David says this blog has been shamefully neglected and that’s true, but we have been so busy since January that we have had no energy after work to write a blog. We come home and collapse.
Previous volunteers had told us that we would likely have lots of free time: they told of afternoons kneading and baking bread and taking leisurely walks around the neighborhood. That is not us -- or most of the other volunteers in our class. We are the first group of education volunteers who can actually work in the classroom teaching classes (as opposed to advising and assisting teachers) and several of us are extremely busy.
I am teaching four full days each week and still trying to learn Setswana with a tutor. I have two very active 7th-grade classes in one school and different groups of 4th-, 5th- and 6th-grade classes in the other school. My 7th-graders are eager for me to start an after-school book club—as soon as I can get some books for them.
I’m finding handling 40 or more students in one classroom to be very challenging. The students have varying degrees of ability or skills. Some are at or above grade level and some are not really able to read. We have no remedial services so I have to try and work with all the different skill levels. It is very demanding and exhausting. I work with my 7th-graders all day Monday and Tuesday and I am their only teacher of English, although most of the teaching of other classes is done in English. On Wednesday I switch schools and work with the other grades at a school where I team up with teachers by taking half their class and working on reading and comprehension skills.
I like these young people. They are full of energy and many are very bright and full of ambition. Recently when I asked them to describe their dreams of their futures they said they wanted to be pilots, doctors, singers (Beyonce is a favorite role model), chartered accountants and police persons.
David is very busy fixing computers that are overrun with viruses and teaching adults basic computer skills. There are so many computers here that have been attacked by viruses — usually transmitted by thumb drives. He is getting tired of fixing viruses and is looking for an apprentice who might take over some of the work.
We are both also on Peace Corps committees. Sally is on the IRC (Information Resource Committee) and David on the VAC (Volunteer Advisory Committee). David also is editor of the newsletter that the South African Peace Corps volunteers receive each month. These committees require our presence in the Peace Corps office in Pretoria about once a month.
We are enjoying our work here most days but we are very tired at the end of the day. A week-long fall break is coming up soon and I am looking forward to sleeping long and late.
Hey, it is good to read your update. Sally, are you teaching reading in Setswanan, English, or both? Where are you getting your books? In what language? Are there other things you could use in your classroom? Have you considered inviting youth groups like Scouts and church youth groups and US schools to do a service project? I know every year, our community prepares backpacks full of school supplies for kids who don't have them. A project like that could even include pen pals.
ReplyDeleteI bet you are trying to do everything all by yourself. One of the best teachers, I met used to delegate all the tasks that could be done by kids - including taking attendance. She also graded the kids on responsibility. The more they do, the more they learn, and the easier it will be for you. Remember, being a high achiever doesn't mean much if you work yourself to death in the process.
I came from a rural district with one and two room schools. Back when they were in use, the teachers divided the kids by level of ability. Then, they would work with the kids requiring the most individual attention, and have the other students work on independent tasks. The students that were ahead of the others would serve as teachers aids for the other students.
I imagine you really are experiencing major culture shock. Teaching in the US classroom is so different from other cultures. We are very blessed. The best gifts you can give those kids is believing in themselves, discovering how to learn, and how to apply what they learn. (If this is a duplicate, please delete one. Thanks)
Sally,
ReplyDeleteForgive me, for this may be totally inappropriate to post to your blog, but it was the only way I could see to contact you. Don’t know if you are the Sally I remember from childhood, but I had to give a contact a try. I’m Carveth Kramer from Hanover. I happened across a 1950 photo of one of my mom’s kindergartens. As I looked it over, I saw a girl; the only other person I thought I could recognize. “My gosh, I think that is Sally Blanning.” Boy, I have not thought of her in a long, long time.” So on a lark, I put your name in the wonderful world of the web and came across your blog. If you are the right Sally, drop me an email sometime. If not, forgive me.
Carveth
forthekramers@gmail.com