18 Little Things

"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops."

Henry Brooks Adams (1838-1918) American historian, journalist and novelist.

In our work immersion in Nabunturan Central Elementary School SPED Center, we faced different children who possess different tastes, talents, abilities and skills that only the 21st century  kids have to offer. And because of this, we knew a lot of things and learned how to adjust in our workplace. Here are just 18 little things but they are big lessons and helpful guidance as to becoming a teacher.

1. Build relationship.

Being in your workplace requires congeniality. You cannot be good in your job if you are not good towards the people around you. As for me, it is like wearing 2 masks. One is maturity for dealing with the teachers, and the other is juvenility for the children.

2. Be beastly.

Even if you are playful and juvenile, you also need to be a beast, sometimes. Not literally, of course. You still need to tame them and take control of things.

3. Patience is a virtue. 

Kids consume patience! Make sure you have tons of them.

4. Become a model.

Kids tend to admire older people. Because of this, they love to copy everything we do, say and have. Whatever they are now, however improbable, could be the basis of whatever they will become.

5. Be an attention-seeker.

Think of some ways to get their attention, just like shouting "hi!", which they would respond to with "hello!" You can also clap your hands as loud as you can.

6. Use bribery.

Every kid loves prizes. It cwould be chocolates, candies or money. If you can't afford anything at the moment, you can still bribe them with... "No one goes home unless you all keep quiet!"

7. Be a good magician.

Sometimes, you also need to create some lies to divert their whines. This can also come in handy when a kid refuses to write or answer quizzes. Have some good talking and story-making skills to keep them going.

8. Be a better magician.

"A VERY good magician never uses the same trick twice." There are times that you have to think of new and better techniques to entertain and tame them, or else, it will bore them.

9. Alwaya smile. 

This isn't a very hard job for me, I can say. Kids really love greeting new people. It's like a message saying that they want to be friends with you. So you just have to respond with a nod, a hand wave, or the simplest smile you have.

10.Get ready for monkeys. 

Children really are clingy! They will hug you, hold and grab your arms, so watch out for them.

11. Be prepared for multiple proffessions.

One moment, you're a teacher, and then the next, you're a parent. Now, you're a janitor, and then you're a secretary. You can also become a referee and a nurse after the fight. There are so much to experience. No need for years of study, a day of teaching is more than enough.

12. Get a voice lesson.

Practice your voice as they are the foundation of teaching. You will use it all day. Discuss, instruct, discipline. It is much expected to have raspy throat after several hours of teaching.

13. Observe your surroundings.

Be observant not just to the students, but also to the teachers, as well. This can help when you're already on your own.

14. Grab some buddies.

Aside from intangible things such as love, patience, and hardwork, you also need pen, paper, pencil and chalk. Students love to play with these, so you gotta keep some extra.

15. Learn how to write their own way.

You don't want to be laughed at because of bad penmanship, right? Keep the letters aligned, make them big, and follow the blue-red-blue rule.

16. Have time-management.

All the students' performance should be recorded, plus, your own reports and requirements. Thus, you should think of them first before your own leisure time.

17. Always absorb positive energy from your environment.

If you get stressed, you will get old fast. When you feel like bursting, just take a deep breath and imagine a peaceful place. You can also play with the kids, if you want. If you can't go against the river, then go with it.

18. Every child is special.

Don't. Ever. Forget. This.

Good Day... "Ma'am"

January 17, 2018, Wednesday, the first day of our work immersion, definitely a new environment and new experience for us. On the first half of the day, an orientation was held to let us and the teachers know what to do for this work

immersion.

At first we were just relaxed, too relaxed that we managed to greet the Nabunturan Central Elementary School-SPED Center principal, Mrs. Rosario Noneza, and the Asst. School Principal of Nabunturan National Comprehensive High School, Mr. Sandy Yee, with all smiles. But when we were assigned to different areas and grade levels, that was when I felt the pressure and nervousness that was just hiding in me, without me knowing.

At noon, we were instructed to report to our supervisor or critic teacher. I was very nervous, given that I am assigned to Grade 1. Honestly, I was expecting to be assigned to a higher grade. Dealing with mother tongue (Sinugbuanong Bisaya) is a big challenge for me since we have'nt experienced that when we were still in Grades 1 and 2. When I was asked by my supervisor to introduce myself, I did not know what to say. My mind just had a blackout. Sure, the students are just kids but standing in front of them still made me stutter.

I believe that we are all gifted with luck because fortunately and thankfully, my supervisor is approachable and kind enough to teach me a lot on my first day. She showed me different school forms, e-card, dialy lesson log, and many more, that unlike the traditional way, are recorded through computers.

All in all, my first day still is a great, new experience for me. It was funny how the students stare at you, observing on how you do whatever it is you are doing. They are innocent, little kids adoring what you look like, what you do and how you act even if for you and for your standards, you are the worst of your kind.

One day down, 9 more to go. I just hope I can make it 'til the 10th day.

The Seeds

           One day, some scientists conducted a research on how to easily make a seed grow into a beautiful flower in a short period of time. The seeds went through a hard time. Many experiments were done to them. They tasted variety of chemicals in different dosages. They even went through death-like situations...

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           Last January 5, 2018, Friday, a send-off ceremony was held for all Grade 12 students of Nabunturan National Comprehensive High School. It was done to display and ensure the partnership among the parents, the students and the school before the 80-hour work immersion of the students begins.

         Part of the ceremony was the candle-lighting. The lit candles were to show our parents that with their support and our hardwork and perseverence, our future will shine brightly as those candles.

          It was a beautiful sight. I saw happiness on the students' faces and pride on the patents'. I even saw a parent with tomato-red eyes and nose, probably due to crying. She must be so proud to be that emotional. She's not my mother, but I somehow felt happy and overwhelmed to see her react like that.

          The send-off ceremony was a big step in our last year as seniors. It was like a confirmation that all of our hardwork is acceptable and well-appreciated by the school and that we are qualifier to do the work immersion which is a major requirement for graduation. It was like the universe was telling us that it would take only a few more twists and turns and we'd reach our destination, our goal.

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         As the K-12 Curriculum pioneers, we are the seeds. We are also called the "experimental class". Sometimes, we feel like we get a very small benefit out of the 2-year "experiment" that was done to us. But nevertheless, we were improved and crafted to be the best. Those variety of chemicals in different dosages were intended to make us bloom into something that we did not or still do not know at the moment. Those seeds are the firsts; the firsts to taste all the hardwork, the firsts of all the benefits, the firsts of all the good and bad things. And there is nothing that could ever compare to firsts.