Practice Teaching is not easy as everyone would agree. Here, you need to have huge patience and have a great stress tolerance, not just for the stubborn students but also for so many paper works it entails. Last December 1, 2015 was the date of our deployment as student teacher in our respective cooperating school. In my case, I was assigned in Pamplona National High School. I was blessed to be with kind and easy to be with teammates who were Ma’am Francia Macatingrao a Biological Science major who was our leader, Ma’am Veronica Sumagpang and Ma’am Vanessa Castilio who were both English major. My heart was filled with mix emotion during the first hour of my stay in our cooperating school which happened to be my almamater.

     We were entertained by the Head teacher Mrs. Marietta B. Terillano when we arrived at PNHS because the principal was not available that time. When Ma’am Mayeth (Mrs. Terillano) assigned us to our cooperating teachers, I was assigned to two cooperating teachers namely ma’am Milagros Hernandez and ma’am Mayeth herself. I felt so lucky that time because my CT’s were my former teacher in Science. So, I was very confident that things will be easier for me during my practice teaching.  That was what I thought.

     During our first day in PNHS we just sat down the office of the school publication, get to know each other and divide our task in doing our e-portfolio.  Everything went fine during our first day, however, on our second day which was still intended for observation and orientation (based from our Practice teachers manual) I was already requested by ma’am Mayeth to attend her class because the Principal was not around and she needs to attend the obligation as the OIC. I was left with no choice but to do her request though I was really nervous because I was not given enough time to study the topic given to me. Good thing because the topic was very basic that I was able to deliver it with confidentce and pride.

     My heart shaking experience doesn’t end there, because when my other CT saw me teaching that time, she also requested me to attend her class that day. I ended my second day so exhausted but happy because although I was not really prepared with my lesson I was satisfied with the response of my students towards my teaching.

     From then on I am already the one attending the class of my CT’s.  Was given one load in Science by ma’am Mayeth and 3 loads in the same subject and year level by ma’am Hernandez.  Good for me coz it means one preparation of lesson plan only.

     I was really blessed with my CT’s because they provided me everything I need for my teaching. They handed me the teachers manual that really of great help when I am doing my lesson plan. My whole stay in PNHS was a wonderful experience because and I am with good teammates, kind CT’s and conducive environment.

     Since I was handling 4 sections in Grade 7 which are 7A, 7B, 7C and 7H which was the last section, at first I find it hard to adjust teaching the same topic in different set of students with different mental capacity. I am exerting extra effort whenever I am teaching the last section because most of the time I need to translate my instruction which was in English to Filipino or Bicol because the last section really finds it hard to understand pure English.  I know it is not right to speak always in vernacular because the medium of instruction was in English. But I was just after the learnings of my students which is the most important in the teaching and learning process after all.  Despite the fact that 7H are slow academically, I am enjoying their company because they were really cool.

     In my entire stay at Pamplona National high school I was Able to accomplish 10 lesson plans, 3rd quarter exam, table of specification and 3rd quarter grades of all my students.

    My student teacher experiences afforded me the opportunity to assume all the responsibilities of a secondary school teacher. I realized how vital education is as the foundation of the young people to achieve success in all undertaking set before them. That is why my greatest goal is to educate young people and help them grow into well-rounded, responsible and successful citizen.

 

Prepared by:

MARY GRACE SAMILO-CUADRANTE

        Student teacher