The life of a senior high school TVL teacher in the time of pandemic
This year 2020 is considerably the most challenging time of our lives. Most challenging in the sense that our way of living and lifestyle had pivotally changed 180 degrees, caused by an unseen global foe called COVID-19.
The usual things we do just like going to the malls, travelling to different places, regular chitchat and social gatherings are now restricted. We are advised to stay at home and strictly observe health protocols for everybody’s safety. From my own personal perspective, this pandemic had taught us to go back to the basic and forced ourselves to adjust in this changed of lifestyle called “New Normal.”
Despite the numerous negative things that happened to mankind this 2020, I am grateful to this catastrophe for it gave me ample time to continually improve myself and rediscover my talents in baking which I have parked for quite some time due to my very busy schedule in school. The bulk of baking ingredients I have bought last December 2019 had been very useful during the long community quarantine periods since many stores and establishments were closed. I was able to bake various cakes and pastries of my own creative designs. My creative outputs became highlights and added joy in many of our family occasions just like birthdays of my immediate family members. During the time of pandemic, I was also able to share my baked products to the frontliners of Tabunan, Bago City which made me self-actualized as a person.
The blessing of fast-paced technology, gave me opportunity to increase my earnings. Taking advantage of the accessibility and popularity of social media, friends and colleagues posted their orders upon seeing my products online. Catering with their orders gave me the avenue to further practice my baking skills and enhance my creativity in customizing my products based on their client’s needs and preferences. With the help of a student, I was able to create social media page where I was able to post the wide range of products and outputs I specialized. One way also to advertise my skill is by giving samples to friends during occasions, which resulted to increased orders.
As an SHS TVL teacher, when classes started last October 5, 2020, I opted for modular learning. More than 50% of the learners assigned to me have problem with connections or have no available gadgets that would support such kind of learning modality. In order to reach out 100% of the learners, I created a group chat per class. I posted pictures of my own outputs, modules and hand-outs developed, as well as detailed procedures on how to go about with every lesson. I would video myself so that the students are able to see the correct concepts and procedures on how to go about with the skills/lessons in Food and Beverage Services (FBS) as well as Bread and Pastry Production (BPP). I have to generously share it to students so that it would be much easier for them to answer modules in my subject. They can also download, read and view the learning materials I have uploaded at their own pace to assist them in their learning since our subject is focused on handson skills and performance tasks.
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