Module I NATURE OF TEACHING AND TEACHING ROLES

Lesson I: What is Teaching?

Introduction

Teachers are jack of all trades. A teacher does beyond the call of her duty.
This chapter will discuss more layers of being a teacher. From the basic
definition of a teacher to the learner’s own subjective definition which will
be one of the activities in this chapter. It will also reveal the different roles
of a teacher and you will find out that the work of a teacher goes beyond the
four walls of the classroom. Teachers are also always up for the challenges
of teaching and we will find out how teachers cope up with these. Lastly,
through this chapter we will know UNESCO’s 4 Pillars of Teaching and see the
importance of this our teaching profession.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the lesson, the students must have:

1. defined what teaching is;

2. described the various roles of a teacher;

3. identified the different challenges of teaching; and

4. differentiated UNESCO’s 4 Pillars of Teaching.

 Activating Prior Knowledge

Using the concept map, instead of writing down words, draw symbols associated
with the word “professional teacher”. Be ready to share the meaning of the images
to your classmates. Use a separate sheet for this.

Central Activities
 Content Input

What is Teaching?

I’m pretty sure you have heard of the quotation, “Teaching is the noblest
profession” as this remains to be one of the most famous and quotable quotes about
the profession. Well, what does it mean to be noble? A quick search at Merriam-
Webster will provide you its most basic definition which notes that being noble means
“possessing outstanding qualities”. Teachers’ outstanding qualities stems from their
unfathomable love and passion for teaching. Teachers are said to be the catalyst of
change as they have the power to mould the minds of children and make them a better
person for their community, country and of the world.

What is Teaching?

• Teaching is a noble profession, every word that comes out in your mouth will
influence your student and make impact in their lives.

• A teacher is not just born, a teacher is built.

• A teacher must be knowledgeable of what s/he teach, not only from the books
but also to the real life lessons.

• It takes years to actually become a teacher and real educators don’t stop
learning because learning is a life long process, teaching will always be a duty
and a challenge

Teaching as a Profession

A professional teacher is one who conforms to the technical or ethical

standards of a profession. The elements of a profession are:

1. Initial Professional Education- Professionals generally begin their

professional lives by completing a university program in their chosen fields
– teacher education, engineering, nursing, accountancy. This means long
 an arduous years of preparation. Take note this is just initial, which means
only the beginning because a professional is expected to learn endlessly.

2. Accreditation- University programs are approved by a regulatory body like

the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in the Philippines to ensure
that graduates from these recognized programs start their professional
lives with competence.

3. Licensing- Licensing is mandatory, not voluntary and is administered by a

government authority. In the Philippines, this government authority is the
Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

4. Professional Development- This is an ongoing professional education that

maintains or improves professionals’ knowledge and skills after they begin
professional practice. In the Philippines this is Continuing Professional
Development mandated by RA 10912, otherwise known as the CPD Act of
2016.

5. Professional Societies- Professionals see themselves as part of a

community of like-minded individuals who put their professional standards
above the individual self-interest or their employer’s self-interest. These
professional societies put dedication to the public interest and
commitment to moral and ethical values.

What makes up a P-R-O-F-E-S-S-I-O-N-A-L Teacher?

Part of being a professional is Initial Professional Education, a step that we should go

through

Right after this is accreditation– giving credits to whom it is due

One important thing is skill development

For this element will always be in use

Elements are there to guide and be followed, they are there to show the truth

Surely, certification is important, as well as licensing

See yourself as a professional and a member of the society

In doing so, see to it that you grow and develop

Organizational certification are highly needed as it follows the Code of Ethics

None of those are illogical for they make title as it is

Always remember that above all this element

Loving what your doing, should never be missed

A Question to Ponder

• For you, what should a professional teacher possess?

 I Am Glad I Am A Teacher
By: Zachrisch, Elva (The journal of Time Education, October, 1958)

Teacher vs. Salesman

I would rather be a teacher than a salesman. A salesman makes a lot of money

than I do. I would not change places with him, for he sells washing machines and
fountain pens and cars and other material things; but I sell IDEAS.
 Teacher vs. Stenographer

I would rather be a teacher than a stenographer; even though a stenographer

may have a mahogany desk in magnificent office of some great chief industry. She
writes letters, but I help write careers. She touches keys, but I touch LIVES.

Teacher vs. Architect

I would rather be a teacher than an architect, satisfactory as the program of

large construction might be. For an architect helps build edifices, but I help build
CHARACTER. Edifices endure for a time, but character endures throughout eternity.
 Teacher vs. Artist

I would rather be a teacher than an artist, fascinating as the subject might be in

its wealth of beauty, color, and symmetry. For an artist paints on canvass, but I print
pictures on the MEMORIES of little children. An artist makes impressions on tables of
clay, but I make impressions on the tables of SOUL.

Teacher vs. Great Executive

I would rather be a teacher than a great executive. For he works with facts and
figures and lifeless coins, but I work with MINDS that open, and FUTURE that unfold,
and PRINCIPLES that grow.
 Teacher vs. Interpreter

I would rather be a teacher than an interpreter; for he interprets words and

ideas but I interpret MOTIVES and PURPOSES and ENDEAVORS.

Teacher vs. Archeologist

I would rather be a teacher than an archeologist; for he unearths buried

treasures, but I unearth buried TALENTS.
 Teacher vs. Explorer

I would rather be a teacher than an explorer; for he explores uncharted seas,

but I explore uncharted MINDS, and discover treasure islands and continents of untold
POSSIBILITIES.

Teacher vs. Ststesman

I would rather be a teacher than a statesman; for he deals with finished citizens,
but I deal with FUTURE CITIZENS.
 Teacher vs. Scientist

I would rather be a teacher than a scientist. For though he studies the wonders
of rocks, and the beauty of the stars, and the miracles of the plants, and the glory of
the skies, but I deal with that which is still more miraculous in THROBBING HUMAN
HEARTS, UNFOLDING HUMAN LIVES, and FORMATION of HUMAN CHARACTER.
 Check for Understanding

It’s time to add more to this beautiful bank of quotations. Explain the following
quotations about the teaching profession in not less than two to three sentences each.
To help you in explaining the meaning of the quotations, watch the YouTube video in
the link provided below.

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior
teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” – William Arthur Ward,
writer

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“Teachers affect eternity; no one can tell where their influence stops.” –
Henry Brooks Adams, historian

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 “One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.” – Malala
Yousafzai, education advocate

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Now that you have explained the quotations and watched the informative video on
what is teaching. It is time for you to create your own definition. Write your answer in
the box provided. Write it in at least three sentences.

What is my own definition of teaching?

Teaching is __________________________________________________________

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