MANKAYAN, Benguet – It is a known fact that the three refer to the foundations of a basic skills-oriented education in schools: reading writing and ‘rithmetic or arithmetic.
These, strengthened by the element of how to become a self-learner, are the powerful tools that make for well-rounded students to have a better perspective in their desire for education.
In today’s world of math education, it is a safe bet to say that basic skills mean knowing how to subtract, add, divide and multiply correctly.
As a Math teacher, part and parcel of my teaching and learning strategies are to evoke among my students the “drill and skill” technique, the traditional method of rote, the repetitious activities of the whole-math approach in honing the skills of pupils to be warmly at home with numbers.
Many may say such an approach is boring. Not at all. To be candid about it, there is a strong demand for a “return to the basics” among parents and educators.
One of the most important and pervasive goals of schooling is teaching students to think. All school subjects should share in accomplishing such an overriding goal.
Science contributes its unique skills, with strong emphasis on hypothesizing, manipulating and reasoning based on data at hand, in developing students to be armed with analytical insight.
The scientific method, scientific thinking, and critical thinking are often described as skills considered by teachers as a set of broadly transferable abilities.
To put it in a clearer context, scientific method is an integration of basic science process skills within a specified planned outcome of a science program, which will serve well our students as they advance towards higher learning.
I honestly can say with our basic skills-oriented approach, we too, are humbled by the fact that it reaped honors for my students, schools, and communities.
As a result of our teaching activities, our students in Mankayan made their parents and educators proud during the Mankayan District Math and Science Festival 2016 held last week.
Overall, Lepanto Elementary School, headed by Principal Karen Tegan, ranked first, Mankayan Central School, headed by Principal Abdon Costian, came in second and Caew Elementary School, by grabbed third place. Caew ES is headed by head teacher Nilda Anton.
Lepanto Elementary School garnered 1st and 2nd places in Science for Strategic Intervention.
In the Science Investigatory Project Category, Lepanto Elementary School team snagged first and third places.
In the Individual Science Category, Lepanto Elementary School took 1st and 2nd places.
If the objective of my lesson in Math is attained in that day, I believe that it is being applied at home and even in the community. Winning in the District Math and Science festival is an indication that there is learning in the classroom.
I can say with conviction that such accomplishments show our students made of sterner stuff and my personal crusade of teaching our highland children a humbling experience.
When I was young, I was one of the less fortunate, financially and academically, that is why if I am observe children in a similar situation, I pity them so much. This is the reason I have committed myself to working with children by teaching them well.
I like the company of children especially when they show interest in learning which makes a difference in their lives, and which propels me to rather teach in the classroom than stay in an office.
By Eleuterio Tegan
