My Essays 1

I AM ME

by: Claire C. Bayon

Before I entered adolescence, it had been my question. Who am I? Who am I really not? Even I didn’t know much of myself then. Even my name doesn’t bear my true identity. How well do I know myself? Let’s find out.

Characteristics. The totality of being me is dominated with good characteristics. I am a kind-hearted person, yet, I hate cheaters and corruption. Of course we knew that these are unpleasant works but aside from that, I want to teach my classmates “how to learn” things not that simply copy and done. But you know what? There are times that I have been merciful of these things, depending on the reason. Like for example, Chester would ask to copy my assignment because he didn’t make one. I will just let him to copy mine since time is running out for him.

Many of the people I knew said that I’m a very responsible and diligent child. I’m feeling flattered but it’s true. Whenever I engage such organizations, I see to it that I am doing my duty, serving people with true service. It’s not just being active but performing your responsibilities as well. Even times that I have been busy as a bee; I never forget to take a break still. You know, my life is not revolving around responsibilities. I still have my family.

Well, speaking of “family”, I have a short-temper with them. I don’t know why. Maybe because I want them to be like this and like that as I would want them to be. But the truth is they are not like that. I know it is one thing of testing my personality also. So I extend my patience more and more, understanding my parents most. Now, let’s dig deeper of my personality.

Spirituality. The whole me will not be fully understood without spirituality. This has been a vital part of my borrowed life. Why? Because I’m transformed into a better person I am now. It was back then when I was in Grade 3 that I remember myself pouring out bad words. Later, I used to answer my parents as if I was right. But when I met Charlene Maderse, my disciple, she introduced Christ to me. By the will of God, my mind was opened to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour. There I started to follow my Leader. He loves and compassionate, so am I. He forgives anyone, so do I. I become brave not afraid, confident not shy, strong not weak, positive-minded not pessimistic, joyful indeed. Even though life told me of failure, loser, ugly, unwanted, weak-whatever it is-I never give up because I know it is not how God sees me. I know they are only part for me to see the beauty of my personality.

Under the new covenant in Jesus, Claire is glorious image bearer of Christ who is in the process of becoming more and more like Him (for His glory). That’s me!

-CCB

My Reflections 1

The Small Key: A Reflection

by: Claire C. Bayon 

 The story of The Small Key by Paz Latorena is a run of the mill story where everybody could relate about because it merely takes place in a society. It was about a man named Pedro who has a notable past with her first wife that he still kept her garments in a trunk which the small key can only unlock it. But by the time her second wife, Soledad, saw the small key in his coat; it became the source of her jealousy. She wondered why her husband was keeping that key for a long time. It made her feel sick. Without knowing the reason, she decided to open the small trunk with the small key and burnt the garments found in it. Too late, Pedro would have known the incident. He was trying not to be angry with his wife. He hoped it would be just an interlude that could be recalled without bitterness.

So much less, the author might have the same experience with Pedro. As we all know that it can be conveyed in a literature. Paz would have thought of the society. How it could be better? Where complications do starts? And what can we do for resolutions?

Pedro portrayed an ideal manner of a husband that is caring, understanding and most of all, loving. Those characteristics are known rare in the community or should I frankly say, mostly with men nowadays.  He might yearn to inspire them to promote harmonious relationship in a community. Because he knew that success fathers from the smallest unit of the society-that is family. In the family, it includes yourself-your personality. He emphasizes how to accept things which we may find as exasperating.

It would have been nice to know the ending of the story in details. Soledad would have repented; perhaps she would even try to convince him that she had done it because she loved him. But the account is enough to tell us that people needed to be understood by others for the reason that they have their own principle we may repudiate. Understand them as far as we could do for we might get the same. As the golden rule says, “Do not do unto others what you don’t want others do unto you.”

What he meant is a good lesson for us to grasp, for he knew that time cannot tell if we could encounter the similar thing. Learn to pardon a person at the same time, for forgiveness heals a weary heart and gives comfort that’s naturally refreshing. It’s wonderful to see that we’re living harmonically with everybody in this imperfect world.

-CCB

How can the following theories of Child Development help you in teaching?

          

           Erikson’s Psycho-Social Theory of Development deals with a person’s personality and behavior. It became a basis for broad or complex discussion and analysis of personality and behavior, and also for facilitating personal development-of self and others. It can help the teacher in becoming more knowledgeable of and at the same time understand the various environmental factors that affect the students’ personality and behavior. In this way, Erikson’s theory is useful for teaching, parenting, self-awareness, managing and coaching, dealing with conflict, and generally for understanding ourselves.

            Social Learning theory of Albert Bandura states that people can learn by observing the behavior of others and the results of those behaviors. That’s why we should explain the consequences of behavior to effectively increase the appropriate behaviors and decrease inappropriate ones. Thus, a teacher must model appropriate behaviors and take care that they do not model inappropriate behaviors. To promote effective modeling, a teacher must make sure that the four essential conditions exist; attention, retention, motor reproduction, and motivation as Bandura mentioned these four conditions that are necessary before an individual can successfully model the behavior of someone else. Another one is to expose students to a variety of other models for them to differentiate things and able to draw value judgments.

            Jean Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development involves a continuous effort to adapt to the environment in terms of assimilation and accommodation. In connection, we (soon to be teachers) should use teaching methods that actively involve students and present challenges. We can provide them activities or situations that engage learners and require adaptation to facilitate their cognitive development.  It is also important to note our learning materials and activities should involve the appropriate level of motor or mental operations for a child of given age; avoid asking students to perform tasks that are beyond their current cognitive capabilities. This is for a child to learn easily.

            The key theme of Vygotsky’s Socio-Cultural theory of Development is that social interaction plays a very important role in cognitive development. Knowing this, it is crucial to assist our students by scaffolding. Scaffolding should involve the judicious assistance given by the adult or a teacher so that the child can achieve the desired skill level; when done appropriately can make a learner confident to accomplish a task independently without any need for assistance. We can then, greatly help to make them independent learners. I also agree with Vygotsky in the essential role of activities in learning, that’s why I will provide students with hands-on activities because they learn better rather than passive listening.

            According to Kohlberg’s Moral Development theory, children form ways of thinking through their experiences which includes understandings of moral concepts such as justice, rights, equality and human welfare. This will help me to provide the students with a sense of belongingness to a group which is responsive to individual needs; and where they are able to practice moral reasoning and are able to learn from other perspectives. In this manner, I am helping them to realize better things in the real life situations. I have also realized (in his theory) that I must listen closely and understand a student’s reasoning in order to help the student to the next level of reasoning.

            The theories of these prominent people are teaching us on how to teach and deal with people, most especially with students. As soon to be teachers, it is essential to note these things and know their implications because they hold golden knowledge that is very useful for teaching-learning process.

                                                                                                                                                -CCB