International Teacher Education Conference 2014 1

International Teacher Education Conference 2014
In a Crucible of Hygiene and Puberty: A Proposed Instructional Strategy
June Rose L. Dela Torre a *
ª Master of Arts in Speech Communication student from the University of the Philippines- Diliman
Abstract
The paper reflects the outcome of a tried out proposed teaching strategy that can be employed for a large class.
The instructional plan was implemented to sixty learners, both male and female and is in first year high school
last August, 2012. The main topic of the instructional strategy is about hygiene and puberty and how these two
are related to each other. The proposed teaching strategy recommends the execution of a workshop type of
learning for a large class specially for general education topics. It aims to keep the attention span of the young
learners at a high level while enjoying and learning at the same time. The primary evaluation procedures utilized
by the researcher are observation and assessment of the written feedback from the participants. Results of the
instructional strategy projects that the nature of workshop type of learning is an effective pedagogical method
for young learners situated in a large class. It was proven that the said strategy can keep the learners pro-active
and attentive.
Keywords. Workshop type of learning, hygiene and puberty, large class, attention span.
Background of the Study
Puberty is the phase of life where changes happen rapidly, and surprisingly. Teenagers may or may not have
any idea about these changes on why and how these changes occur. A lot of school boys and girls are wondering
how to go about the changes they experience. In line with this, hygiene becomes an issue or rather a major
construct that they have to familiarize with. Hygiene is an essential matter in every adolescent. It permeates the
adolescents into a better esteem that is significant in their holistic growth. The researcher believes that
inculcating basic knowledge on puberty and hygiene to teenagers shall aid them into a deeper understanding of
what they are going through in that particular stage of their life. These physiological changes are brought about
by the body’s preparation to adulthood.
The purpose of this strategy is to utilize participative methods in order to invite initiative from the students.
“A happy and relaxed learner is a successful learner” (British Council, 2011). One importance of this strategy is
that the learners are teenagers and that these age bracket belongs to those who starts to be more outgoing and
those that socializes more. In order to become “socially accepted”, they have to present themselves in such a
way that is acceptable to the society. Filipino setting finds good grooming important. Soon these adolescents will
become adults too therefore this time of their lives should prepare them on how to deal with such necessities in
the future. I believe that the learners should be aware and give much attention to their needs related to puberty
and hygiene. Hygienic products and tools will be introduced too to aid awareness in the learners. Hygiene is
important in terms of health also, by knowing how to properly be groomed, one’s overall well being is taken
care of. Peers making fun of an adolescent is inevitable; this has an impact to one’s perspective of self. With
proper hygiene, this can be avoided resulting to the presentation of one’s best self. By deepening their
understanding on puberty and hygiene they are being encouraged to be responsible from within too and this will
affect their attitude. Imparting change will only be successful if change indeed has transpired, and this is the
main goal of the proposed strategy. Lastly, it is imperative that an adolescent attend to his/her well being.
Salyers and McKee (n.d.) stated that the puberty or the teenage years of adolescent learners are the
phenomenal years that are challenging for educators. It was also mentioned in their article entitled “The Young
Adolescent Learner” that these learning years are crucial and necessitates a pedagogical design that incorporates
full range of sensory motor experiences. It was deemed from their study that engaging these experiences to their
learning will increase their attention span. The researcher believes that the teenage years are those with a short
attention span and requires a more demanding teaching style.
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