Educ Res Policy Prac (2006) 5:235–253 DOI 10.1007/s10671-006-9012-8 ORIGINAL PAPER Portrait of Filipino teachers’ classroom practices: traditional or constructivist? Amelita P. de Mesa · Allan B. de Guzman Received: 4 August 2006 / Accepted: 4 October 2006 / Published online: 16 November 2006 © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2006 Abstract The intent of this qualitative study is to narrate (Brodkey, (1987a). Educa- tion Quarterly, 18, 67–76; Written communication, 4, 25–70; Qualitative communication research methods. (1987b). Lindlof, (1995). (pp. 172–174): London Sage Publications) the master teachers as aggregate sample subjects’ pedagogical understanding and classroom practices. A qualitative analysis of the classroom activities and journal en- tries of 13 teacher-participants in the Basic Education Curriculum core learning areas is included. Findings reveal that the subject participants’ pedagogical practices still verging toward the formal suggest a traditional inclination. However, the importance of change should be realized. Various concepts of teaching and learning, today, are imperative. Teachers must be resocialized on their new roles and make their students have a more active role in the teaching-learning process. Keywords Constructivist learning · Teaching · Education curriculum · Filipino teachers Introduction David Sousa (1998) in an information edition on brain research entitled “How the Brain Learns,” avers that schools and teaching have not changed much. Overwhelm- ing evidence proves that practices have remained relatively unchanged. In many high schools, lectures (Goodlad, 1984; Johnson, Johnson, & Smith, 1991; Silberman, 1996; Sizer, 1985) continue to be the main method of instruction, and the overhead projec- tor is often the most advanced technology used. Students remark that school is a dull, non-engaging environment (Abbott & Ryan, 1999; Crowl, Kaminsky & Podell, 1997; Simpson, 2002) that is much less interesting than the outside world. Such unsettling A. P. de Mesa · A. B. de Guzman (B ) Center for Educational Research and Development, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, 1015, Philippines e-mail: abdeguzman@mnl.ust.edu.ph