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jdan00773

INTRODUCTION
A teacher is the one who guide the studies of every individual; a teacher is also the one who impart the knowledge of a certain field of discipline (The Merriam-Webster dictionary). According to Dr. Ralph Tyler “Teaching is not just a job. It is a human services and it must be thought of as a mission.” “The man [or woman] who can make hard things easy is the educator”-Ralph Waldo Emerson. These are just some of the definition that would describe what a teacher is. It also reflects how difficult the teaching profession is, that is why it is called as a noble profession.
Apples and ChalkdustTM a Teacher’s Devotional Journal is a compilation of teaching experiences that will help a teacher especially the beginner on how to handle classroom situations. It contains several stories wherein a certain teacher could make reflections on it. Apples and ChalkdustTM is also an educational book because it will inspire teachers to be a better one through its real life-based stories on how to make decisions; adaptation of new teaching methodologies and strategies; finding solutions on classroom problems; and many more. The book was written by Ms. Vicki Caruana, a veteran educator and curriculum designer in America. She is frequently featured speaker at conferences for educators, home-schoolers, and parents. Presently she spends most of her time writing for a wide variety of publications, including Our Children, Focus on the Family, and Christian Parenting Today.
As what Vicki Caruana said, being an educator is really a hard profession because teachers don’t only need encouragement; they also need ample time to reflect and to think if they were able to meet the Creator’s call upon their lives as teachers. That is why she recommends this book Apples and ChalkdustTM in order to inspire our young and future teachers to be proud and whole-heartedly devoted in teaching; as well as to guide those teachers who are losing their track, and needs to be reminded of their purpose why they are teaching.

Personal Image
This was her first faculty meeting! Amy scanned the room, looking for familiar face, and found none. She felt more like it was her first day of school. Everyone else settled into their seats as if they owned them. Familiar cliques reunited after a long, restful summer. Just think, Amy though. We’re all here for the same reason. We have the same mission.
Amy couldn’t help but overhear the conversations going on in front of and behind her. She knew everyone must be as excited as she was to welcome the children-their children. Amy was wrong.
“Can you believe it? Someone behind her said. “They moved all my stuff just so they could paint the room! They didn’t even have the decency to put it back the way I had left it”
Then in front of her, “Look at her! She thinks just because she’s a dean that she has power over us. It was only a few months ago that she was just a teacher like us.”
And then right next to her, “You’ve got to be kidding! Look at my roster. More than five students in Special Education. What do they expect me to do? Work miracles?”
Where was the love of teaching? Where was the humility in knowing you would shape young minds? Amy looked in her pocket mirror for the answer. “I hope I never forget why I’m here.” She whispered to the image.
Reaction:
Personal image a story of a new teacher named Amy. She was a typical example of a teacher who ought to hold on her purpose and reasons for choosing this very noble profession. As a beginner in this business, we are so much bombarded with different teachings in education; the dos and don’ts of teaching; and most especially, the very reason why teaching profession exist in this world. Upon the faculty meeting Amy discovered that some teachers forget the real purpose of teaching. Where was the love of teaching? It is definitely losing when a certain teacher was already on the real field. Such teacher can no longer be considered as the one to shape our young’s mind. Perhaps, such incidents are really happening in reality, no one can deny it. Maybe these kinds of teachers were just victims of circumstances; and it is also possible that their foundation of Education was not that concrete as it should be, that is why they were not able to see the real essence of teaching. For some reasons, if we can’t remember why we are where we are, let us look in the mirror and ask the person who still remembers. (Vicki Caruana)

