Habi Hour S1 Episode 2: Designing for Teacher Wellbeing

Conversations about on the power of stories, narratives and communities in keeping one’s teaching spark alive

About Strong Start

CELINA: Actually, I asked us to check-in kung sino ‘yong strong cartoon character para sa atin because it really goes to show that each of us define the word “strong” differently. Si Avatar Aang man ‘yan, si Little Lulu, si Johnny Bravo—they’re all strong. And this is much related to our topic for this episode which is Strong Start, a program we designed for teacher wellbeing. Chess, can you give us a background on Strong Start?

CHESS: Strong Start is a 6-part online workshop for teacher wellbeing. ‘Yong program and curriculum nito was developed by Raqs, our collaborator. It was about the SPARK tools and exercises. I think Raqs will share more about it later. In terms of timing, sinakto talaga natin ito sa month of September. If we recall, the start of classes for school year 2020-2021 for our public schools was moved from August to October. Dahil dito nagkaroon ng isa pang buwan (bago magsimula ang klase). When we conceptualized it, naisip natin na, “How can we help our teachers prepare for the school year this October?” On top of preparations for the modules, we realized that it is also important that we prepare the hearts of our teachers who will go into this interesting school year.

CELINA: Gusto ko ‘yong sinabi mo Chess na paghahanda hindi lang sa modules natin, pero paghahanda rin sa mga puso ng mga teachers para sa kakaibang school year na ito. I’m really curious to know what Strong Start really is. Saan ba ito nanggaling, Raqs? How did it start? How did you come up with the idea of Strong Start?

RAQS: For some time, I have been doing workshops for teachers. In fact n’ong nag-start ako may First Start, Bright Start. Maraming Start. These were made to help teachers start their school year. But this year, given the pandemic and how schools have been challenged, it’s unprecedented. There’s distance learning and blended learning, and a lot of things are asked from teachers. What came to me was the word “strong.” Ngayon kasi we need to find strength within ourselves in order to act on this call. Sa hero’s journey, if there’s something new, you need to have the courage and that strength to go into the unknown. Kaya nagkaroon ng Strong Start. Sabi ko, “Kailangan ngayon ng teachers ng strong start.” D’on ito nagsimula.

CELINA: ‘Yong sinabi mo, Raqs, na “the unknown,” bilang guro hindi ko naintindihan ‘yong ibig sabihin ng “the unknown” until this year happened.

Meet Raqs, our collaborator

CELINA: Raqs, bago natin pag-usapan ‘yong Strong Start nang mas malalim pa, puwede ka pa bang magpakilala sa amin nang kaunti? What is your background? How did you get into education? How did you get into designing a lot of different programs or “Starts” for teachers?

RAQS: I’ll try to be concise because it has been a long 15-year journey for me. I was also a teacher a long time ago, back in 2005. I was a new and struggling teacher then. I think nasabi ko ‘to sa Habi Live dati na kinilig, nalungkot, na-broken hearted ako, tapos nagkaroon ako ng “a-ha!” moments with my students. I was able to experience all the different feelings a teacher would feel when they are a 100% present in their classes, sharing with their students. After that, I did development work in education, organizing teacher trainings. Pero ‘yong natutunan ko na sinabi ng mentor ko, “Alam mo, nagbibigay tayo ng teacher training sa public schools pero wala namang nagbabago kasi pagod na sila. Kapag pagod ka na, wala nang space for you to take in anything. Kahit maraming resources at maraming trainings walang nangyayari.” Sabi niya, “Before we start, kailangan nila ng teacher renewal workshop.” Ang tawag do’n, “Manumbalik MULI: Misyon, Ugat, Ligaya, at Inspirasyon.” Do’n nagsimula ‘yon. As much as content is important, teacher well-being is also important. Actually, socio-emotional support for teachers is also important.

