February 18, 1972, 9:10-9:50 A.M.

Almost a month has elapsed now with my observation and participation in the classroom setting. I can more or less say that this is the classroom, there are the students and this is the teacher. And summing it all, I told to myself that this is the realization of my dream.

The teacher is getting immuned to my presence and the students seem to ignore my presence too. In other words, the class once again turns to its normal conditions. However, I still keep my identity as a student observer, like a reporter who writes the events he sees and observes by his naked eyes.

I am not here just to observe and jot down my observation. I am equally here to participate in the class. What kind of participation? Doing a little thing, like erasing the blackboard for the teacher or writing the assignment on the blackboard for the students to copy, is participation. I am here willing to assist the teacher when she needs my helping hand.

You do not gain much in jotting down all the observations you make about the teaching situation. What is most important is to learn something from all of these observations you make about the teaching situation. What is most important is to learn something from all the observations you made. Your presence inside the class makes you aware of the techniques and mthods that the teacher is going to implement in order that she would be successful in presenting her subject matter.

There is more than just commenting about the teacher's failure in presenting her lesson. Sometimes you observe that the students seem not to understand the lesson. It is your chance to study where lies the trouble and use other means to improve your method and technique. What if you take her place? What best method and technique are you going to use?

You find out that the class is unruly. How would you be able to find the best way to keep them attentive and interested? Sometimes you are downright frustrated because of the class discipline. You don't stop there but try to find the solution to the problem. Your temper sometimes boils that you even forget what to say except to burn like a flame. The best thing is to find your way out of your misery.

Then you realize that the teacher is not just an ordinary person. He is a special kind, someone to mold other personalities other than himself. How about that, future teachers?