Reach for the Stars
Barb was used to having children with special needs in her fourth-grade classroom. She knew how to modify the curriculum to fit her students individually.
Parents were appreciative of her open-mindedness, and their children succeeded in her class.
One year Barb was faced with a child whose needs she had never encountered before.
Chris had one of the highest IQ’s she had ever seen. He scored four years above his grade level on standardized test. But Chris had become lazy and would only do the bare minimum of work. Even so, his bare minimum was still higher than the rest of his class. He got straight A’s, but Barb knew he could do more.
Barb decided to raise the bar for Chris. She defined for him a separate list of expectations. At first Chris balked at the change. His comfort level was threatened. For the first time in his short academic career, Chris wasn’t sure he’d get an A. He had to work for it.
After a few weeks of careful monitoring, Chris had regained his passion for learning. He began to crave challenge, and Barb gave it to him. She kept him to his toes, and he kept her on hers.
Never let your students accept the status quo. Push them; let them taste the satisfaction and exhilaration that come from a hunger for knowledge.
Reaction:
Stars here don’t literally mean as he celestial body that appears as a fixed point of light; not even an actor/actress playing the leading role. In Education, star means the one that we aim, goals, dreams, purposes, and etc. Such case of having a student like Chris in your class is a very challenging task. It is where the flexibility of a teacher is being questioned. It is not that easy to help the students to regain their passion for learning especially when the students are above average IQ students. They often excel on standardized test which is usually on a typical classroom situation. What they need is more challenging type of learning. Setting high expectations for these intelligent students would trigger them to work hard because they were challenged and forced to do so. For that instance, their crave for challenge is being satisfied. As a teacher, Barb got a job well done because she is blessed of being flexible; Being able to modifying the curriculum in order to fit her students individually. It is where the respect for “individual differences” comes in. It is a must that every teacher would be like Barb, because as a professional, we should serve our clients according to what they need.

Say It Isn’t So!
The caller’s question made Junetta sigh. So often when she did these radio shows, parents would call in with questions that made her look like a hero. But this question always made Junetta nervous. She knew her answer could make many parents angry with her. Yet she couldn’t avoid the truth. It would be wrong for her to reinforce wrong thinking.
“My son’s teacher wants to hold him back in second grade, but I don’t agree with her. How can I convince the principal that the teacher is wrong?”
Junetta chose her words carefully but then said them with confidence. “The truth is that principals discourage teachers from recommending retention. It doesn’t look good on a school’s record if they have retentions. But if this principal is standing behind his teachers’ decision, I would take heed. She wouldn’t have made this recommendation unless she was sure.”
“But his sister did so well at this school. He can, too, if we just move him forward,” The caller said, sounding desperate.
“I understand your concern, but I am more concerned about your son’s future. Just because his sister did well in this school doesn’t mean he will. What works with one does not always work with another. Instead of forcing him into something before he’s ready, why don’t you give him the gift of time?” Junetta waited through silence for the caller’s reply.
“I never looked at it that way. Thank You.”
Reaction:
Honesty is the best policy, but because of her/his concern to his/her students, some teachers were letting students to pass even thought they don’t deserve. They were lying not just to themselves but also to the parents who entrusted their children on them and to the students definitely because they manipulate the strengths and weaknesses of their students. In doing so, a teacher is already committing an unpardonable sin. Because such practice will leave a hole in the life of the students that nothing but that learning can fill and no amount of covering over can disguise. Let us idolized what Junetta did. She was not afraid to tell the truth and she doesn’t care if somebody would be angry on her. Because like Junetta, I also believe that recommended retention of the student doesn’t mean that the school is not functioning well. It only means that a student is not ready to take such grade level; just like Thorndike’s law of Readiness, there is a right time for learning. And besides, retention of a student means that the teacher has a concern for the future of the learner.

The Gardener
Susan learned long ago that not every child will achieve on grade level. Teaching severely learning-disabled middle-schoolers gave her chance to take students far, just not as far as the state was hoping for. By the time students had gotten to her, their fourth-grade reading level was probably as high as they were going to go. Instead of looking to see how well they scored on the standardized tests, Susan concentrated on individual skills and learning strategies. She knew they could improve, but she wasn’t going to disappoint herself and her students by expecting more than they could give.
“Aren’t you being a defeatist” her intern asked.
“Not at all,” Susan said. “I’ve just learned that is doesn’t matter how lovingly you plant a seed, nor does it matter how rich the soil is or how well it is watered and fed; some grow only as tall as we imagined they would.”
“Doesn’t that disappoint you?”
“It used to. But now I’ve learned to see the beauty each one, no matter how tall it grows or how glorious it blossoms,” Susan said. She knew her intern didn’t understand this talk. But she knew that those who don’t achieve as we hope are not weeds to be plucked out so the garden looks perfect. If you’ve ever tried to transplant a weed, you know that it doesn’t survive. It grows stronger if allowed to stay right where it is.
Reaction:
It is a very common problem in a classroom situation if the students can’t easily grab the concepts of what their teacher is discussing. A very common problem but still some teachers weren’t able to resolve. In principles of teaching, it is said that a teacher must start on what the students already have. We must not force our students to give what they don’t have. It is where the creativeness comes into teaching; being so creative and artistic in molding now individuals through the students themselves. It is very a challenging task to develop the students according to what they are, not according to what we want them to become.

