Cue the violins

TEACHER Ruby R. Natividad with NBS marketing director Aueeie Suarez and Inquirer education editor Chelo Banal-Formoso JILSON SECKLER TIU

RUBY R. Natividad of De La Salle Santiago Zobel School (DLSZ) is the very first winner of the Teacher of the Month (TOM) award from the National Book Store (NBS) and Inquirer in Education.

Natividad, 54, teaches Beginning Violin to all sections of Grades 3 and 4. She also handles Advanced Violin for four sections of fifth graders.

She received P10,000 worth of NBS gift certificates from marketing director Aueeie Suarez on behalf of managing director Alexandra Ramos Padilla at the store’s branch in Alabang Town Center.

Natividad is “an extraordinarily effective teacher” who uses the Suzuki music method,

according to Lianne T. Gomez, the parent who nominated her and cited her for knowing how to strike that delicate balance between being strict and being supportive of her students.

Lianne’s daughter Chelsea, who was in the fourth grade violin class last year, acknowledged that Natividad was strict but “she taught me a lot even if we just met once a week.”

Now in Grade 5 and a member of the DLSZ Orchestra, Chelsea made special mention of Natividad’s music room with inspiring posters where students can practice whenever they have free time.

Lianne observed that “sometimes little kids come in after dismissal … just to listen to whoever is playing music.” It is a world that feels welcoming to all students, not just the budding Joshua Bells.

Natividad also makes herself available outside of music class to students who may be having some difficulty with a lesson or a piece.

Having been with DLSZ for 26 years, Natividad has taught both high school and elementary music, moderated the wind and string sections of the much-envied band program, directed the flute choir for the annual Performing Arts Festival, and written a book (“MAPEH in My World” for Grades 3 and 4).

That’s not all. She has earned her master’s degree at Centro Escolar University and taught violin to the Musikito String Orchestra, a group of talented children in Malabon. But by 2010, she was ready to return to classroom teaching and focus on the violin.

Natividad majored in Music Education and specialized in flute at the University of Santo Tomas. She is married to musician and music educator Teddy Natividad and they have three children: John, Paul and Ann.

If you know an active classroom teacher like Natividad who combines dedication with innovation in teaching, nominate her or him for the TOM award.

For the nomination guidelines, visit the Inquirer in Education page on Facebook or e-mail [email protected].