It is bittersweet...just like dark chocolate

At last...it's all done!

It has been a wonderful and challenging journey. This credential program here at Vanguard has been so rewarding and so stretching that I am not who I was when I came into the program. I grew professionally as the professors pushed us over the edge several times (if not always) throughout the semester. I told them this week that NOW I'm thankful they pushed us beyond what we know what we are capable of, but at that time they we were in the midst of it, we weren't so thankful...we just laugh about it now.

Next semester is going to be different. As Advanced Student Teachers we will be in the classroom every single day. They said it's still gonna be busy but a different kind of busy. Well, whatever kind it is my prayer for my cohort (and those who have to split up their semester in 2 for various reasons) that we will not give up on the calling God has placed on our hearts. That we will press on just like what Paul said in Philippians. That we will keep our focus not on our to-do lists but on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. It's all because of Him that we are able to do all this. It's for his glory that we are here living our life the way he wants us to. And its awesome!

Then again, here we are, at the end of BST (beginning student teaching). I'm gonna miss miss my cohort and seeing the professors and interacting with staff. These were good times...but its not the end. Although...

...it still is bittersweet...just like dark chocolate.

Pressure Cooker Program

Crazy!!! it has been a whirlwind of hectic schedules, designing lessons, handling kids of all personalities, writing up TPA's, assembling portfolios, doing presentations, engaging in oral final/interview... Honestly, this program is one of the most challenging educational experiences I have ever had...plus not to mention that I'm married, have a 2-year old boy and gonna give birth in about 4 weeks!!! Many times throughout this program I questioned if I was meant to be a teacher because it is not easy. But God did not call us to have an easy life, he called to live an effective one, for his glory. Just like a pressure cooker, you put in raw meat and in a few minutes you have tender beef and delicious stews...as if you cooked them in a crock pot!!! (this is making me hungry!) Well, this program is definitely like a pressure cooker, but I know its all worth it. Many times I was in class and I just receive confirmation in my spirit from God that I was meant to be t Vanguard...I was meant to be a teacher, not 6 years ago after I graduated from undergrad (I was originally an education major then switched to communications)...but it's for right now.

Intersection of Faith and Learning

It has been a trend for most Christian teachers/administrators in the public school system to "pretend" to be atheists because they are fearful of loosing their job. It's a sketchy subject, which we need to know more about. That is why I'm so glad that today we had an awesome guest speaker who spoke on how to be an effective Christian and a public school teacher in the same time.

I appreciate how he placed everything in perspective of what will bring the most impact to the students regarding Christianity. He mentions there is a balance that can be found within the American culture that can help Christian teachers live out their faith. Now, he is not promoting to be a total evangelist to your students through explicit teaching, as in like a church service. The point is within the content standards, especially in History-Social Science Curriculum Framework, there are many opportunities to teach students on the Judeo-Christian heritage that our nation is founded on which is PERFECTLY LEGAL and ACADEMICALLY EXPECTED.

He gave several examples on integrating faith into our lessons, without "crossing the lines" of preaching to the students. One is national holidays. One in particular that I was surprised about was Thanksgiving. He mentions that though Thanksgiving is mainly taught in schools as a time to remember what the pilgrims and the indians did, he actually says that the president of the United States always issues a proclamation that it is a time to give thanks to God for all the blessings he has given us in the past year...every time!!! Wow! It's an actual document that each president has to write each year. Also, national day of prayer is also another presidential proclamation. I mean, there's ton of things out there!

Now, I can really go crazy on these things, but one thing I have to say is that this nation is so blessed to have a heritage so rich and so ROOTED in God and in His Word. The key thing now is that we, as culture-bearers, need to pass on this legacy to the next generation, otherwise, we will have no future to look forward to. I pray that God will give each Christian teacher the passion, the wisdom, the resources and the anointing to be the best teacher of their specific content area so that on the divine, opportune moments where the gospel can be LEGALLY talked about, students will be ready, willing and receptive to the message. All we gotta do as teachers is to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit: he has given us hearts to honor God and love the students, and minds to be meek as doves and wise as serpents, especially when integrating faith and learning.

God bless America!...especially the public schools...the cutting edge of society and the beacon of the future...

p.s. For more info go to the following websites:
www.gtbe.org
www.religiousfreedomday.com
www.gatewayspartner.org

New Tutoring Challenge

When I entered the credential program, I decided to get both multiple subject (teaching elementary) and single subject credential (teaching junior high and high school); because of that, I had to take a weekend class. Though it may seem daunting because of the extra work load we had to accomplish that weekend, it was totally worth it because we learned about how to teach students necessary study skills that will help their overall performance academically, which will also influence their personal life as they mature. One of the requirements for this class was to do a case study on improving grades for a student, group of students or a whole class. I decided to go with one student.

