How to Handle Student Misbehavior

In the course of being a teacher, you will often run into students who need a little more attention than others. Problems students often cause disturbance in the class and most of the time do not perform well. So what is the proper way to handle such students?

Approaching the Student

First, you would want to talk to the student, in private. Do not let the student be seen by his or her classmates being singled out of the group or else these classmates may gossip about him in the wrong way. He could be embarrassed in front of them and this may worsen the situation. While walking around when they are taking a quiz, or perhaps doing boardwork or when they are making a project you can tell him, discreetly, to meet you in the office after school.

Introduction Phase

The next step would be to introduce yourself to your student. Tell him or her that you are his teacher and show him or her that you can be trusted since if your student can't trust you, how will he or she confide in you? Treat him like a friend. Ask him about his hobbies. Short talks about stuff that he likes can lead him to trust you instead of fearing you. Ask your student how his social status is. Does he have many friends? What are his hobbies? What does he do in his spare time? You may also give him or her a contact number so if he or she has any problems he or she can call you, whenever possible.

Probing the Root Cause

Preferably only when you are sure that the student is ready to open up to you can you ask probing questions to enlighten yourself on the root cause of the problem. Some common problems among misbehaving students are lack of financial support, emotional instability, heartbreaks, and lack of motivation. Going to the root of the problem will enable you to come up with the appropriate solution to the problem.

Monitor the Situation

Once you have your solution ready, do not just implement it and walk away. You still have to monitor the situation so you can be sure everything is going well. A positive sign that you may see will be a change in the behavior of the student. But, if the behavior doesn't change, then your solution may not have been the best one.

Guidance Counseling

One type of solution would be to go to the guidance counselor. Students often associate going to the guidance office with something negative, like they made a mistake or violated the rules, and that they were going to be reprimanded. To clear this misconception in the mind of the student, you may explain the objectives of going to the guidance to the student.

Home Visitation

When nothing else works, then you can visit his parents so you can have an idea of his home environment. Problems can be caused by poor home environment, and only when you have an overview of the situation can you plan out a more appropriate solution to the problem.

I hope this article helped you in any way. Godbless.

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10 Extraordinary Acts a Teacher Can Do

1. Home Visit In movies like “Freedom Writers”, teachers who see a problem or misbehavior in students find time to try and find out the cause of this problem or misbehavior by talking the friends of the student, or sometimes doing a home visit. A home visit shows that the teacher is really concerned and that he/she cares for his/her student. 2. Praising a child B.F. Skinner’s principle of reinforcing the child’s behavior through positive reinforcement is sometimes the least followed teaching principles as some teachers only focus on teaching the content or the subject, rather than teaching the content to students who need some form of encouragement for their effort in trying to learn what is being taught. 3. Consideration Nowadays, students are forced to learn concepts far beyond their level or capability, so some students find it hard to cope up and thereby get low marks on their performance assessment. Sometimes, their best just isn’t good enough and so as teachers, what we can do is try go give them some credit for their effort, a little consideration for them trying to do what they can with what they are presented with. A students’ failure is also a teacher’s failure, so we can’t blame it all on them if they get low marks, right? 4. Make your own sample of the project you give your students Have you ever had a teacher who told you to make, let’s say, a model of the solar system, and yet presented no example of his own? Sometimes, teachers give their students projects which seem easy but not really. If a teacher asks his students to make a poster, or a comic strip, or a miniature building, that teacher must present a sample as reference for the kids. If the teacher cannot produce that sample, how much less is the possibility that the students can produce it? 5. Smile What will be your impression if you see a teacher talk with a straight face all class long? Would you be interested to listen? Of course not. First impressions last and that first impression that the students see in each and every day would be your expression when you go through that classroom door. Your students won’t be so eager to listen to you unless you have that peaceful and beautiful aura sorrounding you. 6. Be the first to greet your students Inside the school, our students often meet us along corridors. Outside, we sometimes bump into the students unexpectedly and having our pride as teachers, we wait for the students to be the one to approach or say hi to us. Wrong. We need to act as role models to our students, so if ever we see them, we should seem more approachable to them by being the first ones to greet them. 7. Memorize all your students’ names Yeah, I know it’s tough. Especially when you have more or less 70 studens per class, with around 5-7 classses handled. That’s around 350+ students, all with different names, different personalities, but it’s not difficult when you get used to memorizing names. 8. Perform - Sing or dance or act - at the start of the class to get your students’ attention As a teacher, one must be a jack of all trades. You must have several talents which you can showcase to your students. 9. Hold your anger in and try to be more understanding of your student No matter how difficult one student is, there is always a reason for his/her actions. Being open-minded will allow you to see through the action and more of the person and his or her reasons. Keep off the fatty foods to avoid the high blood. 10. Have one teaching principle that you would like to keep in mind for a day Improving little by little everyday can have a huge impact on our teaching. One principle a day can keep the principal away. Godbless

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10 Tips for Passing the LET

What does it take to achieve a goal?

