THIS SUMMER BEFORE THE CHALK RESTS…

(A Reflection)
CARINA VENTURA PELAGIO
SST III

In a seminar I attended, there was this activity called “Top of Mind” in which words are
flashed onscreen and you would give the very first thought that crosses your mind upon seeing
each word or term. Applying it now, though modifying it a bit by thinking of metaphors, the
very first metaphor I get to think of for this year-end reflection is “oasis”.
Surprisingly, exhausted that I am already with the seemingly unending year-end
documents that I have to submit before I would be cleared for the summer vacation(that short
interlude that succeeds the sweet agony of being a teacher from June to March), I still get nagged
by this voice within on how I am faring as a teacher. Another full school year has again ended
and it really makes me ask questions like “Was I the kind of teacher that I wanted myself to be at
the very start? Did my students learn from me? Was I able to inspire them to be better people?
Did I make an impact in their lives? What else must I do for my students?” These are just some
of the questions that I get to think of during my moments of reflection.

I have always been struggling to be a person-teacher because I know that being one
works wonders in the lives of learners. Being one gives them the assurance that no matter who
they are and whatever happens, they have someone they are safe with. One difficult thing is that
when the world also pours problems into your life, it is really difficult to get yourself together
and be the best that you can be for your students. But then I also realize that being a teacher
doesn’t mean forgetting one’s self. Our students rely on us, yes, but they also don’t expect us to
be perfect. Actually the idea that you’re perfect, very intelligent, problem-free and the like
intimidates them. Being a teacher is also being true to yourself; that you are also human and that
means accepting that you also have limitations and you also get hurt. Surprisingly, the students
will love you for embracing these imperfections since it makes you more of a person they can
identify with.

Let them experience and learn things.

Sometimes, in our classrooms, we want to be the “sage on the stage” so we talk

incessantly. We feel that the center of attention should be us. Well it’s about time we put some
conscious effort to act on this. It’s time we stop telling what to do and what not to do and let
them get into action. Let them experience and learn things.

But it also doesn’t mean that when we allow students to experience things so they would
learn best, we can also afford to be complacent. As teachers, we have to be paragons of
excellence since our students rely greatly on us. We have to constantly enrich ourselves by
reading, studying new things, updating our knowledge on things we already know, attending
seminars and trainings, doing researches and many more. Nothing should stand in our way in
bettering ourselves because a better teacher spells better students.

This should be our reality as teachers and not just an ideal. For me now, I want to make
addressing realities in the teaching-learning process my ideal. That is in unique, creative, stress-
buster, learner-friendly ways! I was constantly reminded of this during sessions in which (truth
be told), I would get mad because I couldn’t wheedle the responses I expected from my students.
I made a resolve to do more on this area.

I also remember vividly the incidents wherein some of the students I had, behaved
intolerably. Looking back at those times now, I already know what can be done to turn things
around for students. Seeing these things in retrospect, I feel that my perspective is somehow

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broadened and my eyes see my students more of young spirits needing to be nourished and
strengthened.

Teaching is never just a job.

Psychology plays a crucial role in education. It guides teachers in understanding the child
by understanding what he is going through in life, his needs and problems. A teacher who shuts
his eyes to the influences of certain factors and circumstances on the learner would definitely be
frustrated and miserable with teaching.

Sometimes because we are too caught up in our own problems in life, we fail to see
beyond a child’s misbehavior or failure; so we exact punishment and give criticisms and
judgment right away. The poor child, disheartened of course with this kind of treatment from his
teacher, eventually believes that rash label we put on him : that he is weak and will turn out to be
no good. Failing or refusing to know your student on a deeper level leads to a bigger failure of
the teacher in making the child feel that someone understands, that someone cares.

Understanding the huge importance of psychology in education lets me see how far I can
still go as a teacher in directing and redirecting learning opportunities for students. It is always
good to be reminded that true teaching happens when students eventually develop the love for
learning and even when you let them do things on their own, they would definitely survive and
even shine.

At times, it is easier and more convenient for teachers to think more of the content or the
subject matter than finding out whether the students really understood the lesson or not. I don’t
know how many of us teachers are guilty of this. The usual scenario is this --- the teacher
prepares and executes the lesson and he/she says it’s up for the students to listen and learn. This
is why even if the students are noisy and are doing other things, the teacher doesn’t mind and
continues talking even if obviously, students are not paying attention. Sadly, this really happens.
How can learning take place if we allow this?

