This is the Episode 5 of FS 1. In this episode, you will gain competence in determining understanding and accepting the learners' diverse background to their performance in the classroom.

1. FS 1
FIELD STUDY
The Learner’s Development
and Environment
Episode 5
INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES AND LEARNER’S
(focusing on different levels of abilities)
INTERACTION
Name of FS Student NOEL JABAGAT PAROHINOG__________________________
Course Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education major in English Year & Section II- C__
Resource Teacher Mrs. Flerida Lawrence Demegillo Signature _____________
Cooperating School Binalbagan Catholic College - High School Department _____
Your Target
At the end of this activity, you will gain competence in determining, understanding
and accepting the learners’ diverse background to their performance in the classroom.
Your Map
To reach your target, do the following tasks:
4. Write a narrative report and a
1. Observe two or more learners
brief reflection of your experiences. .
of different abilities but from the
same grade or year level.
3. Observe them as
they participate in a
classroom activity. 2. Find out some information
about their background.

2. Your Tools
Use the activity form provided for you to document your
observations.
An Observation Guide for Individual Differences
Read the following carefully before you begin to
observe. Then write your observations report on the space
provided.
1. Observe the class to see the differences in abilities of
the learners.
2. Try to identify the students who seem to be
performing well and those that seem to be behind.
3. Validate your observations by asking the teacher
about the background (family, socio-economic,
presence of some learning disability, etc.) of these
children.
4. Observe the behavior of both the high achieving and
low achieving learners. Note their disposition, pace in
accomplishing tasks, interaction with teacher, and
interaction with others.
5. Observe the teacher’s method in addressing the
individual learning needs of the students in his/her
class.

3. OBSERVATION REPORT
Name of the School Observed: Binalbagan Catholic College – High School Department
School Address: San Gregorio, Village, Binalbagan Negros Occidental
Date of Visit October 11, 2010
With a view towards more effective teaching and competent
teacher someday, another observation was conducted last October
11, 2010 at Binalbagan Catholic College – High School Department.
This objective of this activity is we will be able gain competence in
determining, understanding and accepting the learners’ diverse
background to their performance in the classroom.
I observed the class of Miss Andrea Abeto in first year –
Sampaguita. She started her class by requesting the students to pick
up some pieces of paper under their chairs, opening prayer, and then
she asked her students about their previous discussion as her daily
routines in the classroom.
There teacher asked something about the story that they had
tackled previously and a proudly boy raising his hands answered the
question. The whole class interacts with the teacher causing them to
be lively and enthusiastic.
There topic was all about identifying if the word is synonyms
and antonyms in meaning. The words are given in the blackboard and
the students are requested to label it whether it is synonyms and
antonyms. There are some students in the class who seems to be
very participative and some are not. The students who appeared to
be participative and cooperative is always raising his hands without
waiting there teacher to ask them, mostly they came from middle
class and they can accomplish task at a given time. Unlike the low
achiever in the class surrounded by many factors which makes them
poor in the class, for instance: Some students are shy to involve
themselves in the discussion. The disposition of low achievers did not
meet the standards of the high achievers in the class in other words,
very far their attention in regards of class participation.
As a conclusion, I do believe that TEACHERS are architect of
our nations for they help construct individuals economically and free
citizens with the knowledge that God bestowed to them. NJP*

4. Your Analysis
1. Did your observation match the information given by the teacher?
Were you able to correctly identify who among the students perform
well and who did not? What behavior helped you identify them?
(Volunteering to answer, responding to teacher’s direction, etc?)
Ofcourse yes, my own observation match to the information given
by the teacher. I was able to identify the students who perform well and who
did not. I recognized him the way he interacts, volunteering to answer with
the teacher. For an instance when the teacher throwed a question, he raised
his hands immediately and with the willingness to help his classmates who
was first ask by the teacher. He answered the question correctly whereas
the student who did not perform well, obviously he was not able to respond
it and I sense something that it was accompanied by many factors which
makes the learner slow in the discussion e.g.: shy and sleepy.
2. Describe the differences in ability levels of the students in the
class. Is there a wide gap between the students who are performing
well and those that are not?
Based on the ability levels of the students, there is really a wide gap
between the students who are performing well and those that are not. The
students who perform well in the class are those who are taken cared of by
their parents, in terms of their basic needs. As I have observed, students who
are not performing well in the classroom are caused by many factors; for
instance, some of them are tired and sleepy maybe because of work, some
sleep late at night watching television. Others come to school without having
a breakfast and without having ‘baon’ due to poverty. Some have family
problems. These are the factors that affect the ability levels of the class.
3. Describe the methods used by the teacher in handling the
students ‘differences in abilities. How did the students respond to
the teacher?
The methods used by the teacher in handling her students is self-
reliance by permitting learners to do by themselves the things that interest
them, within strictly disciplined limits. She treated her students fairly
whether it is high or low achiever in the class or not, she used to address her
lesson to everybody and according to what I had sense is that she do not give
up even if some of her students mixed with both low achievers and high
achievers and yet the learners responses are still receptive and interactive in
the class eventhough some answered wrong.

5. Your Reflections
1. Recall the time when you were in the elementary or high school.
Recall the high and low achievers in your class. How did your
teacher deal with differences in abilities? Was your teacher
effective?
When I was in high school, my teacher is very effective in
dealing with differences in abilities of my classmates. She manifested
this during her lesson, dealings, actions, methods and the way she
show strictness when we are inside the classroom. For instance when
she is asking about the lesson, she prefer to address this to everybody
rather than call one student. The same as what I have observed,
every teacher do not attempt to give up in teaching low achievers in
the class for she know that when you teaching eagerly, there is no
doubt for him/her to catch the lesson that is why rote learning is
required.
2. With the principle of individual differences in mind, What method
and strategies will you remember in the future to ensure that you
will be able to meet the needs of both the high and low achievers in
your class?
As a future teacher, this activity is not only intended for me to
have a good observation but rather to furnish me to become a
competent educator someday. For me, the methods and strategies
that I will remember in the future so that I could ensure that I meet
the needs of both high and low achievers in my class is that I will
treat my students fairly, respect their individuality, social background,
and most especially there individual differences in abilities. I will
avoid comparing and never attempt from putting them down. I will
make sure that these things are embed in my mind so that I could
understand my student’s temperament, pace in accomplishing tasks,
interaction with teacher, and the way the interact with others.