Eventually, with my friend, Sam, we started Kape’t Guro. It’s a community of teachers by teaches. Nag-shift ito to taking inspiration from chismis culture hindi lang among teachers pero among Filipinos in general. We like sharing stories but sometimes to a fault. We share whatever story that we catch ourselves in. ‘Yong nakuha ko upon reflecting about it and observation is that the stories we tell ourselves are powerful, kasi it can make or break us. We need to choose the stories that we say. At ‘yong teachers, siguro maraming chismis, naghahanap sila ng story na puwede nilang lang i-kuwento. It’s really looking at how we can create spaces where teachers can share stories that inspire one another. Nag-mentor din ako ng teachers. I worked for Teach for the Philippines as a Leadership Development Officer. I supported fellows ages 12 to 15. I also discovered na it’s an overarching theme: finding support and strength through sharing stories with each other. Kaya napunta ako sa kung nasaan ako ngayon. Did I answer your question? [laughs]

CELINA: Yes, okay lang. Kung mag-e-extract ako ng keywords na narinig ko, si Raqs ay isa ring teacher. Ikaw rin ay nagturo. Then eventually you got into making a program for teachers. Then ang particular lens n’on is creating spaces where teachers can really share stories and inspire one another. ‘Yong journey mo, Raqs, from being immersed in the field, teaching, went more into coaching or being the support that our teachers need, especially during this time. Pero mayroon akong singit na trivia dito, and correct me if i’m wrong, Chess. May ibang connection pa kayo ni Raqs bukod sa collaboration na ito with Habi. Saan pa ba kayo may connection?

CHESS: Yes. Totoo ‘yon, Celina. Nabanggit kanina ni Raqs na she was a Leadership Development Officer (LDO), for Teach for the Philippines. So ‘yon ang isang connection. I was a fellow in Teach for the Philippines back in 2013 for their inaugural cohort, and Raqs was my LDO. Totoo ‘yong sinabi ni Raqs na malaki ‘yong effect ng having the space to share stories and inspire one another. Because in that fellowship, it was my first time to teach. First job ko ‘yon fresh out of college. And very pivotal ang first year of teaching ng isang teacher. Doon makikita kung gaano ito kahirap, gaano kalaking adjustment ang kailangan. Basta, napakalaking experience ng first year of teaching. Malaki ‘yong nakuha kong support from Raqs professionally, pati sa emotional side of navigating my first year of teaching.

CELINA: I agree.

The SPARK Framework

CELINA: I want to ask you about the SPARK framework. I understand you use this in Strong Start, right? What is the SPARK framework? What does it stand for and how do you actually use it?

RAQS: SPARK stands for: S – Sense the movements within; P – Put things into perspective; A – Act on the call for adventure; R – Raise your standards; and K – Keep your big “Why.” Mahaba ito. May visual cues ako d’yan. Basically iba-ibang kuwento ‘yan.

CELINA: Okay, sige. I was referring to SPARK earlier as a framework, but I want to ask Chess. As much as you co-designed Strong Start as a program with Raqs, you were also a participant in it. Alam kong nakisali ka rin sa activities. For you as a participant, what is the SPARK framework? Or what does SPARK actually mean for you?

CHESS: Totoo ‘yan. I was wearing two hats when I did the SPARK exercises during the Habi Live Strong Start workshop. Looking back at the entire 6 weeks of every Monday may Habi Live workshop tayo sa Strong Start, ang meaning ng Strong Start for me ay community. ‘Yon ang nakita ko talaga, na malaking bahagi ang stories that we tell ourselves. Nakatulog ‘yong SPARK exercises and activities in crafting your narrative, kung paano mo ife-frame ‘yong experience mo as a teacher. The second part naman, stories are best when these are shared. ‘Yon din ang na-appreciate ko within the 6 weeks na, because of that space, mayroon kang makakausap na kapwa teacher, kapwa guro na may sarili ring adventure, and you get to share in each others’ stories. It may be grand, it may be a lot of struggles, it may be a different kind of adventurer for each teacher, pero may sense of community rin in celebrating your own unique journeys as teachers. ‘Yon ang SPARK for me.

CELINA: Gamit na gamit ‘yong word na spark in different ways. Bet ko ‘yan! Sobrang creative natin. I guess it means a lot at magkakaiba talaga ito depende rin sa teacher o taong gumagamit nito.

