PROFESSIONAL READINGS

Developing effective working relationships with students- Throughout my teaching internship, I’ve learned to make good connection and build a meaningful bond with my students. By always trying and making effort to truly understand them, I am able to get to know them and  create a personalized learning outcomes to cater their unique needs as much as possible. In my day-to-day interaction and meetings with them, I make it a point to greet my students with a warm "Good morning" or "How are you?" and share random things based on our own life experiences as a student. This simple gesture helps me establish trust and create an open, welcoming environment for them. With that, I manage to create a safe space for them to freely express their thoughts and ideas and push them to reach their fullest potential.

Train Your Students on How Learning Takes Place in Your Classroom- I religiously remind my students to be responsible and accountable for their actions. I set clear expectations and rules since the beginning of my teaching. On the other hand, there are instances that they have queries about something related to a topic or way of learning that is why I always try to extend effort to help them understand. I think in that way, I am able to at least guide them on becoming independent learners who knows how to act, what to do, and make their own understanding about learning. Routines like this, is one of my trainings to them on how learning takes place and how are they able to cope with it.

Protect and leverage your time- Punctuality is one of my coping mechanisms for me to be ready and anticipate things that I need to do and accomplish during the day. When it comes to my teaching demonstration, I make sure that my lesson plan is well written that suits to my student’s’ learning style and at the same time it is time bound. Those are my best practice when it comes to my teaching to manage time and make the best out of it. Avoiding interruptions that are irrelevant is one of the key factors that I always try to adapt for good flow of teaching. Focusing on things that are relevant and at the same time can contribute to the learning process. Discipline is the most effective way to be a good teacher.

Anticipate your students’ behavioral in well-written lesson plan- Our current educational approach of teaching is student-centered approach. In crafting my lesson plan, I always try to consider the students as the center of my lesson planning. Including task and activities that develops their critical thinking skills and questions that requires higher order thinking skills. In that way, I am able to let them think outside the box and anticipate possibilities in every action and behavior my students will act.

Establish behavioral standards- Same goes in training my students on how learning should take place inside the classroom, I never failed to teach them and remind them about their actions and behaviors. Just like in the principle of punishment and reward by B.F Skinner , in every action and behavior they are doing it will be given a proper reward and punishments. Establishing my own rules and regulations inside the classrooms and allowing them to contribute for effective implementation.

In conclusion with the 5 priorities of classroom management in these professional readings, those five priorities may vary according to the students for there is no such an exact and specific way in managing learners. In my opinion, it is in the matter of being consistent and efficient in way of teaching and when it comes to managing students’ behavioral and academic matter. 

References: https://www.edutopia.org/blog/5-priorities-classroom-management-ben-johnson

Communication: For both teachers and students, communication plays a vital role in building trust and establishing a strong bond. It's important for teachers to regularly check in on students' well-being, it helps teachers to understand students better and be more effective in their teaching. One key lesson I learned during my internship is that, if students are unable to communicate their personal struggles directly to their teacher, it becomes the teacher’s responsibility to reach out to the students' parents or relatives. This allows teachers to gain a better understanding of what is affecting the student and their performance inside the classroom. By doing so, teachers can address not only the academic needs of the students but also their holistic development.

Consistency- Doing the same thing in the same way each time is the meaning of consistency in teaching. Consistency prevails inside the classroom and so routines are created, it allows teachers and students to know what to expect. In the context of focusing on the students’ well-being, consistency is what makes the students feel at ease, feel comfortable, and accepted at the same time. It affects their intellectual and emotional capacity.

Control- Ownership and autonomy must be developed among students. According to the readings it is about self-care plan among students that gives them a sense of control and prevent them from being completely consumed by emotional reactions. Based from my experiences and observations, in reality of control inside the school or classroom, teachers commonly asked students about their personal problems and providing them advice and possible solution. In that way, students can respond rather than react to their situation at hand. It allows learners to take time to think about what they want to do and how to do it.

Through my experiences in teaching internship and involvement in a volunteer program, I gained firsthand experience with the various concerns affecting students' needs and well-being. I learned that communication between home and school, consistency in routines, and control in students is crucial. When teachers, parents, or relatives collaborate, it creates a supportive environment that fosters continuous growth and development in a child. Through this experience, I was able to understand why some students may not attend school regularly, why they might not prioritize learning, and what challenges they face in their education. These insights have led me to conclude that factors such as life circumstances, learning abilities, individual needs, and attention are essential to consider when striving to improve students' overall well-being. I believe that students are able to learn best if they are in their best mental and emotional state.

References: https://www.edutopia.org/article/focusing-student-well-being-times-crisis/

Reflection: 

Reflecting on this book, I’ve come to understand that teaching students can involve either cognitive or non-cognitive strategies. The book highlights two main approaches to teaching children: direct and indirect methods. I believe that how a student receives and processes information largely depends on their personal experiences, especially for those who face adversity. Each student’s response to different teaching methods can vary, making it essential for educators to adapt their approach.

In my experience, the most effective teaching combines both direct and indirect methods. Some students struggle with direct instruction because it can overwhelm them with too much information at once. For these students, indirect methods, like experiential learning where they engage physically or observe activities can help deepen their understanding and foster imagination. On the other hand, some children thrive with direct instruction when they can clearly grasp what is being taught. I also agree with the book’s discussion on how external factors such as stress, parental involvement, trauma, and neglect can significantly impact a student's holistic development. As the book suggests, a student’s success is deeply influenced by their environment, which shapes both their mindset and behavior. This is something I’ve observed during my time as a volunteer teacher in a reading and comprehension program. Many of the challenges students face are from their home environments. For example, students often hold views that may conflict with what we expect of them, especially since they are in the early stages of learning. I have also encountered students who, despite their young age, think more maturely and prioritize work over school. Poverty is a particularly concerning issue I’ve seen across the students I work with. Financial hardships prevent them from fully engaging in class, as they often lack the physical and mental energy needed to absorb information. Many students also lack the necessary school materials to complete assignments, and absenteeism is a significant challenge because financial difficulties often keep them from attending school regularly.

These experiences align with the realities described in the book about teaching students who face adversity. The external factors such as home life, financial instability, and emotional stress can have a profound impact on a student's learning experience and overall development.

Reference: https://paultough.com/helping/pdf/Helping-Children-Succeed-Paul-Tough.pdf?pdf=hcs-pdf-landing