IN MEMORY OF OUR PRINCESS....

(For our PRINCESS HAYA,who left us last FEBRUARY 21, 2006)

BELOVED PRINCESS

No words can describe how, who, what you were

No words can comprehend nor explain your loss

Such innocent, kind, and humble child you were

So very beautiful...so very young

You've left us with so much grief in our hearts...

Our dear HAYA, you would always be in our hearts

You would always be remembered

Your innocence, your kindness,

your purest soul

will remain in our memories forever

Your sacrifice will never be forgotten

To be leave us right from the very chair

that you've been sitting while listening to us

while taking our tests

while writing your notes...

Explanations we do'nt have

We come and go by God's will alone

Who are we to question Him

He alone has the power to enlighten us

with this grief and sorrow...

While waiting for that time,

we will be comforted by the memory of your laughs,

your smiles, and your sweet voice.

Goodbye our PRINCESS...

(FROM YOUR MENTORS)

hi folks!!!!

hellow to everybody

Post Valentine: Aftermath

Hello, a long time of being lonely will eventually mean for anything. I keep on reading the blogs every weekend when we will be visiting the office of our CLIC Coordinator for a weekly meeting and for fun every after a weeklong work in school. The blogs enligthen me to do some of the strategies that most of you had introduced in such a way inspire some of us I guess. Thanks for all your informative and intersting reflections.

We do have the parallel experiences as to students reactions of the lessons presented in the use of the technology. I guess we differ only on the learning environment and the atmosphere of our classes. With me, a big diffference happened in the sense that students are now eager to conduct our classes in the lab room rather than in the class. But of the light chaotic condition of the place we had a limited time to pursue the lesson presentation when we will suddenly hear what they call "music in the air". We will immediately be going home for our safety.

Sir Garsh thank you for that inspiring advice. I was able to deliver my paper in the seminar which i was invited to speak. The seminar "UPGRADING TEACHING STRATEGIES USING ICT" sponsored by the College of Education of JMIF. The participants are BSED graduating.
It was a good experience because I was able share some of the MOL and the the use of technolgy integrated to their lesson.

By this weekend I will be with our CLIC Coordinator Engr. Abet Datu-Dacula for the reecho seminar of our co-scholar (Mam Caroline and Sir Aquil) in Malabang National High School. This will be my first time to visit the place and to share with their co-teachers about the things we had in the training in Davao.

Sir Meoh, thank you for the text and some materials you had sent. A million thanks!

Best regards,

ARNOLD

A nickel of our thoughts...........

If a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had 40 people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn't want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teacher's job.
Donald D. Quinn

The task of the excellent teacher is to stimulate "apparently ordinary" people to unusual effort. The tough problem is not in identifying winners: it is in making winners out of ordinary people.
K. Patricia Cross

Teachers who cannot keep students involved and excited for several hours in the classroom should not be there.
John Roueche

Teaching is the highest form of understanding.
Aristotle

We teach what we like to learn and the reason many people go into teaching is vicariously to reexperience the primary joy experienced the first time they learned something they loved.
Stephen Brookfield

Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths theatre.
Gail Godwin

Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I understand.
"Chinese proverb"

It's not what is poured into a student that counts, but what is planted.
Linda Conway

A mind is a fire to be kindled, not a vessel to be filled.
Plutarch

1st session: Done

Hello... I always visit our blog spot but I opted not to write anything first until we are through with our tutorial lesson ( 1st session). Now we ( Let & I) are done with the basic.I am really glad kasi at least 10 ung umattend including our asst. Principal. Actually I already taught her Power point and how to surf the net. She already has her own E-Mail Add.Yung iba as in we started with introducing the Hardware and the softwares, Booting and shuting down and MS Word. Malayo pa kami but I believe a million miles begin with a single step.Nakakatuwa kasi pati yung mga lalaki namin ( TLE & Filipino) nag join kahit hirap makakita ng mga letters ay nag bigay ng interest.

At least nakakarinig ako ng feedback sa kanila na nahihiya rin pala sila na talo sila ng mga ibang estudyante namin na wala ng takot gumamit ng computer. Nag bibiruan nga po sila na sa Monday may kakompetensiya na ang mga students ko sa pag gamit ng computer.

Nakakatuwa po talaga kasi at least this tutorial lesson gave them the opprtunity to acknowledge thier weak points and gave them the chance to appreciate what technology offers. We will be looking forward to more fruitful sessions to come. Thanks sir Meoh and Sir Garsh for responding. I' ll Keep in touch.

everbeenthesame,
B A V E L L E

p.s.
ate marie wait lang ha maipapadala ko rin ang CD mo after lang ng JS namin. Yun lang kasi ang time na pwede akong makarampa sa mainland Bongao.
cencya na. God Bless ingat!