The Power of Love
Claire walked through the crowded hallway as if in a fog. She was only remotely aware of her son’s tiny hand in hers as they approached his kindergarten classroom. The sights, the smells, and the sounds transported Claire back all those years ago to the day her own mother walked her to kindergarten. Where had the years gone? Everyone said that children grow up so fast. And everyone was right. Here was her little man all ready for school. It was a milestone, a day of ceremony and celebration.
Miss Sauri recognized the look on this mother’s face even before she was inside the room. This was a face of a good mother, one whose love for her child showed from top to bottom. The trust between mother and son was communicated in a glance. Mom hung up his backpack and then knelt to give him instructions. Her son nodded in complete understanding and then turned to look at Miss Sauri with those same trusting eyes. Mom has done a good job, Miss Sauri though.
Then Claire led her son to his teacher. Taking his hand and placing it in hers, she said, “He’s all yours.”
“No,” Miss Sauri said. “He’s yours. He’s just on loan to me for now.”
Reaction:
Life of being a student is not complete without the support of parents. But most often this is what happens to every school. They were lack of parental support because some parents put all the burdens unto the teacher. It should not be like that. It should be a tandem between the teacher and the parent because both could play the role of the other. Meaning, a teacher could be parent, and a parent could also be a teacher. That is why there is such as Parents and Teachers Association because they should be hand-in-hand in shaping the minds of our young generations, and according to a saying-“two heads are better than one.” In order for the students to be the best, they must also be served with the best.

REFLECTION
There is a saying about a teacher that makes me proud of. It is said that teaching is a very noble profession, and attached to its being noble are responsibilities that we have to maintain the image of being an ideal one. It is unfair, isn’t it? That is how difficult to be a teacher. Aside from preparing lesson plans, mastering the topic to be discussed, there are still so many things that we need to consider. You do not just play the role of being a teacher, but you also play the role of being a parent, a friend, a brother/sister, and etc. And in fact, nobody would wish to be a teacher because of these tasks, except those who really have the passion to teach.
As a future teacher, I am filled with concepts and knowledge with regards to the discipline of teaching. But then, I am not that honed enough in order to surpass the challenges of the real world of teaching. For me, demonstration teaching is not enough in order to be a good, effective, and efficient teacher. It requires life long teaching experiences so that I could say that I really deserving to be called as “noble professional.” In fact, I do not admire those who was able to graduate a degree in education with honors (like Cum laude, Magna Cum laude, and etc.). I admire most those teachers who were able to build and gain honors because of their teaching experiences. As a matter of fact, it is not the grades of the teacher that counts in teaching but the enthusiasm and interest in the teaching profession. Well in fact, even a high school graduate with passion and eagerness to teach is more effective than those who graduated as a teacher, yet she/he doesn’t have the heart to offer in teaching. It is a matter of considering the real purposes of teaching and voluntarily submitting ones self as a potential in teaching profession.
To all this, Apples and ChlakdustTM is a very suitable book for the teachers and future teachers to read in order for them to make some reflections if they are still on the right path and if their objectives are still in accordance with the real essence of teaching. Let us try to put ourselves as characters in the stories of Apples and ChlakdustTM and try to think of the possible things that we will do, if we are the one who is facing those situations in the book. And I assure, we will regain ourselves as a teacher who deserves to be called as noble.
-Jaydan B. Benico-


