DOMAIN 1: CONTENT, KNOWLEDGE & PEDAGOGY

What does a teacher do? For all I know, a teacher doesn’t just teach; a teacher
doesn’t just merely read and reckon information on textbooks for their source of
knowledge and information; a teacher doesn’t just write on boards, talk loudly all day
and hold rulers for emphasization; teachers doesn’t just keep and write records of their
pupils’/students’, hold PTA meetings and whatnot. So, what do teachers do?

Well, let’s start with making daily learning plans – a learning plan is where the
teachers base their lesson delivery process. It is basically their teaching map – teachers
input all their activities and procedures in one session in one learning plan. A teacher
must also consider the time frame of all the activities done to match it with the allotted
time given for that particular leaning plan. Take note that, all activities must be feasible
for the learners. Aside from that, one of the major parts that I can consider the crucial
part in a learning plan is the integrating aspect wherein teachers infuse crucial topics
(relevant in the present time) in the lesson in order for the pupils/students to have a
better understanding of the lesson as well as promoting the learners to be engaged in
their community and society.

From my experience during my teaching internship, never once did I feel at ease
when it is about integrating lessons to my students, why so? Because I could never
bear merging relevant topics without studying it further, I don’t want my students to
develop, learn and hold unto conceptual errors or incorrect logic. Above everything else,
I want my students to remember me as someone who taught them confidently – the
realities of life. I don’t want to teach students out of mere hunches and false information.

Next, teachers don’t just create random activities without thinking it. 21 st century
teachers do love to come up with fun and exciting games to engage their learners, but,
these games aren’t just any games. A teacher makes sure that all activities done are
somehow connected with their lessons, it’s like hitting two birds with one stone – while
students are enjoying the activities, they are also learning the lessons from it. Thinking
through the perfect game or activity for your learners might sometimes be difficult and
stressful but when this happens to me, I always go back to my topic and think of what
kind of activity will make my students learn best. Surfing through the internet for more
ideas also helps but there’s just one thing that a teacher must take into consideration,
that there are activities that aren’t feasible and that it might stray away the students from
the lesson or the very essence of the topic.

Lastly, when I said that “teachers doesn’t just teach”, I meant it. Teachers don’t
just teach, we strategize – teaching alone is not enough, teachers need to carefully
think of ways on how to activate the energy of the learners. Teachers actually have
various techniques, strategies and methods to draw students’ attention and to make
them active participants of their own learning experience. Teachers always observe the
“Trial & Error” practice, trying what strategy works best with their learners – from
changing the tone of their voice, mastering the right and appropriate gestures, the
games and other activities, the theme and mood of the instructional materials,
innovating ideas on other ways to deliver their lessons. Planning and preparations
matters for teachers because it is the only way they can be assured that students will
indeed achieve the learning competencies, effectively.

Being trained to be an educator and having to master all the teaching strategies,
techniques and methods and being able to apply them during my teaching internship is
truly fulfilling.
DOMAIN 2: LEARNING ENVIRONMENT