In the Same Pace

Andrommel A. Marticio

“Who dares to teach must never cease to learn.”

–John Cotton Dana When I planned my first day of class, I imagined kids to be attentive and cooperative. I wanted it to be perfect: with me discussing the lesson and them listening to every word I say. I was so excited about it that I went to school with all my paraphernalia earlier than usual. But I was wrong. None of the many plans I made happened, except for the part that I talked and talked – no one was actually listening because they were so excited to see each other again and share stories of how their vacation went. I guess the first lesson in class was for me: to learn to adjust with the moment’s scenario.

As an educator, I sometimes forget that expecting diverse students to learn in the same way and in the same pace. It is not possible – every child has his own tempo and technique in learning. Over the years, I have come to the realization that my most important job as a teacher is to help them journey into their own minds and understand how they learn best. Remembering this has intensely help me do a better job serving as a guide for them to find their way toward success. However, let us not forget that as teachers, we are learners too. As I have mentioned, the first lesson we had as a class was for me – to learn to adapt with the situation, because our plans don’t always go as we want them to. I also hope that they learned somehow on that day – to always come early (and prepared) to school.

Our students need and want us to be seasoned experts who live and breathe education, but they also want us to remember what it’s like not to be. Sometimes, we won’t need our lesson plans: all we have to do is to pour our hearts, minds, and souls into our teaching. We have to realize that while we have tremendous influence over our students, we do not actually have control over them. We must realize that as educators, we are bound to learn with them whilst teaching them. It will serve both teachers and students if they know that they are in the same journey towards discovering and rediscovering their learning pace and proficiency.

--oOo-

The author is ALS MOBILE TEACHER/Teacher

II at Anao Elementary School