Creative Nonfiction: Teachers in the New Normal -A Reflective Essay

Creative Nonfiction:

Teachers in the New Normal

A Reflective Essay

By

Nelson G. Versoza, LPT, MAEd, DHum, DLitt, Ph.D.(units)

 

"No one should teach who is not in love with teaching."

Teaching is both a talent and a passion. Ideally, it is not that plum job, but teachers are the magnificent reservoir of learning knights from God, and we are grateful for them. The people who construct a great country are the ones who make the earth better off. Even for Doctor Jose Rizal, teachers have the mission of elevating the nation thru developing the people's perspective. A teacher teaches us that using an ordinary pen of potentials is more valuable than a massive fiery lightning sword of indolence. These individuals are highly treasured because they enhance the lives of others, especially the youth. In many ways, they are like the sublime high-end pedestals of society, helping to shape people into better citizens. Knowledge and education are the pillars upon which everything worthwhile in life is built. Teachers empower today's youth by providing them with the indispensable instruments for success in the future. Teachers help learners understand complex concepts by simplifying them. They incorporate online and offline self-learning modules into their lessons, and the Department of Education has established, deconstructed, and unpacked learning competencies.

A pandemic teacher is a dedicated educator who stays 6 feet apart yet teaches from the heart, all while smiling and smiling at a mask while continuing to multi-task.

In today's state, we have been severely afflicted by a corruptible virus that has resulted in a pandemic. Even face-to-face classes are desolated at the moment. This is not simply a quandary for students; it is also for teachers. As a teacher, I should feel raptured about teaching despite having on the rack with the new setup. I would also try every method I could think of to keep my students engaged in the online classroom or in the comfort of their learning spaces at home. I am driving from barrio to barrio, barangay to barangay, town to town to deliver self-learning modules and activity sheets. I would travel any length to fulfill my vocation as a teacher, even if the routes to neighboring barrios were rough. Books are somewhat of a flight of fancy, but I never give up on education. I prepare the bulk of the modules, learning plans, answer sheets, innovations, and interventions if needed.

For the time being, as a supplement to the modular activities, we are using alternative strategies and online platforms. Most of my learners often whined about how slow their internet was, while others did not. Hearing of students eager to study but unable to because they are burning their fingers hurts my heart. If anything like this happened to a student, I would provide remedial lessons. Having to repeat my class discussion for students who could not attend because of unanticipated circumstances does not bother me in the least. I am an educator who emphasizes the learning experience rather than the test results. Even with this form of learning, the emphasis should be on interaction and feedback rather than exercises and assessments since real learning happens thru first-hand experiences; it is not flogging a dead horse.

I constantly take on the role of an educator who periodically checks in on them like a watchful pilot to see how they are doing - the path of progression. Since it is difficult for students to adjust to this new situation, and since I do not want them to get overwhelmed by the amount of material they have to master, I am not offering them many exercises, but instead will monitor their progress daily to see how they are doing. Furthermore, weekly home visits with my students are included in my errands to determine whether or not their parents are susceptible to providing adequate care for their children in real-time. Since I think that parents are equally accountable for their children's education because they become their teachers at home, I would build rapport with their parents in order for us to make things work.

I believe that we have moved yonder the point of just informing and educating. It is also not the time for blamestorming to stop the rot. We are at the novel chapter of the educational fruition. This is an important test for us, too. If you are ready to have a go at the big picture, here is how to do it. This means drawing the line, taking risks, and trying innovative things for many teachers. However, even in the middle of such a catastrophe, I would not allow myself to get complacent at my desk, for I am deeply in love with my teaching.

“To teach is to reach students;

to align their mindset into new perspectives.”