A Little Help That Boni Would Never Forget

         By Vic Odarve

One summer afternoon while on the bus stop station, the man overheard a familiar voice alongside the bus terminal. As he went down from the local bus, he carefully looked to the crowd of passengers and street vendors. Boni instantly recognized him at once. Caught in mild surprise, he asked, “Oh Boni, I think you are schooling, why are you here? He merely inclined his head and confided later that he was advised to stop schooling by his parents, and instead, looked for a job.

Boni's residential residence - Mayana Village

Boni was undoubtedly on his concluding years in high school. The man and Boni’s family were very closed neighbors in the local village. The man learned that Boni instantly abandoned his class almost a week since he could not attend the ongoing final exam due to unpaid tuition fee and that his father was sick. Hence, he decided to stop schooling. “But why not ask the principal to have a promissory note and take the final exam? “the man refuted. Boni modestly replied that he had tried, but his request was not granted. 

As the man drove away, the innocent picture of this adolescent boy kept on playing on his mind back and forth that convinced him to see Boni’s parents. Boni’s parents were one of his best friends and a neighbor for around 30 years. 

Upon arrival on their local village, he visited their parents. On their engaging conversation, the parents admitted their son’s stoppage in schooling. The man also learned that the family is struggling in pain over the local school financial obligations. Without hesitation, the man did offer a little financial assistance for the tuition fee and advise them to let their son to go back to the class, take the final exam, and complete high school education. In return, the parents humbly thanked him for his needed help. 

A Man's residential house

Finally, the son returned to the class, took the exam, and successfully attended the graduation ceremony.

Ten years had passed. The man had virtually forgotten the incident when he received a letter from Boni, the village’s neighbor’s son. It fondly recalled that summer afternoon when he was selling goods as street vendor in a bus terminal and how he convinced his parents at his village home to resume his study. 

On top of that was an enclosed round-trip ticket to Davao City and humbly asking the man to be one of the main sponsors on his wedding day held in one of the most glamorous hotels in the city. At that place, the man met Boni and his wife, his parents, and together with the bride entourage, spent their time in one of the momentous moments in their life.

The young man is now the project engineer of the DPWH with main office in Davao city. He is a Civil Engineer.

 This humble man never foresaw the turn of events. For him it was just a little help but somehow did touch someone’s life.

My Math Visitor

         By Vic Odarve

Except for private institutions, the country’s federal state universities and colleges were plagued with teachers’ union strike. Students stayed at their homes waiting for trouble to settle and resume their classes afterward. But one student refused to stop her schooling!

So I am lucky to teach in one of the private universities. No teachers’ union strike!

School Campus

In one of my visit to the university library to read some local newspaper, one of the students approached and requested me to have some explanation on the math solutions previously discussed in the classroom. “Okay, what part of the topic?” I told her. She opened her notes and showed the steps where she got the problems and I did the explanation and discussion. Satisfied, she said, “Thank you, Sir, I understand already”, she said. Then I said,” How was the result of your last quiz?” “I got 90 % score, Sir”, she smiled. “Good, and on next quiz you must get a perfect score”, I replied. Then she slowly walked quietly and slip away. I paid little attention. She got a good score. So nothing to worry!  She may just serious enough and want to do more on her study every day.

Engineering students

Then, the next quiz came. Only 5 out of 234 students in a class got a perfect score. And she was one of them!

It was then that I gave her an attention. I noticed that during the class session, she sat at the end of the last row of the seats in a packed and overcrowded room. She listened intently and focused to my discussion. No friend, no talking even on her seatmates as if she knew none of her classmates! “She must be too shy”, I guessed.

The semester math course was about to finish. I gave the final quiz before the final exam. “This would be the last quiz”, I told the students. Then what was the result? She got perfect score again! She had done it! “She is a good performing student”, I told myself.

The next meeting I returned the quiz scripts. She was absent. For almost two weeks, I could no longer see her. Then I inquired the course representative and her classmates what happened to this girl. To my surprise, none of her classmates knew her. She vanished and I received no word from her and her whereabouts! I was completely blank!

Math students

After two weeks my phone rang. The girl informed me that she returned to her school at the federal university since the teachers’ strike was over. She thanked and told me that she learned and enjoyed math during her stint in my class. It was then I knew that she was my math- visitor. She was not my student! She refused to stop schooling! Then she returned to where she belonged!

Nature's Christmas Tree on Display

                  By Vic Odarve

Seemingly unseen by many urban people and usually taken for granted or forgotten by the rural  folks, nature’s Christmas trees are displayed in some parts of the African continent in a scintillating beauty… simple, unique, and awesome. From the ordinary palm tree, there hangs several decors of natural bird’s nests hanging more than Christmas toys, cards, and gifts can express. Unique as it is, owners are as if singing in unison the Christmas carols in the bough of the trees; celebrating the incoming Christmas seasons that Christians also rejoice. It is an awesome reminder for mankind that the tree, untrimmed and untouched by human skillful hands, looks like a Christmas tree. It is a nature’s Christmas tree on display!

