Combination and Multi-Grade Teachers in the Hinterlands of Talakag District Ii: Preparedness and Effectiveness in Classroom Management and Instruction

Combination and Multi-grade Teachers in the Hinterlands of Talakag District II: Preparedness and Effectiveness in Classroom Management and Instruction

Alfred B. Caamiño, Jr.
Department of Education
Talakag, Bukidnon, Philippines alfredcaamino@yahoo.com Abstract

This endeavor sought the preparedness and effectiveness in classroom management and instruction of the combination and multi-grade teachers in the hinterlands of Talakag District II. An individual interview was conducted since qualitative method of research was employed. The findings of this paper serve as the bases for administrators to plan out some interventions that may help improve the quality of the combination and multi-grade education in the said district. It was found that the same teachers were unprepared to handle combination and multi-grade classes due to inadequate trainings/seminars attended and lack of exposure to the multi-grade teaching pedagogy during internship. Despite such predicament, majority of the population perceive to be effective in classroom management and instruction alike. However, inflicting corporal punishment and poor performance in the NAT negate their perception of being effective teachers in such complex classroom set up. Teachers who use their learners’ mother – tongue were found very effective since the former can connect to the latter’s cultural heritage; hence, language has not been a barrier. Amidst the hardships and struggles met in the hinterlands, these teachers are expected to render quality educational services.

Keywords: Preparedness, Effectiveness, Classroom Management, Instruction, Combination and Multi-grade Classes

Biography
Alfred B. Caamiño, Jr. hails from Talakag, Bukidnon and was born on March 17, 1987. He is the second child of three siblings of Mr. Alfred Y. Caamiño, Sr. and Ms. Emelita D. Binatlao. He is currently assigned as a public elementary school teacher in Kaulayanan Elementary School of Kaulayanan, Lirongan, Talakag, Bukidnon. Alfred serves as the direct representative of the government who provides educational services to the indigenous children of the Talaandig Tribe since July 2009. In his first year of teaching, he handled a multi-grade class comprising of Grades 4, 5 and 6. The following year to date, he handles a combination class that consists of Grades 5 and 6. In addition to his teaching load, he functions as the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the school in lieu of the elementary school principal.
The author obtained his elementary and high school diplomas from Bethany Christian School of the same town. With his parents’ will to become a teacher, he graduated Cum Laude for Bachelor in Elementary Education with Concentration in English, and awarded the Most Outstanding University Student in 2008 from Bukidnon State University of Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. Having pursued graduate education program, he finished Master of Arts in Education Major in Educational Administration and received the Graduate Research Leadership Award from Capitol University of Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. Alfred plans to pursue for a doctorate degree soon.