Educational System: Chevalier School

It is my first time to observe at Chevalier School and the school gave me a good impression. Not just because it is a private and Catholic school, or their beautiful facilities, but because  the school itself is organized and the personnel and guards are very welcoming.  They make sure that everything works well and are in place like, in buying foods in  canteen, as a visitor you have to get a visitor pass from the guard for you to be able to buy same with  the students, they have their passes too, even when they go to comfort room they ask for the CR pass, which I think is effective because students will be more responsible of theirselves and even the facilities of their school and for the students not to stay too long in CR or to avoid going to CR in groups.  The rules and regulations they have in school are being observed by the students inside the campus, which gives a good effect and impression to their school. But aside from these observations, I can still say that they have good Education System because the programs they have. The school offers preschool, elementary, junior high, and senior high education programs. In these programs,they use different languages depending on the grade level and subject like Filipino(Tagalog),English and Mother Tongue for the elementary pupils. What I find amusing in this level, is that, the security and safety of the children is really their priority, because pupils before they'll go out they have to wait for their parents but if the parents are already their and the pupils too what they do to avoid stampede, they have TV outside where pictures of the pupils are being flashed, which means whoever will be flash there  is the one who can go home, in this way they go out in turns while being safe. In their Senior High, they offer four academic tracks ABM, STEM, HUMMS, GAS, and TVL. All these programs they have the same Academic year, they start from June until to May. Pupils and students attend class for not more than 220 days and for Elementary,Junior and Senior High School they have one-hour class per subject. The school with these regulations and system is now known one of the famous schools in Pampanga, not only because of the quality education they offer but how they run the school as an institution really impress the market. Currently, the school head of CS is Mr. Ervin Taruc Sombillo.

Elements of Teaching

Teaching happens if the elements are present, but effective learning will take place if they made use of the elements effectively and efficiently. In Chevalier School (CS), I observed that the teacher as an element has an immense part in the teaching-learning process. They make sure of everything, the lesson they will be teaching, the equipment they need, and they are also the one responsible for making the classroom a conducive place for learning.  My cooperating teacher is the one making the students get to work, to experience learning themselves, he directs their learning. And that is important, because if he will not do that, what will students do? Will learning ever takes place? So, base from my observation, teacher has an important part as an element of teaching in CS. Next, the students in CS they are contributing in the effectivity of learning because how will the teachers know if they are effective? It’s their students’ performance. In addition, since CS is a private institution, they pay for their tuition fees, for the facilities, teachers and school personnel salaries and the educational equipment they need. So they are important because they also contribute financially. And these help in making learning effective because the students have good facilities that are conducive for learning they make the students comfortable while learning, they also have speech lab, auditorium and all plus the equipment, they have projectors, TVs, speakers and etc. which aid the teachers to effectively impart knowledge, skills and attitudes. Last thing, I’ve also observed that the professional behaviors of the teachers also make the learning effective, because when they are in the faculty room, I was able to see how harmonious their relationship with one another which is good, because they help one another, for example English teachers, they assist one another like if my cooperating teacher needs help concerning their field of specialization other English teachers are there to help. One more thing is that even other majors they help and work as one, like one of cooperating teacher classes he integrate the project of his students with MAPEH subject, this makes learning effective because they serve as role models to their students and make students see the connection of one subject to another.  

Wong # 3: A Teacher, A Planner

After watching the third part of Dr. Wong’s lecture I remember what I’ve written in my first entry, that as a teacher we are life changer, we have the power to either make or break the future of our students. We possess tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. Our personal approach will create the climate of our class. Knowing this, I realize more how huge my tasks and my responsibilities are as a teacher and how powerful I am in the classroom. Having such power I should, I should be responsible, I should be an effective teacher. I have to do well and manage my class well to make everything works.  To do so, I should have my plan. I should make procedures for my students, for them to know what I want them to do and vice versa. The beautiful thing about procedure is that it makes the class comfortable and secure because students know beforehand what is expected to happen, which makes learning easier for them. But, it should not just stop there, we should not just tell them, we should practice it. As John Dewey said “Learning by doing,” so if you give an opportunity for your students to practice the procedure and experience it themselves it will make their learning more meaningful and effective. So as a teacher it is not enough that we know what we will teach, but we should also know how to manage our class and that’s by being a planner because a teacher we no plan, is planning to fail.