Walking Christmas Tree

Simply from the common palm trees, they are decorated similar to our own made Christmas tree. The tree is real and untrimmed; simply the birds’ nests hanging on the leaves as decoration, and birds gather around the nests reminded us like children exchanging gifts. Birds sing in unison as if a choir calling their presence of God the Almighty; they do this at the end of their daily activities before going to rest. The tree appeals to everyone and people know how they loved how the nests hang from the leaves of the tree. And it looks like a man made Christmas tree. Absolutely beautiful and so simple!

This nature’s Christmas tree is something unique as it brightens the spirit of everyone. Instead of cards, expensive gifts, and long ribbons and garlands made out of beads to accentuate the color of your choice, birds’ nests were hung on the tree itself. Nature’s decors it to the elegant look! It never fails to bring smiles to peoples faces and proudly invites everyone for the perfect holiday season. People say “wow” and say the tree was the coolest, prettiest, and perfect Christmas tree. It is a unique Christmas tree; keep the people full and exactly what they wanted on a Christmas tree.

Natures Christmas tree

An awesome nature’s reminder! This tree reminds us of our strong spiritual connection to our Christian belief and to some extent, its display gives us a more joyous celebration; hence glorifying our God. It also shows our strong kinship and oneness with nature; the palm tree once again painted the scenes of serenity and grandeur described by the psalmist in the word of God. Although Christmas tree tradition dates back to the 16^th or 15^th century which devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes, to date we would do well to remember that they are ultimately symbols of the One who gave himself to mankind.

And as we greet the Christmas celebration, this palm tree decorated with birds’ nests is indeed the simple, unique, and awesome Christmas tree that nature wants to display to mankind!

Merry Christmas to all!

Old Photographs; Images of our Life

                                        by Vic Odarve

Old photographs reopened eyes to our past, re-discovered roots, and experienced its beauty and culture of our ancestors. It gives picture where we come from and see our place where we have spent our childhood years. It builds deeper connection to the past; the ancestors, great grandparents, relatives, and friends. And knowing where we come from enable people to experience the beauty and culture from old folks tread to the new generation. Old photographs are images of our life.

Field trips and seminar
Chocolate hills-Bohol

Old pictures remind us the beauty of the places where we have spent our childhood days, playing with our childhood friends…flying kite, running, walking along the mountain trails where our grandparents used before.  These are the places where the generations of our families were born, lived and died. Pictures captured these places vividly which enable the present generation to visit and wonder how their lives were spent before.

Inspiring and imaginative, iconic old pictures teach us how to remember those we miss most, no matter how long they’ve been gone . These are the people we miss in our life, and all they still mean to us. Though most photographs are black and white, they still brings the vivid pictures the lives of our ancestors. Some of us may have inherited their physical features …the curve of our nose, and the color of the skin and eyes. Some of us are the crystal clear image of our grandparents…a living blue print from the old generation.

Great great grandparents

With their photographs we learned how our old folks lived and spent their lives. Their important events captured in the pictures…showcased how their beautiful culture and tradition flourished in their time. There are also pictures showing working together or bayanihan… a tradition which for now is seldom practice.

Yes, old pictures say a thousand words as camera captures everything. It is like a narrative of your life which you are a part of the generation; rekindle our thoughts to remember those we miss most, no matter how long they have gone. These old photographs also encourage the present generation to visit the land of their birth; attend the great annual festival or fiestas of the villages to rediscover their lost ancestral roots. Old pictures are really the images of our life.

Math Examples that Keep Students Challenge

                                     By Vic Odarve

Solving math examples in different methods but yield the same answer is itself a challenge.  And it works; keeping students at bay!

This approach allows the students to learn the principles of each method of solving same examples and develop mastery. As they master the different methods, students can readily compare the results with ease and build confidence. As confidence builds up, they challenge math problems by doing themselves; hence math becomes easier and simpler.

Solving math problems by different methods can surprise many      students, even the stupid ones. Math teachers, an expert in this field and speak with a power of persuasion, keep students’ eyes, glue to the board; ears listen to every discussion, and silence throughout the classroom. For example, in Algebra, find the value of x in a quadratic equation by factoring, by completing the square, and by the use quadratic formula. These three methods of finding the solution work differently but yields the same answer. This way the students learn three math principles in just one example. Furthermore, they can spot the differences, and mimic the teacher’s steps in arriving the final answer. Students feel great, satisfied, and enjoyed by learning three different approaches. This develops mastery of the course. Of course, a surprise and challenge!

Working Examples

Solving single math problem and obtain the same result using different methods also allows students to check and compare the final answer; hence the process builds up their confidence. Students turn this great opportunity to learn more methods; thus, increasing their math knowledge. These environments keep them changing, growing, and learning more math; thus becoming them to be an expert. Since all the methods yield the same results, they are motivated and making great grades… one of the top class math performers. The approach does build their confidence. Henceforth, as confidence develops, students challenge themselves in solving math exercises and problems.

