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June 2009
Vol 6 No 6
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Teachers.Net Gazette Vol.6 No.6 June 2009

Cover Story by Graysen Walles
Teaching – The Power of Influence
The impact of teaching is clear, and the influence of the profession is immeasurable. All it takes is one moment, one situation, one discussion to turn the life of a young learner.


Harry & Rosemary Wong: Effective Teaching
Nine Year Summary of Articles, 2000 to 2009
On April 26, 2009, President Obama hosted the four 2009 finalists for America’s top national teaching honor, the National Teacher of the Year award. Alex Kajitani, who teaches mathematics at Mission Middle School in the Escondido Union (Elementary) School District in San Diego County was one of the four finalists.


Columns
»The Three R’s for Summer— Rest, Relax and Recharge! Sue Gruber
»Buddy Programs for Elementary Schools Leah Davies
»Moving to September Todd R. Nelson
»Ronald Reagan and the Art of Influence Marvin Marshall
»The Busy Educator's Monthly Five Marjan Glavac
»Substitute issues: Bathroom Passes & Anger Management Barbara Pressman
»Preparing Students for Travel: Films and Immunizations Josette Bonafino
»A Message to Share with Parents about Summer Learning Dorothy Rich
»Classroom Clean-Up and Clay in a Can Rick Morris

Articles
»Schools and Filters: Ice Age, the Meltdown Matt Levinson
»Effort: It Can be Taught! Deborah Granger
»Homework: Damned if you do, and if you don’t Alan Haskvitz
»Parents Are Recruits, Teachers Are Responsible, Kids Are Victims, and Schools Are Culpable For At-Risk Problems Bill Page
»12 Ways to Stop Conflict in its Tracks! Susan Fitzell
»Using Photographs To Inspire Writing VIII Hank Kellner
»The Writing on the Wall Tim Newlin
»More Brain Teasers Steve Sherman
»Teacher of Facts - and of Life Rachelle Ann A. Abad
»Grant Writing Tips Kimberly McCloud
»Bald is Beautiful! Teachers, Students Lose Locks to Fight Childhood Cancer David Peter Marchesseault

Features
»Apple Seeds: Inspiring Quotes Barb Stutesman
»Today Is... Daily Commemoration Ron Victoria
»The Lighter Side of Teaching
»Video Bytes; Literacy Empowers (Illiteracy Awareness), The Underground Railroad, Wikis in Plain English - CommonCraft tutorial, Twitter in Plain English – a CommonCraft tutorial, Naturally 7 music group on Tavis Smiley Show, Tour the International Space Station!
»Teacher Blogs Showcase
»Printable - Ice Cream in a Baggie Recipe
»Featured Lessons, Wisdom from the Chat Achives, and Timely Printables Especially for June!
»What Is A Document Camera? What Does It Do?
»Newsdesk: Events & Opportunities for Teachers


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Cover Story by Graysen Walles

Effective Teaching by Harry & Rosemary Wong

Contributors this month: Graysen Walles, Sue Gruber, Leah Davies, Todd R. Nelson, Marvin Marshall, Marjan Glavac, Barbara Pressman, Josette Bonafino, Dorothy Rich, Rick Morris, Matt Levinson, Deborah Granger, Alan Haskvitz, Bill Page, Susan Fitzell, Hank Kellner, Tim Newlin, Steve Sherman, Rachelle Ann A. Abad, Kimberly McCloud, David Peter Marchesseault, Barb Stutesman, Ron Victoria, and BattleShip Ron.

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Rachelle Ann A. Abad

Archive | Biography | Resources | Discussion

Teacher of Facts - and of Life
As teachers, we do not just imprint the academic records of the children. We leave the imprints in their lives.
by Rachelle Ann A. Abad
New contributor to the Gazette
June 1, 2009

I no longer wonder why people ask about choosing my profession among a number of income-generating jobs in the world. I am a teacher. This craft might really be the most tedious task that would not only last for eight working hours a day. Although the tasks of teaching exceed the minimum required working hours, the wage would not definitely compensate for the effort of a well- dedicated builder of knowledge. But teaching is not just about earning for a living, it is also about initiating a change in the lives of thousands of people.

Let me share with you my experiences. I am a graduate of Bachelor in Secondary Education, major in English. After graduation, I started distributing my application papers to different high schools to practice my profession (although I was not yet licensed). The application process in each school took several weeks that indeed developed the boredom in me. It had just happened that my sister had to go to college but my parents did not have the sufficient income to support her studies. Coincidentally, two private schools sent a feedback on my application so I was a bit relieved. However, one of the schools offered only a part- time teaching job in which I would only substitute for the other teacher. Meaning, I would be kicked out immediately if the teacher came back!

