Rizal at RIT

I think everyone did well during the teaching demonstration. even if Sir Leo C. did his without a PowerPoint presentation, Sir Leo S.'s PowerPoint had everyone craning their necks and Sir Aris had to answer the question.. "Why is it called a denominator?" (I don't   even know the answer to that!) As for me, I ended up being nervous I gave some wrong information. Oh well. Everyone had their own strengths and it finally dawned on me why we were all picked. Hey, we were all GREAT teachers. I had fun during the demo of all my colleagues and even learned a few things along the way.

After days of pondering things out, I have decided to do do my teaching demo Dr. Jose Rizal. Before I did so, I asked Ate May if there were previous teaching demonstrations that used Dr. Rizal as its topic. Ate May said no so I happily went ahead.

The day before the demonstration, everyone was in some sort of frenzy. Laptops suddenly became a hot commodity. Hahaha. There was a line to use the printer in the Business room at Radisson's and a few of us badgered Kuya Leo C. to print out some papers. (Sorry, Kuya!)

The day of the demonstration, everyone was exceptionally.... quiet. No wait, focused is the right word. After all, today is the day we show what we have learned so far and also to prove that we did learn something from all of this. All those months reading the lessons online and the last few days observing strategies used by our mentors.. This was it. It all amounted to this.

So of course, nerves were frayed. Frayed so much that Sir Leo S. almost skipped breakfast because he was up all night doing his demo. (That is dedication!!!) Ms. Pexe kept printing her demo papers wrongly that the Business area almost ran out of papers. (Sorry, Radisson!) I kept on reviewing notes until I got so nervous I would forget the information that I stopped reviewing for it. 



Our RIT mentors mentioned that we gave some of the best teaching demonstrations ever. Hooray! I can say that this trip was a success. I know it doesn't stop here. The real work begins. We were all just part of an even grander plan. 

Peter Pan and Taylor Swift

Hmm, made me think!!!!

It is our last day at Rochester School for the Deaf and boy, a lot of things happened. I will never forget this experience.

First of all, Mrs. Kipp decided to ask a question that sort of stumped me.

How did Peter Pan and Captain Hook first meet???????

The students had a great time inventing stories, I bet. It was not read aloud 

during class (too bad!!! because of the time) but Mrs. Kipp told them about

a book that told the story about how they first met. (I need to find this book!!)

It was called "Peter and the Starcatchers", which is now actually a broadway play. Written by two guys named Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. Before this activity, the class read the classic novel written by James Barrie. 

I observed that Mrs. Kipp tried to have one-on-one with the students and seeing if their reading skills would improve. Since there were only 4 students in her class, she grouped them by 2. Two of the students would sit with me, working on their vocabulary cards while the other two sat with Mrs. Kipp and read two articles about the story, Peter and the Starcatchers. This kept the class from getting bored and also had them working independently. By having two students read with her, she was also able to see if they really understood the story. I think this was a good idea.

The Fire Drill!!

This kind of exercises stimulates creativity and instills a reading readiness to students. There was a fire drill at the middle of the lesson, while Mrs. Kipp was reading a chapter from the book. I wanted to learn more about the story but we had to go out and do the fire drill. I was asked if we also have fire drills in the Philippines and as well as earthquake drills. I replied that there was. It is great to be able to exchange culture stories with others.

A highlight of the day was when the class went to the library and joined other schools in a webcast with none other than... Taylor Swift!!!!

Apparently, Taylor Swift has this reading program that is encouraging other children to learn to become readers like her. She shared her favorite books, such as Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli and others. I guess a famous star like her can use her influence to encourage students to become readers. A good strategy and also makes Taylor Swift a role model for the youth. I wonder if there are some actors and actresses who can use their influence to encourage Deaf students to become readers?????? Just a thought.

After the webcast, we were treated to a Bilingualism seminar by Susan Lane-Outlaw who gave an amazing and inspiring lecture on the use of Bilingualism in the classroom. I am hoping we can invite her to give a lecture in the Philippines. She was able to captivate an entire auditorium of teachers! We were also given tokens by Rochester School for the Deaf.

I want to learn more on how exactly they use ASL or FSL to teach English and Reading. I hope to see more demonstrations, lectures, seminars in the future. I know it will take some time before DLS-CSB would be in the same level as say, NTID-RIT or RSD but in the end, it will be worth it. I want to encourage my students to become readers... not only my students but also my Deaf peers. I know that they need a push in the right direction. We could be the push that they need.

