Today was not an easy day. I had this awesome lesson prepared for the kids including a fun art project, making math into a game, giving them stamps as a reward for writing their names...it was going to be phenomenal. Then I get to school, one of the teachers didn't show up, and I was left to a class of 20 four and five year olds all by myself, no teacher there to translate or keep the kids quiet. And when there is no African woman in the room yelling at them in Swahili, they take advantage of it. I swear they're desensitized to the whole "be quiet!"demands because of the way the teachers here yell at them in Swahili. So when I come in, trying to quiet them it's like a bird chirp compared to a lions roar and they simply ignore it. Basically, everything I did today utterly failed. They bombarded me when I gave out stamps to reward them for writing their names, coloring pictures even backfired as they would throw crayons at each other and always want a different color running around the room to trade or whatever. Whatever I did to keep the class in order was in vain. By the end of the day I was so frustrated I accidently made a girl cry (she had been challenging me by dancing on top of her desk and smiling at me like "what you gonna do about it?" so I took her outside). At least when she walked back in still crying the rest of the kids shut up because they saw what I can do. It's just days like this make me feel like I'm doing nothing to help them, just trying to pin down a bunch of squirming, unresponsive kids.
After school I needed some time to settle down, realize that the kids aren't the devil himself, and recuperate my self-control. We went to town to walk around while one of the volunteers who's been here for 3 months now showed us the ropes as far as which shops to go to, which restaurants are good, etc. (don't worry Dad, there were 4 other girls besides me. We were safe) It was really nice to just get out, walk around, talk to people who understand english, stuff like that. We went to dinner at an Indian restaurant and got a taxi back home. It was a fun night overall! I forgot to take pictures of town even though I brought my camera :/ My bad!
Tomorrow, I am just going to take a deep breath, realize they are just children and try again. I hope I don't have to teach a class alone, but I have to be prepared for anything. All this is just making me stronger. As long as I do my best that's all I can ask for from myself. I love you all and I'll let you know how the chaos went tomorrow!
I am SOOOOOO sorry, Michele!!! ugh. I can just imagine what you went through! I'm very glad you are experiencing this, but also am very glad it's just for 3 weeks. It's amazing to me that the teachers just don't show up. I guess they figure that you are there to teach, so they have a break. I can imagine that they sure NEED the breaks very, very badly. You get to walk away. They have to stay and live with it day in and day out. But yelling at kids seems to be a way of life for many cultures....and that has transferred to the way some "cultures" in the United States still do it. Where do you go after yelling???? Not very far. Try starting to sing all the sudden with a group of children. It will draw in other children. Sing songs with hand movements. Also, try speaking in a lower, calm voice, kind of Montessori style. That probably won't work, but it might. Have them hold hands for a circle, then have them sit down in a circle and do immitating hand/clapping games. You do a simple rhythm (patting/clapping) and then motion for them to repeat. You can do counting with that, having them repeat the counting (of the rhythm beats). When you are done with that activity, show them how to put a hand on top of their head to get a hand stamp. You can also bring in some simple English words while they are in the circle. You might want to bring some of the picture books I sent to you so you can walk around pointing to a picture and telling them what it is. Motion for them to repeat it. Singing, staying calm, gathering them into one group for whole group activities might work. Hang in there. Pray for strength and dive back in. I love you!!
ReplyDeleteLove,
Mom
When people try to bother you trying to get you to buy stuff just completely ignore them like you can't hear them. You're trying to be nice to everyone I bet. They expect you to ignore them and it doesn't hurt their feelings. I can't stand when people do that. I don't even look their direction. Just walk past them like you don't hear them. I miss you!
ReplyDelete-Sean