Classroom Management

When I was a fresh graduate, I thought that I'd be easily able to make my students listen to the discussion If I just present interesting visuals and be animated in my classes. I had my lesson plan prepared and my powerpoint ready, and I was so eager and idealistic that I felt a lot of disappointment when I noticed some of my students chatting or doing assignments for other subjects while I was there in front explaining the history of English Literature. So why did my students not listen to me even though I was really prepared to discuss the lesson? Then...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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....

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Quotations about the Teaching Profession

1. Teaching is a vocation. Teaching really is a vocation. Teacher training itself is already very exhaustive. We need strong feelings and dedication in order to carry out our mission - that is, to make the students learn. It is our job as well as our commitment. 2. You will never get rich in teaching. True, salary for teaching may be low here in the Philippines. And the insurance and benefits system by the government isn't so dependable. Yet, I dare tell that it is still up to the person if he/she will get rich or not. Maybe it will take...

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Things You Should Not Forget to Write in Your Detailed Lesson Plans

1. Always start with a prayer. This is especially important if you are working in a Catholic school. Well, if you aren't, then its still great to know that the Lord almighty is with you as you teach your students and as they learn from you. 2. Next step is always a heartfelt greeting. (Good morning!^^) A great way to make students feel your presence is to give them a greeting with a big smile. It presents your enthusiasm and good will towards students. 3. Ask them to clean their Personal Area of Responsibility Attention to small details is...

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Erasures are NEVER Wrong

How many of us have encountered this instruction in the test papers and have overlooked it. Or maybe it was just some clumsy mistake due to confusing numbering on the test papers and inconsistent with our answer sheets that we made an irrevocable mistake which we attribute to our being careless or sometimes even "palpak" way of doing things. It hurts to see this instruction in test papers ERASURES ARE WRONG. First of all, what is the objective of this instruction? Some say that it is to lessen cheating in the classroom. But wait, isn't that...

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Why do students get bored studying?

5 Factors Which Demotivate Students 1. Boring teacher. One of the biggest factors students get bored in studying is because of an ineffective teacher. A teacher who does not prepare his/her lesson plans and don't care about what happens to his or her students will not be able to motivate them. 2. Inappropriate curriculum subjects. Subjects which are unrelated to the course being taken by a student will surely make him/her feel that what he/she is doing is a big waste of time. 3. Being in a class that doesn't fit his/her personality. A student...

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What is the difference between approaches, methods and techniques?

When I was an education student, I often had problems in differentiating teaching approach from teaching methods and teaching techniques. For me, it sounded all the same. Which is why now I am up to the task of trying to describe these three in simple terms which will not be difficult to understand and giving examples of situations to characterize their differences. For the purpose of simplifying this article, we assume that strategy and technique are one and the same. First we define what a Teaching Approach is. A teaching approach is...

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Loving Teachers

Loving teachers, you will always be Wisdom and Joy, you gave to me In times of trouble, you were always there To guide and counsel with tender care Years may come, and we may go in our hearts you stay, this we know knowledge and values, we will bring to the outside world where we will sing of the wonderful times we've had with you the discussions and exams we've been through the games we played, the questions and answers these experiences, we will forever treas...

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Top Responsibilities of a Teacher

As teachers, we all have different kinds of responsibilities and we know that our students expect a lot from us. Making sure that we know our responsibilities can help us perform better our duty. Several principles of teaching can guide us in knowing what our responsibilities are. This list is in no means exhaustive of the principles which are applicable to the responsibility, but provides a guide of what principles can apply in different types of responsibilities, of which these responsibilities may overlap with one another. Here are my top 10...

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A Teacher's Prayer

Lord in Heaven, help me never to forget the beauty in a little child. Never let me forget the wonder and trust and yearning in their bright, twinkling eyes. Help me to remember that I am shaping the lives of future generations. And though I am unworthy of this precious charge, give me the the strength to be the best model scholar and the best Christian example that I can possible be. Give me love to overcome adversity. Give me patience to overcome trials. Give me wisdom to overcome my shortcomings. Give me faith to overcome my dark hours. And...

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