Greetings & Output Reports!!!

Assalamo Alaikom (Greetings of Peace) to all!

Hello everybody! How are you? For me, been busy for this week, and I'm very glad to let you know that I have re-echoed three of my co-teachers at school. Two English teachers and one science teacher. They were inspired to learn powerpoint after seeing the outcome of our Spelling Quiz Bee last Tuesday. Alhamdulillah...they are now the one's coming to me, almost everybody wants to learn how did I do those effects...hehehe...I amased and amused them after all. One of my co-teacher, Ms. Sittie Asiah B. Pario, immediately apply what she learned from me. And of course, with the help of the materials from IBM, she used some of the available materials that we have. All her students were so attentive and interactive. Our English Department Head, Prof. Lawan Lawi and Our Principal, Prof. Manis M. Didatar, attended and observed our lectures using the technology, they appreciated very much what we did. They want to extend their thanks to the IBM and GEM-CLICK for the training that I had. Now, they are very proud to tell to the parents of our students that they will never regret for enrolling their child in our school for we are now more advance in terms of teaching. My other co-Teacher, did not left our computer room until she didn't master what I have taught her in using powerpoint spacially in using the triggers. She enjoyed our tutorial. She even laughed at herself whenever the triggers doesn't work.

Next, my daughter, Janeirah (graduating on pre-nursing course MSU, was having a problem on what to do to their group report in school. Their instructor wants them to present their report as having a seminar. When she saw what I was doing for my lesson in class, she asked me if she can also used powerpoint in their report. I said, "yes of course, all seminars and reports today are all done using powerpoint. So, she didn't stop bothering me until I started teaching her how to apply the triggers because she is more used in using the computers, we started right away applying the triggers.
And up, up away she learned easily. After just a few minutes, she started doing their reports. After their presentation last Monday, she went home with a sweet smile in her lips, "Mama, mama...where in the world did I learn those things daw sabi ng mga classmates ko and my instructor. Our report is a successful one." Thanks mother!"
The problem is, all her classmates wants to learn what I have taught her...

Upon hearing the news, her friend who was also having a problem on what to do with her demo, Raihana Mangilala, a graduating BS Physics, College of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, MSU, Marawi City, was very eager to learn about powerpoint so I didn't hesitate to teach her. Maybe, its a part of my duty to share what I have to those who needed it.

By the way, going back to my presentation, yes of course, upon showing my first slide, napa-WOW na mga estudyante ko. Even though I just presented a very simple presentation, its already an amazing presentation to them. Sir Garsh and Sir Meoh, please let me know if my presentation is alright... thank you very much Sirs...hope everybody has started their presentation. Gaano man kahirap ang daan, madugo man ang trabaho "in whatever we do, do your best, do it right and let ALLAH (GOD) do the rest!. ....miss you all!!!

Wassalam,

Marie

Testing our wings....

To Sir meoh and Sir Garsh...Thank you po for all the nice words you sent, in the presentation that i mailed...It means a lot...Our success in using this new innovation is a credit due to the two of you...We had good mentors thats why....

I wasn't able to blog that much these days, i'm busy making new lessons...It was hard when we're making our presentation at the STI with Sir Meoh and Sir Garsh around, what more now that we're on our own...Now I know what "madugo" really means...One lesson took me three days to make, and I practically didn't have sleep during that period...But despite everything, I enjoyed making the lesson...At least we get to test our wings...

Till here...Skeletons have stopped haunting me...Now I'm testing my biceps and triceps...LOL...

Good afternoon everyone! Magparamdam naman kayo dyan folks. Sir Garsh, how does it feel riding on hot air balloon? Isn't it thrilling because you might fall on the ground? hehehhe.......The IBMeMentors really miss those happy moments with you and Sir Meoh. Thanks Allah I've tried thrice to apply in my class what I've learned from you and Sir Meoh, although it's quite difficult for me and for my students because we don't have LCD nor TV, we can only use the monitor, and I have a large number of students that some of them cannot see the monitor. How was your valentine folks? Belated Happy Valentines Day!

Hey Folks!

Happy Valentines Day! Hows your application in the classroom? Successful? Aquil, hows your net there in Malabang? salam daw sabi MS. ROHAINA MANGONDATO. She saw our pictures yesterday. What do you do guys if you don't have LCD? Do you use the monitor only?

What a feeling!

Alhamdulillah! I've tried and applied what I've learned from Sir Garsh and Sir Meoh. I couldn't picture out the facial expressions and amazement of my students upon seeing those activities in the monitor. Although they were just sitting flat on the mat, they enjoyed what we did in the class. Everyone of them wanted to try to answer the activities. They didn't want to go out from the computer room. Sir Meoh, any other activities in English? Almost of the activities that you gave me were more on Math and Science.

