Recommendations - PT Portfolio

Adrian Manalaysay
to Adrian
18 MarDetails
Recommendations

Addressing the problem is not enough to fix it. Possible solutions must be
introduced and discussed. In this part, the practice teacher will suggest some of
his ideas that he believes may help the teachers and school administrators. I hope
that my ideas may be considered as alternative solutions.

First, a rigorous effort to implement a student-centered approach. Games and

activities don't have to be grandious like shows on television. They just have to
be enough for your students to be curious about the topic and participate in
sharing of ideas. Plain old lecture-discussions are boring, and I admit that even
me can be easily bored when I attend to seminars with guest speakers that act like
talking powerpoint presentations. Lack of interest and boredom is a natural
phenomenon among people. Everyone could be guilty of having one point in their life
where they fell asleep in a lecture or sermon. Fun is the key. You might have
little resources but maybe a simple chalk and a blackboard is enough to play tic-
tac-toe, asking the kids a question and giving them the turn if their answer is
correct.

Second, learn to connect to the students. It is okay to be friends to them, have

fun with them, crack jokes to them, and give them advice on personal issues. As
long as you maintain that 'mature person' image, students will respect you. Have
the time to talk to them and know their personal background. Let them tell stories,
opinions, and ideas. Talk about their dreams and give them encouragement. Talk
about love life and tell them that it is okay if they can't please everyone. Talk
about their hobbies or the latest tv shows. Don't discourage them to talk by saying
right away that some of their ideas might be flawed for some reason (there must be
some other, kinder way to encourage them to think right). Somehow you'll find a way
to relate it to the lesson of the day.

Third, school routine is very important. It is the first thing I have notice in
public schools. They lack fixed schedules, they have longer break times, they don't
encourage daily obligations, they just let freedom of determining one's own time to
be abused. Organization is what makes a private school different from a public
school. Have the routine to practice patriotism every morning during flag
ceremonies. Ask the students to line up according to their class number every time
day go out of the room as a class. Don't tolerate small talks among students until
they reach their destination. Have a break time schedule common to all sections to
discourage students from cutting the class just to attend other sections' break
time. Ask the vendors to sell food only during break time. Don't forget the routine
activities before lecture-discussion like formal greetings, prayer, checking of
attendance, and some announcements. Ask the students where to consistently put
their bags in a classroom. Ask the students to clean their classroom from time-to-
time. Have daily monitors to help clean up the school and care for the plants. Ask
the students to use shoe rugs properly. And most importantly, never falter in
reminding the students to follow the rules.

Fourth, more parental meetings and home visitations. Have at least one parental
meeting in a month where you will discuss the progress of the students and what to
expect for the next months. Visit the students in their homes frequently to observe
the environment and have a nice conversation with the parent (just don't expect for
a food; a greeting and a small talk will do). Some parents are not interested in
school affairs but even though, you could make some letters at least every week to
make them feel engaged and responsible. A teacher is a parent's partner in molding
the child's moral, physical, and mental faculties.

Fifth, it is time to give academics a priority over school fests and some
unnecessary events. Extracurricular activities are nice, they make the school look
active. But sacrificing academic activities just for the sake of school fests
should be never done. Some teachers might say that school fests encourage social
skills among students. I was a student too, but I never felt like that during
school fests. Social skills can also be learned in regular classes and by
encouraging interaction among students. Concerts and dance contests are nice but
have the proper time schedule to do the practices, not during class hours where
students will be pulled out by other teachers (or more regularly, they pretend to
be pulled out).

Sixth, assessments and evaluation activities should be in the strictest way

possible. Cheating should be very discouraged. You may have two sets fo test papers
with the same questions in a different order. Have a seat plan where looking at
someone's test paper will be very obvious. This measures should carry the idea that
it is a serious activity and students should practice honesty.

Seventh, lifelong learning. Go to seminars, take an online course, enroll to

weekend TESDA trainings, finish a doctoral degree, and participate in teambuilding
activities. Don't be afraid to learn new things. Technologies don't break that
easily, have a try. You need not to be envious of other people's promotions. Career
is a personal affair. If you want to get promoted, then do something you like,
master it, and contribute to the community using it. Commit some of your free time
to education. Time well-spent is never time wasted. Also, encourage other people to
enjoy their jobs and learn some new things. Soon before you reach your final
destination, you'll realize how colorful you made your life.