The past months as a beginning student teacher, I have been working with elementary age students. But, for this case study I decided to go with a junior high student. The student I chose needed help to raise her grade because she was mainly getting D's and F's in class. Being an 8th grader, her grades are crucial to graduating to move on to high school. So, we began working together so as to find ways to improve her grade.

In applying several strategies I learned from the study skills class, I found out that this student just needed the extra attention and motivation to want to learn the things she is learning. She is an intelligent young lady, it's just that her cognitive processing needed direction. I gave her the double entry journal strategy. There are several versions of this technique. The one I advised her was to have 2 pieces of paper when taking notes in class: one for notes to self and the other was for the actual notes to class. The notes to self is a place wherein she can write details regarding thoughts unrelated to the current class, such as how she feels, what she wants to do later, comments about events or people, etc. The class notes were just basic information of what the teacher was teaching. The following weekend, she told me, she raised her grade in several classes and the double entry worked for her! I got so excited! The downside was she got in trouble for writing the notes to self which the teacher took away.

So now, at least, she found a way to redirect her thoughts back to class instead of just "going on vacation" while the teacher is teaching, which really helped her focus on learning. However, I'm still waiting on what my professor would advice me to tell her so that my tutee will not get into trouble again in using the double entry journal.

Go Team!

In this current elementary school that I'm working with, my Master Teacher has been a blessing to me in such a way that she brings me to the different meetings that she is a part of, usually before or after school. Sometimes, she actually feels bad that she "drags" me to these meetings, but I told her I'm really glad that she does because I get to see the other side of being a teacher and the support that a school gives to the student beyond classroom instruction.

One meeting in particular that she has brought me to was a Student Support Team (SST) meeting wherein different teachers volunteer to give support to a teacher with a special case student. In this meeting the principal and the school psychologist was also present to give advice and share what available resources the school has for the child. In most sessions, the team talks about student's personal history and academic history to give a good foundation of what the student has had in the past and what he is dealing with currently. After which the teacher shares on what adaptations or interventions have been done to accommodate to the needs of the student. Then, the team gives suggestions on other ideas the teacher can incorporate to those adaptations (Most of the time, the teacher has done so many adaptations already before it even goes to the SST meeting, so they have pretty much done their part. In some cases, some of the suggestions that are given have already been done by the teacher.) At some point the principal or school psychologist would make the team and the teacher aware of what extra support or other interventions that the school can provide the student and his/her family.

I realized how awesome it was that so many people cared about that one student. Sadly, due to budget cuts, some of the students will not be given much attention because major funding has been taken away from the school. But, the good part is, the teacher has already started the process of developing the child's current skills and providing the support he/she needs, so he/she is not left alone in the dark. There are many hands that is holding the student up.

Reading time!

This past earth day, my Master Teacher (MT) asked me to read a sunflower story. It was a fictional story about a young boy who planted a sunflower garden in a circle. I was excited to read aloud to the children because the book my MT gave me was a 1st or 2nd grade reading level book. However, I realized that I was going to read to the children after recess! (coming back to class after being wired up in running around the playground is a bit challenging).

But anyways, after the children got back to the room and my MT told them I was going to read them a story, amazingly the just sat on the carpet and listened intently as I read to my kindergarten class. It went really well! Thank God! Even the most rowdy kids were paying attention and fully engaged with story. My MT even said that she noticed and was amazed that everyone was just paying attention and that she had to take notes of what I was doing!

Honestly, that is all God! He had angels keep those kids calm and anointed my voice to be as creative and entertaining/engaging to them as possible.

3...2...1...!!!!!

I just realized that we have 3 weeks of school left! That is crazy! I didn't know that we're nearly at the end of the semester. It's just that there's still so much to do and I sometimes feel like I'm still catching up with all that's expected of us.

But in the next few weeks:
- we got a lot of work to do on our Portfolios
- we have to finish up our tutoring sessions with a Reader's Theater Performance (we're doing Chicken Little) and a student portfolio for each tutee that we have
- we have to study for finals
- we need to get our final evaluations for our MT's
- we have to write a case study (this is for the reading class I did that was over the weekend that's usually for Single Subject students)

I know we have more than that I just can't think of it off the top of my head! So, I just need to really rely on God to help me finish all this in time, keep my head on my neck, and specifically have the joy in knowing that God helped me through this all and the end is almost near and I gained so much from this experience.

Now, the countdown begins...

It's all in the bag...

In this credential program, professors always refer you to your "real" jobs, meaning they're trying to make you think how would you apply what you just learned when we actually start teaching. So, one of the BIG THINGS they're requiring from us is creating our own professional portfolio of things we have done. Before all this, I thought professional portfolios were only for artists and financial investors. But I guess, it goes for every profession. So now, for BOTH of our classes, the Reading/Literacy class and the Curriculum/Methods class, we have to create 2 portfolios that would demonstrate how we can synthesize the information we are hopefully absorbing.