I will always treasure my RSD experience because it helped rekindle the passion I have for teaching. It reminded me of why I became a teacher in the first place. It gave me hope that one day the students I will teach will be like the students that I have met along my trip. I am excited to make this journey - this step - with other teachers who are also passionate about Deaf education. I know we are at the beginning of a long, hard journey. I also know it's worth all the long nights trying to stay up and do a blog, preparing for a teaching demo and trying to capture everything about America at the same time.

Thank you, RSD, for welcoming all of us with wonderful arms. I hope to be back!

Teaching Math

I would like to point straight out that I am so not a Math teacher. Math is the bane of my existence during all those years studying from Elementary right up until College. Math and I just did not get along! I did not have much love for my Math teachers, I am sorry to say. 

Mrs. Kipp was also a Math teacher..... and I wished she was my Math teacher before. She made learning Math look fun and easy. I am dedicating this post to the Math strategies she used during classes that I observed. Well, given the technology they had at RSD, it did look so much fun. She told me it was her first time teaching Math. I am amazed because she did it with such ease, it seemed like she has been doing this for a long time. 

I think that it is important to use every kind of strategy when teaching Deaf children. Always remember that the kids are visual. They still don't understand? Give some more examples. Still don't get it? Draw it. No response? Show a video. Kids still not responding? Use a whiteboard. While most teachers rely on textbooks to do all the explaining for them, we need to be creative when teaching it. The book can't do all the work! Teaching requires resilience  creativity and a patience to keep trying until you succeed. It is an incredible feeling when a child finally understands a lesson.

I wish there were Smartboards here in the Philippines but we can also make do without it. We can find some sites that explain the word problems, videos in YouTube that explains mathematical formations. We can use the whiteboard as a backdrop in PowerPoint presentations and write all over it. Voila, SmartBoard Lite. Or..... we can get funding for the Smartboards. Haha.

Through Mrs. Kipp, I learned that Math does not need to be difficult. I actually learned to enjoy it! Evenif this is not exactly my area of expertise, I learned various strategies while she taught this class. Strategies that I can use when teaching English. English does not need to be limited to pen, paper, books, dramatic interpretations, book reports and PowerPoint lectures. After all, learning should be fun.

Making Sumerian Bread

I continue to be amazed at Rochester School for the Deaf. I knew today would be no different and I was right. I am amazed at how, by just entering the school premises, you get a gist of energy and even if some of us felt really tired, we were psyched to learn from our mentors and were looking forward to the events of the day.

Easily the highlight of the day at Rochester School for the Deaf was when Mrs. Kipp's Social Studies class made Sumerian bread. I must admit I had no idea what it would look like. Mrs. Kipp said it looked and tasted like hummus.

I helped Mrs. Kipp set up the table and she said she had another surprise for the kids, something that came up during one of her lectures...  "What are dates? So she decided to do this activity... and have the kids eat dates along with it!!


Sumerian era bread was pretty simple. It consisted of flour, olive oil, and water. All they had to do was mix the stuff and then bake it in the oven. The kids were really excited and grouped themselves by 2. I can see that Mrs. Kipp gave instructions but the kids did everything themselves, even warming up the stove. (with close adult supervision, of course!) 

While the bread was waiting to be done, she had prepared another activity. This was still connected to the Sumerian bread lesson. It was about learning to write your name on clay, sort of like what the Sumerians did.. wrote on clay tablets. I think this is an excellent activity and is a pretty interesting one. The kids enjoyed etching their names on the pieces of clay Mrs. Kipp handed out and tried to do their parents' and friends names as well. This made the wait for the bread less of a chore. It passed the time.

I think it is important to demonstrate or show students what the lesson was about. Giving this kind of activity helps the students connect the lesson and gives them a visual representation of what was being taught to them. It is important not only to lecture but to actually give activities that will make the lesson even more interesting.

Many of the students did not like the dates or the bread itself but they said they got an idea about what life must have been during the Sumerian era. They observed that life was simpler back then. No McDonald's!!


As for me, I loved it. The dates weren't so bad but it isn't exactly my preferred snack either. The bread was really great and am wondering if I can recreate the bread. I would need an oven though. Hmm.

Weekend at Rochester

Seeing Niagara Falls for the first time was an unbelievable experience. Add to that seeing Canada from afar, I was really awed by it all. Even if it was freezing so much that I could not even hold my camera!

It is these experiences that make travelling an adventure. I'm pretty sure that the people from America would also be awed at what the Philippines has to offer - white sandy beaches, sunny weather, the Banaue Rice Terraces, the Chocolate Hills, etc. I'm sure that our country can also offer so much. 

We went to an outlet mall that offered discounted prices for really well-known brands. The fact that this is what it costs at an outlet mall made me wonder how much it cost in real malls!!

