Jan.

28 (Mon)

Today was the first day of our off campus practice teaching in Sta. Ana
National High School. I woke up very early this morning and did my daily
routines after saying my mantra. I was very excited this morning for it will be
my first day in the public school. I was imagining of what are the possible
things most likely to happen there. And somehow it helped me to condition my
mind.

When I arrived at school around six forty-five (6:45) am , there were some
interns that were already there waiting for us. We greeted one another and we
had conversation expressing our thoughts and prayers. I bet we all wished to
have a kind cooperating teacher. Later on ma’am Mimi arrived and checked
our attendance. We waited outside while ma’am Mimi arranged our
deployment matters together with the school principal. When we finally entered
inside, we had our orientation at the school gymnasium given by the school
principal herself and designated us to our respective department heads. I felt
glad that the school principal was very kind and approachable to us.

When we were at the English department office, we met the department

head and later on turn over us to her secretary. The secretary looked at the
vacant schedules of the available teachers and assigned us one by one.
Almost all of the teachers had their student-teachers already for there were
other interns as well coming from different schools. I met interns from Holy
Cross College, University of Immaculate Conception, University of South
Eastern Philippines and Ateneo de Davao University. Somehow it was a
diverse and multi-culture experience for me. I am excited for the following days
and weeks here in Sta. Ana.

If I would count, perhaps I have been in the English department faculty

office for six times just to check and ask if my cooperating teacher already
arrive or not. I was not able tot find her until twelve ten (12:10) pm. According
to some teachers, she was like that. Most of the time she was not around. She
used to go here and there, etc. Anyway. She gave me three teaching loads
today and I am happy for it. But as soon as I finished my classes, the
department head’s secretary assigned me to the other teacher and that would
be my permanent cooperating teacher, my mentor. Yet, the former teacher in
the name of Mrs. Inan asked me if I can continue my classes until tomorrow
because her student-teacher was having their recollection. And so I accepted
the offer. I will meet my soon to be new cooperating teacher tomorrow.

During my classes in three different sections of grade seven (7), I was

actually having this so-called “culture shock”. I was surprised of what I have
seen and experienced today. The classrooms were not that conducive for the
students. Too hot and too dark. And in general, the surrounding was very noisy.
But the show must be go on. I introduced myself and gave them a
getting-to-know each other activity that required them to speak and interact
with me. After the said activity, I asked them to review what they had
discussed with their teacher and I continued it. They were already in the
“Simple Past Form of the Verb”. I gave the lecture and provided plenty of
examples. Before leaving the class, I gave them the exercise. I told them to
read their notes and tomorrow we will have a short quiz.

Jan. 29 (Tue)

Today was my second day in Sta. Ana N.H.S. I started my day with a
prayer and then departed my room around six thirty (6:30). I do not have
schedule yet because I was not able to meet my cooperating teacher
yesterday. I went to school early so that I can meet my cooperating teacher as
soon as possible. When I finally met her, I introduced myself and asked for her
blessing. She was my mentor then starting today. She gave me the class
schedule of that intern from Ateneo. I forgot her name but I promise I will her
name tomorrow. She was now in her last week in Sta. Ana and she will turn
over to me her classes afterwards. I will start my class in grade eight (8) on
Monday.
 While waiting for my class in grade seven (7), I spent my free time
encoding and answering my reflective journal, as well as, reading my
professional reading materials. I had finished already three articles in the
previous weeks. I am still lacking of two more. Since I still have time, I took
advantage of it reading and answering my journals.

After lunch, I went back to our quarter and prepared my lesson in grade
seven (7) section Rosal. I instructed the students yesterday to study their
notes because we will have a quiz today. And they did. Thus, after the short
recap of yesterday’s discussion, I gave them exercise drill followed by the
assessment, a short quiz. Same thing with section Rosal, I also gave exercise
to section Irish and a quiz. And for my last class in the afternoon, I gave
another activity because they were quite advance. I discussed the use of “was”
and “were” in the sentences and solicited students examples based on their
personal experiences. After the exercise drill I gave, we proceeded with an
activity. I asked them to write in a one half sheet of paper their experiences last
Christmas and all the verbs to be used must be in past form. It worked and I
found my students working with their papers.

When I was about to dismiss my students, there was two naughty boys
who quarreled and they fought with their fists. Oh my God, one boy was so
stubborn while the other not that much, but still stubborn anyway. I was
somehow shocked of what the boys did. I did not expect such actions from
them. Indeed, we can never tell in public school. Children were coming from
diverse walks of life. I think my practice teaching experiences here will be a
challenging a daring one. Help me God! I prayed.