By: Lordelyn B. Bobier
Teacher III, Sagurong Elementary School
Apart from its great reward, there is a specific challenge in teaching science at a public elementary school here in the Philippines. Science has become, day by day, a thrilling chance for science teachers to kindle that curiosity and inspire the next set of innovators and problem solvers. So in this typical setting of a public school where resources are not abundant, creativity, adaptability, and passion for the subject would be the key ingredients for a successful science education.
A science teacher begins his or her journey from the classroom where he introduces young minds to the wonders of nature. He will tell them the very basics of physics laws and, as well, how plants live out their life cycle-from seed to blossom to mature plant. Science teachers help students explore their natural curiosities about how things work. Although the public schools may not have the advanced laboratory facilities as the private colleges, this hardly damps down the quality of teaching. However, resourceful science teachers today come out and turn into teaching aids the everyday materials, household materials innovatively used in daily lives to exhibit scientific principles.
The passion of the students makes science teaching even more fulfilling in public schools. It is, after all, a favourite subject of most children because it invites them to explore and experiment and ask questions. Science teachers take advantage of this excitement by including hands-on activities that may be as simple as experiments and outdoor learning experiences. These allow the student to visually observe scientific concepts, which makes the subject a lot easier and more concrete.
The most precious rewards of teaching science are that sometimes you can catch a “lightbulb moment” when your students make a sudden understanding or connection. All these are precious in the environment of a public school, meaning the students will never have proper resources or difficult home environments that will prevent them from learning. Science teachers go all out to ensure their pupils, regardless of their background, gain quality education. Above and beyond all that, they provide the extra tutorial sessions, make other learning materials, even sometimes use their private resources in order to ensure that the students may present a richer learning experience.
Science teachers are also useful in schoolwide activities that are not conducted within the class environment. Some of these include science fairs, quiz bees, and nature walks among others. Such events help develop the culture of inquiry and discovery for the student. Such events also inspire teamwork as well as friendly competition as students can find an outlet to express their creativity in showing what they have learned.
Not by a long shot is it an easy life for a science teacher in a public elementary school, but it’s fulfilling. They help shape future doctors, engineers, researchers, and environmentalists. But what’s more important, they are role models to students teaching the art of learning, which in fact is a lifelong adventure.
Teaching science in public school was really more of a calling than a profession-that inspired love for learning, nurtured critical thinking, and equipped students to explore the world around them. In this case, through dedication to teaching, science teachers create a lasting impact-one classroom at a time.
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