After a brisk 30 minute walk on clay roads passing by goats, I arrived for assembly timeat 8:00 which they have everyday. It's a combination of songs, prayers and discussion of moral behavior. With the "Babies - age 3", "Middles - age 4" and "Top" - what we would call kindergarten they need to show they have hankies in their pockets and they also need to show off their clean fingernails.
I am first attending Teacher Miriam's 7th & 8th grade math class. She is the "deputy principal" for all the teachers. (Joshua the creator of the children's home and school appears to have many pots on the fire, so the day to day running of the school and scheduling falls on Miriam.)
After a long conversation with Miriam yesterday, she recognizes how the split classes might work better being taught together rather than one grade is waiting while the ther grade is being taught. All the teachers at the school teach a variety of levels and subjects, rather than one 1 teacher teaching the same class all subjects. She relishes teaching the same subject to the same group of students each year - although her schedule this year does not reflect that. Even though on the surface it appears she would have the power to make that kind of decision - it comes down to the equality and fairness and number of students in the classroom. (ie - 6th grade only has 2 students - as opposed to 8th grade that has 8 students...)
I watched and helped grade (in their exercise books - a whole different topic) . Sticks are used as counters.
Then Miriam had a 3rd grade reading class. It is so loud from all of the other classrooms - I invited the class to come under a tree and read a George and Martha book. Then back in the classroom they were given a piece of paper (a big deal! they never have extra paper) and asked to write and draw their favorite part of the story and why. They all knew their favorite part of the story but they did not write about why. We hope to revisit that tomorrow and then hang their work up - there really is no student work hanging up in the school.
Then there is a Tea Break for students and teachers - wonderful chai tea and roll are brought down from the house kitchen and for 30 minutes teachers come and drink tea and the children (unattended - theme I will address later) have a little free time.
After the tea break I was in one classroom that one side had 8th grade religion class - topic 7 days of creation and on the other side Kiswhili - sort of like a language Arts for us in their native language.
Lunchtime is at 1:00 - a whole delicious hour - again all the students watching over themselves for that entire time. The teachers are provided lunch and it definitely a Kenyan diet. The first day I was set up to eat what they thought to be an "american lunch" in Joshua's home which is adjacent to the school. I said I wanted to eat with the teachers and I did today - they are a quiet bunch unless I start conversation.
After lunch I watched an 8th grade science class that was learning about HIV and Aids. The 3 rules for the students were 1. abstain from sex
2. Be married and be faithful
3. If you can't be faithful in marriage use a condom
Then I went to the primary classroom and read Curiuos George - only because as the teacher was checking 2 students exercise booklets at a time - the rest of the 4 year olds were just sitting in their chairs - really just sitting and I asked if I could read a book while she was working with students and she welcomed the idea. It was a crowd pleaser and the teacher came over as well and translated in Swahili.
One of the teachers was so sick they left for the hospital in the morning and his 7th grade class with no adults held the class and quizzed each other with no trouble - pretty amazing.
When the teachers need to have a meeting - the designated boy and giirl leader from the 8th grade are in charge of all the students on the field (playground) again amazing - I was telling teacher how we can nevr leave our students unattended...
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