A demonstration of the SPARK framework

CELINA: Raqs, at this point, medyo nafo-FOMO ako to be honest kasi nga hindi ko nagawa ‘yong all 6 episodes. I was wondering if you can demonstrate it to us, kahit hindi naman natin buoing ‘yong S-P-A-R-K. Ok lang. Puwed ba nating subukan, kahit kaunti lang d’yan?

RAQS: Sino’ng gusto? Ikaw Chess, o Celina?

CELINA: Puwede bang sabay muna kami?

RAQS: Sige. ‘Yong naisip ko kasi ay ‘yong A, ‘yon ang pinaka-peak, ‘yong adventure. Usually I use a tool called WOOP. Sa WOOP, tinatanong ko ‘yong teachers, “If there’s one wish right now in relation to what you’re doing right now, ano ‘yong wish na ‘yon? What is something that you wish you can do or accomplish?”

CELINA: Does it have to be related to our teaching?

RAQS: Kahit wish in general. Huwag lang ‘yong “To be a millionaire.” Kahit wish for today or tomorrow. Or, “This month, if I could get this wish, it would make a difference.”

CELINA: Sige may naisip na ako. Sasagutin ba namin out loud?

RAQS: Yes, oo.

CELINA: Sige, may naisip na ako. My wish is for an open space where I don’t need to wear a mask. An open green space where I don’t need to wear a mask and I can feel safe to just do, I don’t know yet. I’m gonna be there and just be me in that open Green space, feeling safe.

RAQS: Nice! Magaganda. Na-imagine ko siya. Clear. Ang sarap. Sasama ako pero naka-social distancing tayo. To spend a day or a weekend in a space in nature na hindi kailangang magsuot ng mask.

CELINA: Yes. That’s it.

RAQS: Ngayon, once you start thinking of your wish, once you get that wish, what would it feel like for you? Ano ‘yong outcome? Imagine na nand’on ka sa space na ‘yon na hindi kailangang magsuot ng mask, and you’re just in nature, you can do anything. What do you imagine you’re feeling would be? What would it create for you?

CELINA: I think I would be feeling like myself, and I would be feeling normal. ‘Yon ang una kong naisip. I will be reminded that, “Hey, the world is still there, and I can go out.” I’m not boxed in inside the house. I will be reminded that there are safe spaces. I will feel safe again.

RAQS: Wow! Naramdaman ko ‘yon, at naisip ko rin baka ‘yong mga nakikinig, nasa wish din nila ‘yan. Kung puwede lang mag-like dito, marami nang nag-like. I can relate. What I sense is that the outcome of it is well-being. That you will be able to have that sense of calm and peace, na everything’s going to be okay. Or “We’ve got this.” Being in nature. It removes the restrictions and it allows you to be yourself. Tama ba?

CELINA: Yes. You got it.

RAQS: Ok. Usually it’s a process of imagination. “What is your Wish? What is your Outcome?” So W-O. Next is another O, and this is very important. Ano ‘yong Obstacles natin? There are internal and external obstacles. You could tell me one internal and one external. Anu-ano ang obstacles mo?

CELINA: Ikaw na ang mag-sort, Raqs, kung internal or external. Pero ang una kong naisip ay, in wanting to go to green space I will need to drive to that place, because there is none around me right now that I can access by foot. If I drive to that place, ‘yon ang worry ko. An obstacle is I think maybe I have already forgotten how to drive. Mga 7 months na akong hindi nagda-drive. I’m so scared that I have forgotten how to drive. And even if I remember how to, baka maaksidente ako. I’m really afraid to start driving again, to start accessing what I think will be a good safe space for me. The other one is, I don’t really say it out loud, but I am still scared to go out. I really haven’t been going out. Then nag-ease pa lalo ng restrictions. People can go out in bigger groups and workplaces are open. For me nothing changed from since March. Mayroon akong sariling rules na, “Nope! I’m home.”