Today in class, we talked about how we are expected to organize and write out our professional portfolio. It seems easy, it's just a lot of work. Honestly, the workload can feel overwhelming many times but I know the rewards of actually doing it is far greater. So, in doing this I'm already thinking that I hope when I actually interview for a job in the near future I will be able to use these portfolios and have them as a way for me to review all the things I learned in school. So all I got do is pull it out of the bag, 'cause it's all in there.

Just Keep Swimming

Did I ever mention that I love Disney movies? Well...I do!!! Especially the ones they do with Pixar. Man! The stories are fascinating and graphics are phenomenal. Watching the behind-the-scenes portion of the DVD gives the audience a glimpse of the intense thought and process that these guys go through...I mean its just amazing work...but I bet it's also pretty grueling, but I guess the rewards are totally worth it, which brings me to my main point...

I love watching Finding Nemo over and over again. I mean it's just captures your heart. There are several things from that movie that you can totally pick out, but one thing really is stuck in my memory bank forever:"just keep swimming," which was said by Dory, the blue fish who always forgot about everything, but suprisingly, her cognitive skills are sharp enough that she knows her phonics and is able to read! (There goes my teaching skills!..lol.) But anyways, i brought that up to say, it's almost the end of the semester and I just can't wait to relax and do.....absolutely NOTHING! Just relaxing and enjoying being with my family. It has been crazy for the past months and I know things are not gonna get easier, as our professors have said (and we believe them) we just get used to the pain of all the work we have to do...lol...but true. It's such a temptation to just kick back and relax, but I know there's no stopping now. If anything, we should keep pushing for the best, we started strong, we finish strong (that should be ending blog heading for the semester...mental note).

So, even if I want to just let things pass me up again, I'm going to do what Dory said...to just keep swimming.

p.s. Some of my close friends think I'm like Dory many times because my short-term memory is well....really short, and that was even before I was pregnant (which btw, I have been doing all these crazy work for school and I'm 32 weeks pregnant! thats 8 months...crazy! God is good....)

It's finally over...

If you were in the Beginning Student Teaching (BST) program, you would totally understand what I meant by my heading. Just today at 4 PM, everyone in BST submitted their Teaching Performance Assessment Task #2 (TPA). All I could say is, after 33 pages of reading and writing and analyzing (and crying over when is it all gonna be over...) it's finally done. To give you a brief description of TPA, it's basically the application of everything you've learned in class but on paper and submitted to the California Department of Education so you can be a credentialed teacher...it's just one of the gazillion of things we are required to do to be an educator (K-12). Previously, Vanguard was piloting this program. But now, the entire state of California is doing it! Preparing for it and actual doing the TPA was like taking the CBEST or CSET or someother state exam for teaching except that you're not confined in one location for a period of time (that would be a painful experience if it were like that), you get to have a couple of weeks to write it.

All I can say about this is...Thank you, Jesus! Seriously, I thank God for the awesome lectures and learning experiences I have been going through in our cohort, both in our Reading/Literacy class and Curriculum/Methods Class. If it weren't for the professors who designed the program the way it is, I know I couldn't have completed the TPA in an effective way that I thought I did. Not only that, but my husband, my son and my parents and sister, helped out so much in just working around my crazy lifestyle the past few weeks as I've been getting this stuff together...so thank you! I could not have been blessed with a better, more supportive and loving family. Lastly, but most importantly, God is the source of wisdom and strength and being able to complete this task. Without Him, I would not be here. Plus, I learned something so valuable throughout this process, God is a miracle-working God, even in the small (but to me its pretty BIG) details of my life, He is there with us. A simple yet profound truth. I hope that happens to you to. Thank you God, not just for what you do, but for who you are to me.

Great Things Happen in Cohorts...

The way the Vanguard Teacher Credential Program is set up is that students are grouped into Multiple-Subject (Grades K-5 or 6) and Single Subject (Junior High or High School) Teacher Candidate classes, aka cohorts. So within my cohort, there used to be 7 of us, but now we're only 6 (we miss being 7 :( )

Anyway, I love being in my cohort because we learn from each other, we sympathize with each other, we support each other. Its just like a family. (it's funny, I'm currently listening to Group 1 Crew's song Gimme that Funk and then right before I typed the word "family", they just said "we are like family"...lol...total confirmation...). We sure have our rough times (it seems like its been like that lately though...oh well...few more weeks! yey!) but its just good to know that you're not the only one having this cognitive dissonance...side note: we talked about this today in class, that sometimes, its ok to experience cognitive dissonance because that's how we learn, its like being stretched...but in your brain!!! lol...but anyways, as long as we don't stay like that too long, otherwise we become frustrated and give up and not care anymore...much worse...quit!!!

