WHAT TEACHERS MAKE

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.

One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, “What’s a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?”

He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers: “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.”

To stress his point he said to another guest; “You’re a teacher, Bonnie.
Be honest. What do you make?”

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, “You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, then began…)

“Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.

I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor.

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can’t make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental…

You want to know what I make?” (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.)

I make kids wonder.

I make them question.

I make them criticize.

I make them apologize and mean it.

I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.

I teach them to write and then I make them write.

I make them read, read, read.

I make them show all their work in math.

I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity.

I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.

I make my students stand to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, because we live in the United States of America .

Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.

(Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)
“Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant… You want to know what I make?

I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make?”

THERE IS MUCH TRUTH IN THIS STATEMENT:
“Teachers make every other profession “.

[I wrote this while i was having my practicum at Nest around 2007. I submitted it as final reflection paper for my FLCD174 class.]

Di hamak na mas malaki ang bayad sa preschool kaysa sa elementary at high school. mas bata, mas mahal ang bayad. Ergo, mataas din ang bayad sa preschool teacher. Eto ang dahilan ng ilan sa mga blockmates ko nung una ko silang tinanong nung first year kami (wag kayong magdeny huy!). Meron pa ngang nagsabi na ang preschool teacher maraming natatanggap na regalo pag may okasyon.Totoo naman talaga lahat. Ngayon matapos ang halos apat na taon, malamang gaya ko, nag-iba na rin ang mga pananaw ng lahat sa pagtuturo sa mga bata.

Ang Preschool Teacher ay parang

Interior Decorator

nag-aayos ng classroom para maging kaaya-aya, masaya at child-friendly ang hitsura

Photographer

hangga’t pwede, kelangan mapicturan ang mga mahahalagang milestones

Choreographer

taga imbento ng actions para sa school program, class presentation at iba pa

TV Show Host

Di dapat nauubusan ng sasabihin at adlib, may sagot sa lahat ng samu’t saring tanong

Party Host/Face Paint Artist/Balloon Twister/Magician

kapag merong may birthday, hala, ang games at kung anu-anong pakulo siya ang bahala

Clown

kelangan pag may umiiyak, mapatahan, hangga’t maaari, sana lahat masaya

Janitor

nagliligpit ng kalat, nagma-mop ng natapon at ng suka, nag-iimis ng classroom pagkatapos ng klase

Basurero/ Magbobote

nangongolekta at nagsusuri ng mga pwede pang i-recycle at gamitin sa art projects (tissue tubes, balik-bayan boxes, lumang tela, atbp)

Yaya

nagpapalit ng diaper, naglilinis ng pwet, nagbibihis at nagpapakain, naglalagay ng bimpo sa likod at tagapunas ng pawis at sipon

Nanay

nag-aalala pag di makapasok ang bata o di makasama sa field trip

taga-yakap at patahan sa malungkot

taga-kiss ng masakit na bukol o sugat

nagtuturo ng tamang asal

nagpapaalala ng wastong pagkain, inumin at paglilinis ng sarili

nasasaktan kapag ang bata ay napipintasan o napapagtawanan

nagkaka-eye bags sa kakapuyat at kakaisip ng gagawin para bukas at paano mag-eenjoy sa klase ang mga bata habang natututo sila

mumuti ang buhok, nagkaka-wrinkles at fine lines sa kunsumisyon kapag minsan mahirap silang pasunurin

abot-langit ang ngiti sabay sabing “anak ko yan!” sa bawat shool program, class play at moving up day

hindi nakakalimot, ilang taon man ang lumipas

para sa kanya, siya pa rin ang baby, ang bata na minahal at inaruga

Oo, hassle ang sangkaterbang logs at nakakapangit at puyat.

Bakit gusto ko pa rin magturo ng mga bata? Simple lang, sa mga bata ako masaya, kahit balang araw, malamang di na nila ko maaalala. Ang importante yung ngayon.

Isang ngiti, isang kiss, isang hug. Ang marinig silang masaya akong tawagin “Teacher Paula!” sabay takbo para ako’y salubungin..sulit na lahat!