RAQS: So tama ba na ‘yong osbtacle mo is the fear of driving, which I can relate to. Kasi recently nag-drive ako, tapos I felt slight anxiety na, “Oh my gosh! Parang hindi na ako sanay mag-drive.” Nage-gets ko ‘yan. Ang isa mong concern is about driving. But the other one is concern about the pandemic. Of course you don’t want to get infected, which makes a lot of sense.

CELINA: Yeah. I’m still really scared. For me nothing changed from when it started. We’re still in that situation. It’s just as dangerous, if not more dangerous.

RAQS: Sige. Interesting. I would actually pull out another tool in this process that we’re doing kasi were talking about emotions. You are afraid, di ba? Aside from the WOOP, mayroon din tayong MBP. It is important to be aware of how we feel. Mulat. Naging mulat ka ngayon. “Shucks. Natatakot ako.” Feeling ko hindi ka nag-iisa. Marami pa rin natatakot, at normal lang talagang matakot dahil nga a lot of people have passed away and a lot of people have had terrible experiences in terms of getting COVID-19. Maging mulat tayo d’yan. Pero ‘yung B, ay Bitawan. Iba ‘yung bitawan sa pabayaan. Kapag binitawan mo kasi, matitingnan mo siya. So when you look at it, you can ask, “What can I do with this fear?” D’on mo s’ya maso-solve. Kapag binitiwan mo siya, ‘yon na yung P, Piliin. “Ano na ang pipiliin mo ngayon given how you feel in the context of the situation? Ano ‘yong mga safety and precautionary measures that can help you ease that fear?”

CELINA: Do I go through it one by one? How does work?

RAQS: For me, kung natatakot ka pero gusto mo lumabas, itanong mo kung ano ‘yong puwede mong gawin. Do you still want to stay at home? Mayr’on kasing pull dahil naging mulat ka sa takot mo pero gusto mong lumabas. Let’s look at your fear. Natatakot ka na mahawa, na makuha ‘yong COVID-19, tama?

CELINA: Yeah.

RAQS: So if you’re going out, what are the safety precautions that you can do so that you can you protect yourself?

CELINA: I want to look back to yung wish ko kanina na, if I go out, it won’t be in a crowded place at all. So I will choose to go to like a space na wala masyadong tao. And sa safety precautions, ‘yong mga basic na wearing your protective gear. But I also need some adaptability. Kunwari nagmaneho na ako, takot na takot akong nagmaneho papunta sa isang open field sa mga bundoksa San Mateo, Rizal. Kung makita ko na marami pa ring tao na nandoon, aatras ako. Or kung makita ko na pagbaba ko sa sasakyan and I started feeling safe pero biglang nagkaroon ng threat to my environment, I will try to be at peace with that. Na, “Okay. Baby steps.” Little by little ‘yong paglabas.

RAQS: Gusto ko ‘yong sinabi. Ang ganda ng sinabi mo mo na ‘yong pagpili. Sabi mo, “Pipiliin kong pumunta sa isang lugar na hindi masyadong maraming tao.” So that’s the first step. Alam mo ba, si Chess, favorite niya ‘yang MBP. Tama ba, Chess? Baka may insights ka sa process namin ni Celina.

CHESS: I like MBP! Bukod sa mahilig rin ako sa sports, naalala ko ‘yong MVP, most valuable player. Pero dito sa MBP, +1 ako sa value ng pagsisimula sa pagiging mulat, and being aware of emotions. ’Yong first part of acknowledging na, “I’m scared” is already a big step. Napangalanan mo ‘yong nararamdaman mo. Sinasabi mong, “It’s fear. What I’m feeling right now is fear.” Tapos ‘yong pagiging mulat na ‘yon helps you move to the next part, ‘yong bitawan. When I first experienced this part, I was also unsure. “Paano ‘yong bitawan? What does it mean? Bitawan na let go? Hindi ko na papansinin?” Pero ‘yong natutunan ko from the exercises of SPARK ay, bitawan in the sense of you take a step back and try to see what your fear means. And from that “bitawan,” you make your choice. So baka ‘yon din ‘yong process na puwede for Celina. ‘Yong follow-up question ko is, with your fear, nahimay mo na siya, na-unpack mo na s’ya, ano ‘yong pipiliin mo? What would you do with your fear?

