22 February 2001, Thursday

Classes were cut short today because the students have to practice for the Family Day—the greatest day in Rosehill or in any PAREF school at that—this Sunday. I felt very deprived of my classes because the same thing happened last Thursday. Actually, I felt a little weird because I was half disappointed and frustrated, and half glad. I was half glad because I did not have to teach. Sometimes, I feel this way because the traveling stresses me a lot and drains out all the energy out of me. So when I get to school I feel very tired already! Since I felt frustrated and that I needed the time with my students to finish the content—Yikes! what about the depth?—I went to my class and ready to discuss. I’m back with my only class for today, the second years. They were complete today and I noticed the difference in the class from last Monday. The only ones reciting were the top students. I would hear murmuring of answers sometimes, but were afraid to say it loudly. I would call on those people murmuring and they chicken out. I think, they are afraid that their answer would be wrong. It is a sad picture I should say. In these cases, I should have had group works so they would be divided into four smaller groups and in that way, each one has a chance to contribute to the discussion. This is probably why they loved group discussions. They commented this in their evaluation of the teacher and how the classes were conducted. They like groups discussions but I don’t think I can leave them alone every single period in groups. As an authority and a believer of balance—of virtue!—I still felt the need to facilitate discussion sometimes to give them ideas, aide them in their mental processes and all these things. When I leave them with their groups, there is always one who acts like a moderator of the discussion, and they would do the same as I would do during class discussions. Wonderful! I was very happy to hear moderators in each group and I’m glad they learned a little…I actually do not want to take the praise on me because I am sure there are other teachers who could be better than I am in the questioning method or I am sure that some of the students are just geniuses and they have an innate skill to question. Sigh…the joy of teaching and knowing that others are learning from you is indeed incomparable with any other profession!