Jay Timbas August 31, 2021

A.B. Philosophy Observation and Participation

The Quality Teacher is Never an Accident

Pandemic caused a lot of changes in the academic world. Some find it hard to adjust to

the new system of education which is the ODL or Online Distance Learning, while some others

don’t want to pursue their academic goals. Many people don’t know how to survive in the

middle of the crisis that we are facing today. DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones stated, “We have

COVID, we have a crisis, but life goes on, so you continue building your schools, you continue

enrolling the children, continue teaching them even we are facing this very difficult challenge”

(2021). Education should not stop but continue. Do not let pandemic be the hindrance for the

learning of the Filipino students. Teachers should not think that because of pandemic, they

become less effective, because the quality of their teaching is not only perceived through face-to-

face classes but beyond it. The quality teacher is never an accident; it is something that can be

developed through the teacher’s love for his profession and the processes that he will go through.

A quality teacher is never an accident; he is an effective, fair, and self-motivated person

that he can be through his love for his profession. A teacher is effective when he performed his

duty as a teacher, and, the learners learn from him. The effectiveness of the teacher is not only

inside but also outside the classroom. Some of the teachers tend to not care about their student

once their class schedule is done. Being an effective teacher is like a gold; he is rare and of high

value. A quality teacher is fair, no favoritism towards the students because it is the reason why

some students prefer not to attend the class anymore. During my elementary days, I was able to
observe favoritism from my former teacher. Because of comparison and unequal attention that

she gave her students, many of us were not motivated to attend her class. Some students cut

classes, while some did not listen during her discussions. It is important for the teachers to know

how to be fair in treating their students. There should be no room for favoritism. It is the reason

why there is a negative student-teacher relationship. Lastly, a quality teacher should be self-

motivated. His motivation comes from himself instead of materialistic or extrinsic motivation. If

his motivation comes from outside, there will always be an expectation and he will easily loss

interest in teaching. But if his motivation comes from within, he will always be eager and excited

to perform his duties and responsibilities without expecting for anything in return. To develop

these characteristics, the teacher must love his profession. His love will allow him to continue

despite many challenges he faced.

I intend to be a quality teacher because I want my future students to realize the value of

education. Education does not mean you are in school to study academic endeavor, but education

means holistic learning. Students learn not only subject matter but also way of life. As a student I

realize that education is valuable. There came in my life that I wanted to stop pursue my

education because of my age, but education is not only for the young. Education is for all of us

no matter what age you are in or what your status is in life. This is the reason why I intend to

finish my studies and become a quality teacher. It is easy to say “teacher” but it is hard to find

the quality teacher. All teachers can teach but not all teachers can deliver quality teaching. This

is one of my reasons why I want to be a quality teacher. To become one, I will try to develop the

qualities of an effective teacher while I am still studying.

The course Observation and Participation will be my means to achieve my professional

goal — to be a quality teacher. This course is just a beginning of my journey towards my

profession-. I will learn how the teacher prepares for the lessons, motivates the students, executes

the lesson plans, manages the classrooms, and the like. It is important for my learning as a future

educator about the routines and activities that the teachers go through. As I observed from my

former teachers, before they teach, they are physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually

prepared. It is important to every educator how to manage their lessons until the end of their

discussions. By this course, Observation and Participation will be a big help for me to prepare

and be a good and quality teacher someday. It is very important to get involve and serious about

this course.

As a student teacher, I will be responsible in the process of learning of the students. I am

responsible for their safety and well-being as well as their learning. The parents entrusted their

young in the hands of their teachers, not only for the education but also for their safety. I must

check the surroundings of the students regularly to make sure that the place is safe whether it is

face-to-face or online class. Aside from the place, I must also monitor the students themselves

for sometimes they are the ones who bring themselves into danger. It is important to check the

status of every student whether they are well or not, mentally. As a student teacher I am also

expected to engage students in learning content through activities, assignments, and other related

tasks. Through preparing ahead of time, I, as student teacher will give the activities that are well-

planned. The materials such as visual aids, props, and other learning material that I will use in

my lessons should be creative. As we all know, students are fond of aesthetics that are attractive

to the eyes. Therefore, I must use this kind of attraction to keep their attentions on the lessons.

Aside from the students, I am responsible with my cooperating teacher, the institution,

and my profession as well. The student teachers are expected to be responsive to the suggestions

of their cooperating teachers and follow the instructions at all times. It is important to follow the
instruction set by my cooperating teacher because it will help me to grow. It may be a simple

instruction but what my cooperating teacher will advise me is going to be valuable. Their advises

come from their experiences. The institution where I will be immersed in has a set of rules and

regulations that need to be followed. It is very important to every institution to set rules or

policies that will be followed not only by the students but also by the teachers. I, as a student

teacher must follow these rules or policies because this will observe my obedience. Following

instructions, policies, or rules start with the teacher. If the teacher expects the students to follow,

then it should also be expected from him. Whether it is a small or big matter, following these can

create a big impact to the institution. If they can trust you in the small things, how much more in

the bigger things? That is why following rules is significant. It is like the famous quote that says,

“A good leader is a good follower” — teachers are the role models who must also be followers

like the students. While I am still in the process of transitioning from a student into a

professional teacher, I also have a responsibility to set expectations from my profession and

myself. I must be willing to accept every challenge that I will encounter so that I would be

prepared when I become a professional. At the same time, I must practice professionalism at all

times. I must be careful with my thoughts, my words, and my actions.

The biggest reward that I want to receive as a teacher is that I will see my student succeed

in their dreams. Like a parent who want their child to attain their ambition in life, I, as a future

professional teacher also want the students to reach their dream. It would feel amazing to see my

students who became successful not only because they are professional but because of their

achievements. It is very important for the students to realize the value of education while they

are in the process of learning. Proverbs 22:6 states, “Train up a child in the way he should go,

and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Therefore, as a teacher, I will instill in the mind of
the students the value of education so that wherever they go, they will not forget it. Through this,

the students will achieve their dreams. To witness them becoming successful, I can say that my

efficacy and quality as a teacher were proven. As a teacher it would be an honor to know that my

students treasured what I taught them by applying the wisdom and the knowledge that they

gained from it. They may not remember me but my words remain in them. I want to become an

inspiration to my future students and be able to touch their lives even after they graduate. The

change or improvement of their perspective on the different matters in life will be reflected on

who they will be in the future.

The quality teacher is never an accident because it takes different factors that will make a

teacher a quality and effective one. There are different processes, preparations, and experiences

that to develop as a quality teacher. Aspiring teachers will go through processes which gives

them an opportunity to develop the characteristics of a quality teacher. One of these would be the

courses that we take as college students such as Principles of Teaching, Assessment of Learning,

and Observation and Participation. We can gain knowledge from these courses which we can

apply when we become teachers. These will allow us to prepare ourselves before we enter the

real world of teaching. But other than the mental preparation, I must also be emotionally and

spiritually prepared. It takes a student’s commitment and passion for him to become a quality

teacher. These two things will help me to accept possible challenges and keep me pursuing my

dream. Most importantly, my love for this profession will keep me eager to serve as a teacher.

Without this, I cannot continue when problems take place that can affect my performance. This

course, Observation and Participation, is the stepping stone for aspiring teachers like me to

become a professional. Being able to observe and experience the preparations, activities, and

other things that teachers go through might only be a glimpse into the world of teaching, but it
will be a big help for me to develop personally and professionally. To achieve my dream for my

future students, to value education because of the quality teacher that I have become, is my

biggest motivation.