Creative and content

"The thing always happens that you believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen" - Frank Lloyd Wright Personal beliefs about capabilities I've always considered Math as my waterloo. I guess, the influences (environment) around me, dictated this while I was growing up, this view that I absorbed so well into my system. I remember struggling in grade school up to high school. However, my views have changed in Math, after learning about the Growth Mindset and now with self-efficacy of the Social Learning Theory. Helping my children with their assignments, I am now inclined to say that I suddenly understand Math. It's weird. I know. Had I changed my mindset and view of Math earlier, I would not have had a difficult time learning it. Factors that facilitate behavior Raising a family of readers is no easy task, I have both exposed my children to tons of books appropriate to their age. I demonstrate my love for reading by displaying books all around the house, I mode...

Who I am today is a combination of the influences I have been exposed to over the years. Having positive role models and mentors is crucial in making or breaking a person. I am fortunate to have been in the company of people who have encouraged me to be the best that I could be. I will not be where I am today if not for them. The type of role model I want to be for others: 1. Model of excellence -  "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." - Aristotle I know that I am not perfect, but I would like to be able to show my students that one can strive for excellence. To do something to the best of one's ability. 2. Trustworthy - I'd like to be an educator who is not only trustworthy, but has integrity. It's one of the most important values I'd like to be able to model. 3. Inspiring   - "Good teachers teach, great teachers inspire" - William Arthur Ward I'd like my students to learn and be inspired by my lessons. ...

"Family life is our first school for emotional learning."  - Daniel Goleman (Pyschologist and author of the book Emotional Intelligence) The case study of Pepe shows an emotionally stressed student, who just received his test results. He is said to be begging his teacher, Mrs. Cruz, not to send it home. Sending the test papers home is a routine intended to update parents of their children's progress in school. It is clear that the reason for his distress is related to his low grades. It may seem that in the past, perhaps he received a similar mark and maybe was reprimanded by his mother, who in the description, was said to be a perfectionist. So learning from his past experience, I guess we can say that Pepe has a conditioned response from his low grades, perhaps the reaction of the mother was one of disappointment and anger towards it. This association to his mother's response is the cause of his anxiety and stress. Had his mother shown empathy to Pepe in his previou...

No two people are alike, even siblings or twins are different from one another. It is very evident especially in my two children. They both have their own unique character, interests, temperaments, talents, disposition and intelligence. Our attitudes and behaviors as educators or guardians toward teaching-learning will definitely be influenced by our own personal beliefs in intelligence, by the teaching methods that one will employ. The problem with standardized education is the concept that one size fits all. The truth is each individual has his or her own road to choose in having a fulfilling education and eventually a life outside the four walls of the classroom. Some subjects may be more useful for others. The materials, tools, visual aids, tests, formative and summative assessments will depend on each learners' unique needs. Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligence, corresponds to that truth that no two people are alike, especially in intelligence. Unlike before, w...

“Education never ends, Watson. It is a series of lessons, with the greatest for the last.” ―  Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,  His Last Bow Spoiler alert! If you haven't seen the Enola Holmes film from Netflix, please stop reading right here.  Playing chess, tennis, learning jujitsu, doing Scientific experiments, reading tons of books, and solving puzzles were some of the things the fictional character, Enola, learned in the coolest homeschool ever. I think it's timely that I watched this film, because I remembered my readings in EDS 103. The character Enola ( played by Millie Bobby Brown from Stranger Things ) was intelligent, wise beyond her years, and full of insight. She was able to apply the knowledge that she learned from her mom and used it as she went through all sorts of misadventures, as the story unfolded. Given that she is not a real person, I am still reminded by Robert Sternberg's definition about intelligence which is a mental quality that consists of the abilities...