Encounter with the Giant Airheads

All work and no play makes one a dull boy. That's why I tried to enjoy life as much as I can. I just had my once in a lifetime encounter with Hot Air Balloons in Clark Field, Pampanga last Saturday. We rode one of them and it was one exhillirating ride ever!

Enjoy life dear eMentors! Take time to smell the flowers. Recharge! Refresh!

For complete pictures, you can check out http://photos.yahoo.com/mhon23

garsh

Its Sunday!

Tomorrow is Monday.......Hmmm....Another week full of work....I'm prepped up and ready to face the week...Or am I?

I spent the weekend finalizing a lesson I made....It was so "madugo" that i was sitting on my computer for two days, I only have four hours sleep last night (rather this morning) and the minute i woke up, i am facing the computer again....Marlon (aka stupid wanderer) can attest to that...Hehehehe...Kaw ha Sir Marlon ibubuking kita.....

I was making this lesson and it frustrates me because there are some pictures I am searching and i can't find the right one that I want!...Sometimes one picture can take me hours to find!...As of this writing I have been sitting on this computer for almost 48 hours already(minus the 4 hour sleep i had at 5 am, as well as the 15 minutes breaks I took now and then) since Friday night...My son is not here with me(he's in Cagayan de Oro with my mom) so I am free to make the lessons this time...I was planning on making two lessons this weekend but I only managed to do one...It's so painstaking!....PHEW... How I wish Sir Garsh and Sir Meoh could help me with my animations...One slide took me hours last night to finish, and I was not able to create the effect that i really want...My fingers are getting numb (believe me!) already!!....
Even when I'm about to sleep, I can't get the slide animations out of my mind... I would get up and start working on it again...That's why I ended up having sleep at 5 am this morning!!!

Till here because I'm still not done on these dancing skeleton that's been haunting me all weekend...

Sir garsh and Sir Meoh, would it still be possible that we could show our lessons to you(eMail?)?To edit perhaps?So we could make necessary adjustments and revisions...

Sir Garsh, please let me know if you need another set of pics...And I think I need to make a bit of revisions on the article, some small things I had to correct, some typos...

Thanks...Till then....

chaotic moment

i just wanna check if youre okey guys.................... hehehehe matagal kaming nawala sa eri ni maam carol its because ang daming trabaho just like you guys................ tambak talaga, JS PROM sa akin pa encode mga program, magemcee pa ako tell now i am still looking for the best suit that i would wear sa tuesday na js prom namin. i have also attended solid waste management workshop wherein i was choosen as one of the trainers in our municipality. i have just arrived from a training and here i am blogging you.... sa totoo lang i wasnt able to finish computing my students' grades...... kakatawa talaga pati kami ni mam carol bihira lang kami nagkikita sa campus.... i hope i could talk to her to prepare our re-echo next week na po... GOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HELP US PO.. PAGOD NA AKO but i need to move on.............. as what ive told you ementor program is a great thing to carry on.......... galit na sakin si mam carol kasi palagi daw akong busy.......... heheheheheheheheh wellllll this is our life. it is our profession and we cant help but to face it mightily and with full of initiatives and perseverance. to sir meoh and sir garsh musta na po kayo.........

To Sir Garsh & Sir Meoh

Our mentoring is scheduled next Saturday, Feb 18.We are still preparing our hand outs.Manageable lang naman po ang size namin dito 15 lang po ang co treachers namin na tuturuan. So kahit sa very Basic pa kami mag start madali nalang siguro.Mga 3 lang ata ang medyo may alam na, all the rest as in zero knowledge.
2 years ago when I tried to tutor them medyo na discouraged lang ako kasi di lahat nag interes so feeling ko naging abala lang ako sa kanila.Feeling ko that time napasama ang iniisip kong pagmamagandang loob.At least ngayon medyo inspired kami ni Let2 mag push through kasi supported na kami ng karamihan. I am just crossing my fingers na kahit man lang sa pinakasimpleng paraan ng pag intoduce ng technology ay magawa naming i-bridge ang gap.Feeling ko nga kahit makuha ko lang ang pagiging cyberphobic nila eh malaking achievement na yun how much more if we are able to teach them the more complicated procedures.I am really grateful to both of you sir and of course sa lahat ng mga "sponsors". We will keep you posted. Ingat lagi!!!

Thank God It's Friday

It has been a very long week...Dont need to tell why...But im looking forward to work again this weekend...It's the only time i can continue researching and making new materials for my lessons...hopefully we could purchase this coming week the TV that i had requested from the principal...para makapgsimula na ako...