Teaching is never just a job. I’m sure all teachers know this but then again, life
circumstances numb them and pull them away from fully developing connections with their
students. Connections that ensure the achievement of the very goals of education and that of
being teachers.

Teaching is not just about giving them tons of knowledge or information. It is just the
starting point actually. As teachers, we need to ensure that students assimilate these, understand
and apply them in their own lives. And if they cannot do it despite our strategies, we can’t just
also say, “It is their problem, not ours”. Because we are supposed to be there to make things
possible for them in the best way that works for them.

The psychology of learning tells us that if a student can’t or doesn’t seem to be interested,
there must be an underlying reason. This is what we have to look into and depending on the
cause, something has to be done.

This of course doesn’t sound easy as it even entails extra efforts on our parts, a lot of
patience, tons of determination, understanding and the like, but then again, we are teachers. If
we just stop at talking “blah-blahs” about concepts or knowledge in class and we don’t ensure
the growth of these and the establishment of connections of such things in their real life and
world, what for are we teaching? Where is the nobility of teaching there?

Teaching is not like any other job that at the end of the day, our being teachers also stops.
We should never stop until our students become better and better and better.

“It takes a village to educate a child”.

This poignantly underscores the importance of considering the interrelationship among

the social institutions and how such affects the learning of the child.
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 It would be frustrating to see the child as a student only. This is just one of his /her multi-
roles in life. He also has other roles to play like in the family and in the church. Bearing this in
mind all the time would make us want to know our students better by getting their profile since it
would help us a lot in customizing learning for them on the basis that learning is best ensured
when it is patterned after the learner’s background, needs, preferences, beliefs, affiliations and
the like.

And of course, we can optimize this by working with other social institutions which are
active or which have something to do with the child’s learning and development. For instance, it
is necessary to have an open line to their family for feedback as to their progress in coping with
studies or whether or not there are problems or concerns affecting them and their performance.
Hence, the PTA. It’s nice to note that in CNHS, the PTA is very active and passionate in
providing possible avenues to better learning conditions for students.

Actually, this active collaboration of the school with other social agencies both public
and private is evident or highly observable nowadays. We have programs and activities launched
out of linkages between the school and other agencies like the Department of Tourism, PLDT,
DOH, PopCom, DENR and others. Even beauty and health companies like Avon, Cream Silk,
Ponds Institute and Rexona tie up with the schools and carry out activities that aim to make
studying as appealing as possible to students. I remember them giving school supplies and
products, journals and even cash gifts, even launching a promo aimed at enhancing or boosting
the self-esteem or confidence of students.

With these linkages and the benefits they bring to the students, we let the students see
how things in their community are interconnected. This eventually leads them to an awareness
and realization of the necessity of developing and maximizing who they are and all possible
things they could do so that eventually they could dispense their multi-roles responsibly and later
on would be able to give back to the community and society which unceasingly ensured success
for them.

One of the most beautiful functions of education is the transmission of our culture and
heritage to the younger generations.

I believe that one of the most beautiful functions of education is the transmission of our
culture and proud heritage to the younger generations. These are things that they should learn to
appreciate, uphold and preserve. Our culture speaks of us as a people, our identity, the hurdles
that we endured and define us now as a distinct race, our values, and our customs and traditions
which should live on in spite of the ever changing times.

Change is inevitable and so is culture. But then if culture has to change, it should be for
the better. It is our role then as teachers to teach what is beautiful in our culture to our students.
It is imperative that they catch values from us and that we should really try to inculcate in them
the outstanding aspects of our culture.

Also, we are now stressing the so-called global society. It is important then for us
teachers to let our students understand that appreciating their own culture should also go hand in
hand with appreciating and respecting other people and their culture since this leads to a
harmonious global society.

Again, this sounds daunting but then it is reassuring to think that the possibility and
success of this starts with us and in the attitude that we put on in carrying out functions expected
of us. Indeed, the world relies greatly on teachers. We can make things happen. We just have to
put our hearts into these goals.

Truly, the extent of what a teacher can do and reach is amazing. This is my calling and
I’m so glad I responded and I will continue responding. “A teacher affects eternity. No one
knows where his influence stops.” #

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