But anyways, I'm blessed and I'm glad that I totally obeyed God's lead in choosing Vanguard for my credential program (even if its far from home). It's not just the great set up of the program, but the faculty and staff and the wonderful cohort we get to work with, which God's Word encourages us to not give up meeting together because that is where we find encouragement:

²³Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. ²⁵Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching....³⁵So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. ³⁶You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. ³⁷For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay. ³⁸But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him. ³⁹But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. -Hebrews 10:23-25, 35-39

Here we go, TPA....

If you were in the teaching credential program as a Beginning Student Teacher (BST), TPA can be good or bad. TPA is known as the Teacher Performance Assessment. It's a test mandated by the Department of Education in California. Fortunately for Vanguard, the Graduate Education Program has been piloting this assessment for a few years now so the staff and faculty know how to prepare the teacher candidates, and students have been successfully passing them.

So now, its my time to do it. It's been a struggle for me to start because I have been tossing back and forth what topic I should do the lesson in. However, last Monday, as I was doing homework for another class, God dropped an idea in my mind to do my TPA on a topic I knew quite well. I'm quite fond of Language Arts, though it can be challenging when you're trying to teach it to someone else, but I like it personally. Then, I'm doing the lesson using Concept Attainment (CA) Instructional Strategy, which in the past, when I performed a Lesson using the CA, the students who don't usually perform well did really good on the assessment I conducted together with my lesson.

So, as I embark on this journey to finish the TPA, I was greatly encouraged with Professor Rose's words today in class, and I paraphrase, that God transcends time, he can give you the grace to finish something in 5 minutes that usually takes 3 hours!!!! God, please let that be me!!! I know that's a little silly, but the idea is that time was a man-made instrument in order to communicate to each other and to form some kind of structure to organize our lives. However, God is the God of time. I just need to trust him that he will give me the grace to finish this in time as I do my best, not for the grade, but because I'm obeying his call for my life to be a teacher. It's not easy, but is it worth it? ....Most definitely.

And today God reminded me of the verse we used during my wedding:

¹ There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven...¹¹ He has made everything beautiful in its time..." - Ecclesiastes 3:1,11a

This week during my student teaching, I conducted a guided reading lesson with Master Teacher's class. She assigned me her low group (meaning their considered struggling readers). Because this was my first lesson with Kindergarten, I didn't really know what I was getting into. In the past, I have had experience with kindergartners reading well. So, when I was reading this paperback book, which is part of the basal reading program the school was using, the students were really having a difficult time blending the sounds together. They knew each phonemic sound of every letter, but they were struggling in putting them together. More than that, because the reading was a bit choppy, the comprehension was not through the words they read but through the pictures that were on the page. Here's to say, it was a stretch for me to tackle this lesson. However, it is a wake up call for me because this is the reality of the children in our schools today, especially in low-performing schools. So, in my head I'm trying to go through the different strategies that we learned in our Reading Class (tactile manipulatives, rimes/onsets, associations of sound, more guided reading, some shared or interactive reading). It's kinda frustrating because I feel I should know what to do by now, but the thing is, honestly, I don't (I try, but I'm in that stage of trial and error in applying all the theories) So, in this process of application, I just hold on to God's word:

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Late...late...

I'm serious- procrastination is a deadly epidemic in the college world (being in graduate work does not make any of us exempt from catching this contagious virus). But honestly, being in this credential program, I really have to be on top of things. Its not easy, I'm just keeping the end in mind. Anyway, I wish there was an instant cure for procrastination, but according to another article I read, a habit that was developed throughout the years can't be wiped out overnight by some magical potion. Here's the main thing the author said:

Remember that as you go through this process, you must constantly challenge your cognitive distortions and irrational fears:

• It is not hopeless (few situations are truly hopeless)
• It is not too late (there is always time if you start now)
• You are smart enough (or you wouldn't have made it this far)
• You can't do it later (as you'll just keep putting "later" off until later)
• You will not perform better under pressure (the best work is done when it is well thought-out)

Taken from:http://psychcentral.com/library/procrastinate2.html

Getting Help for Procrastination by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. (January 10, 2005)

All I can do now is to stay focused. Its only 6 weeks left!!! gotta hang in there...

Personality 101

This past week was really busy. I was literally in class every single day!!! Multiple subject teacher candidates usually don't have weekend classes but because I wanted to do both single subject and multiple subject credentials, I had to take this weekend class. Though it may sound like a drag, I really learned a lot from this class. I highly recommend this class for multiple subject people to take this class as well, even if they want to teach lower grades.

In this class, we learned about important study skills that every student must have in order to ready for the next level of education. As one of the strategies for learning, one must know his/her personality. I have a melancholy personality combined with a sanguine personality (one point apart!); these 2 personalities are in total conflict of each other...man that explains why I get so stressed out all the time!!! lol....While we were grouped into our personalities, we had to agree in answering questions like (answers in parenthesis):

"What stresses you?" (disorganization)
"How do you relieve your stress?" (organize & alone time)
"What motivates you?" (accomplishment and appreciation)
"What do you do for fun?" (escape from the usual/routine things-w/c cause stress) The whole class had a great time learning about themselves and others around them. But going back to the strategies, we learned special skills to explicitly teach high-risk and/or low-performing students. Though the lectures were mostly for those teaching junior high and up, I know can use some of those strategies for lower grade levels.

