Beliefs on Teaching and Learning (Pre and Post)

Before the classroom observations, my preconceived notions were already dispelled as realization hit me, all thanks to my teachers who opened my eyes to what is really the essence of teaching and learning. They have also made me learn, unlearn, and relearn many things. I started to view the teaching and learning process differently, that it's more than just a mere transmission of knowledge from the teacher to the students—as there are dynamics in the classroom: the relationship between teacher and students, and the nature of an effective education. My classroom observations were one of the contributing factors to how my preconceived notions evolve and change profoundly, as I get to witness firsthand my mentor's teaching style, how she interacts with her students and builds rapport with them, and the diverse classroom environment. I noticed that she provides engaging collaborative activities, and she also tends to lean on a traditional way of teaching and learning, which is really normal. I also witnessed how she integrates a teaching method that accommodates the different needs of the students, and it made me realize even more the importance of acknowledging the diversifying strengths and abilities of the students. If I am asked if my beliefs changed? Yes, even before I embarked with my classroom observations, but it undeniably heightened my knowledge more. I wouldn't say that my expectations were met because of how short the observation period was, but I definitely gained new knowledge that strengthened my current beliefs about the teaching and learning process.

BY ISILITA GRACE PAHID

BSED-SOCIAL STUDIES 3A

It was minutes before 1:00 o'clock when we arrived at the Abellana National School, and while we were walking, I noticed that something was going on, with the blasting of music and the students holding balloons. Upon arriving at the gymnasium of the school, we saw how the school personnel and some students were preparing something, and my first thought was there may be a program. While waiting there, we came to know that it's their founding anniversary. It made all sense after all those balloons, preparation of chairs, and some students wearing costumes-they must be performing during the program. After a while, we went to the office looking for our mentor, we waited outside for her to come out, but after some time we decided that one or two of us will go inside and ask her what we should do as we saw that our classmates have no classes to observe and are just lifting some tables and clearing some hanged- designs.

Our mentor instructed us to just help our classmates with their task, and that's what we did. Our mentor had something to do in the office as there were no classes that day. We helped in lifting some tables, transferring them to the upper floor and arranging them according to how it was instructed When we lifted the tables we thought that it's not that heavy because it was made of wood, but we were proven wrong when we tried to do it, it was totally heavy even when we did it with our partner. When Ralph and Jimar saw us, they said that they would help by lifting the table, it was so kind of them. When we finished transferring the tables, we went to our other classmates to help them clear the designs that were hanging, folded them, and we found a trash can to dump them After doing everything that was told to us, we went to our mentor. She thanked us for helping them. She told us that she has nothing else for us to do. She implied that it's our dismissal now, as she didn't tell us to go to the gym so we just followed what she said.

That experience of lifting tables in clearing some things brought back memories of when I was still in elementary and high school where we were the ones who's going to clean our classroom and do some other things instructed by the teacher I also realized that a teacher should know how to facilitate the students, and how to direct them to do something beyond academic aspects Also, it dawned on me how teachers must be great facilitators especially when preparing programs in school. This made me think that in the future, I must be a good role model to my students and show initiatives that will bring positive results.