|
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Ellen Zamora, Caraway’s top teacher
Licorice-flavored seeds to enhance food and even to lend its aroma to perfumes, that’s caraway, the same name of a school that runs on the motto, “Success, nothing less.”
The fragrance of success is true for Ellen Zamora. She found fulfillment as a Sixth grade teacher at the Voyde Caraway Intermediate School in the Aldine Independent School District, Houston, Texas, USA; and honor as Caraway’s 2004-2005 Building Teacher of the Year.
New kid. “In our Filipino culture, sad but true, if your family can’t afford much for a college tuition, you end up getting an Education degree. It is because an Education course is either less expensive or commonly offered in scholarships.
“I was a scholar of Bachelor in Elementary Education (Saint Theresa’s College Cebu, 1998). We were poor but it was not my
culture that placed me in that position. It was my personal passion. Of course, not to discredit God who planned it for a reason,” says Ellen who first taught in her alma mater, teaching Reading and Christian Living. She was also the moderator for Children’s Theater Arts.
Judith Dabon, STC Education area head said, Ellen is always involved in activities and is very talented. "She has the heart for teaching."
After three years of teaching in STC, “I felt I wasn’t achieving anything; that there was no challenge in what I was doing. I felt that I was needed somewhere else. I needed to explore.”
With the prospect of teaching in Caraway in 2001, “I thought I was ready to face challenges, but it was hard. It was a totally different context. Those eyes that I ideally thought would look up to me with trust didn’t even look at me with respect.”
In her first year it was tough establishing rapport with the students but she strove for a different approach. “The more I got to know them, the more I understood them. I finally got my song in the right rhythm.”
That rhythm placed her class’ Tasks Reading scores to a level “really which proficient.” Barbra Jones, school principal, endorses her as “a superlative language arts teacher,” who is “cognizant of the special needs of all her students.”
Philosophy. Ellen is a teacher and a learner at the same time. “It has been my way of life.”
She says teaching is not a job but a calling. “But I also believe that it is a gift . . . to get children motivated to learn new skills and develop what they already have.”
Ellen plans each day’s work taking into consideration the diversity of her students’ learning styles and experiences.
“I have learned how complex the process of learning is, that it is individual and that it is content- and context-specific. This made me a flexible mentor, adapting my techniques and approaches according to the learner’s needs. This is the key to enhance their engagement in class.”
Her classes are freeways of animated discussions that kindle interest both ways since she learns from listening. “I celebrate
within my heart how wonderful and good teachers my students are.”
Aside from routines, she adapts varied teaching approaches. “I make sure there are always something new and unpredictable techniques the students are going to learn and utilize each day.”
Reading is sometimes paired with an audio of the story. To present lessons, she uses Power Point or the
question-and-answer format for discussions that ensure everyone enjoys public speaking in class.
To cater to students who are visual and spatial, she uses paper folding, reading skill cards, charts and graphs, pictures, illustrations, and poster making. Each student has the chance to use laptops during project research in class.
“Boredom is the enemy of learning, and whenever I see every single soul in the class being engaged in what we do, I know my teaching styles have catered to their learning needs.”
Extra-miler. She is active in community programs, taking charge of events, especially if they're for children.
“I have always been active in our Friday prayer nights and religiously attend our Bible study on Tuesdays. I have attended and supported Parents’ Nights and GT Parents’ Breakfast Meeting.”
She has volunteered for an informal training in her campus library and has been helping the librarians. For doing extra-curricular events in Caraway she has been recognized as an Extra Miler.
“I have participated in Developing Writing and Thinking Skills Across the Curriculum by John J. Collins. As a teacher, I believe I am a servant – to others and to my Creator.”
(June 28, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