RAQS: Wow, ang ganda dun sinabi mo, Chess.

CELINA: Naks, may recruit ka na! May isa ka pang coach sa Malayang Diwa!

RAQS: You’re my MVP!

CELINA: Yes, the Star Player of the MBP!

RAQS: Gusto ko ‘yong sinabi niya na ‘yong “bitawan” is taking a step back. It really makes a lot of sense. Because fear is an emotion. Taking a step back is grounding that emotion on reality. “Ano ba ‘yong mga practices that can work?” Patikim ito na puwede mo pang i-unravel. Pero magaling ‘yong awareness mo. I think important talaga ‘yong conversations with people, kasi minsan, when we feel our emotions and we’re all alone, it’s hard for us to go outside of it. For example, it’s easier for me to coach someone else than to coach myself, kasi it takes another person to mirror it most of the time. That’s why what Chess said about community is important. Magaling ‘yong ibinahagi mo kasi tingin ko maraming makaka-relate. Minsan nga mas extreme pa ‘yong fear ng iba. May ibang tao na sobrang natatakot sila at sinisigawan nila ‘yong iba na walang mask. Maraming context ang mga tao. Ang plano mo ngayon ay to explore options and have conversations with people when you’re feeling afraid. Tama ba?

CELINA: Yeah. Sobrang nakakatulong. Ang hirap pala ng ganito, ano? ‘Yong nagpapa-coach ka tapos bilgang, “Snap out of it!” [laughs] That was actually really difficult! Pero just to be metacognitive about it. You were demonstrating one of activities within the SPARK framework. So the WOOP is under A which is Act on the Call, Adventure, or Alamat. Is that right?

RAQS: Yes.

CELINA: And the MBP, where does it fall under?

RAQS: MBP actually falls under P – Put Things into Perspective. You shift from S- Sense the Movements Within then move to P. Ok maramdaman ‘yong emotions pero kailangang i-ground mo rin s’ya sa context. You step back and look, “What is this feeling saying to you?”

CELINA: That’s actually nice. Sinusubukan ko ngang i-meta ‘yong SPARK framework. Because I keep on calling it SPARK framework. Framework, framework. But what I got from you and Chess is that SPARK is more of an experience. And while you have your taglines and keywords for people who are using it, nasa iyo talaga ‘yong kuwento. Depende kung ano ang konteksto mo. Sinabi mo nga kanina na, while our story may have the same words, for example I used the word “fear,” but by definition might be different from another person’s. Looking at the SPARK framework, I find how beautiful it is to individualize and contextualize kung ano ‘yong patutunguhan ng paggamit ng SPARK framework para sa iyo.

CELINA: Another thing that I want to point out is what Chess did. Chess, when Raqs invited you to chime in and talk about how I answered the MBP, ‘yong Mulat, Bitawan, Piliin, and you were giving your prospective, and you were also actually providing some level of affirmation, with some assurance, making it a safer space. I realized, Chess, that what you were saying is that the SPARK for you is not a framework. SPARK for you is about building a community. I genuinely feel it. I felt it in that moment when you jumped in and gave some of your input.

Reflections on the SPARK framework

CELINA: Tatatalon ako d’on, Chess. Ikaw ba, after experiencing the SPARK framework, How did you feel? Did you feel compelled to do something about it? Whether sa sarili mo, or with the people around you, with your friendships, your co-teachers. What did you feel compelled to do?

CHESS: Going back, sa simula pa lang talaga, my main intention was to give space for teachers to reflect. During the Habi Live workshop, ‘yon ang goal ko as a collaborator. But as I was going through with it, na-realize ko rin na I’m just learning through the process, and I wanted to share it kasi it’s a tool that will help you reflect as a person. Kaya as a learner, lagi kong isinusulat ‘yong mga reflections ko, and I share it with my immediate circle: sa family and friends. I may not be using the same terms, kunwari iniiba ko ‘yong mga salitang ginagamit ko para sa Mulat, Bitawan, at Piliin, but it’s the same exercise. When you are given a gift, may part sa’yo na you want to share it. Thank you, Raqs, for being generous with the SPARK framework and sharing it with us.

