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.

Keep Moving Forward

So far, so good. I'm learning to find ways to make my studying more effective. In my undergraduate work, I did very well in most classes. In some, I had to work real hard to get a decent grade, while in others, I just totally breezed through it. So in those times I established very bad studying habits. Now, in graduate school, I have to break them. And I wish I did this earlier, but better late than never.

In both my Reading and Curriculum/Methods Class, there is a lot of work to be done. I feel like I'm catching up all the time and as if I'm missing a homework assignment, which this past week actually happened. For one class, I read the chapter and took notes, as we were directed, but since I have the older version of the book, I got the wrong info and guess what?!?! We had a quiz on that chapter!!! (Background: tried getting cheaper books on amazon so I borrowed an older version of the book from the library so I can just do the homework. I compared chapter 1 & 2 but forgot to do 3...well there you go...). Then in another class, there were 2 worksheets that we were suppose to fill out while reading the chapter, and I was only able to fill out one. The good thing was I read the chapter and took notes so I can easily remember what I read, and my professor was gracious to extend me mercy and accept my homework, but she will have to dock points for that assignment.

So in all this, what did I learn? I learned that I need to ask questions through email to the professor if something is not clear; I need to be faithful to my study times and work in advance; I need to communicate with other people in my class if I need to double check on something, especially things that are due; I learn to keep moving forward...just like what they said in movie Meet the Robinsons. Maybe I need to watch that just for some inspiration.