Me and my students can't wait for the TV...really we can't...you can see in the picture why we can't wait...nagtiis po ang mga studyante ko na umupo sa sahig para lang makita ang presentation ko tungkol sa Digestive System...the next meeting we have, they insisted na umupo na naman sa sahig para madeliver ko sa kanila ang lesson ni yam (ASKING FOR YOUR PERMISSION MISS YAM KASI DIKOPA NATAPOS ANG GINAGAWA KONG MATERIAL, HOPE YOU DON'T MIND)...kahit ganun lang sila na nakaupo sa sahig, enjoy parin sila dahil ang dami nilang natutunan...

I have so many things in mind, so many plans... i wana have complete reform to all of the things i usually do...i'm very positive i can create an impact on my student's lives(kahit lang po dent, not necessarily a bump) by using and integrating new technology in the way i teach them...
truth hurts, but education in rural areas have really disintegrated...our students are really in very sorry state, especially those who belong to the last section...its close to impossible to completely turn them around during their four year stay in high school...its hard to describe what i have as students...mahirap i explain...tapos i add pa na super kulang ang facilities available...

Come to think of it, 700 high school students,150 college students, 50 members of faculty ...tapos 11 computers lang ang available...truly eMentor is heaven sent not only for me but for the students...our students especially those on lower years can't even go inside the computer laboratory let alone touch a computer...they can only do so when they reach 4th year dahil sa dami ng mga students na gumagamit...now with eMentor, maraming buhay ang mababago...literally!!!...i dont need to explain why...

With so much honesty, ang dami ko pong studyante na nanginginig at nanlalamig literally upon their first encounter with the computer...it makes my heart cry sa tuwing sinasabihan ko sila na hindi sila kakainin ng computer...it makes me feel so bad to see them that way...

In a lighter note, im hoping that i could change all that...if 10 or more of my co-teachers will be re-echoed, then that would make a great difference in the lives of our students...

After all....IF THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A WAY....

To Ate Let

I just would like to congratulate you and Ms. Bavel in advance for the forthcoming "Mentoring Training" to be held on February 11 (am I right po ba?). Moreover, I would also like to salute your ever supportive Principal for giving you the opportunity to mentor your co-teachers. Please be informed that I and Sir Garsh will always be here for you. Please do not hesitate to ask questions from us. We will always support you especially on this endeavor. I am looking forward for the success of your training. Good Luck po....

Knock..knock!!!

Assalamo Alaikom!!! Hello...i'm back! Sorry, this is my only time to post my message. I had a very hectic schedule these past days. Alam niyo naman ang "working mom" with six angels, there's so much thing to do. Division of work talaga. But no matter what, Alhamdulillah...i'm doing fine with all my every day daily routine. And of course, my only free day is every Friday. Even in school, i have no time to blog if ever mabalik ang net namin next week Inshallah. We have just finish our extension and renovations for our "Info Tech Room" yesterday. And, good news to everyone, I have started using some materials that we have during our training!

Subhannahu waa ta'ala and Alhamdulillah...my students were amazed and even go on wondering how did I do that. Others even went on the wall to touch the surface of the wall why does the pictures went on the wall. When our principal saw the whole situation, she was amazed also and appreciated the integration or using of technology as an intstructional tool. So, what do you expect? My oco-teachers who are "lazy even to touch the computer", as Bavelle said, was instructed to touch and learn the functions of the computer during their vacant periods. One of our English teachers, upon knowing that I'm going to use technology for my class, she asked me if her students may join my class to observe our class using technology. So, two sections at the same time were accomodated in the newly renovated computer room. Some students sat on the floor, others sat on the table because we still lack chairs.

After discussion about "Equations in One Variable Unknown" using the materials from IBM of course, many thanks to Sir Garsh and Sir Meoh, we have the evaluation portion. I opened to them the part where in to answer as many as you can beating the clock. I grouped them into six groups (33 students). With a cell phone as a timer, each group will have to answer as quickly as they can in only 5 seconds (kasi easy equations lang 'yon). They enjoyed answering and even laughing if they can't get the right answer. They teased each other, because all equations were just "chicken" as they say. After experiencing this kind of lecturing, my students keep on asking when will they be having another lesson using technology. GGGoooosssshhhh...that's a big problem...I cannot design my lessons everyday...huh? ...lessons in Math...everyday using computers...hhhaaayyy, I cannot do it everyday!!! Sir Garsh and Sir Meoh...heeeeellllllpppppp?! It's very hard to download other materials to be used in higher subject areas in my field...huhuhu...

Bavelle...if you're down and troubled and you need a friend...don't forget to call my name and i'll be there...hehehe! O di kaya'y pagnalulungkot ka...isa lang solution diyan...find a partner!

Guys...'muzta n kayo? Forget me not...ha?

Wassalam,
Marie

Why I Blog?

First of all, sorry for always flooding the window...
Second, I haven't realized what a humongous,magnanimous,gigantic(etc) task and situation I am in, till now....