CELINA: The FOMO is real! [laughs]

RAQS: Kasi si Chess, noong nag-share s’ya ng mga take-aways n’ya, I saw how she was able to take care of her well-being. Ang galing kasi learner s’ya so napapalago niya pa ‘yong SPARK framework. She was able to discover her spark within. Thank you rin, Chess, kasi we learn the most when we actually participate and engage ourselves in the process. Nakita ko, Chess, talagang fully engaged ka. It’s really looking at what gifts we get, and maximize and grow it.

CELINA: Nakakatuwa! Bigla ko tuloy naisip na gusto kong makausap ulit ‘yong Strong Start community. I’m part of the Facebook group. Para sa mga listeners natin, there’s a Facebook group, Strong Start Community. Hindi ko lang sure kung searchable sa Facebook.

CHESS: It’s searchable.

CELINA: So Strong Start Community on Facebook. It’s a private group with the Strong Start participants from the Habi Live Workshop. And if you want to know more about the SPARK framework or at least try it, kasi sabi nga ni Raqs, the best way to appreciate it is to really experience it for yourself, you can actually playback and watch the videos of all 6 Habi Live episodes. But there’s also another option. Later I’ll ask Raqs to do an invitation to talk about her coaching program after Strong Start.

What is teacher well-being for you?

CELINA: But before I go into that, ibabalik ko lang ang usapan natin sa importance of having a strong start for teachers. Sabi mo nga, Raqs, that even before this pandemic, you already had so many programs that were for teacher well being. It’s not something special na lumabas lang out of the pandemic, but now we know that it’s really needed by all of us. So I want to ask you about teacher well-being. What is teacher well-being? Just very briefly. Miss Universe Philippines, gan’on. [laughs]

RAQS: For me it’s important. If there’s a word that I would associate with teacher well-being, it’s “important.” It’s not just an add-on. It’s actually part of who you are. Sinabi ni Parker Palmer sa book na “Courage to Teach,” na more than anything, more than the lessons that we teach students, you teach who you are. So as teachers we have to nurture and take care of who we are, kasi it translates to our interactions with students. ‘Yong content, parang sa PowerPoint slides, ‘yon ang inilalabas mo, pero iba rin yung mismong experience nila sayo. Parang LX, learning experience. Kung sino ka. dala mo ‘yan sa experience ng students mo. So teacher well-being is important.

CELINA: Thanks Raqs. Chess, ikaw?

CHESS: Teacher well-being is a responsibility. ‘Yan ang natutunan ko sa Strong Start. It doesn’t happen overnight. We work hard for it as individuals. And kung ie-expand ko pa, I would say that teacher well-being is also a shared responsibility, na mayr’on ding tayong responsibility sa isa’t isa in supporting our teachers especially through this pandemic.

CELINA: Ganda. Mayr’on akong sense na kayong dalawang kausap ko ngayon, mayr’on kayong shared experience and I missed out on something so great! Kasi kung sinusubukan kong sagutin ‘yong sarili kong tanong noon, as a college teacher, I would have defined teacher well-being as a privilege. Para sa akin kasi bago ko marinig ang mga sagot n’yo, naisip ko talaga, “Oh eh di kung kaya. Kung kaya, gagawin ko s’ya. I’ll engage in an activity.” Sometimes I have this concept that teacher well-being is something concrete that you join, an activity you partake in. And also being a privilege na, “I don’t have the time for it, eh. Ubos na talaga ‘yong oras ko kakagawa ng teacher tasks ko.” But just listening to your definitions, ang take-away ko d’on, kahit hindi pa ako sumasali sa Strong Start, is 1) you make time, because we make time for the things that matter to us. So if I see my teacher tasks as my responsibilities, so is my own well-being as a teacher. And 2) is about what Chess said regarding shared responsibility. It seems so heavy for me right now because I think of it as something that I would do alone. Na, “Eh responsibilidad ko ito, eh.” But, yeah, it is a shared responsibility. There are people like you guys who have started a community and support group. Outside Strong Start, Raqs also mentioned earlier that there’s Kape’t Guro. I know that right now a lot of teacher groups in different schools have started their own communities. Kaya sabi ko, “If it mattered to me, maybe teacher well-being is something that I can put in my schedule,” and I wish I did. Sayang! Bakit ngayon lang tayo nag-uusap, guys? [laughs]

RAQS: Puwede ka pa namang magsimula.

