narration of experience during practice teaching

NARRATION OF EXPERIENCE
Date: November 12, 2013
Jobs/Activities Performed: Exactly 2 o clock in the afternoon, Dr. Judith G. Gamit, Campus Director, introduced us to Ms. Evarista Abante, Principal of Armado Elementary School. The two of them discussed the requirements, guidelines and other important things about practice teaching. After that, Ms. Abante assigned us to our respective grades to handle. I was assigned in grade VI. Then, I met my cooperating teacher, Ms. Marlyn Daprosa. Ma’am Marlyn welcomed me and let me introduce myself to the students. I then had a short talk to them. They were many at the classroom, I think fifty or more. Ma’am Marlyn told them a sort of joke, that they might fear me and behave in me because I’m big.
The next thing is observation. My cooperating teacher taught the remedial class. It was about Mathematics, dividing whole number into fraction. She discussed and gave examples, then followed by drill and solving.
I met also grade six’ MSEP teacher which was Ms. Mila. She let the pupils play, sing and dance. After her class, was the flag retreat.
Observations:
I observed that the kind of teaching is departmentalized. Ma’am Marlyn teaches Science IV, V, VI, EPP VI and HeKaSi VI. Therefore, she wasn’t teaching other subjects such as Math, Filipino, English and MSEP. I observed too that the beating of National Anthem and Ang Bayan Ko goes in cycle. Each teacher was being assigned in the beating.
Insights/ Learning: Well, in my first day, I was really amazed and stunned to feel like a teacher. Students will great you, “good morning ma’am, good afternoon ma’am, how are you ma’am?”. It seems that you were being respected and appreciated not only by your pupils but also by the people around you. At that very moment, I learned a lot of things. That practice teaching is really a different thing than what I did for the last three and a half years at my campus. It was really the battlefield, wherein there were real students, real lesson plans, real room and real grading system. Not only real classroom situation, but also real Co- teachers and Principal. I ‘am looking forward that I may get well with them sooner as I go on having my practice teaching here.

Date: November 13, 2013
Jobs/Activities Performed:
Supposedly, I was about to have a two-day observation first before handling a class, but then my cooperating teacher, Ms. Daprosa has to leave for her physical check-up, so I got in charge.
I was really excited to teach my first subject, although I admit I was very nervous. My first lesson is about “Pagmamahalan at Pagmamalasakitan ng Mag-anak.” It was an interactive discussion. I never expect that my students will participate that well. Next subject was EPP 6.The topic was about “Paraan ng Pagpapabili ng Produktong Hayop”. As expected they did the activity very well. Because this is an urban place, farmers used to raise animals as a source of their living.
In Science VI, I discussed “Harmful Effects of Some Materials”, under this lesson were some important environmental issues such as; global warming, El Niño, La Niña, acid rain, forest fires, algal bloom, ozone hole, red tide and pollution. I’m happy that after the class, pupils became concern and aware on what is really happening to our environment. On the other hand, Science IV’s topic is about friction and Science V is physical and chemical change. Both of the grades performed learning activities and experiments.
After lunch, I taught HeKaSi 6, my last subject for the day. It was about RIGHTS of Pilipino Citizen
Observations:
In some subjects, I got in trouble teaching in the required language. Students do not understand pure English, so I need to translate some sentences in Filipino. Students have difficulty in reading, pronouncing and writing English sentences.
I also observed that teachers here have their great connection or ties with each other. As a matter of fact, they eat lunch together every each day.
Insights/ Learning: When I was teaching Science VI, one of my students said that “Ma’am, we cannot understand some of your words and you are teaching very fast. And we cannot understand terms in your illustrations”. That student made me think and after while I respond, “sorry class…I thought I was teaching to a college class.” Then I started teaching using simple words and explained every single terminology. So this is the real world of teaching…. Far enough in what really I did expect.

Date: November 14, 2013
Jobs/Activities Performed:
It was my second day of teaching. Students cleaned their consecutive areas and assignments, and then they attended Flag Ceremony and proceed in their classroom for their first lesson. Supposedly in EPP, I did lesson plan about, “Selling Animal and Animal Products”, but then the students need to work for their Gulayan sa Paaralan.(Gulayan sa Paaralan is a required program for each school) In Science VI, I discussed “Composition of Matter, Science IV was continuation about friction and Science V was physical and chemical change. Because science is more on activities and hands on, pupils find the subject interesting and enjoyable.
After lunch, as usual was HeKaSi 6, this time I taught about Protecting and fighting for the RIGHTS of Pilipino Citizen.

Observations:
There were times that lesson plans were not really being followed. Sometimes activities were not being done or there were activities performed that were not really listed in the plan. And another thing is….It’s really hard to do the lesson plans. Now I understand how hard teaching is…..a continuous and non-stop studying and learning.

