Teacher, Teacher!

    Today was my second day of student-teaching. It has been interesting to see how a rural Ugandan school year begins. Yesterday we arrived at school and had an orientation with Enoch, Wilson (the lead teacher), and King James (the deputy of studies). King James informed us that our relationships with him are like different metals because we are individually useful, but we can each sharpen one another to be better. His analogy was more articulated than the description I have provided, but that was the main idea of it. Because it was the first day there was not really any instruction taking place. In fact, most of the students did not even show up. The ones that were there were either cleaning the grounds and classrooms, or setting up the small building where up to 60 of them will live for the term. This gave us an opportunity to visit each classroom and talk with many of the kids that were there. Jess and I also sat while 4 boys read us a story about the origins of a fictional African tradition. I especially enjoyed that half hour. Prior to that though, there was an assembly under the trees in the school yard. King James and Wilson greeted the students and urged them to tell their friends and families that school was in session, and that they show up the following day. They had sent an announcement out on the radio, however the population that this school serves is limited in regards to the technology available to them for retrieving such information. We were then introduced to the whole group. We were warmly welcomed.

King James Welcoming the Students

    This morning I began my day in the P4 classroom, which is like fourth grade. We simply reviewed concepts form P3 math before switching to social studies. John was the name of teacher I first observed. I enjoyed watching the way he taught. He broke apart problems well, involved the students in the explanations, and was animated while doing so. He encouraged students to explain how they were solving the problems rather than by simply showing. I would definitely like to see more of his teaching and might possibly want to work with him more. Oh yes, in case I haven’t yet mentioned…For the next three days I will visit a new class each day. On Friday, I will then choose which class I would like to stay with for the rest of my time here. Tomorrow I will observe P5. On Thursday I will observe P6.

Teacher John Writing a Review

    When social studies started, John went to a different room and another teacher, came to give the social studies lesson. This lesson was beneficial to me because the kids were learning about Uganda and the way it is sectioned off. Uganda is made up of 112 districts, which are then broken down into counties, sub-counties, parishes, and villages. Furthermore, Uganda consists of 7 regions: Northern, Western, Central, Southwestern, Northeastern, Northwestern, and Eastern. Kasese (the district) is in the Southwestern region, and Kasese-town, the town I live in, is located in the Kasese district. I was able to learn a little while also watching how the students followed along with the teacher. Other than that, it has actually been a slow start to the term. We were informed that it usually takes about 3-4 days before everyone is in attendance and things are functioning normally around the school. And though I say it has been a slow start, seeing a school begin in a different cultural context has been an amazingly interesting experience thus far. I am anxious to begin instruction, yet I am thoroughly enjoying , myself while watching how things unfold. Extra tid-bits: It find it amusing to sit in class and see goats, roosters, or chickens walking by the open classroom doors.

Visitors

    It is great (as in comical and something I am not used to) how students address teachers as Teacher. When I asked King James how they will address us he laughed and said they will just call us teacher. He said they love to say it. And sure enough—all day I heard, “Teacher, Teacher!” “Teacher, Teacher!” I want the Merry-Go-Round removed! It seems like a death trap; however, the kids have so much fun playing on it. I hate to watch in fear of someone getting hurt, yet their smiles are outrageously contagious.