Introduction
This book entitled “10 Keys to College Success” is an educational book written by Edna S. Leung-Yao. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication, Cum Laude and a Master’s degree in Christian Communication. The book was published by OMF Literature Inc. 776 Boni Avenue, Mandaluying City, Metro Manila, and was already printed with new cover and typeset since 1992 until 2007.
In this book, Edna compensate the word average (college) student to a bookworm, a nerd, or a genius as to whether how these average students would excel in life as a student in particular to college students. She reveals the 10 keys that will open the door to first-rate students. The author also shares guidelines on studying and help them evaluate their study habits.
The 10 keys to college success is rooted from the word D-I-S-C-I-P-L-I-N-E which means a rule or a system of rules governing conduct or activity (Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary). As what the author said, discipline is like how the hikers carry their backpacks. When backpacks are positioned low across the back, the load seems heavier to carry. But when hitched higher up nearer their shoulders, the weight is lightened.
Moreover, the book also elaborates the meaning of DISCIPLINE that turns out to an acronym of the word which means:
D – Diligence
I – Interest
S – Scheduling
C – Concentration
I – Involvment
P – Planning and Preparation
L – Listening
I – Integrity
N – Note-taking
E - Enjoyment
Learning while enjoying, are two words that for some are very opposite. But Edna make it to the point that the students would discover that there is fun in learning. Focusing the changes on the students’ attitude, the way they look and respond to things, and making the best of them in a given situation.

