What Do I Learn about Classroom Management?

            There is no perfect person but there is always something perfect in her.

            I live in this statement. I make the most on every turning point in my life to make people feel and realize this statement about me. Sounds risky, right? But even if nobody has become perfect, aiming to be perfect could lead you to near perfection. That makes your efforts worthwhile. I know I will never be the perfect teacher. But in any case, I know I can be perfect in something.

            My “Classroom Management” class taught me to look through the meaningful experiences prior to becoming a teacher. During the field study, I learned about how to apply different teaching-learning principles and when to apply these. I was able to share my thoughts with my classmates and friends about some learners’ characteristics and needs and how to manage their behaviors. I was able to experience observing elementary and secondary teachers to identify what are their learning objectives, learning activities, instructional materials and assessment tools used by the teachers and learn from them.

            “Maintaining the learning environment’s mood is a great challenge for teachers. This means teacher need to innovate and improvise the usual teaching strategy as much as possible to avoid bored times. Learning activities should also be made more interesting to maximize class participation.” These are kind words from my resource teacher.

            I am not perfect but I know that if I’ll aim for it, I can always let my students feel that I am their perfect teacher, perfect example, and perfect inspiration.

Electricity (An Online Treasure Hunt)

Hello class! Welcome to our virtual learning classroom! Congratulations, you have passed all the requirements to get in this last step of our online treasure hunt. Let's get it started and apply what we have learned.

Here's what you are going to do:

1. On a separate clean paper, list at least 20 appliances in your homes. 

2. Group them into the Higher Electrical Power Consumption and Lower Electrical Power Consumption. 

3. In your conclusions, give some tips on how to conserve electricity.

4. Review your answers.

5. Write your final answers on the comment box below. Make sure to click the google+ button to follow this blog.

Remember to indicate your name and section below your answers. You want your grades recorded, right?

My First BIG Steps: It's TOKYO!

TOKYO, Japan. It's TOKYO! 

When we arrived at Narita Airport, a JICE staff took us for a 2-hour bus ride to Tokyo. I was amaze by their very fast and convenient service. The bus time interval to approach the bus stop is 15 minutes (Am I right?) and a 30-second boarding time. Traffic? Well, I hardly experienced that. These are my pictures of my smooth trip going to Tokyo.

I only imagine this place. I never knew I could be there. I can only see it in movies or anime series. These pictures are series of my first BIG steps in Tokyo. I mean BIG steps, the fact that everybody walks so fast I can hardly catch them. Have I forgotten to tell you? Japan has a fine cool weather. For me, it is the best! I never have thought that the weather could be this cold since we arrived during late fall. I was only in my usual sweater, polo shirt, and jeans: an out-of-place look for a business city like this. Take a look at these pictures taken on the busy streets of Tokyo.

A Teenage Dream

Prior to our departure, we had our orientation at De Lasalle University - CSB Hotel. I was holding my passport and the documents needed to be given to the immigration officer to the airport.

It was back in my 3rd year high school. I dreamed how was it like to be in the other country. It was just a dream. A simple dream. Yet, never had I thought it will happen sooner.

I was chosen as one of the delegates for the JENESYS batch 2011. I was a freshmen college student back then taking Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education major in Physics. My roommate, who happened to be one of the first batch of JENESYS delegates, compelled me to apply for the program. Countless prayer and fasting ceremonies I have attended for me to be accepted. Good heavens, I was chosen as one.

Then, a great tsunami hit Japan. I thought my dreams were vanished; that the program was cancelled. It took me a long while to recover from my shattered dreams: the dreams that I used to brag to my parents and friends. It was quite a devastating moment for me Until, an email was sent to confirm that the program will recur next year. My hopes were then high again.

On the picture (L-R): Demi, ME, and Shige aboard on one of their Maglev train at Tokyo, Japan

The three of us: Demi, ME, and Shigenobu were rescheduled on the first flight the following day after the expected departure date due to immigration problems. We are DOST scholars. As a scholar, we should secure our travel clearances from the DOST in order to travel abroad. Due to miscommunication, we were not able to secure another travel clearances issued by the Bureau of Immigration. Japan, in cooperation with Rajah Tours, was very generous to accommodate us during the process of our documents and in our arrival to Japan. We were so much indebted to them for the encouragements and assurances after the almost-heartbreaking moment at the NAIA airport.