The more I plan, the more it gets complicated...the more it gets complicated, the more i get frustrated....WAAHHHHHH...

Please my friends indulge me...dont have anybody to pour all of my pent up frustrations....WAAHHHHH.....

WHAT IN HEAVEN'S NAME ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT MA'AM NOR-AIN?

Im talking about among other things...researching for new materials, developing new presentations,(that's worth two PHEW's already) not to mention test papers to be checked, grades to be submitted, cards and forms to be filled up, lesson plans, computers to be checked up,(more PHEW's)...JS prom(OMG).....waaaahhhh

BUT...but...I know I'm not alone, I know we all live parallel lives, I know we are all in similar situation now...and guess what??...that my friends warrants a good laugh...at least we're all in this together...HAHAHA....

back to my first point, really my friends, wanna apologize for always flooding this window...wanna know why?let me tell you.....

1. I have insomnia.
2. Just missing my co-scholars....special mention to my co-MSU "contingent" sal, yam, arnold, sir acsie, ate marie, barbs, and maam venus.
3. My fingers itch when i can't blog in a day.
4. Wanna let sir meoh and sir garsh know that i got the latest bug, the blogger bug...(now i know that blogging can be this fun...i always thought blogging is like that of bryanboy's...im not sure if his blogsite is worth mentioning here...for those who know him you know what i mean...)
5. I get excited to see my post on a website...(what a silly girl)...
6. This is one way of unwinding...letting go of stress, thoughts and feelings...(at least this won't let you feel its bored with yah!!)
7. midnight coffee + blog = one very emotional post(like this?)
8. ooopsssss, those are just 7 reasons (YET) why blogging can be fun....(and i know each day i will find more reason why)

my dear friends, if this post reach the "blogsite" it means emotion won over reason...

SAHAYA ( Tausug term for ray of the Sun)

A while ago we had a faculty meeting.I was really grateful to our ever supportive principal.She obliged everyone to attend our computer tutorial classes for our co-teachers every saturday. I really felt like we (Let and I) reached the first step. It is not that easy to convince some of our co-teachers to be Net-friendly as in just imagine some of them grinning!!! For all they care...
Well anyway we will start this saturday. BAsic lang but I know in due time they will be appreciating most of what technology offers.Subaybayan nalang natin folks... wish us luck!!! There is indeed a SAHAYA!!!


akoparin,
bavelle

Help!!! nawawala ang previos post ko...

hallu!!! Thanks sa sinulat mo for me sir Garsh were you refering to my published chuva entitled " true Confession" ? As in di ko na siya makita when I viewed all the blogs....
well anyway... sa true lang pati lovelife ko eh naging "sacrificial lamb" when I decided to extend and "reextend" and "rerereextend" my stay here.
When I had this reflection paper submitted to UP Pahinungod after our contract (2000) I wrote there... "since nakakapagod ng sumagot sa mga tanong na...bakit TAwi-TAwi pa? simple na lang sagot ko, GUSTO KONG MAGING BAYANI!" But after a while I realized that the education I got from UP was never enough to make me a BAYANI not even the principles I gained from all the makamasang ideologies. I tell you... there's a lot more to that.
I have had bad moments, where in I feel like giving up and blaming Mr. Oble for all the discomforts he brought me when I stepped on this island but I tell you (again)... if you are destined to be a teacher just the mere sight of your students gives you a lot more reasons to go on. I actually tried expressing my willingness to "resign" as in 3x, lahat ng times na yun eh napuno ng drama ala Jewel in the Palace kasi I feel like staying in the palace pa even if there are lots of challenges, discomforts and "kontrabidas" too.
I always try to look at the brighter side of my Tawi-Tawi life otherwise Ill be hooked dead due to extreme homesickness... ( as in! pati poste ng TAWELCO dito feel ko nang kausapin minsan).
There are certain aspects that you feel medyo nag dedeteriorate sa yo if nasa Tawi-Tawi ka like ... uhm... intelectually speaking or pano ba, academically kasi nga obsolete na mga books and etc? basta hirap i explain pero in terms of gaining life experiences thru first hand encounter with the people as in super rich ka. Tawi-Tawians are very simple creatures of God and peace loving of course. They tend to satisfy themselves with what God has to offer for the day.... simple living... simple hapiness... these are probably the best experiences I would never trade for anything.
When I told you guys how happy my students were when they first saw Info regarding Tawi-Tawi in the net I was giving you in all honesty a picture of "Tarzan facing a television for the first time". I even went to the extent of asking permission from some of the parents to allow there children to sleep over with me in school so as to give them time to surf the net ( our electricity ends at 12mid) nakakaloka yung experience na yun but I enjoyed it... i never thought of the risk it could have brought us...
This time I know after the training I will be giving my students more reasons to be grateful for for all the blessing given to them, for all the opportunities for them to learn , enjoy and explore.... and I'll let you know when they already do....


always been the same,
bavelle

Something to ponder upon....

