Discover an environment that constantly offers opportunities for learning and growth. Passion is the driving force that unlocks your path to success.
Discover an environment that constantly offers opportunities for learning and growth. Passion is the driving force that unlocks your path to success.
“You are mediocre.”
Someone said those words to me years ago.
I carried them with me longer than I probably should have.
They made me question what a “good teacher” actually meant. Was it having the perfect lesson plan? Knowing all the answers? Managing every child beautifully? Never struggling?
So I worked harder.
I learnt. I observed. I asked questions. I made mistakes. I reflected. I became a mentor. I worked with families. I supported children with different needs. I handled difficult conversations. I faced staffing problems, unexpected changes, and days when nothing went according to plan.
And somewhere in all of that, I learnt something important:
Teaching is only part of being a teacher.
The rest is knowing how to adapt when a child needs a different way in.
How to communicate when a parent is upset.
How to recognise when a colleague doesn't need another training session—they need the right kind of support.
How to lead before you have “leader” in your job title.
How to respond when the roster changes, someone calls in sick, and the day suddenly looks nothing like the one you planned.
And how to keep learning without constantly feeling that you are not enough.
Beyond Teaching is where I share those lessons.
Practical inclusion strategies. Visual supports. Sustainability resources. Parent partnerships. Mentoring. Leadership. Difficult situations. And the things I wish someone had taught me earlier in my career.
Not because I have all the answers.
Because I've learnt to ask better questions.
An early childhood educator, reflective practitioner, and lifelong learner.
Welcome to Teaching by Cloydane, a personal space where I share my journey, experiences, and reflections in early childhood education.
My teaching journey began in the Philippines and has taken me through Thailand to Singapore, where I have continued to grow personally and professionally since 2016.
Over the years, my experiences have shaped my belief that meaningful education goes beyond teaching lessons. It is about creating environments where children feel valued, educators feel empowered, and learning becomes a shared journey.
I am particularly passionate about three areas: inclusive early childhood education, sustainability, and educational leadership.
These interests have encouraged me to reflect not only on how children learn, but also on how educators collaborate, adapt, and continuously improve their practices.
Through this website, I hope to share the experiences and values that continue to shape who I am as an educator.
Because teaching is not simply what we do. It is also how we learn, reflect, and grow.
— Cloydane S. Matilac, M.Ed.