Journey to the Teaching Profession

     The journey towards the teaching profession isn't a walk in the park for it's a roller coaster ride with its ups and downs at times you would want to get off the ride but at the end of the day you can't do so because of the thrill, the sense of adventure, the fun and the passion and love for growth. Teaching is a continuous ride just as learning never stops for it is a never ending process.

    The roller coaster ride of my cooperating teacher started when she was about to enter college and had to decide which course to take. She didn't plan on becoming a teacher, it was never a part of her career choices but her parents forced her into the profession because they are a family of teachers. She gave up her dream of becoming a certified doctor for her parents but as time grew she fell in love with the teaching profession. She studied hard to pass her license exam. Studied different theories and practices in education and eventually became a licensed teacher.

    I asked her once if she liked the teaching profession and if its too hard she answered with another question, and that is "what do you want me to say?" and then she laughed. She told me that teaching is laborious with all the paper works and having to deal with a bunch of diverse individuals is a lot to take in for the first few years in teaching but she ensured me that eventually I'll too grow fond of the teaching profession and consider it not just a responsibility but also a passion.

21st Century Teacher

      A 21st century teacher is someone that is flexible and can adapt to the growing changes of the society especially now that the students are digitally natives it is a must for the teacher to know how to use technology well in order to cater the needs and interests of the students. A 21st century teacher is also an innovator, someone who loves challenges and is not afraid of growth but rather embrace the changes happening and is creative and innovative enough to modify strategies, instructional materials and approaches in teaching in order to cater the diversity of students.

     One of the characteristics of a 21st century teacher is that they maximize the full potential of learners and push them beyond their limits. They aren't just confined in the academic aspect but also encourages multiple intelligence of the learners and uses them to capture their interests and convey the lesson in an effective and creative way.

     A 21st century teacher also focuses on students. They give priority to students and their experiences. Their classes are student centered wherein experiences are very important for the students and it's all about the students. Teachers also prepare students to be globally competitive and can excel in any field of endeavor.

Teaching as an Art

      When my field study teacher asked us to create a blog for our observations I immediately thought of pottery as my blog's theme because students for me, are mounds of plain clay to be shaped by the hands of teachers and molded by the spinning pottery wheel called experience. Aside from this, I consider teaching as an art for several reasons. One of them is that students are like blank canvases and teachers are brushes and paint that gives color to their lives.  

     At first, I thought teaching was the easiest course until I took up education and that thought slapped me in the face. Teaching is one of the hardest profession there is because it deals with diverse people who have different beliefs and personalities not to mention the responsibility of catering each need of unique students. That's why teachers need to be creative and innovative to convey the lesson in a way that would create an impact to their lives.

     My cooperating teacher never uses the same strategy or she alters parts of her approach to each of her classes because she teaches diverse students who have different cognitive levels. I admire her for her efforts, creativity and love for the teaching profession. She's an inspiration and my time observing her class was worthwhile.

My Classroom Teacher as a Model of Character

     What matters more, competence or character? This controversial question elicited several debates. But in reality, debates are unnecessary for they both matter especially in teaching. My cooperating teacher gives value to both competence and character. In a short span of time that I've observed my cooperating teacher I can already tell that she ensures that her students doesn't just master and understand the lesson but also help students to be a person of character by instilling values and good behavior.

     I was quite amazed every time her class starts because even without her reminding the students to clean the room and arrange the chairs, the students do it themselves and before and after class the make sure they pray and greet each other. Students are also very courteous. I remember my first time observing in her class, the students were very polite and kind.

     Discipline is also very important to my cooperating teacher. Whenever she sees students misbehaving or are becoming too rude, she corrects them constructively without embarrassing the student. My cooperating teacher is a great role model for she is a person of not just competence but especially character. She walks her talk. She's courteous and respectful not just to her superiors but also to students among others.