Treat your mind like a bad neighborhood - don't go there alone.
Ten out of ten people die, so don't take life too seriously.
Be profound, funny or quiet.
After you talk in a meeting, listen to hear if you said anything.
I don't need your help today.... Love, God.
Our sickness is between our ears.
Want to hear God laugh? Tell Him your plans.
Don't expect to learn about people from books; a person can't fit in a bookcase.
Now I can wake up and say, "Good morning, God!" rather than "Good God, it's morning!"
When I turned myself over to God, I took my life out of the hands of an idiot.
When the world comes to an end, it will do so without my permission.
If you pray for a Cadillac and God sends a jackass, ride it.
There's no one too dumb for this program, but it's possible to be too smart.
All I wanted was to control you, myself and everything else.
My disease is an elephant. As long as I remember it's there, I won't get stepped on.
Try praying. Nothing pleases God more than to hear a strange voice.
Reality can be hell when you're only visiting.
God save me from myself.
"keep it simple"
We're all here because we're not all here.
Constructive criticism: I tell you what's wrong with you.
Destructive criticism: You tell me what is wrong with me.
My mind is out to get me.
I need to get the cotton out of my ears and put it in my mouth.
Come to ninety meetings in ninety days. If you're not satisfied, we'll refund your misery.
Things I turn over to God most easily are those things already fixed.
EGO: Easing God Out
God has never been a problem in my life, but I have been a problem to God all my life.
I know that I'm not yet the person I can be, but I thank God I'm not the person I used to be.
If you think you're happy, you are. If you think you're wise, you're not.
When I don't have expectationsof others, anything positive they do is a pleasant surprise.
I can borrow trouble only at high interest rates.
“We cannot control the direction of the wind, but maybe we can adjust our sails.”

Fr. Emmerich Vogt

moving on....

yesterday our co-teacher made her re-echo on intel teach to the future which is absolutely similar to ours, i firmly believe teachers really appreciated and saw the essence of technology in the curriculum integration. what a mission!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! maybe next week guys we gonna have our avalanche with mam carol....... coz our school principal really interested about it..... we are now preparing for that challenge..................................

Touched!

I am very touched with Bavelle's decision to slug it out for a longer time in Tawi-tawi. As for me, I can't even imagine myself living outside the comforts of city life. I admire Bavelle's courage and strength. It's very difficult to live far from our families to do something for the indigent members of society. Sometimes we need to let go of the good things in life just to have the best ones.

Bavelle, hold on! I will be praying for you. Whether you decide to go or stay, it does not matter. Your heart counts the most. Wherever you are now or in the future, I know that you will stay true to the ementor vision.

garsh

reflecting on this thoughts....

An understanding heart is everything in a teacher, and cannot be esteemed highly enough. One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feeling. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.
--Carl Jung

Teaching should be such that what is offered is perceived as a valuable gift and not as a hard duty
--Albert Einstein (03/14/1879-1955)

If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time--a tremendous whack.
--Sir Winston Churchill

You can pay people to teach, But you can't pay them to care.
--Marva Collins

Teaching people skills without giving them a vision for a better future a vision based on common values -- is only training.
--Nido Qubein

Experience is the worst teacher, it gives the test before the lesson.
--Vernon Law

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates.The great teacher inspires.
--William Arthur Ward

The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, But to irrigate ditches.
--C.S. Lewis

I believe that children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside.
--Whitney Houston

A master can tell you what he expects of you. A teacher, though, awakens your own expectation.
--Unknown

Example isn't another way to teach, it is the only way to teach.
--Albert Einstein

Teaching is not a lost art, but the regard for it is a lost tradition.
--Jacques Barzun

He who dares to teach must never cease to learn.
--Richard Henry Dann

Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.
--Chinese Proverb

Sparks!

IBM, GEM and EQ are very happy with your passion dear ementors. What IBM did was to simply added those little sparks in your heart but it is your honest devotion to your students that would set everyone on fire! As we work together to educate the Mindanao children, their enlightenment would widen their perspectives in life. Parochial thinking is banished as the future generation of Mindanao understand the benefits of unity and peaceful co-existence. Education leads to a peaceful nation.

Let us continue to press on with the eMentor vision. It is not often that we get to hold the keys to a bright future for a lot of people. Let use it to the fullest! Love you and miss you all eMentors.

garsh

Back To The Salt Mines Again!!!

