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Subject Matter: The Teacher's Alibis

DSCF6314-1Once a teacher… always a teacher. I believe in that.

Though I am not in the teaching profession right now and doing everything to avoid teaching… I can feel deep in my heart that one day I will be back in the classroom. And even if I had tons of alibis to really stay away from being a teacher… I can sense that deep in my guts that one day I will be back teaching again.

Well, you may ask… “Yeah, why not teach?”

Didn’t I say I have tons of alibis? Yes, I did and I can give you one.

1. Need to get certified first before I could teach here in the US.

“So why not get certified, then?” You may ask.

Then I will answer, “because I am still thinking if I want to teach High School here in the US“. [That’s my number 2. Alibi.]

You see, I was a former High School Teacher back home. And from where I came from, high school students are easy to handle. Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that HS students here are not easy to handle. There are other factors that I need to consider like… their culture, their physical attributes, and language barrier just to name a few.

The Cultural Aspect.

I think I still need to learn American culture more so that I can adapt to my future students’ way of thinking, way of life, personal orientation, individual idiosyncrasies and behavioral pattern. Knowing all this will give me square and fair chance to deal with them on personal and professional level. Having an understanding of their culture will help me design a teaching strategies that can cater to their needs and to get positive result. But then, at this point in time… I am still in culture shock so I need more time for that.

- The Physical Aspect

I am a small woman. Being an Asian, we have that physical attribute to being vertically challenged. I am barely 5 feet in height and obviously, when I teach HS kids, my students are taller than me. You may think that this is very insignificant. But with my stature, it is. Their height is too intimidating and I am scared that they will crash me to death when I fail them or pin me on the wall when I give them difficult assignments. It’s either they kill me or I kill them first. hahahaha I am just kidding. But of course, those are just my other alibis to avoid teaching. LOL

- The Language Aspect.

English is not my first language. Though I teach English subject in HS, my training and knowledge is not enough to give me the confidence to teach American kids. And though I am confident with my grammar and spelling of English words… I have problems with correct “accent” and proper “diction”. Right now, I am still learning in that aspect too. My kids at work are my teachers. I am trying to learn from 5 to 11 year old kids at work on how to pronounce common words. It is imperative for me to be able to speak the way they do so that they will be able to understand me better. Right now, I am struggling in that department. I am having a hard time telling my kids to do things. I don’t know if they don’t understand what I am saying or they are just having a hard time listening.

So there you go. Those are really my alibis… and for what’s it worth… I am just procrastinating because… I can!

May 18th, 2010 | Tags: , , , , , | Category: IN the Classroom, Process, Students, Subject Matter, Survival, The Teacher | 3 comments

Hindsight: The Prom

weddingIt’s almost Prom season here now.

One of the fond memories I had during my teaching career was attending the JS Prom. The Prom is one of the highlights of High School. Most students look forward to it. And most of them have their own share of Prom memories… either bad or “never mind”.

You see, I went to a conservative High School under the exclusive management of Catholic Nuns. During that time, we were not allowed to have a Prom because it was inappropriate for a boy and a girl to dance. But no matter how strict the Nuns were that time, we managed to convince them to have a Prom. And we did. It was held in the classrooms…in broad daylight… in the middle of a hot humid [almost summer] day… wearing Gala Uniforms. Boys and girls did dance with each other but under the strict supervision of the Nuns patrolling the dance floor like military soldiers searching for boys and girls behaving badly.

So when I was accepted to teach in High School 1996… it was indeed the day that I really attended a Prom… in the Plaza… under the twinkling stars… in the middle of a cool [almost summer] night… wearing a Gown. I attended Prom for 11 long years. Each year is different. Each year I wore different gowns. And each year I danced my heart out.

Looking back now… I can say that I did have a wonderful High School memories as a student and as a teacher.

May 15th, 2010 | Tags: , , , | Category: AHA Moments, Hindsight, OMG Moments | One comment

Hindsight: The Work of a Teacher

DSCF5667-1I was watching my favorite TV show and having my cup of tea one fine night. I just had a relaxing deep tissue body massage that I regularly have on weekend nights and getting ready for bed. It was passed my bedtime but I was still in the mood for another cup of tea.

It was dark outside and most of my neighbors were already passed asleep. The dog next door must have seen something or somebody nearby that made him so agitated. His yowling was loud but not as loud as the banging noise at my front gate. I looked at the time and obviously it was late. But I had no choice but to get up from my relaxing slumber pose, put on my robe and answered the door. It was one of my student’s moms.

“Ms. Orona, pasensya na po kung naabala ko kayo sa ganitong oras”. [Ms. Orona, I’m sorry to bother you at this hour.]… she said apologetically.

“Hihingi lang po sana ako ng tulong sa inyo.” [I just want to ask your help.]… she continued without hesitation.

Then she said searching my face for a hint of understanding… “Puede bang pagsabihan nyo ang aking anak na makinig sa akin?” [Can you please tell my son to listen to me?]

“Sa inyo lang po kasi un nakikinig eh, nahihirapan akong disiplinahin siya.” [He only listens to you. I am having a hard time disciplining him.]

End of story.

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Teachers are role models. Students look up to them. They should be role models. Parents respect them. And they must be role models. Student and parents have faith in them.

As teachers we have bigger responsibility that we can imagine. Our responsibility to our students is not confined in the four corners of the classroom but rather… it goes beyond the walls of our students’ hearts.

As teachers we have a wide spectrum of challenges. Our job is not limited to teaching what is in our lesson plans but rather… it goes further than teaching them lessons in life.

