HIGHLIGHTS

B-LOG (Boston Log)

Ana Kristelle R. Garcia, Grade 4 English Teacher

Posted Saturday, 16-Sep-2006 9:57 AM

Saturday, July 8, 2006:  Arrival at Logan Airport

      After a long (grueling) 11-hour flight from Japan and a 4-hour connecting flight from Detroit, we finally stepped off the plane and were greeted by Mr. Suntay, his American friend and Father Johnny Go.  The rest of the afternoon was devoted to rest time which we were all looking forward to. 

      The 45-minute drive from the airport to Wellesley College proved to be a good energy-booster for Mrs. Natividad, Exxon and I because we were greatly entertained by Mr. Suntay’s funny anecdotes of his life in Massachusetts. As soon as we entered the lobby of Wellesley College Club, the warm welcome of the concierge put us at ease immediately.  We were showed to our elegant rooms then we unanimously agreed that the night will be spent catching up on our sleep.

Day 1 of Seminar

       Breakfast at the dining hall was very pleasant as we savored our coffee while watching the spectacular view of Lake Waban.  We headed straight to the conference area for Skillful Teaching.  A woman with blond hair and a bright smile approached us as we were looking for our seats.  She introduced herself as Mary Ann Haley, our instructor and one of the driving forces behind Research for Better Teaching. 

       Mrs. Natividad, Exxon and I sat together with two other teachers who introduced themselves as grade school educators from the Massachusetts area.  After the welcome and introductions, Mary Ann presented the course overview. 

Highlight of the Day:  It was a relief to discover that there were numerous ideas offered in the seminar that will be helpful in our own unique set-up in Xavier.  I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s session.

Something to Think About:   Which belief do I adopt in my teaching: ability-based or effort-based?

Surprise!:  The three of us toured the nearby Wellesley Town after the day’s session.  We were happy to discover quaint shops and eateries that we can try out in the next few days.

Day 2 of Seminar

Highlight of the Day:  Many suggestions were given on how to teach students in processing new information:  Carousel Brainstorm; 3-2-1 Summary and Quick Write.  Surely these activators and summarizers can facilitate better and deeper understanding for students. (Sounds a lot like UbD.)

Something to Think About:  What can I add to my repertoire of teaching strategies?  What can I do to enhance student motivation?

Surprise!:  Blue Ginger…Ming Tsai’s famous restaurant is right here in Wellesley Town.  Too bad he’s out of town.  We heard they serve delectable food but the prices are way beyond our budget…sigh!

Day 3 of Seminar

Highlight of the Day:  The small group discussions and the use of learning partners made it possible for us to make new discoveries in our teaching techniques and practices.  Interestingly, we found out that our American counterparts shared the same dilemmas in their classrooms.  Many of them approached us to inquire about our culture in Xavier School.

        I was surprised to hear about the lengthened class time of the grade school teachers in the public schools.  They will implement the new

80-minute class schedule come September and some teachers are afraid that it could worsen the restlessness and inattention of the kids. 

Something to Think About:  How do I communicate my criteria for success to the students?  How do I address the different learning styles in my classroom? How do I frame learning for students?

Day 4

Highlight of the Day:  During lunchtime, we got to sit down with teachers coming from different backgrounds.  It was fascinating to hear the story of how a former lawyer is now trying her luck in teaching.  A football-coach turned classroom teacher is excitedly anticipating the new schoolyear.  While a retired principal narrated how she came across the group of Mary Ann Haley and wanted to join their “cause”.  At the end of our meal, my stomach was already bursting from the humongous sandwich and my mind was filled with stories I will take home with me.

Something to Think About:  So many ideas…so many possibilities…how can we apply this in Xavier School?

Surprise!:  Our instructor bade us goodbye on our last day.  It was a teary goodbye for all of us but we did manage to exchange e-mail addresses and hugs by the end of the session. Since we could not afford a full dinner at Blue Ginger, Father Go offered to take us to another restaurant named The Cheesecake Factory.  It was a fitting end to a week long seminar.

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