ABSTRACT
This narrative inquiry qualitative research was conducted to assess the teaching strategies, facilitating factors and challenges encountered during the in-person classes. The researcher employed in-depth interview guide questionnaire which was distributed to the (twenty) 20 purposefully selected elementary Science teachers of Valderrama District and was analyzed using the thematic content. The study revealed that participants used hands on learning, lecture method, 5Es model, differentiated activities, explicit teaching, collaborative learning, and ICT as teaching strategies. Active participation, modeling, use of ICT, various instructional materials, motivation, formative test, enough time, and skill of the teachers were all facilitating factors. Furthermore, teachers faced challenges due to the lack of learning materials, time consuming, behavioral issues for teachers and problems for learners, challenges in using ICT, and require more engaging strategies. The researcher recommended that similar study be undertaken that focuses on the teaching strategies that can increase learners’ academic performance.
Keywords: teaching strategies, elementary science teachers, in-person classes
INTRODUCTION
Education helps people and societies that allow them to become all-around thinkers and strengthens their capacity for problem-solving by equipping them with knowledge, abilities, skills, and attitudes.
This happens in schools. School, plays a very important role in every person’s life and in child development. It promotes interest and empowers every child with opportunities to become successful individuals. Aside from learning academics, a child also learns other important life skills such as cooperation, good behaviors, unity, sharing, and responsibility. Through all these, the child is able to function in the community with care.
Teaching and learning process is the most important activity for learners and teachers in school. It helps the learners develop mentally and adjust with the behavioral changes. The teacher's primary responsibility in this situation is to quickly and effectively turn students into active learners (Munna & Kalam, 2021).
Additionally, a classroom can become a vibrant, instructional learning environment through the use of excellent teaching practices (Joshua, 2022). That is to say, a teacher may accomplish much more to improve and facilitate students' learning with the help of excellent teaching tactics. Good and quick learning outcomes are favorably impacted by effective teaching practices (Raba, 2017).
It is the duty of educators to instruct well and support learners growth in order for them to receive a high-quality education. Their responsibilities encompass guiding class discussions, fostering students' curiosity about learning, and organizing and putting together stimulating exercises to promote an effective learning environment. The discovery of certain behaviors that facilitate good teaching and learning is a crucial subject in education. Since education is a transformative process, it is important to employ effective teaching strategies and approaches that align with students' needs in order to provide them the guidance they need (Khan et.al,2021)
Thus, teaching strategies were employed to enhance student learning and lessen the negative consequences of the pandemic-related shift to online and modular learning. According to (Ayua, 2017), a teaching strategy is an instructional method that teachers use to create or develop activities that help students learn the material and achieve the learning objectives. It is a method of instruction, technique, or plan of talks or activities that are used in the classroom to accomplish certain learning and teaching goals.
The delivery of various concepts and types of knowledge necessitates the employment of various teaching strategies. Because students learn differently, it is crucial for educators to create engaging lesson plans that take into account the context, the learners' learning preferences, and the subject matter.
Teaching for several years, the researcher observed that educators experienced difficulties in implementation of teaching strategies since most of those required enough time and efforts thus needed financial support. For this reason, the researcher conducted the study to identify the facilitating factors and challenges faced by the science teachers as they implemented the teaching strategies that served as the program's foundation.
see PDF attachment for more information