Justo V. Imperial

STAIRWAY TO SUCCESS

 

     Teaching is a continuous process of learning and we learned most if we experienced it. So I completely believe in the saying that “Experience is the best teacher”. This I proved when we had our off-campus teaching for almost three months starting November 24, 2014 to February 20, 2015. Teaching is not easy for the reason that it has a great responsibility. We will face a lot of difficulties and challenges in order to address the individual needs of the learners. But teachers should not look at these as difficulties but rather doing these to build up ourselves, to boost our capabilities and skills and be prepared of becoming teacher to be.

     November 24, 2014 was our deployment. Fortunately, I was assigned at Justo V. Imperial Memorial High School, also known as Baao National High Shool Extension Campus. It is located at San Vicente, Baao, Camarines Sur. I am also happy because the school is nestled near our barangay in Sagrada.

 

     During our first day in school we found out that the teachers there were not informed of our arrival so we went to BNHS Main Campus to meet and talk to the principal and different heads of each department. Ma’am Mayla Opeña is the Head Teacher in Science Department. I’m happy to meet her. She’s kind and approachable. Timing that there’s a conference regarding the incoming event, the Regional Patiribayan Festival where the school was the host. That day ended very tiring but I enjoyed it anyway.

 

    On the 2nd day I met my Cooperating Teacher. She is Mrs. Nenita S. Baraero I feel nervous of course and agitated to meet her. She’s handling four loads and she gave these all to me, and it's ok for me. They are all Grade 7 and one thing is good is that I will just have to make one preparation but I decided to make different activities for the different learners everyday. At first she is giving me advices on the activity that I should use and what I should include in my lesson plan. Supposed to be our first week was just observing our CT and the interaction of students but I just gave two days observing her because of preparation on the activity of the school which is the CLEAN AND GREEN TERRITORY and WELL-STRUCTURED ROOM. So I did not given a chance to know more about her strategies of teaching.

 

    Then the 2nd week comes I prepared my lesson plan but not visual aid and ma’am let me to teach the students. After teaching my students’ ma’am gave me some negative comments such as always prepare your visual aid, be confident when teaching and master your subject matter, and has low voices. I felt ashamed and disappointed with myself but I accepted those critics and make these as my guide for preparation and presenting my next lesson. It is really hard to start and cope with my new environment, it also finding me difficult to accompany with the teacher in our department. I don’t know how to handle different learners they are not listening to my lesson and some are very noisy. My cooperating teacher also changed in approaching me and became obstructive. Those happening really challenge me so the next day of teaching I prepared well my lesson plan, visual aid and I provided also the materials for the students’ activity. After I delivered the lesson on my first period I felt relieved although it was not that good but at least I have improvement the way I teach the students according to my CT and I’m happy for that. Repeating the lesson 4 times a day and every 4:00 pm is the time for my classroom monitoring of my advisory class the Grade 7 Aquino the star section in Grade 7 (BEC) to clean their room before they leave. That was my daily routine in school.

    

    Every day I am preparing my lesson plan. Sometimes it is good and sometimes is not. The thing that my CT always reminded me about was the Evaluation should be congruent to the objectives and it should be written in the manila paper. She always reminding me of my voice and be confident when teaching and there are times that one lesson plan cannot carried in one meeting so I continuing it on the next day especially when my activity is protracted. There are also instances that I overtime and I admit that I did not conscious with the time and the teacher on their next subject gets me wrong of what happened. She makes story on the faculty and I felt ashamed and ask apologized to her. I’ve found out that it is because we late to start our lesson because the student doesn’t have initiative to clean their room before the flag ceremony. Therefore, I made a plan. Each group has its own assigned territory then I giving them grade every morning and afternoon. The plan becomes effective. The room becomes more organize and I can now start my lesson on time. After my lesson I was overwhelm on the comments my Ct gave to me. The lesson becomes more interactive and collaborative; she said that she admiring me for being creative, innovative in terms of making the activity, mastered the lesson and I am implementing discipline in the classroom. I am happy and my stress was relieved. Now we have good company with the teacher at our department.

 

    The week comes were now so busy because of final demonstration but two days before our demo, I conducted my Extension Research on Project YOLANDA (Youth Leaders as Advocate of Natural Disaster Adaptation) with the theme: Engaging Students in building a Climate change Community where the respondents are Grade 7, 8, and 9. The activity becomes successful with the help of my Co Students teacher from CBSUA and BCC to become the facilitator and judges despite of their busy schedule. Thank you very much!

 

    Then the final demonstration comes I appreciated those moral supports that the science teachers gave to me especially of my CT and to our head teacher ma’am Mayla. They help me in editing my lesson plan because our Dean of Education required all the Practice Teachers in Justo V. Imperial High School to impose the culture of Baao in our lesson. We are six (6) assigned here and I am the first demonstrator. I feel nervous, pressure because the projector was not yet set and sir Nacario who is our adviser pursuing me to start my demonstration. The first thing I did was to ask God His guidance and knowledge so I can deliver my lesson well and that the students understand the essence of the lesson.

      

    In the critiquing, after the English major criticized, I follows I became emotional when I heard the comment of my CT and my Adviser. My CT said that the one who presented in front of the class is not me anymore but a transformation of mine. I get an outstanding grade and I’m very thankful for that. I also thankful to Grade 7 Aquino for their full cooperation and loving, I receive a lot of cards, letters and flowers from them as well as to the other sections. And also I would like to thanks all teachers and faculty in the school for their kindness and mentoring us, to my family for their indefatigable support and keeps inspiring me. And above all to our Almighty Father, for He is our strength and provider to carry all these encounters. Thank You and God Bless!

                                                                                                          

 

CHERRY B. SORIBELLO

Student Teacher