Even on a weekend class, we have to submit a paper (I guess its kinda like a final)...but believe it or not...I'm actually looking forward to doing it because I get to practice the strategies I learned and work with a student that is struggling with school. Hope that what I'll do will really make a difference in this student's life. I mean, that's what its all about anyways right?

Kindergarten Craze

This past week I started going to a different school for my student teaching. Now, I'm in kindergarten!!! I know its sounds crazy but it can be pretty fun. On my first day, I met the principal, the kindergarten team of teachers and the students in my Master Teacher's class (MT). That day they had an assembly to do the awards for the individual classes. I also learned about the routine schedule that my MT has for her class. At lunch, the kindergarten team of teachers went out to lunch and it was great to just get to know that they get to get together and support each other and bounce ideas off of each other to adapt instruction with the students they are having difficulty with. My MT and I also talked about a lesson I'm supposed to be doing the following week. Its a guided reading lesson on a basal reading text. Lastly, after school the kindergarten teacher team with the principal discussed specific children with behavioral issues. The principal stressed the fact that kids should not be labeled; teachers must be creative to find adaptations for the students.

For a first day in a new school, this was quite a bit to experience, but it was a great way to learn. I know the move from third grade is a quite a change for me but I'm hoping that I'll learn to love these kindergarten students as much as I did the third grade. This is actually good for me because I get to know how to prepare my son for when he goes to school. So, I gotta do the lesson plan now...hope the kids and I will both learn from each other.

The GATE

I'm not talking about the gate you walk through, this GATE is an abbreviation for the statewide program entitled Gifted and Talented Education. Its designed for students who are advanced in their learning and have the need to be challenged. In the California standard for teaching, differentiated instruction is a big issue...and I mean BIG issue! It basically makes the teacher teach his/her whole class, while in the same time attempting to meet the students with individual needs. These individuals can be English Language Learners (ELL), students with disabilities (cognitive or physical) and gifted or advanced students. This means in a classroom of about 20 or more students, a teacher has to teach the lesson but also be able to give support to the struggling learners (language, cognitive or physical) and challenge the advanced kids.

Today, we had a cohort field trip to a 5th grade GATE teacher's class. She explained the different ways she challenges the students, not only in academics, but also in personal and work ethics. She also shared that just because these kids are super smart, they are still like other kids, in a sense that they come with their own needs, disabilities and pet peeves. She gave an example of one student who loved post-its. Post-its in itself are a very handy tool for reminders, but this particular student went over the top with post-its to the point that it gets in the way of her learning and the teacher had to intervene. So, as a class, we learned a lot from just being in that classroom environment, if anything, that's where the majority of the learning happens, ergo we have student teaching :) But going back to my first statement. The GATE is an actual educational program but in an essence the abbreviation itself is a metaphor for what these teachers do for these students. They open the "gates" of their minds to a whole new dimension of learning. If they didn't get this type of instruction, they're like stuck in a box, which can be very harmful to them because they will be bored, unchallenged, much worse, have a negative perspective on school. So, that picture of an opened gate says a lot about what the GATE program does for the gifted child. Now, the question is, what about the others? Why can't they utilize these "fun" and "tactile" tools to also teach the average student? Better yet, the struggling learners? That, my dear friend, is up to you...the teacher (if you are one...lol!).

Going Overtime

This week I presented another lesson in my Master Teacher's (MT) class. The topic was on Summarizing. I used non-fiction literature for this lesson so as to get students used to reading factual information, stories based on reality. I picked articles from Scholastic News, wherein most articles are written by students and are read in the school. I chose articles on the topics I know the class will enjoy: basketball, money, health and Dr. Seuss (which was the students' favorite because the school just celebrated his birthday through a program called Read Across America, a project by the National Education Association, and the students get to wear pajamas to school!). I gave them a strategy of the 5 W's and H (who, what, where, when, why, how). Though the lesson was well-written (based on feedback from Prof. Ruppert and my MT), it was quite a stretch for the kids and I spent a very long time on it. I think the lesson went well, but I felt so embarrassed with my MT because I went well over time on the delivery of the lesson. She was really gracious in saying that that's how we learn, the more time I spend in front of the class, the better I'll be in teaching lessons and managing class environment. I am really thankful for her. So for the next time, if it seems a lesson will be longer than 1 hour, I should split the lesson over a span of a few days, which will give students time to absorb new information little by little.

And the Best Teacher Award Goes to...

