Learning in Focus 14:

THE TEACHER AS A PERSON AND A PROFESSIONAL

What is really a like to be a TEACHER? Why is being a TEACHER is considered as one of the
most respected professionals in the Philippines? What makes a teacher differently better than
any other profession? What characterize a teacher as a person and as a professional?
This Episode will provide you a chance to observe teachers in their workplace at school in order
to answer the question asked.

Teacher, My Hero” was a banner during the World Teacher’s Day celebration in
Philippines in the years past. Are Filipino teachers, real heroes? What do you
k? Why?
answer is YES! Here are my reasons.
sonal Qualities of Filipino Teachers
To be a teacher in the Philippines is a challenging profession. Teachers serve
country just like any other hero. To be a teacher requires a lot of personal and
essional qualities. These qualities make an excellent Filipino teacher an
eptional professional.
First, the teacher must have innate qualities or attributes that are exemplary and
itted to be teachers. These are natural tendencies of a person. Here are some of
qualities and attributes that distinctly characterize a teacher.
Personal Qualities of Teachers and the Descriptors
Personal Qualities What the Teacher IS and DOES.
Lives with dignity that exemplifies  This teacher is honest, has integrity, self-
self-respect, integrity and self- respect and self-discipline. Likewise,
discipline respected by students, peers and the
community.
Takes care of one’s physical,  This teacher is physically, emotionally and
emotional and mental well-being mentally healthy. Clean and neat, dresses
appropriately and pleasant in words and in
action.
Lives a life inspired by spiritual  This teacher behaves according to the
principles and beliefs personal spiritual beliefs that are not contrary
to the norms, mores and tradition of the
community.
  Exhibits deep knowledge  This teacher is mentally alert, makes
and understanding across correct decision, intelligent to be able to
disciplines acquire new knowledge, skills and values
needed in order to teach. She/he has the
ability to learn new things, re-learn old
knowledge in new ways, and un-learn
knowledge, skills and values that are no
longer applicable to the current times.
 Recognizes own strength  This teacher sets high goals for
with humility himself/herself, but remains humble and
willing to share success. He/she is
confident of doing task but does not
consider self to be better than others all
the time.
 Perseveres in challenging  This teacher is calm in the midst of chaos,
situation remains steadfast under pressure, does
not easily give up and adjusts to different
situations.
 Demonstrates a natural  This teacher volunteers tasks for other,
action to work together always willing to share, extends help
with others willingly, accepts responsibility, tolerant of
other people, and gives up time for the
group.

Not everyone has these qualities, hence not everyone can be a good teacher. As the
old saying goes: “Teachers are born but good teachers are both born and made.”

Professional Competences of Filipino Teachers

Going to teacher training institutions and earning a teaching degree mean developing a
professional teacher in either teacher like you. You can only become a professional
teacher if you earn a degree to teach in either elementary level or high school level.
You should also earn a license to teach by passing a licensure examination for
teachers. While studying in college you are learning the ropes of becoming a
professional teacher. You learn the content courses including the major or
specialization and the professional courses including the pedagogy courses. Your
professional courses include experiential learning courses that include Field Study 1,
Field Study 2 and Teaching Internship. These are important in your preparation to
become a professional teacher.

So what are the professional competencies that every teacher should have? You will
find these in the matrix that follow.
 Professional Competencies What the teacher DOES
 Abides by the code of ethics  This teacher practices the rules and conduct
for the profession of professional teachers.
 Masters the subject matter to  This teacher masters and updates
be taught himself/herself with subject matter content to
be taught.
 Updates oneself on  This teacher keeps abreast with educational
educational trends, policies trends, policies and curricula by taking up
and curricula graduate studies, attending seminars and
workshops.
 Uses teaching methods to  This teacher practices different ways of
facilitate student learning teaching appropriate to the learners and the
subject matter.
 Builds a support network  This teacher engages the cooperation of
with parents and community parents and stakeholders in educating the
learners.
 Demonstrates knowledge,  This teacher has substantial knowledge of
understanding of the the characteristics and needs of the
characteristics and needs of learners.
diverse learners
 Plans, prepares and  This teacher plans, prepares, implements
implements school and innovates the day-to-day curriculum
curriculum responsibly with the view in mind that learners will learn.
 Designs, selects and utilize  This teacher designs, selects and uses
appropriate assessment appropriate assessment tools for, as, and of
strategies and tools learning
 Provides safe, secure, fair  This teacher arranges the classroom to
physical and psychological provide safe, secure psychological
learning environment that environment that supports and encourages
supports learning learning.
 Serves beyond the call of  This teacher does task and works even
duty beyond the official time when needed.

