VIRIDITAS: SOUL GREENING
Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP
Hawaii Catholic Herald
I am enjoying my apostolate here in Hawaii. As an educator relatively new to the islands, I was not sure at first if I was making a difference in the lives of the school children entrusted to me. However, those thoughts were put aside after my parent-teacher conferences. It was then that some parents told me they were happy with my helping their children achieve.
One third-grade parent particularly thanked me for her child’s better behavior at home and being able to read. As the child was a lively child, I was surprised to hear that. At the beginning of the school year, the pre-test results in reading and mathematics that I gave were just average. Here however, the child’s mom was expressing her gratitude that her child was doing much better in her studies than before. Maybe they are learning from me.
In all the subjects taught, I make it a point to integrate values into the instruction. Both before I start a lesson and at the end, I focus on a value and ask the students how they would apply it. For example, with the value of respect, students are asked how they show their respect to their classmates and teachers.
I also set classroom rules to be followed. For example, if the class were noisy, I would ask, “What is our rule?” Knowing the rules, they would respond appropriately, “Rule no. 1 is to listen.” The other rules are: Rule no. 2 is to keep quiet; Rule no. 3 is to not go out of the classroom without permission; and Rule no. 4 is to raise your right hand if you want to be recognized or say something.”
Evaluation of the following of the rules takes place in conversation together during the day. Students get excited asking, “Sister, what is our grade today?” based on whether they followed the class rules or not. Students are eager to know an evaluation grade such as 99.9% or 82%. Then I say, “Next time, do your best,” continuing to encourage them.
If there is a time when I get really upset, I sit down in front of them. Usually in teaching I am always walking around. When I sit, students know that I am upset and are quiet. After individually talking to the concerned students to explain their actions and whether what they did was appropriate during lesson time, they usually say, “Sorry, Sister.” Some of them do have really good reasons for the behavior disruption.
Each morning, I go to the chapel about 15 minutes before our communal morning prayer for my personal prayer. Along with my devotions, I pray for my students. I ask God, St. Michael the Archangel and Venerable Mother Rosario Arroyo to grant me patience and understanding with my students. I also pray that they will be well behaved and grow in knowledge and grace.
Sister Ma. P. Myrle Gudilosao is a Dominican Sister of the Most Holy Rosary of the Philippines. She was born in Davao City and is the second eldest of six siblings, which include four brothers and a sister. She is 39 years professed. She teaches at St. Elizabeth School in Aiea.
