Skool

This is how school is spelled in Afrikaans, for your information. I was going to work on some of my papers for the trip but this seemed like a much better idea.

School has been a really interesting experience. I have been left alone for longer amounts of time now and am given more duties in the class. I am leading Math Corrections, and reading individually with students. I lose complete control of the class within 5 minutes. If it weren't so sad, I would say that it was really fantastic how quickly they turn on me. Things I have learned:
1. Counting doesn't do anything when the class doesn't fear you
2. Writing names on the board is useless
3. I am not good at yelling
4. I think I have found my "teacher look"
5. Kids will tell you EVERYTHING.

Most of these are self explanatory. Just as I am gaining an ounce of control of the class someone always comes up and tells me "so and so just did this." My new answer: Just worry about yourself. I can see what is happening. If I don't see it, then deal with it on your own." Also, if I tell the class I have worked with 5 year olds who are better behaved than they are, they tend to hush up for a little. Mostly, and unfortunately, I have to threaten the class. If we are grading work then I tell them that if they do not hear the answer than it should be marked wrong. Then there are the Lost Boys. The Lost Boys wander around the room as though they are lost. I have now banned two children from moving out of their chair without permission. It is sad, but it is actually working.

I am hoping to start a science experiment with the kids soon. In life skills we have been learning about vitamins and minerals and vegetables. I want to do the Celery experiment with them. The one where you put a celery stalk in colored water. The class seemed really excited about it. So hopefully we can start that next week or tomorrow, which is unlikely as we didn't stop to buy anything. Life Skills instruction makes me want to cry. The Xhosa teacher comes in for 45 minutes and writes on the board and expects the students to just copy everything done. Silently. In the first block the kids are just cutting and pasting pictures into their notebooks. I feel bad yelling at them when the work is so mindless and pointless.

Today, I was asked to watch over a different class for the last 45 minutes. This class was so different from mine. The kids actually listened to me as I read through 3 books! We talked a little bit about where I come from and what things are like in Michigan. I thought it was hilarious when I asked the class if they knew where I came from. At first I thought someone shouted Mexico, but they all knew I was from America. When I asked if they knew what state I live they knew I am from Michigan. Someone has been talking about me.

I've also been working with some of the slower readers. I love this! I have been working with this one girl who, at first, couldn't really sound out new words. Now, after reading with her for a week and teaching her some strategies like looking for parts of the word she recognizes. She is now really looking at the word to see what she can identify right off the bat. Then we have been working on vowel patterns. Her progress is amazing! She is reading words so well and is starting to see the patterns. Then, there is this boy who can read well but does not try at all. He hardly does any work in class, comes from a bad home, and is probably just barely passing every grade. We read together the first few days but yesterday he wasted 30 minutes of my time, and time I could have been spending with someone else. I made him stay in during interval with me and read the entire time. I want him to do well so badly but he is so frustrating. He can do math pretty easily but doesn't do the homework or the activities so his success is going to be limited. I keep trying to make sure he understands that he is smart and that he can do the work and do well if he only wants to. I don't think he has totally jumped onto my boat.

The last thing I wanted to update on was the township that we visited. It was such an eye opening experience. The people of these townships, almost all black, live in such tight quarters. The worst of these are the old hostels (formerly used as dormitories for the men who were sent to work there during apartheid). In these 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 1 super tiny kitchen, lives 4 families. And by 4 families I mean that in one room there could be up to 16 people living there! As a comparison, the room is no bigger than the Snyder dorm room I lived in. Even though these people live in complete squalor they are really as happy as can be. There is such a strong sense of community in the township. Everyone helps out the others. In this aspect the township is beautiful. But you have to wonder what happens to all of the children running around with nothing to eat, no clothes, and virtually no hope. It is a lot to think about and really brings life to that stupid cliche, "There are starving children in Africa."