A successful person always has a goal in mind. There can be no person who have made it to the top without hard work and effort.

"Continuous effort – not strength or intelligence – is the key to unlocking our potential"

~Winston Churchill

That said, effort here means not just doing work for a day or two. It should be continuous. Needless to say,  a person who does just a day or two of hard work will benefit a day or two of reward. When the reward has more worth, then it requires effort which has more worth as well.

1. Stop procastinating.

Often the biggest hindrance in achieving our goals are the distractions of everyday life that we let ourselves be drawn into. Things like always opening our facebook accounts, playing online games, window shopping (online and offline), or just plain laziness can cause us to lose so much of our precious time which we should've used for something more productive like trying to achieve whatever goal we have set for ourselves.

2. Make a timetable.

This is often one of the suggestions for solving problem #1.

3. Follow your timetable strictly.

Really now, what's the use of a timetable if you don't follow it? Do not make excuses. The only thing that stands between you and your goal are your crappy excuses.

4. Learn to socialize.

What one can do, two can do better no? Be friendly to everyone.

5. Avoid overheating.

Take time to rest. It is not good to overstudy.

6. Remember that everything is a learning experience.

No matter what you do, keep in mind that anything, any concept or idea can be useful when the time comes. So remember as much as you can, from words to events, to skills and everything else. There's worth in everything.

7. Be resourceful.

Do not rely on just books or the internet. There are a lot of sources for information.

8. Get organized.

Your environment affects your learning. Having a cozy environment makes you feel sleepy. Having a messy environment makes you lazy. There should be a balance, but its really up to you. Just make sure that your study environment really looks like one, else you get demotivated to do anything.

9. Research.

Do not be discouraged when you read highfalutin words or words which are very difficult to understand. When the situation becomes difficult, then all the more you should exert effort. Never give up until you understand everything.

10. Ask yourself this question: Do you really want to be a teacher? For what purpose are you doing this?

Unless you are sure of what you want, none of these would really matter to you. As Socrates said, "Know thyself". On the other hand, if you are sure of what you want to be, then there will be no problem.

Following even just half of these will surely increase the chances of passing the LET. What is your goal? Do you want to just pass the LET? Or do you want to pass with flying colors? Make your choice.

~At the end of the day, let there be no excuses, no regrets.

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Overcoming Test Anxiety in Taking the LET Exam

Everything has already been prepared. Thus, you are now ready to take the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET). It’s finally the long awaited day. Or so you thought.

First, you went to your testing place. Next, you look for your assigned room. Nervous, your eyes wander around to check on the people inside the same room you are in. Suddenly, the Let examiner (proctor) comes in the room, and you go to your assigned place. The proctor hands out the test booklets and at the same moment you felt a shiver down your spine as the examiner gives the guidelines for taking the exam. You are told that you have 3 hours to finish the General Education part. You feel cold sweat dripping from your face. Bam! You cannot concentrate. You lose your focus. Everything falls apart.

A lot of students nowadays feel the same kind of pressure when taking exams, especially the major exams. This is called TEST ANXIETY. Examiners experience test anxiety because they are afraid of failure, so they give in to the pressure, especially when they are faced with a highly important situation like taking exams. Here are some practical tips and ways to avoid test anxiety.

1. Disregard every thought not related to taking the exam.

This will help you focus all your energy and mental power into the exam itself. Forget your boyfriend/girlfriend for now. Forget facebook, games, and any other distraction that can make you lose your attention to what is really important. This is a once in a lifetime event in your life.

2. Come prepared.

Prepare everything beforehand, not on the day of the examination itself. It’s better if you have prepared the materials needed (2 pencils, 1 black pen, admission slip etc.) a month before to avoid rushing.

3. Get a good night’s sleep.

It is good to review the topics a lot but if it means losing some sleep, then don’t. Lacking sleep right before taking an exam makes you feel drowsy. Lack of sleep can also make you feel irritated easily, and it also disrupts your appetite.