Educational Philosophy: A Progressivist

Being in a new environment makes me feel unease when I had my first observation day, but when I met my cooperating teacher the uneasiness faded away. It is because he is very kind, jolly, welcoming and accommodating.  He is an English and Research teacher in Chevalier School. Observing how he teaches his lessons, it is evident that he is a Progressivist, because in every lesson, he makes sure that his students will see the relevance of the lesson they’re learning in their lives and can be applied in real life situations. He also let his students interact with one another and develop social qualities such as cooperation and tolerance. He always gives group activities, so that they can actively learn through discussion.  He wanted his students to learn through action and being involved in the processes that will get to the end product and for the students to work on hands-on projects so learning would take place, rather than memorization. Like in his Research class, he guides his students and give input, but he will let them make the process and do it themselves for them to learn and experience it firsthand, which is good because in whatever situation they can apply what they’ve learned.  One thing I’ve also observed is that, he allows his students in solving conflicts of the literary pieces they discussed, in Philippine Literature, similar to those they will encounter in their everyday lives. Such activity will help students to exercise their problem solving skills and think more critically. It can also be observed in his class that education should be a process of ongoing growth, not just a preparation for becoming an adult. This is to make the previous learnings of his students connected to what they’re learning in his class and to add more to it for the next grade level.

Orientation 101

                Field Study 6 is something I really look forward especially when I found out that I was assigned at Chevalier School (CS), which is a private school. For ever since we started observing classes I was assigned at Francisco G. Nepomuceno Memorial High School (FGNMHS). So it’s a new whole world for me again. I was excited and nervous at the same time when we were deployed last July 26, 2018.  But when I met the Field Study Coordinator of CS I felt at ease because, like in FGNMHS, he is also kind, approachable and very accommodating. They welcomed us with open arms, though we didn’t start on time, it is fine because when they started the orientation I felt that they really put time and effort into it.

                They introduced to us the names of administrators down to the faculty members. They told us the rules and regulations we have follow and observe when we are inside their school, even the simple ones. Like saying “Hello” and smiling when you meet teachers or school personnel. Sir Esguerra was the one responsible for the orientation. He is very commendable, a good speaker and he has good sense humor, which broke the tension that time and made the orientation fun. But what I really like about their presentation is that our names together with our cooperating teacher’s names were flashed.  I don’t know if that’s how they really do it even before, but for me, it’s a new thing and I like it. Because it is easier for us since we already know our cooperating teacher on that exact day. Luckily, we were able to meet them too.

                I really appreciated the orientation they gave us since I am new to their school. I really need it. It really served its purpose. Personally, I think orientation must be given to FS students, whether they are assigned to the same school. It’s for them to be reminded with the simple rules and be updated to whatever changes happen in the school. Sometimes students tend to forget little things like showing courtesy to teachers or school personnel. Also, it’s their benefit too, for future teachers, who knows in the future the will be tasked to conduct an orientation about something, at least they have ideas about it.  

Wong # 2: First Day Last

“It is the teacher who makes the difference in the classroom” This statement had struck me the most in the Part 2 of Dr. Wong’s lecture about The First Days of School. As a person, I am well aware that stealing is a crime, but after watching this video and as an aspiring teacher, I am willing to commit the crime of stealing and I encourage novice and even veteran teachers to do it too. From what I’ve learned in this lecture would help me make a difference not just in my class, but most importantly, in the lives of my students. As what Dr. Wong said, “Please steal, please take the ideas and take it back to your classroom and use them”. I will do it, I will make things right, from the very first minute of my future career as a teacher. I will implement what I’ve learned from this video, because I know that the success of an academic year will depend on the success of the first day of class. Therefore, as the saying goes, first impression last, so is the first day of class.