SEA-Teacher Batch 10 : Fabulous Adventure for Fabulous Experiences!

I was given the exciting opportunity to take over the classroom for five days—a crucial period for honing my teaching skills. My cooperating teacher, Mrs. Jocelyn E. Cruz, guided me to prepare for my final teaching demonstration, which involved crafting a detailed lesson plan, developing engaging learning materials, and designing effective teaching aids. For my final demonstration, I chose the topic Plant Cells . Using the lesson plan format provided by Mrs. Cruz, I carefully studied and adapted it to align with the material and activities I envisioned for the lesson. With her valuable feedback, I finalized the following lesson plan:   Lesson Plan Highlights 1. Setting the Tone I began the lesson by establishing classroom agreements to ensure a conducive learning environment.  Engaging Activities - Recall Game: Students were divided into groups to play a Wordwall-based game that refreshed their knowledge from the previous lesson. ( Recall Game Wordwall.com )  - Lesso...

Teaching Journey Begins: First Impressions at Araullo High School On the morning of October 16, 2024, my SEA-Teacher journey took a significant step forward as we were assigned to Araullo High School, a public school near the Philippine Normal University (PNU) campus. Dr. Victoria Delos Santos, affectionately called Dr. Vicky, picked us up from the PNU Hostel. To save time, we hopped on a jeepney instead of walking, as we were slightly pressed for time.   Upon arrival, we waited briefly before each of us was escorted to meet our respective cooperating teachers. I was introduced to Mrs. Jocelyn E. Cruz, my cooperating teacher for biology. My first impression of her was heartwarming; she was kind, approachable, and genuinely curious about me and Indonesia.   Learning the Ropes Mrs. Cruz made an excellent effort to make me feel comfortable on my first day. She introduced me to the teaching schedule and system at Araullo High School, providing valuable insights into thei...

Showcasing Indonesian and Filipino Cultures  October 11, 2024, was a beautiful and eventful day. The agenda was the official welcome ceremony for SEA-Teacher participants hosted by Philippine Normal University (PNU). My colleagues and I dressed in traditional Palembang attire: baju kurung , kain songket , and the iconic gandik  headpiece. Around 11 a.m., we were picked up from the hostel and escorted to the PNU auditorium.   The event was lively and enjoyable. Before it officially began, the attendees were invited to participate in a fun "tongue twister" game featuring Indonesian and Tagalog phrases. The atmosphere grew even more festive when the choir performed Indonesia’s national anthem, "Indonesia Raya".   Our group also contributed to the celebrations by singing the patriotic song "Indonesia Pusaka". It was a proud moment to share a piece of our heritage with the audience.   Toward the end of the ceremony, PNU students impressed us with a mus...

October 10, 2024, marked our first morning in Manila. The day’s agenda was a campus tour of Philippine Normal University (PNU). At 9 a.m., PNU students arrived to escort us. After brief introductions, we walked to the PNU Manila campus, conveniently located just 150 meters from our accommodation.   We explored nearly every corner of the expansive campus. Each faculty had its own dedicated building, and the university provided prayer facilities for various religions, including Islam. We also visited the Institute of Teaching and Learning (ITL), PNU's laboratory school, located in a building adjacent to the main campus.   Meeting the Vice Dean and Classroom Observations Following the campus tour, we had the chance to meet our vice dean, Dr. Rita Inderawati, who had just arrived in Manila. After a short break at the hostel for prayers and lunch, we returned to the ITL to observe classes in the laboratory school.   We observed several grade levels, including gr...

In September 2023, I had the privilege of sending my friend off to the airport as he embarked on the SEA-Teacher Batch 9 program. Throughout his time in Tapaz, Philippines, he shared daily updates that left me amazed by his experiences. Inspired by his journey, I set a goal to join the program in the next batch.   Fast forward a year, the opportunity finally arrived. My study program coordinator announced that the SEA-Teacher Batch 10 program registration was open. Without hesitation, I applied and eagerly awaited the next step: the interview. The interview was scheduled for August 23, coinciding with my umroh appointment. After arriving in Medina at 1 a.m., I received news that I had been shortlisted for the interview. While thrilled, I felt disheartened knowing I couldn’t attend it in person. Encouraged by my mother, I decided to let go and trust in fate. However, my study program coordinator suggested I contact the vice dean to inquire about a virtual interview option. My v...