In the nation today, assessments have been one of the top priorities that teachers tackle everyday. It seems like such a daunting topic to go over in a classroom setting, but our adjunct professor, Renee Rose, is just awesome! She engaged us interactive activities and discussion to make learn better using multiple intelligences. Its great that as she teaches us about assessments, she also make side comments on why she is using a certain strategy of teaching, so that we can implement those ideas in our future class. One my favorites is the "Think-Pair-Share" aka "10:2" which means that every 10 minutes of lecturing, teacher asks students to share to the person next to them what they learned so far or what is most valuable to them in the next 2 minutes. It just helps to get that information into our long-term memory.
In addition to her exemplary teaching methods, I really appreciate the way she connects our teaching career to the Bible. She mentions how we will get many ideas of the best practices out there. So in order for us to determine which ones should implement in our classrooms, we should look into the Word of God, which has all the answers. One might think this is crazy, but let me take you further. (In the program, we talk a lot on the timing and the type of questions asked in class because it can be useful or useless, even worse, distracting or confusing to students. So we use the concepts under Bloom's Taxonomy wherein teachers can tap to the different levels of understanding.) She used Jesus as an example--well, I don't think He''s labeled the Greatest Teacher for nothing, don't you think?--Jesus taught the best lessons to the thousands during the Sermon on the Mount and to curious individuals like Nicodemus. In addition, he also posed the perfect questions at the right time to the right people for a specific purpose. (I love that!) He used questions to make people think about their thinking (metacognition) so they are able to articulate their thoughts and validate their own reasoning; he used it to provoke people to reconsider their actions and inner heart motives; he used it to bring people at a higher level of understanding of Himself and of God's Kingdom Principles. All this and much, much more I'm learning. Let's hope that when the times comes when I need to apply these concepts in a way that helps my students maximize their potential, helps me help my students and most importantly, bring honor to God.

Dealing with Teacher-Stress

Teaching my first lesson in the classroom was indeed a joy and a challenge. As a student teacher, I understand that I won't get it right the first time but the over-achiever in me (which is probably in most of us aspiring-teachers anyways...lol!) wants to really do my best, so I did get stressed quite a bit in preparing for the lesson. As I prepared for the lesson, my MT and I went back and forth in creating the best lesson for the students. The day before the lesson, I made major changes to the assessment activity, which I believe turned out for the better. The delivery of lesson went ok. I had to look over my notes several times because I forgot what was happening next, even if I went over the lesson lots of times. At the end of the day, my MT gave me some feedback on my performance. She basically said that I did well, and she gave some suggestions on how to better the lesson. I really appreciate how she is very encouraging while giving constructive criticism.

In reflection to my first teaching experience, I think I could have done better, which is why I only said that the lesson went "ok". Partly, I think I was nervous and anxious because I want to do really well. Also, I feel that I need more practice with the delivery of the lesson. When I go over in my head the lesson plan I laid out, it's perfect! But the actual lesson seems to fall short of my personal expectations. So, what do I do now? Well, all I can do is move forward from this direction, no turning back. For the next lesson, I'm just going to prepare for it to the best that I am able to without stressing; I need to keep in mind that I am not trying to please anyone, including the MT, the students or even myself, but God alone because it's for His pleasure that I am walking in obedience with His will that's why I'm in the teaching credential program (keeping my priorities straight); lastly, I'm going to enjoy what I'm doing even if I make mistakes along the way. Hopefully, having this mindset will enable me to be more at peace in my inner being so that as I teach my MT's class, the lesson won't seem rushed or confusing, but instead, students will be able to maximize their learning because I'm more calm and collected, and hey, maybe (most likely) I'll learn from them too!

Practical Application of Classroom Management

In my MT's classroom, she is quite firm with her rules and procedures with the students, which I believe is necessary in order to have consistency with them. However, earlier this week when she had to go to a workshop and a substitute teacher had to teach her 3rd grade class, she came back to school the following day with not so good news regarding her classroom's behavior in her absence. Her solution to the problem was to rearrange seating arrangement, and it worked! Because students had a new orientation in regards to the whole class, they were not as social with each other as in their previous table groups. In addition to this solution, my MT also spoke firmly but lovingly to her class. At the end of the day, she had to have a heart-to-heart talk with her class (because she will be absent again the next day and the same substitute teacher will be back). She stated her expectations for their behavior in her absence; she reinforced their ability to follow directions and be "mature" about it; she expressed to the whole class what she really felt: she was sad to leave them and loves them very much. It was a touching moment for my MT and her class. I was glad that I was there to witness all that

I think that what my MT did was fantastic! Rearranging the rooms was a physical response to classroom milieu, which is a big factor in classroom management. Also, the heart-to-heart talk with the class before she had to be absent again was a form of intrinsic motivation. I feel it was necessary for her to do that so that the students understood what's expected from them and how much their teacher loves them. It just shows that each classroom is like a family and my MT just taught her class the value of accountability and value, which I think was a great unplanned lesson for character education. When its my turn to have my own class, I will adapt that strategy of rearranging seats (because it's practical) and being honest to my class, which is just the right thing to do.

