Instructional materials play tremendous extraordinary roles in the teaching and learning process. It’s a fact that teacher can teach alone without any instructional materials, but we cannot deny the fact that teaching and learning becomes more exciting, effective, efficient, and easy with the use of instructional materials. Hence, just like teachers continuously improve themselves, instructional materials must be improved too.

          These are the ways of improving instructional materials based from my point of view as a head teacher.

1. The teacher should know his/her students well, so he/she would have a clear basis on what instructional materials are best to utilize.

2. The teacher should be engaged in different organizations in local or national or international education community to have various ideas or best practices from different people on how to improve instructional materials. Especially now that we are in new normal, the online education community is very active in sharing and exemplifying their best practices.

3. Teachers themselves should work collaboratively in improving instructional materials. Digitally immigrant teachers should adapt to current trends and strategies in improving instructional materials. Likewise, new teachers should learn the wisdom and values of the digitally immigrant teachers on the importance of instructional materials. It has been an observation that new teachers tend to lack motivation and creativity on improving instructional materials. They just rely on the board and chalk. This must be given priority by the school administration.

4. School leaders should closely checking and monitoring the use of instructional materials of teachers, along with the checking of lesson plans. Not only stated in the lesson plan, but should also be presented during checking.

5. There must be continuous conduct of research regarding improving instructional materials. Aside from the everyday observation and experiences, a research is an important and valid mean to determine ways to improving instructional materials. This would give teachers and school leaders ample basis and broad ideas in local and international platforms.

6. In-service training must touch improving instructional materials, if not focused on it. For example, school seminar on teaching strategies must include the effective use of IM’s in conjunction with strategies.

7. Teachers must take it seriously and have concrete plan on how to improve instructional materials. Consistency is one key to best teaching performances. Always bear in mind to use appropriate, creative and meaningful IM’s, not just for the purpose of you have something to show but for the purpose of achieving the objectives of your lesson,

8. Focus on the lesson objectives. What are the supposed competencies the leaners must acquire at the end of the lesson and how can instructional materials help you achieve those objectives. Preparing and presenting IM’s must catch the attention of the leaners, but not to the point that it has become distracting and far from achieving lesson objectives.

9. Know your audience. The principle of improving IM’s is almost same as improving oneself in public speaking. You have to know your audience / students to cater their needs and interest. Hence, you can prepare IM’s that are responsive to the students where they can relate to like having the concept of Facebook, twitter, TikTok, Etc.

10. Constantly evaluate yourself and the instructional materials you utilize. Are you on the right track? Are the IM’s effective and efficient based from the students’ achievement? This way can give you self-reflection / feedback, so you’ll know what to retain and what to change.

11. Don’t be afraid to experiment. Make something unique and innovative while still on the right track of the lesson objectives.

          There are many ways on how to improve instructional materials, but just like any other thing in this world, it will always be your choice. No matter how good your plans are, if you are not doing it consistently and genuinely, you will just end up messing.

By: Analiza U. Lacuata| Mathematics – Head Teacher I| New Cabalan National High School|Olongapo City