So, it is not easy to become a professional teacher. The demand is great. A qualified
professional teacher then is like a HERO.
Now you are ready to identify if the enumerated characteristics are found among the
teachers you are going to observe.
There are two observation activities in this Episode. Activity 1 will identify the Personal
Characteristics for the Teacher and Activity 2 will identify the Professional Competencies
of the Teacher.
My Intended Learning Outcome:
At the end of this episode, I must be able to 
a.describe the personal qualities and competences of effective classroom teachers; and
b.numerate the professional characteristics of practicing teachers observed as based on the
professional standards and code of ethics for the profession.

Task 14.1: Teacher Personal Qualities: A View from My Lenses

Resource Teacher/Video Link:__________________________Teacher's Signature: __________
School name: _______________________Grade year level: _________________
Subject Area: ______________________ Date: ________________

Procedure:
1. Secure a permit to observe a teacher.
2. Review the list of the Personal Qualities given above.
3. Follow the code given whether you will observe by seeing only or you will observe and
interview the teacher to gather information.
4. Write down in the column of data results the description of the personal qualities that you
have found out. If the personal quality is not observed by you or is not revealed in your
interview, write not observed or not manifested.

Activity 1

Personal Qualities Observe (O) Data Results

Interview (I) I have found out that ….
a. Dignified Observe

b. Healthy Observe

c. Spiritual Observe
interview
 d. Knowledgeabl Observe
e

e. Humble Observe
interview

f. Determined Observe
interview

g. Cooperative Observe
interview

Activity 2
Professional Observe (O) Data Results
Qualities Interview (I) I have found out that ….
a.abides with the code Observe
of ethics

b.Subject Mastery Observe

c. Updates oneself on Observe

educational policies interview
trends, curricula,
continuous studies

d.Use varied teaching Observe

methods and
strategies

e. Demonstrates Observe
knowledge, interview
understanding of the
characteristics and
needs of diverse
learners
f. Plans, prepares and Observe
implements school interview
curriculum
responsibly
g. Designs, selects and Observe
utilize appropriate interview
assessment
strategies and tools
 1. In Activity 1, what do you consider as the 3 most outstanding significant personal qualities of
the teacher you choose as your case? Why do you consider these as outstanding?
a.________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
______
b.________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
_________
c. ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
______
2. Which of these qualities do you have? Do you think you can fit as a good teacher someday?
Why? Describe yourself.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
____________

Good teachers are role models, whether in school, at home or in the community. From the
teachers that you had from elementary to college, did the personal qualities that they
possess, help you learn better as a student?

Identify one personal characteristics of your model teacher that has made a great impact in your
life as a learner. Reflect and describe how this quality influenced you.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Task 14.2: Is the Teacher a Professional Teacher?
Resource Teacher/Video Link:__________________________Teacher's Signature: __________
School name: _______________________Grade year level: _________________
Subject Area: ______________________ Date: ________________

Procedure:
1. Secure a permit to observe and conduct a survey.
2. Request the following information from the teacher:
a. Name
b. LET License No
c. Evidence of Professional Growth (Masters or Doctorate, Seminars attended, etc.)
3. Request a co-teacher or the head (only one of the 2) to answer the checklist/rating
scale about your sample teacher.
4. Answer the same survey instrument yourself.
5. Compare the answer of the co-teacher or that the head with your answer on the
survey. In what items do you have the same answer?
6. Show the results in a summary table.