What it's worth in the end

Being in a teaching credential program means you get to teach actual lessons. There' s no more kicking back, relying solely on the Master Teacher (MT). So this week, I taught my first lesson to my MT's 3rd grade "Challenge" RTI group (these students come from all the different 3rd grade classes but are considered to be advanced in their literacy skills). My lesson was on the main parts of non-fiction. One thing that made me really confident in this lesson was that MT was so supportive in giving me the materials she wanted me to teach to her class and giving great feedback in making the lesson better for the students.

Before the lesson, I felt prepared that it will go well. The actual delivery was another thing. I was forgetting my outline (I almost forgot to record the teaching, which is required in order to get a passing grade)! I think its a pregnancy thing, because sometimes I forget that I am pregnant and they say that when you're going through pregnancy, you're brain is not as sharp, but so far...thank GOD...I'm able to stay sane (sometimes...lol!) and able to do the work required.

After the lesson, my MT and I had a talk on how she felt it went. She told me that she thinks I did really well. She did notice a few things that could've been improved so as to keep students engaged in the lesson. So I took those advices in hoping that the next time I deliver a lesson I will be able to do better. I guess it all about just going out there and doing it. I'm just so thankful that Vanguard's credential program is really preparing me and my cohort for the real thing. Its not easy but it will be worth it in the end.

Teacher, Teacher!

Last week, I had the opportunity to be more "hands-on" in working with my Master Teacher's (MT) 3rd grade students. (Previously, I was mainly just observing her procedures and assisting on the sidelines.) First thing in the morning, I wrote on the whiteboard the DLR sentences for that day (DLR is Daily Language Review-a routine activity the class does first thing in the morning as a way to review literacy concepts, such as syntax, spelling, punctuation, capitalization and semantics). Once it was time for class, I opened the classroom door to the students, greeted them "Good morning" (they greeted me and my MT back), told them what to do once they got to their seats and welcomed them into the room (my MT usually shakes their hand and greets them, so I did that as well). Then, as the students were working on their DLR, I went to each student and checked if he/she did his/her homework; if the student did, I drew a happy face on their homework calendar (again, I'm just copying what my MT usually does for the students). Once the students where done with the DLR, we went through all 5 items as a class. After this activity, I turned it over back to my MT.

During the morning greeting and the DLR, I was thinking how great the students where behaving in being cooperative to do the work I've asked them. Also, I thought to myself that as long as you give students direction on what to do, they will follow through (usually). Its that whole aspect leadership within the classroom management module we learned about. If the students views the teacher as the "leader" of the class, they will follow his/her lead. So, within the small amount of time I spent with my MT's class, the students saw me as a leader as well. There can be several reasons for this outcome: (1) It is possible that they see me as a leader because my "position power" is linked to my MT bestowing that authority that she has to me for that given moment to lead the class; (2) However, it is also likely that I have gained some form of "prestige power" because they students have seen me work with them in a few different activities in class and they saw that I was skilled and knowledgeable just like my MT (again, its linked back to my MT). Overall it made me feel competent in what I was doing and I actually enjoyed being the "teacher" for that given moment. I'm actually considering of doing some form of morning routine for my future class because it will train the students to be self-sufficient and confident that they know what to do next and, hopefully, be good at it. Plus, I love the greeting each one of them in the morning to have a few seconds of positive, one-on-one interaction.

The Advance Organizer

Ok, so we've been learning about different theories on teaching. This past Tuesday we actually got to teach a lesson in class...the catch is you have to teach your lesson to your cohort (your classmates) and your professor while they all score your performance and then give some constructive criticism afterwards! It was so nerve-wrecking just sitting in class waiting for your turn to present the lesson. I happen to be the last one because I was running late that day. So after seeing everyone's presentation, you kinda get ideas to make yours better but then you wanna stick with the plan.

My lesson was on the form of matter: LIQUID and it was presented, supposedly, to a 3rd grade class. So I had a powerpoint with relevant pictures and keywords so as to give the students some direction into the lesson and not just solely listen to what I had to say. I also had some tactile objects for visual aids so that the students can relate this lesson to the "real world."

Overall, after everything was said and done, we all got an "A" in the class for the presentation (the design of the lesson plan was another grade). So, what did I learn from this? I learned to stay calm and be prepared.

No Pain, No Glory; Know Pain, Know Glory

Did I mention how easy this program was gonna be? If I didn't then that's good because it is not. (And I don't want to lie to you). Here's the thing...our tutoring sessions, class lectures, homework are all there to help us get ready for the teaching career. And honest-to-goodness truth...this program truly reflects what being a teacher will be like, not easy--that's for sure--but definitely rewarding. I believe that if a person is planning to be a teacher, each one of us should strive to be exemplary teachers because its the future of the children, of the nation, of our generation that we're talking about here...