On the other hand, the other one offered a teaching job for grade four pupils in which I would handle English and Religion classes. I had the choices but I was definitely hanging by the thread! I was thinking that if I would accept the part-time teaching job, what would have happened in the remaining months to come when I would be out of the school?

I was also having doubts about teaching Religion in the other school because I had never been a religious person (although I also try to get in touch with God in times of great need), added to the fact that I am not really fond of children. In the name of the immediate financial need, I chose the longer term job teaching English and Religion.

The first day that I entered my advisory class, I had been welcomed by 43 little strangers. They were not smiling. They were not talking as if they were mutes in front of a supercilious speaker. In other words, no reaction at all. I had received the same impression when I entered the other three sections. At the beginning of the formal classes, I started with weird questions such as “What is the name of your desk?” or “What is the name of your seatmate?” I was not surprised to see the curious looks on their faces that may be thinking that they had a crazy teacher in front of them. Then I proceeded with the lesson on distinguishing proper nouns from common nouns based on the specific and non- specific names of everything within and beyond their reach.

I had never thought that that bizarre lecture would be enjoyed by my pupils. I had never thought that they would appreciate my nonsense jokes that my friends never comprehend. I had never thought that my props and my activities everyday would open the door to the unexpressed personalities of my little angels. I had never thought that my questions that frightened them at times would provoke all of them, including the apathetic ones, to think. I had never thought that smiling at them and asking them how they were for the day or what was the matter about such a behavior would unlock the hidden sentiments of the innocent timid spirits. This was the time I discovered that at an early age, they are also very sensitive about being disparaged by other people. I had never thought that these small things would really do great for them.

Being a teacher is not just about standing in front and preaching about rules and behaviors. It is not just about giving exercises and checking their works afterwards. It is not just about creating sentences for them to find and edit the grammatical errors. Teaching is modeling the good behavior that the fables and short stories imply.

Teaching is encouraging them to give their best in everything that they do. Quizzes do not only aim to rate what the students know, but to boost their morale in order that they can think more and that they can do more. Editing is not just about finding their errors but pushing them to their limits until they achieve the highest point.

Teaching is not just about focusing on those who do more but to have the patience to keep up with the challenged ones. Teaching is not about speaking the ills of the pupils but appreciating the good side of them that most people had never known about them. They might also push us to our limits that make us lose our patience but we also have to consider that children are children. They are also individuals who need respect and acceptance. We might never make each of them a genius but at least we can try to uplift their self- confidence.

We may not be able to make them perfect children of God, but at least we can make them real human beings in the truest sense of the word “humanity.” A teacher should have the amnesia to forget the inadequacies of each pupil and the golden heart to accept who and what they really are.

As teachers, we do not just imprint the academic records of the children. We leave the imprints in their lives. We may even forget their names, but they would never forget the experiences that we have given them. We either make or break them. We may be a lecturer, an editor, a choreographer, a referee, a guidance councilor, a provider, a nurse, a cheerleader, and a homilist at the same time. Yet, the fact remains that we do not only impart facts. Rather, we build lives. Eventually, these individuals will no longer become unknown spirits because who knows? They might initiate the change to make our world a better place to live in.



» More Gazette articles...




About Rachelle Ann A. Abad...

Rachelle Ann A. Abad is a graduate of Bachelor in Secondary Education, major in English. She had her practice teaching in Ateneo de Naga University High School, Philippines. She worked as a Grade 4 teacher for English and Religion in the academic years 2008- 2009 in St. Joseph School, Naga City. In September 2008, she took the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) being the 10th regional placer for the secondary level.

Rachelle came from a middle class family in which she is the eldest. She finished as the class valedictorian in high school and cum laude in college. She has been exposed to the different kinds of people through the different outreach programs that she joined. Because of this, she has been inspired by the different elements of the society including the rich and the poor ones. She often reveals in her personal writings the unknown sides of both worlds particularly the apathy and the sentiments of the less fortunate people.

As a teacher, it is a trademark among her students that she always reminds them to be at their best. Being an idealist forefront of knowledge, she always pushes her students to their limits because she believes in the undiscovered full potential of each learner. She believes that they should be well guided and well- accepted.

At present, she is planning to take her Master’s Degree to open a wider field of opportunities for knowledge and ideals to be passed on the next generations of learners.


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