KNOWING THE WHYS OF A TEACHER

JESSA ARA M. MORALES

Arming oneself with knowledge and enhancing one’s skills are the means in equipping and improving teacher’s character. Attending seminars and Trainings in the field makes one refurbish the dull mind and tedious spirit. The ‘reasons of the because’in teaching are clarified because of the reflections, activities for enlightenment and realizations of actions .

Director Jocelyn Dela Rosa Andaya, Head of the Bureau of Curriculum Development, said in the International seminar I attended and I quote, “You, as Teachers, You should fill up the third space- where meaningful and lasting learning takes place.”

I had viewed that teaching is really a gift not just simply a profession, vocation or a mission. To better understand and appreciate everything in the workplace, and to know how to make meaningful and life-long learning experiences to students, one should answer first all the WHYs of a teacher so that one can actually value and easily do the other Ws, and How.

First, among all the professions, why did you choose teaching?

It’s my parents’dream for me… . Teaching is the affordable course in college… If not a teacher, I will not study… It runs in our blood… I shift the course, so teaching is the only offered course… Here are some of the misleading answers of others’whys that may result to their poor performance once in the field because of a half-baked determination to be one.

Other way around, I better say, “I chose teaching because I want to contribute in building a nation. Though it really takes a village to raise a child, I would like to take part in doing so”.

Second, why do you need to make relevant teaching, why not simply teach?

Daily lesson plans, daily logs, instructional materials, action research, innovations, strategies and differentiated instructions are the routines and duties of a teacher that are needed to accomplish thus these make them worn-out to prepare for another day. All these need extra time and effort to perform a 100%, plus, special assignments like Advisership, Coordinatorship, leadership, coaching, mentoring and more.

Turning these tiresome works from a reactive teacher to a proactive one, I better say, “How grateful I am for I am blessed with capabilities to do all these. I am chosen to be a teacher and it is a noblest one so it takes a gracious heart and a zealous action to mind these matters. In fact, a teacher needs to be ready, researchable, innovative, creative, resourceful and sensitive to the needs of the learners. For a teacher needs to be the second mother who listens and sets best example, a facilitator, a leader, a purveyor of knowledge during contests and daily instructions. Isn’t it such a great pride to possess all these to create a relevant teaching that will always be remembered by these learners?

Third, why does a teacher always need to possess all the best qualities? Teacher is the best visual aid, the most knowledgeable who is ahead tons of books among his students who should always have a bag of tricks ready to make the class magical, so enthusiasm remains in them, who is quick to care and slow to anger, who is happy in everything he does.

Indeed, one can only give what one can have, so it is really important to have the essential skills and traits in teaching to provide all the services they needed. If one is equipped, there is power and authority to impose what should be done in class, to instill discipline. Once gained trust out of power, respect comes. If respect is established, love shall always prevail.

These are the whys that a teacher must answer to feel that teaching is really a gift. Try to answer yours.

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The author is SST-III at San Pablo 2nd National High School