So this program is really getting me geared up, not just in knowledge, strategies and teaching experience, but also in mental framework, emotional stability and spiritual foundation. I'm glad that we have professors that are truly concerned in seeing us teacher candidates to be the best they know (and some of us know it too) that God has destined us to be. I pray that I don't take it lightly, because I confess, I get discouraged when I'm not doing well in a task and this program reveals many of my flaws, which is a very humbling experience...its tough to face those things in your life that you need to work, especially personal issues that come out during the "crunch times." But just like what our professors share to us in class, when your personal/private/inner life is in order, everything else will fall into place, that includes our emotions, expectations and motivations.

Imagine that, all I signed up for was to get my teaching credential so as to follow God's calling to be a teacher and assist my family's financial situation, but here I am in the middle of a personal journey towards being closer to God, clinging harder to His promises and experience Him doing miracles in my life, daily...and I mean that. So in all this craziness, this is what I say when there's no pain...no glory, know pain...know glory...we just keep fighting and rest.

Student Teaching & Classroom Management

First of all, I am so grateful for Vanguard and their Teaching Credential Program that is continually challenging my faith to believe God for the impossible! lol...its a tough program but people have lived through it, so I think I'll be ok :)

Today was my first visit to my master teacher. It was a great experience to meet all the teachers and the whole 3rd grade class and getting acquainted with her classroom procedures. I'm looking forward to doing more hands-on work, but to be honest I'm nervous and anxious as well. But I know that by the time I have to do a lesson (which is in 2 weeks!!!) I will be ready :) I'm speaking in faith...lol.

In terms of lecture, I really enjoyed our class with our adjunct professor, Prof. Tammy Fowler. She is so inspiring because she teaches us fresh from teaching a 1st grade class ALL DAY! then at night she teaches us credential students...thats a big jump, but she is doing such a fantastic job in engaging us in discussion and in the lesson. This week and a bit of last week, she taught us on classroom management: leadership, discipline & class milieu (arrangement). She gave a lot of great ideas on classroom management that work and what we need to avoid, not because it doesn't work, but because there are better ways to deal with the issue. I love how she keeps on reiterating how its important to really understand where the students are coming from (in terms, of their cognitive development, family life, health/emotional issues, spiritual growth, etc.)...seeing the student as a whole individual, so as to better administer discipline or encouragement.

I'm looking forward to more work...not really. I just hope to get everything done by Monday :) Its gonna be great!

This week was the start of our tutoring sessions at the nearby elementary school. I got my lesson plan ready (or so I thought); I had all my materials prepared; I got there 30 minutes before the actual time so I can set up my area...and I was nervous and excited all in the same time.

During the session I did not really know what I was doing. Our professor was assessing and making comments as we go along, so it made me more nervous. But at some point it just clicked in my head...I know I want to do well because this will be part of my grade for class, but more importantly I'm there to support my tutees (students that I'm tutoring) in their reading. We had to perform various assessments on the children and I was just excited to get to know my tutees better because the more I know about them, hopefully, the more I will be prepared to help them.

In the end, though I was stressed and anxious, I was excited to be with my students because we all benefit during this time so we want to do our best. Next week, we'll be conducting more assessments and now we need to incorporate state standard requirements into our lesson plans, which have to be as detailed as possible. This way if someone to take over my class, it would go smoothly with very little questions on the substitute. So, I'm hoping that I'll take what I learned from my experience and just grow from there...not be frustrated or feel inadequate but just to keep moving forward :) (I love Meet the Robinsons).

Lighthouses in Stormy Weather

Professor Ruppert said something so profound today: "The honeymoon stage is over and here comes the stormy weather." One of my classmates said that it just gets worse, then another responded in the likes of: "No it doesn't get worse, you just get used to the pain." We just totally laughed our heads off because we know its true. This program is intense. Its not a joke...BUT its definitely rewarding.

I know that with anything in life, storms come. So why not in school work? My class and I are getting the hang of things and we're doing the best we can. One thing for sure (beside all the work we have to do...great things come at a big price...) we are not alone. I am not alone. I believe God sent me to this school not just because the program is superb and many students become successful teachers throughout the world because of Vanguard (I'm blessed to know a few of them), but its the support that you get from the staff and faculty that is just outstanding!

Prof. Gaunty-Porter and Prof. Ruppert are a real blessing in the Teacher Credential Program here at Vanguard (and so were my pre-requisite professors, Dr. Mikki Gil and Prof. Killian). I am so blessed that God has given me the opportunity to be in the last class that Prof. Ruppert is teaching (we will miss you!). In addition, the staff, Maria, Kimberly and Michelle (and many others that are a part of their team) are just there to support the students to grow in the teachers that God has called them to be.

So to you, lovely people, I say thank you, for everything you've done and will do. And I, therefore, call you "Lighthouses" because we know when stormy weather comes, your words and actions encourages us to keep going.