What were the results? Some students came to the office smiling and showed their solutions confidently; others wanted to discuss how they got their final answer. Sounds great and fulfilling! It all begins with single math example that keeps the student’s challenge.

Large Class Size....a Challenge!

      By Vic Odarve

Due to a large number of students in math class, professors face a difficult task on how the students participate in the discussions, express the scientific approach to problem-solving in its simplest terms, and absorb the important steps and techniques through listening. In a classroom setting, students’ active participation during discussion makes sense in order to get the activities engaging and interesting. Expressing the step by step solutions through various illustrations and examples enables the students to grasp the methods and applications of how the principles work in math. Since lectures are usually meant as a medium of communication in large classes and listening is the best way to capture the message the professor want to emphasize, getting the crucial points poses a problem for many students. Unknown to many, most African universities allowed hundred to a thousand students in a class. Last semester, my courses usually had 200- 400 students in a Math class. It is indeed a challenging task!

Owing to a large number of students, math professors do often use Power Point presentations of lectures on the topics being discussed. This means less participation of the students; few opportunities for every student to ask questions. Most often only a few number of questions can be entertained. In a college setting, lecture courses seldom

Math class of 275 students- Nigerian University

have a group study. So every student must stick their eyes and ears in the presentation. But occasionally students are too crowded in theater-style lecture halls, where classes are held. To build a class engaging through students' participation is a challenge both for lecturers and students!

Since math courses are discussed as equations and numerical expressions, conveying the methods or techniques to students in solving problems and illustrating its theories and principles usually pose problems to lecturers. Because of the large class size, there is less opportunity for everyone to express and share ideas with the lecturers or with the classmates. Thus, students will likely have less opportunity to speak personally with the lecturers; the professor may not even know their names and how much more on the personal level. But on the other hand, students develop to take on more responsibility for their learning and learn the material more independently. It is indeed a challenge!

Engineering class with 28 students - Davao City, Philippines

The effectiveness to grasp the important points during lectures is another problem. There are fewer opportunities for class discussion and less time for students who are eager to interact with their classmates and professors. There are some students who prefer a more social setting to learn comfortably. Classroom problem management arising from students behavioral problems that disrupt classes is amplified. In some cases, lecturers may not give enough assignments or quizzes to measure how far the students absorb the lessons.  It is a challenge for having a large number of students!

Some school administrators believe that there is no ideal class size for college freshmen courses. They believe that class size, large or small, can be effective and inspiring. They also believe that a quality of professors can make a huge difference in any courses, no matter what the college class size is. It can be said that it is worth attending a large class size with a great and charismatic math lecturer who makes lectures engaging and interesting rather than sitting with small class with a professor who has a reputation of being uninspiring and dull.

It is true that by reducing class size would mean additional lecturers. This means more money is needed. In an African setting, math class sizes consist of several hundred students.

I was there teaching in one of the Nigerian universities for the past several years. It is, indeed, a huge challenge for the lecturers!

Secrets Why Students Excel in Math

                   By Vic Odarve

 Math intimidates and frightens the students but there are few who did excel or perform far better and more consistently than their peers. Simply, they have their secrets...put a regular effort in their studies, hang with classmates with similar goals, and build a reputation for excellence. By keeping regular study on the notes after the class develops good retention of the subject; associating with fellow good learners can improve time management and developing positive attitude in order to excel. No wonder, these students are on the top of their Math class.

Engineering 200 level

The study showed that the first in a two- hour lecture is the most effective period for memory retention. Faced with this dilemma, a review after the class is needed to recover part of the time where memory retention was least. Reading the notes for a few minutes after classroom strengthen further your memory. Any lapses and misunderstood notes can be easily corrected. Develop this habit regularly makes math understanding perfect!

Another behavior among students who excel in mathematics is that they select their friends. By keeping in a company and hanging around with good classmates or friends who always study mathematics in their school also bring a tremendous change in their behavior, lifestyles, manners, and actions. Oftentimes students slowly and slowly emulate one’s friend’s way of living in one way or another. Look, associate, and surround  only  with friends that give with positive influence; hang only to those that are supporting and enhancing their life, and filter their background and stick to one with the same mission and ambitions in their life. Select friends that are good math performers; they belong to their tribes. Top math performers have good time management for a study and outside classroom activities. They often hang with them.

Sunset, Madonna University

Lastly, these students build a proper attitude to excel in mathematics. They do always the best that they can. In a classroom, they listen intently how teachers did the steps in solving math problems and think mathematically more than memorizing of facts. They often spot patterns in solving problems; systematically seek why and prove the steps. They always strive for the best grade. With competent teachers, coupled with a positive attitude, these students develop a kind of flexibility and creativity; hence, excel in mathematics.

With proper motivation and empowerment from a competent math teacher coupled with these behavioral tips and secrets from students who excel in math, more students will be no longer intimidated and frightened in mathematics.