IMPACT OF SPECIAL TEACHERS TO THE TEACHERS IN

GULOD SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Teachers’ Experiences with Deaf and Mute Learners

Teaching students with special needs is one of the most challenging, if not the

most difficult experience in a teaching career, primarily because teachers have never

encountered such learners from their previous schools and institutions. Teachers who

are assigned to teach deaf and mute students are caught with no defense. They

expect to teach regular learners but to their surprise they also need to handle deaf

and mute learners combined with the regular students.

With the commitment to deliver quality education, the teachers readily accepted

the challenge. Teachers who are given deaf and mute learners are shocked

especially during the first few weeks of classes. They can’t reconcile on what to do

because they don’t have any knowledge of sign language and they haven’t taught

deaf and mute learners before. It is as if they are put into an averse learning

environment.

In as much as instruction is concerned, teachers have difficulty in delivering the

lessons to the students with special needs. To address this problem, teachers have to

provide supplemental instructional materials specific to the needs of the deaf and

mute students. Also, assessment of learning of these students must be personally

designed to the learners’ capabilities and potentials.

With regard to the learners’ interpersonal relationships with regular students,

teachers assure that they are safe from any forms of violence that may create

pressure on their part. This becomes additional tasks for the teachers to always keep

an eye to the deaf and mute students.

The Presence of Sir Ron Daryl and Mam Kyla

Teachers believe that deaf and mute learners prefer teachers of their kinds

because they can learn and connect easily and feel more confident. They also serve

as influential role models to them. Their presence is more than enough to keep the

deaf and mute students to keep motivated in pursuing their studies.

Sir RD and Mam Kyla, teachers of deaf and mute students, make transfer of

learning more effective and efficient. They suggest other learning styles and

interventions that they think are suited for the learners. They assist the teachers in

explaining the lessons that is too technical and complicated to discuss. They help in

the formulation, administration, and scoring of assessment materials to the learners.

Moreover, teachers feel more comfortable in dealing with the deaf and mute students

since Sir RD and Mam Kyla can translate and express their ideas more clearly and

accurately to the students. In turn, the presence of Sir RD and Mam Kyla in the

classroom instruction greatly enhances the performance of the deaf and mute

students.

Aside from classroom instruction, Sir RD and Mam Kyla also cooperate in

different school activities and programs. They serve as committee members in

program and invitation, documentation, certificates, physical arrangements and

technical. They help the teachers to execute whatever task is assigned to them.

Simply put, Gulod Senior High School is beyond blessed to have Sir RD and Mam

Kyla.