Summary
“10 Keys to College Success” generally speaks with the simple and common attributes of students but are rarely found in them. It all began with the word DISCIPLINE. According to Harry Emerson Fosdick, “No life ever grows until it is focused, dedicated, and disciplined”. Definitely, discipline is a part of human life. In the book of Edna S. Leung-Yao, DISCIPLINE is treated as an acronym of 10 keys to success of every student, 10 attributes and characteristics that a student should possess. Letters of the word DISCIPLINE stands for: Diligence; Interest; Scheduling; Concentration; Involvement; Planning and Preparation; Listening; Integrity; Note-taking; and Enjoyment.
Diligence is a word which all can do utter but only few were able to be. Being a diligent is one of the major ingredients in order to surpass the challenge of being a college student. Many of the youth today were very unfortunate because they were blessed with intelligence and other positive features of a student but they were not able to afford going to school. If you are enrolled in a school, be thankful and make the most of your student life. Ensure quality and craftsmanship in everything you do. Say’s a famous song, “only fools rush in.” Do not let yourself loose the quality of your output because if so, you will also loose the essence of learning. Be diligent and appreciate what you have. Whatever you do, do with all your might. As what the Filipino proverb reminds us; “Kapag may tigaga, may nilaga.” Moreover, do not grumble if you think that some of the subjects are irrelevant in your future career because if you look beyond its purpose, it would help you to think accurately, communicate clearly, verify for validity and formulate objectives and unbiased conclusions.
Interest is the sustaining base of learning. It is a field of interest. Some of them students were enrolled in the course which isn’t their field of interest. Some of them have really chosen it, but some look at it as a requirement that must be accomplished while some other would say “no choice”. Basically there are two types of interest; the natural and cultivated. In order to cultivate interest, you must read, observe, and inquire. Observe everything that surround you and try to reach new things because through it, you will become a more interesting person.
Scheduling is an effective device for the profitable use of time. Most of the time, many students felt an embarrassing moment when they weren’t able to meet deadlines for the submission of school requirements. Students were advised to practice making their own monthly semestral calendar. Work out a daily schedule that would cater your ideal management of things that are needed to accomplish for a certain due time. As a student, your priorities are your school requirements. As a human being, recreation and leisure time and other businesses are also your priorities. Do your best to compensate all these priorities, because balance set of priorities would cause a sound mind and good personality. According to Edna, “time is like water slipping through a sieve. You cannot stop it; it cannot be retrieved. But you can use it wisely. Proper time management can make the hours works for you and not against you.” Make use of the in-between time. Utilize the expected and unexpected vacant periods. Though it is hard to keep into a schedule, try and learn to cultivate the discipline of saving time. Be a time-saver not a time-waster.
The focusing factor of a student towards learning is concentration. One doesn’t need to attend sessions about yoga in order to more focused and concentrated. Concentration only requires the art of making your mind behave. What matters most is not the number of hours you devoted in studying but how much degree of focus you put into these hours. Concentration can give you the power over yourself and your environment. There is no need for the right time and place because with concentration, learning could take place wherever, whenever. To concentrate is not easy. Therefore it is advisable to do one thing at a time. Set time limits and compete against them because the more intense your concentration, the quicker you’ll be able to accomplish your work. Set aside a difficult problem for a while because insights for solutions may come after a sleep, an hour, or a day. And most of all, take short breaks to stave off mental exhaustion.
Shyness, laziness and selfishness are just three of the hindrances in obtaining involvement. As what Edna explained, “School life is not academics. Neither is learning accomplished only through individual activity. Success requires involvement and sharing of talents and skills. Showcase your gift from God wisely. According to the Parable of the talents recorded in the Gospel of Matthew 25:14-30, the foolish servant lost all he had because he didn’t make wise use of what was given to him. Shave what you know; join co-curricular activities; get into issues affecting society; and spearhead charitable projects in your school. Involvement is not a minus; it is a plus because it will keep you in touch with people.
Planning and preparation would bring one to success. It is like a scripted dialogue of a certain play. It would help the actor to portray his role and express emotions through the lines that was already written and prepared for him. Comparing it to life as a student, proper planning and preparation foster greater efficiency of student’s performance. It would enable a student to accomplish more in less time. One must have a system of learning and living and be able to attain goals and meet deadlines with a sense of fulfillment.
Edna stated that there is a difference between hearing and listening. Hearing is physical while listening is mental. Learning is a two-way process, communication will not happen without the act of listening. Most often, true listening is a neglected skill. Due to poor habit of listening, lessons are not learned and messages are misunderstood. When we truly understand as to what others are trying to communicate to us; it would therefore lead us to a deeper learning.
Integrity is the lost value of most students. They were motivated by the strong belief that “It is better to cheat rather than to repeat.” In order to pass a certain subject, they would rather choose to be dishonest than to because a failure; forsaking their integrity because of dignity. Every student should keep in mind that failure is not the making of mistakes; it is then giving up. Based from the wisdom of Edward R. Sims, “There is no way to pull of cheating.” You cannot lie to life. What you have not learned leaves a hole that nothing but learning can fill and no amount of covering over can disguise. “Cheating would always be cheating and attached to it is the act of lying. Do not lose the respect of other; what you have to do is to gain it as you gain self-respect.
Note-taking is an essential skill that supplements the skill of listening. It is a habit which is very in need of the skill in listening. Both the skills are beneficiary for each other. The correctness and consistency of the note-taking depends of the ability of listening.
Enjoyment is the difference maker. It is the most important key. Excellence of a student would depend on how he views his schooling. Is it enjoyable or boring? What ever it is, it depends on the student.

Reflection:
Many students interpret success as an accomplished work or obligation. Others view it as a continuous inclination of excellence or triumph of someone. These are their interpretation and own definition that nobody could question. For me, success is learning how to cope up, more on, build yourself after such breakdown or fall. We should motivate ourselves to be unafraid of committing mistakes. As what Edna stated, failure us not the making of mistakes, failure is giving up. I know, Filipinos are not born to be failures.
Student life is never easy, and much more when it comes to tertiary level as they say. But as I look into it, I find it easy to surpass. It is just that our doors towards success are being locked by the factor that surrounds us to probably serve as hindrances. Does it bother me? Yes it does, but through the 10 keys imparted by Ms. Edna S. Leung-Yao, I’m seeing now a much better future in front of me. And I guess, elaboration of what she discussed in her book is no longer needed because what we really need is DISCIPLINE. I believe that it occurs everywhere but not all has the initiative to get to know Mr. Discipline.
As a student, I can say that I, myself, is also categorized as an average student. No more wonder, I find myself having a problem on my style of study habits; hardly conquering all the hindrances to surpass the waves of schooling towards me. After I have read the book, I imagined myself as a wounded donkey being cured by my pastor. As the day goes by, my wounds would then be healed and later on be able to serve my pastor again with the aid of my full strength.