Insights/ Learning: This time I learned how to manage time each subject. Maybe because I was new in the field, my ideas of activities were really a handful. I wanted to apply many activities in each subject and I almost forget the time, resulted that I left the lesson hanging. I think that as a student teacher you should make sure not to be intimidated by the kids. That will show them that they can take advantage of you. I think you should be firm and be able to listen to the students when they ask questions or have opinions. Make sure you are always prepared for whatever questions they may have so as to not show that you don't know as much as them.

Date: November 18, 2013
Jobs/Activities Performed:
Whoa!!! Thank God..My Cooperating teacher is back..And good thing: She’s fine. So then, As our daily routine, we cleaned the classroom and attended flag ceremony. Then, I was very nervous to teach…Why?...Because I was been observed by my cooperating teacher. At first, all I have in mind is to impress my cooperating teacher, but then I thought, it’s not her that I ‘am teaching, it’s the pupils. So I concentrate and teach my lessons in two consecutive subjects, EPP and SCIENCE VI. The Rest of the subjects were taught by my coorerating teacher.

Observations: During recess, vacant and lunch break, my pupils used to play ‘tagu-taguan’, ‘chinese garter’ among females and ‘volley ball’ among males. Only few do assignments. I think “study habits” is what they are missing. I suggest, pupils might try to do the following: reading books, playing board games or other educational games or reviewing or studying previous or future lessons.

Insights/ Learning:
Lessons for the day:
Don't try to be perfect, be real. Teach how you "really" think you may be in the classroom when it is your own. You are still a student and you are expected to make mistakes. However, it will be very hard for you to truly grow if you don't show your true self in the classroom environment.
Another thing is communicate with your cooperating teacher. That is my problem until now, though I ‘am making moves for us to know and get well with one another.
Ohhh…one more thing, as a student teacher, come early, come prepared and dress like a professional…

Date: November 20, 2013
Jobs/Activities Performed: As a routine, we cleaned the classroom and attended the flag ceremony. Students had been attentive in our first lesson in EPP6, it was about “Gawaing Pangindustriya”. The discussion touched the issue regarding crowded applicants of OFW’s. That if Filipino people will know how to be industrialize and will be knowledgeable on businesses beyond our own fences, then there’s no need of leaving our love ones, of leaving our country. Well, it was a fruitful discussion. Next subject was Science VI, I tackled Forms of Energy. I provided them a relay of activities. The pupils enjoyed the lesson very well. During the discussion, one of my students asked me, “ma’am, what is nuclear energy? Where is it coming from?”. I replied, “nuclear energy comes from splitting an atom, a handful of the source can produce electricity for the whole United Kingdom”, then they say in amazement “wooow…. Ma’am why don’t every country use the same source of energy?”. Then I answered, “because… its waste is very dangerous, it can cause cancer and other unidentified diseases”. Then the four side of classroom became full of their murmurs. Therefore I had proven that even they were just kids, they really care for huge issues like this. The rest of the subjects were taught by my cooperating teacher. I observed her discussion and I learned many things about her. The way she teaches, her strategies, techniques and methodologies in teaching is really unique. Ohh…I forgot to say, she taught me how to write lesson plan too.

Observations: I observed that students vary in their abilities and skills. Some of them are good in oral, some are in written and some are good in skills like; drawing, computing math problems and the likes. They have different learning behaviors too. So, it is a challenge for me to choose activities and strategies that fits each and every behavior of them. Insights/ Learning: I learned to appreciate students’ answer and simple deeds. Actually, this morning, I felt really guilty for one of my pupils. He cried because I ignored his answer.

Date: November 21, 2013
Jobs/Activities Performed:
This time, I beat for the National Anthem. That was a wonderful experience and that was my first time!
My lesson in EPP6 was a continuation of my lesson: “Kabutihang Dulot ng mga Gawaing Pangindustriya”. Actually in my lesson plan I will give poster making and poem composition activities, but it did not happen. They just finished making posters and did not able to report their work. (oh well, I guess it’s my fault, so next time I will estimate if my proposed activities are doable at a limited time.)
In the next subject, Science VI, I tackled chemical and mechanical energy. I used an illustration about photosynthesis and a bottle of soda (cola) to prove that energy is being released and absorbed. After my discussion, Maam Marlyn, my cooperating teacher advised “Ma’am Sara, you don’t need to spend an amount for your illustration, you can think of another thing you can substitute that is at the same time available in the surrounding.
It was before lunch when I felt bore and decided to have a tour on the school area. I passed by grade V building then, Computer laboratory, then Grade IV-A, IV-B, III-B, III-A, II, Kitchen, Grade I, and Pre-Elem, while Canteen is in the front of grade IV’s building. I observed that Ms. Emalyn, grade I teacher, was cooking alone in the kitchen, so I decided to help her. I enjoyed her company and learned many things about her and teaching.
Maam Marlyn then, taught the rest of the subjects. Again it was a fruitful but tiring day!

