My Desk and Book Shelf

Energizer

2009-07-08T04:30:00.000-07:00

It's only two months into the school year and yesterday, I felt bogged down by the responsibility of making my pupils succeed in their level.

The weight of the teacher's responsibility burdened me. Having to contend with the whole pupil, not only the mind in relation to the lesson, but the factors that affect retention and focus. These factors may include their health, mood, and distractions from the world. The child's world is their home and there are times, unfortunately, when the home does not help in the pupil's learning process. They need to process whatever is happening in the home, and when it is not pleasant, the pupils need to process that on top of what they need to learn in school.

In my case, as I have been teaching for years now, almost 17 (if I include my pre-diploma teaching years), and I sometimes forget that the learning process should be child-centered, as opposed to lesson-plan centered. This is a tall order when teaching in a class.

Good thing today our school has started practicing for dances (which we do yearly) and this summoned my endorphins or happy hormones, so much so that I have leveled off with the pupils who need emotional affirmation that despite everything, they are okay. Of course practical measures such as talking with their primary care givers (their parents) is needed. More creativity on my part, and not resting on complacency of my track record of having taught for years, needs to be updated as well.

Thank you, Lord, for the gifts of song and dance. And the insight that the child is the center of the learning process. These children are our angels and they are the best teachers of what the important things in life are.

Thank you, God for my humble vocation.

The Teacher

2009-07-04T03:51:00.000-07:00

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. ~William Arthur Ward

Being a teacher is a humbling thing. It entails many responsibilities, from planning the day, finding strategies to present a lesson, to implementing the lesson, managing a class, recording data and getting ready for the next school day, and yet the next year ahead.

Any sensible person aspires to inspire, no matter what. When a person feels that he has failed in so doing, depression sets in. At least this is what happens to me.

But as Thomas Edison has demonstrated, "Genius is 1% inspiration, and 99% perspiration."

I believe teachers inspire when they are willing to perspire.

The work of a teacher does not only entail the mechanics of his profession. As John O'Donohue says "Functionalism is lethal when it is not balanced by a sense of reverence. Without reverence, there is no sense of presence or wonder. " Side by side with the planning on our working schedule, there must be time to prepare for the human factors of our job - the teacher (oneself), the environment, the child and the community.

Before one can tackle the rigors of the teaching day, the teacher must prepare oneself mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually before he/she can aspire to inspire.

Let me end this entry with a quote from Maria Montessori:

The training of the teacher is something far more than a learning of ideas. It includes the training of character; it is a preparation of the spirit.

- Maria Montessori

Introductions (Curtsey)

2009-07-04T00:54:00.001-07:00

Hello, everyone and welcome to my page.

I am Teacher K, many years in service with so much more to learn. In this blog, I will be writing about things related to our profession of teaching not only within the classroom walls, but also within our minds, hearts and in relation to all other teachers in Life, children and adults. This will be a blog of spontaneity as teachers are not merely role players in the community, but multifaceted people with feelings too. writing after a day of teaching or the days in between.
It is my hope that this blog with be a helpful tool and/or support to teachers and parents from all walks of life.

This space is open to anyone who has an open and loving mind and heart. Friends are always welcome!