Understanding the Grade 12 Senior High School Learners through indulging into their Written Journals

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Getting to know the learners may seem like a big task for a teacher, but it is an effective way to tailor fit appropriate classroom strategies that will ensure learning. Understanding our learners is an important aspect of effective teaching-learning process. It is crucial in designing and tailoring appropriate intervention plans for the students who need further guidance. Recognizing the vitality of this principle, the researcher conducted this study which aims to understand the Grade 12 senior high school students by looking at their written journals. Specifically, it answered the following questions: (1) What are usual contents of Grade 12 students' journal; (2) What are the opportunities for improvement derived from the first question; and (3) based on the findings, what intervention plan can be proposed.

METHODS

The study made use of content analysis as the research design. Written journals of the learners were analyzed.

RESULTS

It was found out that the usual journal contents of Grade 12 learners range from school environment, home environment, relationship, personal issues, future plans, and dreams. Digging deeper into the identified contents, the researcher found out that there are points which call for immediate action. These include the learners' suicidal tendency due to their stressful perception of school and home environment, low self-esteem, and early intimate relationship.

DISCUSSIONS

With the identified opportunities for improvement, the researcher came up with an intervention plan containing the issues and concerns to be addressed, the proposed action, the people involved, and the time frame.