Observations:
Illustration and visual aid really helps to gain students attention for better learning. As a matter of fact, when I was in my tour in different classrooms, I found out that as the level of grade decreases (Grade VI,V,IV,III,II,I,Pre-School), the color of the classrooms becomes more conjusive and posters becomes more prettier and colorful.

Insights/ Learning: I ‘am going to confess a little sin I did yesterday. I forgot to do my lesson plan in one subject, so I hurried to do one. Thus I become quite confused about my lesson; good thing was I become able to handle it after all. And that experience of mine taught me how important to make my lesson plan and study it before teaching it.

Date: November 22, 2013
Jobs/Activities Performed:
Morning rituals, then first subject, EPP6 I talked about “Designing an industrialized Project”. Everybody including me did our very own design of our ideal project. I personally acknowledged those pupils who did a very well job. I presented a rubric for evaluating each work to really determine which work was the best.
Our creativity mode was followed by a continuation lesson of Science VI about chemical and mechanical energy. Afterwards Sir Enan Quiñones, a grade V teacher called for an assembly. The first meeting was for IV,V,VI students taking up EPP. They set 16 groups and have a discussion about their upcoming project which was “lantern made of recyclable and available materials”. Then the teachers and practice teachers had their assembly too. They will the ones who will advice for each group’s lantern. It will going to be a competition.
I ‘am assigned in group 7 and we will going to use plastic bottles.
As usual, I observed my cooperating teacher teaching the rest of the subjects.
And I have a good news, I already know everybody in here; the Principal- Evarista Abante, my Cooperating Teacher-Marlyn Daprosa, Elementary Teachers and Staff- Ma’am Emalyn, Sir Toneth, Ma’am Angel, Ma’am Harriete, Ma’am Aimy, Ma’am Michelle, Sir Jerold, Sir Ren2x, Sir Ynan, Ma’am Mila, Canteen Staff-Sir Chona, Co-Practice Teachers- Ma’am Kneth, Ma’am Kc, Ma’am Princess, Ma’am Romelyn and Ma’am Grace. Congratulations in me! I’m not good in names but I’ve been able to enumerate them…. (:
Observations:
When we were called for the meeting, I was quite confused. Does it sound right to have program and project like this? Well, I thought being a teacher is just like a typical job, doing lesson plan and teaching it. I never expected that it is deeper that I think it is. There are things to do, even if not related to your job as teacher, you need to comply and perform… and then I realized, being a teacher is being flexible.
Insights/ Learning: Lesson for today…be patient. Students were just kids; they are prone to noisiness and naughtiness, they have different point of view and interests, different behavior than of those matured individuals. BUT….Don’t belittle and underestimate them… because even they were only kids…their imagination is wider than us; the goodness upon them can change the world in the future.

Date: November 25-29, 2013
Jobs/Activities Performed:
November 25, Monday, it was a rainy day that’s why we don’t have our Flag Ceremony. Like our daily routine, first subject is EPP6 about “Pagpaplano ng Gawain”. As a motivation, I discussed about short and long term planning. I asked some of my students about what are their plans for next days, weeks, months and after 10 years. The discussion went out as an interesting conversation. On the other hand, my Science 6’s lesson was about “electrical energy”. We chatted about safety rules and precaution in using electrical appliances. I presented some trivia about electricity. Then an unexpected thing happened. One of my pupils asked me a very difficult question. In the first place, I really don’t know what to do. Hence, I answer him with my little knowledge about what was asked. Good thing, he did not have his follow-up questions. During the recess, I researched on that topic and discussed it the class the next subject.
The rest of the week, November 26, 27, 28, 29/2013, I was excused for attending (IHEPC) Institutional Higher Education Press Conference at San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. And another good thing is that my cooperating teacher was very kind enough to let me attend the competition.

Observations: By the way, I’m getting familiar in the routine of a teacher. Doing lesson plan, studying tomorrow’s lesson, waking up early, cleaning the classroom, and teaching the whole day. I just observed that after what I did for almost three weeks as a practice teacher, I felt I’ve changed. Now, I have more patience, I wake up early every day, I gain self-confidence and I think I’ve been more conscious in what I ‘am doing.

Insights/ Learning:
As I continue my adventure of being a teacher, I’d learned a very important thing. How? What?... Well many among my pupils were somewhat not interested to learn. As a matter of fact, there were some that were always quiet and do not even talk a single word. Thus, I interviewed some of them. Three were orphan, five have broken family and two have parents working abroad. It made me think for a while, then I said into myself….this is the hardest job of a teacher….to improve one self’s SELF STEEM. To make a student think that he is treated with respect because he is worthy to be, to boost his self confidence to do task or to live life. Whoa….. teaching really is a complicated thing.