magbual told us to prepare for the lesson on Friday and still a continuation regarding tongue twisters. So the three of us prepared. We had the first class last Friday as our practice so we did team teaching and we started to teach individually, which is the rated one, at 11 am and so on. So we were done with the first demonstration teaching and nine more lessons to go. ^_^

Significant Experience:

     Last Friday, I had my first rated demonstration teaching. That was my first demonstration teaching and I did my very best to teach the students. Giving my best in teaching made me feel more passionate in teaching them. I also discovered that I have points to improve in teaching like for example my endurance, that despite the students are noisy, I must control my temper. Letting myself lose my temper won’t help in disciplining the students but as I taught, I had to strategize on how to get back the attention of the students.

Insights:

     A teacher must have an extended endurance in teaching.  

     The way a teacher perceives his students affects his approach and way of teaching his students.

Problems:

      I’m having a hard time in strategizing on how to discipline my class. Since it was a group activity that they had on tongue twisters, it is given that the students will make academic noise, but there were those students who were making unnecessary noise that distract the whole class.

Solution:

      Maybe I have to search on how to control the behavior of my students. One thing more is that I have to be strict in a way that discipline in class is visible.

My Goals for Next Week:

My goals for next week is to have rated demonstration teaching as much as I could.

Weekly Journal #12: New Challenge

New Challenge

Weekly Journal #12

October 27-31, 2015

Accomplishments:

We already transferred to Saint Louis University Laboratory High School. It was our first week and in that week it was scheduled for their PAASCU Accreditation so we needed to be in our best behavior. They had the PAASCU accreditation for two days and last Wednesday, we had our orientation with Sir Ronald Pontanosa, the principal of SLU-LHS. He oriented us regarding our practice teaching that we should not be imitating our cooperating teachers, instead, we should be teaching creatively in a way that our uniqueness is shown. Sir also made mention regarding our behavior; that we should not be mingling with our students most specially in touching them. It’s a big “No” for us to be touching our students.  Wednesday afternoon, we were already allowed to meet with our LAC’s. So 1 pm, we had a meeting with Ma’am Karen Joy Viernes, the LAC in the English Department. She re oriented us with the do’s and don’ts in teaching. She reminded us of the following: pass your lesson plans a day before your demonstration teaching; no uniform, no ID, no demonstration teaching; abide by the rules; always check the attendance; and enjoy teaching.

My Significant Experience:

          When we were deployed at the Saint Louis University Laboratory High School, we felt tension and at the same time, were making ourselves strong and with the determination that we can do it. It was a new environment for me that I need to adjust to; new faces, new rules, new cooperating teachers, and new school. I had to extend my patience more. Despite those emotions and tension, I felt the support of our group that we went there as a group, and therefore we finish as a group. I felt the teamwork so it feels good to have groupmates and batchmates like them.

Insight:

          “Unity is strength... when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.”-Mattie Stepanek

          There is strength when there is teamwork and reaching the impossible becomes possible when the team works together.

Problems:

So far the problems that I have encountered is how to adjust to the new rules that they have in the private school. Adjusting in the lesson plan portion most especially that I was used to the lesson plan structure in the public which is not tabulated though we were to do lesson plans in a tabular form in our Principles of teaching subjects but it seems so hard.

Solution:

          The remedy that I could think of as of now is to go back to my old notes and practice the tabulated form of lesson planning. One thing more is to practice more doing lesson plans in the tabulated manner.

Goals for Next Week:

           My goals for next week are to start teaching and getting lessons, to accomplish my requirements and to give my best in teaching.

Missing City High: Weekly Journal #11

Missing City High

October 20-24, 2014

Weekly Journal #11

Accomplishments:

       We were tasked to complete our task and requirements in BCNHS since it’s our last week to teach there and this week, we will be deployed in Saint Louis University, Laboratory High School. We also completed the 30 lesson plans that were required for us to teach.

Significant Experience:

       There were a lot of significant things and events that happened in my life this week. Last Friday was our last day in City High. Tears and parting anxiety was present in the air. I’ve seen some of my co student teachers shedding tears of joy, and some were telling me, “Ang sarap maging teacher. Grabe!!” and I, for one, agree with them. I want to share the surprise my students have prepared for me. In my first class, grade 8- Adoration, my students serenaded me. In grade 8- Benevolence, they escorted me to their classroom. As I was walking along the corridors, I can’t hold back my tears anymore. When I entered the room, my tears poured out. I wish I could hold the hands of time and pause at that moment. They prepared a video for me. They also gave their messages and one caught my attention; this student of mine who had been a pain for me, while he was saying his message, he let my tears shed like rain and he cried in front of me. I did not know what made me cry in his message, but one thing I knew for sure is that he moved me. In my afternoon class, which is grade-8 Cooperation, they let me through an amazing race. After that, a slow song was played and one by one, the boys in my class, asked me to dance with them and it was like a flashback of what should have happened in my debut. ^__^. Well I enjoyed it so much. On the board were their messages for me. I tried to hold my tears because I don’t want them to see me crying. In the afternoon, as a thank you message to our brave teachers in City High, we went from faculty to faculty, from office to office, and rendered a serenade for them. These are the memories that I will never forget.

Insights:

        It’s a great privilege to touch lives.

       It takes a big heart to love even the unlovable.

Problem:

       So far, this week, I did not have any problem. It was enjoying the last days we had in City High. Just having parting anxiety.:((

Solution:

       For now I have to prepare myself for another challenge to come.

Goals for Next Week:

My goals for next week are to be at my best behavior and to be open to the challenges that will come.