Hello Everyone!!!

just arrived here in Tawi-Tawi last tuesday. As in I finally realized that my long grand vacation is over and I have to face the reality that I have to make up for the lost "moments" with my students so just imagine the "ga Bundok" na responsibility reserved just for me.As of this writing medyo malabo pang maka start sa mga plans ko since we are preparing for our JS Prom and Regional Athletic Meet.Ala Darna ang emote ng Lola nyo kasi sa kin naka asign ang almost whole program ng JS pati cheering squad for the regional. So kinda imposible to insert what I have in mind baka matsugi na ko pag dating ng gabi sa sobrang Hyper.But don't worry I am optimistic that I can get everything done in due time... Patience is a virtue mga kapatid!!! Anyway madilim dito ngayon kasi nga nasa school ako just to post this blog so as to let you know that am still alive.
I just finished my raket (secret yun....)kaya medyo dito pa ko sa skul ( uwi pa ba ito ng isang dalagang pilipinang GURO???)

Well anyway just keep me posted guys... I have to go na as in NOW NA! baka may moomoo na. God Bless everyone!


akoparin,
Bavelle ng Tawi-Tawi

kumusta na?

I know everyone is eager to post their blogs. As I read them I feel the innermost desires of my co-scholars expressing their experiences of the application of the training. Congrats! I still have to fix evrything for a good presentation that everyone of my students would really appreciate it. I had introduced how beneficial to learning technology is. The life we had in the training, the intensive practice that really challenge us to do more innovative aids in our teaching-learning process.

Next week, will be my final showdown of the outputs in the training as \i had already prepared everything. We have our meeting just this morning, brainstorming and initial planning for the re-echo. Hope to hear from you also and share na naman kau jan.

Thank you to Sir Garsh and Sir Meoh for the text you've sent that really inspire me.

Miss u all,


Sir P7ON

Every single cell....

Assalamo alaikom!!!

How's everybody now-a-days, huh? You know what? Every single cell of my students were not only happy and well, they also enjoyed as we sing our action song..."every single cell...!". It made our classroom glamorous! If you did not yet try it, try it na...as in now na talaga...hehehe!

We are having some discussions as of this time how and when to start re-echoing, with me is "Paps Acsie", "Big Brother Arnold", and of course "Photogenic Sal". We made a collage about what we did during our training in Davao City and posted it here in our main office "Office of the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs". Dr. Malawi Panambulan, the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, is overwhelmed as we relate to him our achievements in the said training. We also posted the Mindanao Times Magazine front page picture of Sal, our pictures with the best Trainors of course, and etc.

We are wishing here that our co-scholars are here also as we reminisced and plan ahead what to do next. Who among you guys want to join us here...? Who wants to be a lecturer...at your own expense, ha? Sorry guys...huhuhu...'coz "No money budget for an extra lecturer"! If only...anyway, better luck next time.

Wish you all the luck! Go for the best..."Whatever you do, do it right, do your best and let ALLAH do the rest..."

Just me,
Marie

Exciting Feeling

Good noon everyone! How I wish I could apply ASAP what I've learned in the training just like what Ate Nor-ain did in her class, but it's really a sad feeling that I can't do it for now because of some unavoidable circumstances. First, we are always experiencing electric power interruptions. Second, the cds can't be read by our computers in our school but I've already downloaded them in my computer at home. I have so many plans in mind to do, frankly speaking, I don't know where to start. For now, I am looking for ways and means to implement what I have in mind so that my students will see that technology really changes our lives. Sir Garsh and Sir Meoh, don't worry because I can really do it because I have a plan of bringing my computer in school just to implement what I've acquired from you. Monitor lang po muna gagamitin ko coz we don't have LCD nor TV in school. hehehe..... I am sooooooooo excited to apply it now na AS IN NOW NA (INSHAALLAH) as what Sir Meoh said NOW NA! When I told my students that I would show them our outputs, I really saw in their eyes the deep eagerness to learn and interest to see what can technology do to the teaching-learning process that takes place in the classroom. But when I tried to open the cds, I was so disappointed because I couldn't open them in our computer in school. I do hope that the cds will be opened in our computers.

Hey guys, we're having a meeting here in MSU. We're talking about our re-echo and some other things to do in order to update our co-scholars in and to help one another in implementing what we have learned from the training. We plan to have it in group. With me here are Kuya Arnold, Kuya Acsie and Ate Marie. The rest are having their classes. To Yam, Ate Venus, Barbs, Mayleen, and Renette hala my fines ang hindi aatend ng meeting every week here in MSU (Renette and Mayleen, you pay your fines when you visit here). Guys, If you can go to MSU-External Office, you can see our poster there, everything that happened in the training is posted there. Sir Panambulan is so happy for us guys, he extends his congratulations to all of us. Lalo na si Kuya Abet, so we should be thankful to him. We all miss you guys. Regards!

