MY ADVOCACY AS A 21ST CENTURY TEACHER
CELESTE FARA S. SERRANO
Teachers have a big role to play in the society. They serve as a second parent to pupils and students in school. They teach children essential knowledge and skills they need in their life battles in the future. They nurture the values learners acquired at home. Are these things done by teachers, only part of their duties and responsibilities that is why they perform them? Or are these remarkable deeds carried innate to them?
Every night, I see to it that the instructional materials I need for my discussion the following day are ready. I make sure that my daily lesson log is always accomplished. I definitely review the lessons I am about to teach. I check whether my students learn from discussions through the results of the different forms of assessment I employ in the classroom. I introduce interventions to students whom are assessed have not reached the mastery level. I tap the potentials of the advanced students by giving them the opportunity to assist the basic ones in their lessons. I keep my room, through the collaboration of my students, clean and in order so that it will be very conducive to learning. All these I perform as part of my duties and responsibilities as a facilitator of learning.
While I am in the classroom, usually I observe. I look into the actions and words of my students. I find out whether there is an unusual thing that is happening or none. If there is, I typically call their attention. I talk with them privately. When there is a problem found, I give pieces of advice. If I think I cannot solve the challenge alone, I seek help from our guidance counsellor to address the issue. Though these seem part of my duties as a teacher, I consider my role as a mentor and as a counsellor more as my distinctive character.
The aforementioned activities I carry out everyday in school are part of my calling as a mentor. Being a 21st century teacher, I know the challenge is not yet over because every moment in the classroom opens a beginning of a new journey… journey to fulfill as part of my advocacy as a 21st century teacher.
— oOo—
The author is Master Teacher 1 at Bacolor Elementary School (Bulaon), Bacolor South District