4. Make sure to eat healthily.

A healthy body equals a healthy mind. You don’t want your stomach to get in your way while taking the exam now, do you?

5. Listen attentively. Follow instructions carefully and precisely.

Failing because you didn’t listen well to the instructions is one of the biggest mistakes you can have in your LET exam.

6. Manage your time well.

If you have 3 hours to answer a 150 item test, then allot at most a little more than a minute for every item. Don’t focus too much on one item that it makes you rush the last items because you don’t have enough time anymore.

Remember, you don’t want to let all your preparations go to waste. It is wise to do all that you possible can to increase your chances of passing, even just a little. So just do your best, and God will do the rest. Good luck to all LET takers.

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History of Licensure Examination for Teachers: A Short Review

                It has been a fact that all who seek to pursue teaching as a career need to take the Licensure Examination for Teachers or the LET, but very few really know what the LET is, its purpose and significance in the education reform of the Philippines.

                The LET was implemented in the Philippines throught the enactment of Republic Act 7836 or otherwise known as the “Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994” on December 16, 1994. The enactment of the law didn’t mean that the teachers in the Philippines were not “professional”. Rather it is a means to strengthen and improve not just the teachers, but also the quality of education and the whole education system in general. By improving the teachers, the students will naturally follow the embetterment of those who lead them.

                Before R.A. 7836 was implemented, education in the Philippines was mostly regulated and supervised by the National Board for Teachers (NBT). Even though R.A. 7836 was signed as law in 1994, the first LET exam was held two years later. On August 1996, a total of 97,560 examinees took the first LET exam administered by both the Board for Professional Teachers (BPT) and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

                The examination for teachers at the elementary level consists of only two parts: the general education and the professional education; while the examination for the secondary level consists of three parts: the general education, professional education, and field of specialization. General education refers to core subjects like Filipino, English, Math, Science, and Social Science/Studies. Professional education refers to those related to the teaching profession like Facilitating Learning, Early Childhood and Adolescent Development and Education, Principles of Teaching, Methods and Strategies, Curriculum Development, and the Teaching Profession as a whole. Lastly the field of specialization refers to the specific discipline the secondary teachers have to teach like English, Biology, Chemistry, Math, Filipino, Social Studies, Music, Art, Physical Education and Health or MAPEH. Nowadays, there are usually 150 items for general education, 150 for professional education and 150 test items for the field of specialization which are taken for more or less 3 hours each for each part.

                Because of this law, aspiring teachers must now get a license first before being able to teach in the public schools. Although the law requires a teacher to have a license, some private schools still accept fresh graduates who have yet to take the Licensure Exam. This is in part due to the lack of qualified teachers in teaching specialization subjects or vocational skills.

Since the implementation of the law, there has been a significant change in the method of teaching in the Philippines. Teachers who used to rely on textbooks have now begun to innovate their own teaching methods and strategies. The emphasis on continuing professional education (CPE), or taking the masteral and doctorate degrees, has now been more pursued by teachers who didn’t want to get left behind on the educational changes happening around them. Having more confidence in their teaching skill, teachers perform better and so do their students.

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Personal Educational Philosophy

“Only love can change the world”

If a teacher would like to make the students learn, then the teacher must first love the students. I have seen so many students today in our society that has the problem of lack of affection because of various circumstances at home. Because of this, their only hope is to receive this love in school, from their classmates or their teachers. So it is very important that a teacher learns to love each and every student.

I believe every child is special, and that makes me want to explore their potential. They are the hope of the future, and they are gems that are waiting to be discovered. I want to tap into these hidden abilities of the students by first getting to know the students themselves. As teachers, it is imperative that the students trust us and believe in our capability of making them shine and stand out in this world. We must make them feel their worth.

Teachers cannot teach everything to the children, but they are bound to change something in their lives. The students should learn not just the information and facts, but also of the attitudes and values that will help them live a productive and fruitful life in society or outside the school community when they graduate. Only then will a student considered truly learned.

Education is not just a preparation for life, it is life itself. High school students learn by associating with themselves with the world. Where do they stand? Where is their place in this world? What is their identity? And thus it is the job of the teacher to help them answer these questions and guide them as they themselves discover what their life is all about.

Teachers are like candles. They consume themselves to light the way for their students. If to teach is to love, then showing love means sacrifice. Sacrifice time, effort and sometimes, even financial things. Once a teacher shows love for students, then it is impossible not to make the students learn.

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