WIDE EYED WONDER

Oh, if only I could paint and recapture the faces of my students while viewing my lesson on the computer, I would have done it! It would have shown their amazing reaction. It would have shown how they gazed at the monitor, with great puzzlement and wide-eyed wonder on their faces. Some are gaping, some have their eyes go back and forth between me and the computer, and some have funny smiles on their faces. For the first time, timid students were actively answering my questions. For the first time, hyperactive students were momentarily captivated by the lesson. It’s one of the moments in my life as a teacher that I don’t wanna ever forget.

To give you a picture of what I did just to show them my lesson. I opened one of the computers in the computer laboratory and had my lesson, with them sitting on the floor. I know I’m supposed to give them the lesson on a conducive setting, but it’s the only way to show them! Even with cramped conditions, my students went out of the room with expressions on their faces as if they just had watched a good movie. I could hear their excited chatter even as they were all long gone to their classroom.

This kind of reaction gives me inspiration to make more lessons and find new materials to show them. I know its no easy feat but no matter what great lengths I have to make, I would do it inshaallah(God willing).

When I arrived in school after the training, I don’t know how to convince the principal to buy a very big television set. Being in a public school, buying something drastic like a big TV set(even if it’s a dire necessity) is a luxury we don’t have. I thought it over, and arrived at the only way I know. I had one of my students hauled one of the computer sets from the computer room, set it in her office and lectured her about The Human Digestive System. After an hour, I went out of her office with a big smile on my face. She had promised to find way to purchase a TV set, I told her she would be doing big favor to the students if she could purchase it soon.

I don’t need extra effort to convince everyone as our inputs and presentations speaks for itself. I don’t need extra effort to spread the word of this new method of teaching as my co-scholars are unconsciously helping me spread the word. Even in our home bases, I can’t say we're on our own, or to each his own. Even in our home bases, it’s still group effort. I showed to my colleagues not only my presentation but also all of my co-scholars' work as well. Their reactions are similar to those of my students. It is of utmost wonder and excitement. (I hope its okay with you guys to show them your work, as the credit is still all yours, showed and told them whose work it is and from where, giving them little snippets here and there etc).

We still have long way (as in long way) to go, and struggles to go with it, but needless to say, its a struggle I would enjoy and love to go through. My student's anticipations and reactions as well as the smiles on their faces are enough to make me go and struggle that long way.

Teachers from the South

It was February 2000, when war between the Phil. Army and the MILF broke out in the municipality where I teach. Classes were suspended as people literally flee from their homes. Yet teachers reported to school everyday to meet deadlines for the upcoming graduation amidst shells and bombs breaking out nearby.

After six years, I can't believe that Baloi was once a battleground. And after six years, people went on with their lives with no traces of battlescars. This is how it is in the south. One has to deal with war as one in the north deals with traffic. One has to adapt to what is in store for them each day.

Coming to teach in a rural area has been very hard for me. Having been brought up and educated in an urban area made it very difficult for me to adapt to the rural way of life, particularly to the traditional Maranao way of life. But because of my love for teaching, I get to love the community, my colleagues, and my students. I found out that nothing is impossible when you love what you do.

To inform those who doesn't know about Baloi, Lanao del Norte (the place where I teach) it is the place where the National Power Corporation Hydroelectric Powerplant is located. This place supplies almost all of Mindanao's electricity. Thus Baloi is one of the richest municipalities in the region in terms of national wealth.

It is also a place where Christians and Muslims live side by side in peace for decades. There is a Franciscan seminary and countless churches that scatters all over the place side by side with mosques.

Baloi's war past is now over, written only in history books and stamped in the minds of the people. Thus, my task as a teacher is twice as hard. I have to teach my students not only the academic requirements that im bound to teach, but to let them forget the wars in their minds, to remove in their minds perceptions that they have believed in. I have to always remember that these children are not ordinary children, but these are children of war.

I know that im not only speaking for myself. I know that my co-scholars have also been in similar situations. Thus I can say teachers of this region are practically heroes. They are always the ones who pick up pieces after battle wars. Always the ones who helps return the community in semblance of order, the ones who returns first on the schoolground, and the ones who return the children to normalcy.

It is a wonder that somewhere in the north, some people has the vision to recognize the forgotten heroes of the south. That somewhere, some people would make it a mission to improve the plight of the forgotten teachers of the south. By spreading this kind of work, its not only the teachers who would be forever grateful for the people who makes this possible, but the whole community in general.

Now our children can experience what the children in urban areas have been enjoying for years. Children of the war can now be children enriched with bright future ahead of them. Enriched with new innovations that technology can muster.

And for that we would be forever grateful for organizations like GEM(USAID) and IBM for making all these possible. By improving teachers with new innovations and new technologies in teaching, you're improving the lives of the children, making it possible for them to leap beyond their world.