Competencies of the Professional Teacher: A Special Case

Dear Ma’am/Sir:
I am a future teacher and I would like to know the characteristics of a professional
teacher. I will be very glad if you could answer the survey form about your co-
teacher_____________________.
I will keep in confidence your identity, however, please allow me to use the data in my
lesson.
This is a requirement in our course, Field Study 1.

Thank you very much.

_______________________
BSED Student
Name of the Teacher: _____________________________________________________
PRC License No.__________________________ Grade Level Taught ________________

Answer the following statements based on your OBSERVATION of the teacher. Check Yes or No
or Doubtful.
Professional Competence Does the Teacher
exhibit the
competence of a
professional teacher?
Check your answer
below.
1. Practice the Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers Yes No Doubtful
2. Teaches the subject matter very well with mastery
3. Keeps self updated with educational trends, policies and curricula
4. Uses varied teaching methods that facilitate learning with skill and ease
5. Engages the parents and other stakeholders to cooperate as partners in
educating the children
6. Teaches with compassion based on the knowledge and understanding of
the characteristics and needs of diverse learners
7. Prepares curriculum plans, implements these with innovation in every
lesson
8. Designs or selects and utilizes appropriate assessment strategies and
tools for lessons taught
9. Makes classroom atmosphere physically (arrangement) and
psychologically (friendly, inclusive) safe and secure for learning
10. Serves willingly beyond teaching work by participating in other extra-
curricula activities when needed

___________________________________________
Name and Signature of the Teacher Informant (Peer)

OR:
______________________________________________
Name and Signature of the Supervisor Informant (Head)

AND
________________________________________________
Your Name and Signature (Pre-Service Student)
Write a short narrative about the teacher with a description of the personal qualities and
professional characteristic that you have observed. You may request a picture from the
teacher.

MY TEACHER, MY HERO
 Evaluation Tool for Episode 14 (The Teacher as a Person and A Professional)
Intended Learning Outcome:
At the end of this episode, I must be able to:
a. describe the personal qualities and competences of effective classroom teachers; and
b. numerate the professional characteristics of practicing teachers observed as based on
the professional standards and code of ethics for the profession.
Name of FS Students _________________________________ Date Submitted: ____________
Evaluator: _________________________________ Evaluator’s Signature: _______________

Tasks Exemplary Superior Satisfactory Unsatisfactory

4 3 2 1
Observation/ All tasks were done One (1) or two (2) Three Four or more
Tasks/ with outstanding tasks not answered tasks/questions were tasks/questions were
Worksheets quality; work exceeds or accomplished not accomplished/ not accomplished/
expectation answered answered
My Analysis All questions were All questions were Questions were not Four (4) or more
answered completely; answered answered observation questions
answers are in depth completely; completely; answers were not answered;
and are through answers are clearly are not clearly answers were not
grounded on theories; connected to connected to connected to theories;
Fee from grammar and theories; grammar theories; one (1) to more that four(4)
spelling errors and spelling are three (3) errors in grammar and
free from errors grammatical errors spelling.
committed
My Reflection Reflection statements Reflection Reflection Reflection statements
are profound and clear, statements are statements are are unclear and
supported by clear, but not shallow; somewhat shallow and are not
experiences during supported by supported by supported by
observation experiences from experiences from the experiences from the
the episode and observation observation
lacks depth
My Learning Portfolio is reflected on Portfolio is Portfolio is not Portfolio is not
Artifacts in the context of the reflected on in the reflected on in the reflected on in the
learning outcomes; context of the context of the context of the
complete, clear, well- learning outcomes; learning outcomes; learning outcomes;
organized, highly complete, clear, complete, not not complete, not
relevant to the learning well-organized, very organized, relevant organized and not
outcome; all relevant to the to the learning relevant
supporting learning outcome; outcome; supporting
documentation are most supporting documentation are
 located in sections documentation are located in sections
clearly designated. located in sections clearly designated.
clearly designated.
Sub totals