School is generally broken into alternating segments of learning time and break time. In fact, there are 3 hours of down-time built into the day and I was initially confused as to what the teachers could possibly be doing during this time (the kids are playing outside in 95 degrees, with their sweaters on, obviously).
It quickly became clear though that this time was necessary for school prep unless Mary wants to be at school for several hours after closing time each day. Our students are too young for formal school books so all their work is done in the small notebooks pictured above. Their “subjects” include Language, Numberwork, Environmental (basically the study of different sets of objects: fruits, utensils, clothes, etc.), and Creative (basically Art). Language and Numberwork are completed each day and Environmental and Creative alternate.
Since their books are blank, we write their exercises into each book. The upside of this is that we’re able to tailor the work to allow the weaker students to complete easier work while the advanced students are more challenged.
The children alternate between recitation type work like write a-z or 1-40, dictation, filling-in missing numbers or letters, or determining which letters/numbers come before or after a presented letter.
An example of their numberwork is below.
Mary does all the lesson plans and then we split the tasks to copy the work into the book. Mary told me that when the kids get older, they’ll copy from the blackboard into their own books but for now, she prepares everything they do.
We try to keep it fun for the kids using pictures and letting them color their work when they’re finished. My drawing skills have improved a lot over the past few weeks and I’m learning to write all the letters and numbers exactly as Mary does or the kids don’t recognize them. We had a few confusing incidents in the first week since I cross my sevens and my letter “z” but now that I’m on the program, we’re ok.
In the land of photocopiers (aka America), these tasks would be ridiculous but here this is how children’s books are prepared. This is obviously a huge departure from my previous workdays filled with Excel modeling and PowerPoints but the upside is that it gives me time to practice my halting Swahili with Mary.
Coming up: Teaching time & how class is actually conducted
That is pretty interesting. But as you say, at least the lessons can be geared to each child that way. That would be a lot of copying for a child to do, though, as they get older. So do Kenyans therefore have beautiful handwriting because they have so much copywork to do?
ReplyDeletelove you,
McMom
I love this and especially the chance to customize the work; it's wonderful to be able to adapt that way. For you it must also be interesting, since Montessori used cursive? (Although you had two years of printing; I cannot remember!) It does also sound like a nice break to practice with Mary, and it sounds as though she enjoys you as much as you appreciate her?
ReplyDeleteIs it difficult to become trusted by the Kenyans? Some countries put up barriers for awhile before becoming close and others are generally friendly at the outset; how is Kenya?
BTW, reading these posts is a highlight of each day!
Love,
Mom/L