CELINA: Puwede pa. Puwede pa. May Late Start ba, Raqs? O Strong Start pa rin kahit late start?

RAQS: May strong finish din. I think puwede pa rin. Sometimes, like this one, just being able to reach out and have a conversation with another person when you’re not feeling well can do wonders.

How to get in touch with Malayang Diwa?

CELINA: So Raqs, just to make sure that everybody knows how to reach you, let us know, what is Malayang Diwa doing? What activities can we join?

RAQS: Please make sure to follow me on Facebook @malayangdiwa.co. I’m currently running the first series na paid workshop. It’s “Ignite your Teaching Spark”. I’m refining it. Na-mention ko kanina na what’s different about it from the Habi Live workshop is that here, nagiging persona. Patikim lang na “Teaching as swimming” or “Teachers as swimmers” ‘yong S. So SPARK, d’on mo na bubuoin ‘yong kuwento mo. May worksheets, meditations, and sessions. Watch out for it. I’m gonna come out with another one by the end of November. So make sure to follow @malayangdiwa.co on Facebook.

CELINA: Malayang Diwa, Strong Start Community, and the Habi page. So you know where to find and reach us.

On future memories with teachers

CELINA: That was a very rich conversation. Sabi ko, “Woah! Parang marami tayong napag-usapan. Parang hitik na hitik s’ya!” And I’m really very excited for more people to know about this particular story. I want to try and celebrate a future memory with us. Remembering that right now, nasa pandemya tayo and based on our different contexts, iba’t iba ang alam natin tungkol sa mga karanasan at mga nararamdaman ng mga kapwa guro natin during this time. If you look back to this season maybe a year or two from now, kapag binalikan natin itong season na ito around September, October, November ng 2020, because of your good design, how did teachers feel?

RAQS: Wow. That’s a great question. Top of mind lang, nai-imagine kong ‘yong kuwento dati ng mga teachers na mag-isa lang sila, na nalulunod sila. Ngayon na discover nila na may kasama sila. At sa tulong ng isa’t isa, we’ll be able to transcend and surpass this challenge. It’s a story of how a teachers discovered learning and teaching, both inside and outside of the classroom. When we talk about teacher well-being, mas natutunan na ng teachers. Kasi nga well-being is connected to your becoming in class. I imagine na ‘yong mga teachers, mas nag-e-enjoy sila, na kahit na online, or nagche-check lang sila ng mga notes, mas marami pang mga spark moments with the students.

CHESS: I’m thinking about a future conversation. Kunwari may kausap akong one of our teacher friends who joined the Strong Start series sa Habi Live or listened to our podcast, I imagine a conversation that will go like this: “2020? Oh, man! Sobrang hirap ng year na ‘yon! Ang daming curve balls ng year ng ‘yon. Pero ‘yon din ang year na na-discover at na-rediscover ko ‘yong kindness ng bawat tao, at na tayong teachers ay tao rin. We are humans.”

RAQS: Ganda!

Check Out

CELINA: Maraming salamat ulit, Raqs at Chess, for joining us in this episode of Habi Hour. Kanina nag-check-in tayo. Tatapusin natin ang episode na ito with a check-out. Aligned pa rin sa main topic natin for this episode na “Designing for Teacher Well-being,” fill in the blanks: “Good design for our teachers at this time is one that makes them feel ____.”

RAQS: Good design for our teachers at this time is one that makes them feel free.

CELINA: Good design for our teachers at this time is one that makes them feel cared for.

CHESS: Good design for our teachers at this time is one that makes them feel alive.

[Habi Hour Outro]