O Sunday, we went to mass at St. Monica's. I actually thought the mass would be like the ones in the Philippines, with an interpreter and all the Deaf people sitting in front. I never imagined that there are masses like the ones I just experienced. Everyone knew each other, the priests were very cordial and friendly. It was like one big community. I think Sir Leo Cabasag said that he wanted to emulate some of the ways the mass was done. Maybe for SROP. The mass did not feel like a formal mass. It was like talking to a friend.

I believe I have benefitted from attending this mass. I haven't attended a mass for some time because I always thought I could pray by myself anyway since the Church near where I  live doesn't hold masses with an interpreter. In a way, I felt closer to God and I want my Deaf peers in the Philippines to experience what I felt. 

Is there a Deaf priest in the Philippines? I believe I haven't met one yet. Who knows, there could be one in the Philippines and we would not know about it.

I think one of the highlights of the day was eating fresh, healthy food at Alladin's. I love being able to eat healthy food everywhere I turn around. It seems to be more available here in the Americas. I know that in the Philippines, more people are also being health conscious. It is a trend that I don't mind joining in as it is for my health. Again, the portions were big and I shared food with Ms. Pexe. We had spaghetti and salad. We weren't able to eat the whole thing and took out most of the food but it was still an enjoyable affair and we met one of the founders of Discovering Deaf Worlds, David Justice. We also met a masters student from Vietnam, who is studying ASL. I am reminded. of our Deaf leaders at home. I am proud that we also have Hearing people who give their time And effort to help improve the lives of Deaf people in the Philippines. I think that these people would also be inspiring role models for others. Hopefully they will not stop helping and improving the situation of the Deaf.

Day Two at RSD

I met my mentor for the first time today. It was finally great to see her in person. She is an excellent teacher and her teaching strategies are very creative and efficient.

As of today, I'm still pretty much impressed with the surroundings and learning environment. There seem to be books everywhere and opportunities for students to learn how to read.

The classroom setting is very much an elementary English teacher's dream. It has it's own SmartBoard, which makes use of technology in every viable way. I think this makes class more efficient. It also makes the learning environment more interactive. Just like when I realized that I can actually use my elementary teaching strategies towards college students.

Ms. Kipp is a great teacher and it shows because she obviously loves the subject that she teaches. She reads with them when it is time for independent reading. She said it is to set an example. I liked that the books in her classroom were hers and that she had a reading nook. The class only had about 10 mins to do independent reading. I could see that most are readers. I wish my students were also like this. Hopefully it is never too late.

Math was a very interactive class and I think this makes the subject more enjoyable. I could see that the students learned more since Ms. Kipp gives them time to answer and also gives them examples on how to do the exercise.

For language, the students were taught how to recognize or say the themes in a story. This was a great class and I enjoyed it very much despite the jet lag I was having. I learned that bilinguallism starts at an early age so it would be interesting to watch how teachers at the Early Childhood Education center teach their students.

I would like to do something about the reading curriculum of Deaf Filipinos. I want to be able to help them become readers. Maybe go ahead with an English Club at CSB. I would like to be able to learn more about how bilingualism works. I'm looking forward to learning and observing more about it and finding out a way to integrate these into Filipino culture. I would also like to find out which system and teaching strategies would work best for Filipino Deaf students

First Impressions

First impressions as they say, do count...and boy was I impressed today! I can't remember how many times I kept saying "I wish we had this in the Philippines." or "I wish I could bring this to the Philippines." I realized that the Philippines Deaf education is so behind so that kind of makes me sad. But what I learned is that through strong advocacy, we could change the education of the Deaf and eventually be at par with other countries.

NTID-RIT exceeded beyond my expectations. It had state of the art technology and accessibility everywhere! The school really provides the students with everything they could possibly need during their stay in college. Language classes, tutors, even videophones to call home to their parents.

Rochester School for the Deaf made me wonder if this kind of environment can be made possible in the Philippines. It is important to have early childhood intervention. That much is clear. The student-teacher ratio also provided each teacher a chance to focus carefully on what every students need. I think that is important in early childhood education. What impressed me was that in addition to teaching, the teachers themselves go to the family home and teach the parents how to deal with their Deaf child. It is a lot of work but also something that could help the learning environment of the child. It could also help in providing positive self-esteem because they will feel loved and understood.

I am hoping that tomorrow I will be able to learn more about the bilingual education model that RSD is using and hopefully help implement this when I go back to Manila. I have so many questions!!! Good thing that I have 10 days to find out more about this method and what is even better is that I get to see how it works up close and personal instead of relying on journals and research findings.

I feel so blessed and thankful to have been given this kind of opportunity! Life is good.