And as a teacher we are accountable not only to our students but to ourselves as well. Our work does not end when our students take the school bus at the end of the day but rather… it continues when they are already at home.

And our story… never ends.

April 16th, 2010 | Tags: , , , , , | Category: AHA Moments, Hindsight, IN the Classroom, Lessons, OUT of the Classroom, Students, The Teacher | 6 comments

Question: To Play or Not to Play?

“Go get Nick! Go get Nick!”… the kids shouted in unison. “Tag him! Tag him!”… as the adrenalin rush sent a thundering chant so loud filling the entire gym with excitement. Nick was sneaky and slippery like snake but with one quick and fast turn fueled with hormonal competitive instinct… I changed phase and tagged him! Uproar turned the gym upside down and next thing I knew my heart was up to my throat.

It was one of the best games I ever played in… [thinking… and counting] thirty five years!

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j0422159I did play a lot when I was younger but I don’t think I played hard enough like these kids do under my care. I wasn’t able to play hard enough because I was afraid my trendy clothes will get dirty or ruin my hair or my nails. I wasn’t able to play hard enough because I didn’t want to get sweaty and smelly. And I wasn’t able to play hard enough because I was so busy playing “grown-up”.

As a kid… I think I was matured for my age as compared to my playmates. Back then, I was more interested in fashion and planning for my future. I was a dreamer. I had big plans for myself and set a time frame to achieve them. I had no time to play with my playmates because I thought it was just a waste of time. I had no time for childish game.

As a grown up… I feel that I missed a lot from growing up. Now, I am turning back the time. I am learning new games. Kids taught me to play games that can make my trendy clothes dirty and I don’t care if they ruin my hair or my nails. Now I am playing “tag-you-re-it” and “octopus, octopus” and I am always sweaty. Kids taught me games that I refused to learn when I was a kid because it’s too childish. Now I am playing monopoly and card games like Skip-Bo and Uno, and I love kids’ games. And kids taught me to play active games that make the time pass by so quickly. And now, I am loving every minute of it.

PLAY… For kids – it Is an essential part of growing it. For adults – it is an essential part to get in touch with the child in us. Life is too short. Take a break… relax… play… and let life pass by like a child in play… active… full of enthusiasm… and competitive.

“The world is your play ground.
Why aren’t you playing?”
~ Ellie Katz

As I always say to my kids when they are getting stationary and passive… Go Play!

April 10th, 2010 | Category: AHA Moments, OUT of the Classroom, Process, Question | 8 comments

Subject Matter: Responsibility

I had a busy weekend. I had to attend a whole day training last Saturday as required by the State for Child Care licensing. It was a very enlightening and productive training except for the crappy weather. And one of the things that really struck me was the topic on the “responsibility” of a child care provider and/or teacher.

This pledge made a great impact on me in such a way that I thought it would be nice to share it here.

A Pledge of Responsibility for Children

We are responsible for children
…..who put chocolate fingers everywhere,
…..like to be tickled,
…..who stomp in puddles and ruin their new pants,
…..who sneak Popsicles before supper,
…..can never find their shoes.
And we are responsible for children
…..can’t bound down the street in a new pair of sneakers,
…..who are born in places we wouldn’t be caught dead,
…..who never go to the circus,
…..who live in an x-rated world.
We are responsible for children
…..who bring us sticky kisses and fistfuls of dandelions,
…..who sleep with the dog and bury the goldfish,
…..who cover themselves with Band-aids and sing off key,
…..who squeeze toothpaste all over the sink,
…..who slurp their soup.
…..who never get dessert,
…..who have no blanket to drag behind them,
…..who watch their parents watch them die,
…..who can’t find any bread to steal,
…..who don’t have any rooms to clean up,
…..whose pictures aren’t on anybody’s dresser,
…..whose monsters are real.
We are responsible for children
…..who spend all their allowance before Tuesday,
…..who throw tantrums in the grocery store and pick at their food,
…..who like ghost stories,
…..who shove dirty clothes under the bed and never rinse out the tub,
…..who get visits from the tooth fairy,
…..who don’t like to be kissed in front of the carpool,
…..whose tears we sometimes laugh at, and
…..whose smiles can make us cry.
We are responsible for children
…..whose nightmares come in the daytime,
…..who will eat anything,
…..who have never seen a dentist,
…..who aren’t spoiled by anybody,
…..who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep,
…..who live and move, but have no being.
We are responsible for children
…..who want to be carried and for those who must,
…..for those we never give up on and
…..for those who don’t get a second chance,
…..for those we smother, … and
…..for those who will grab the hand of anybody kind enough to offer it.

~Ina Hughes~

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j0433027 As a teacher… I am responsible to teach my students not just the basic skills to help them live a normal life but life-lessons that will help them live a productive life.

As a mentor… I am responsible to mold them to become not just responsible citizen but hone their abilities and God-given talents to help them became effective contributors of the society.

As a human being… I am responsible to provide them not only endless opportunities to see themselves as important individuals but to give them a chance to share their blessings to humanity.

These are the reasons why there are teachers who despite their meager salary chose to teach the children even the unteachable ones… why there are mentors who despite rich opportunities being offered to them opted to render valuable time to hone children’s’ skills and teach those who lack them… and why there are human beings who despite their weaknesses are willing to share their time and talents to give students the strengths that they deserve.

March 1st, 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Category: IN the Classroom, Lessons, OUT of the Classroom, Students, Subject Matter, Survival, The Teacher | One comment
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