Emafini, Grey Academy, Kapa, and Northern Lights! (Whew!)

Beginning the day with music and movement at Emafini

We have had a busy week going to a variety of schools!
Here's a recap of this week's adventures...
I love how teachers at Emafini bring music and movement into their classroom! I worked with two different first grade teachers, so it kept me on my toes learning the new routines and watching for the variety of teaching styles. One teacher, Ms. Popo, teaches in a "container" (a small, individual building) with 31 learners. Ms. Makati teaches in a regular classroom and has 40+ learners. Since her room is much larger, Ms. Makati is blessed to have enough room that she can have a reading corner.  I was able to do small reading groups with her students. Ms. Popo's classroom is so crowded she said the only way she can have a reading corner is to move the learners' desks outside so she has space. When she does read-alouds, children sit on chairs and desks to get as near to her as possible. But as most teachers know, you do what you gotta do with what you have!
Ms. Popo has her learners begin the day with lots of songs with movement.  She knows they are cold from their walk to school and wants to warm them up before beginning her lessons. Windows are open to keep germs at bay, so it is cold in there, but soon all their little bodies warm the place up. I was able to teach a math lesson involving fast mental addition and she now owns my set of flash cards.

Grey Junior Academy has a wonderful computer lab

Later in the week we were fortunate to visit three more schools. One was the prestigious, beautiful Grey Academy Boys' School.  It is state owned, but families pay 90% of their budget, knowing the school can offer more extra curricular activities and up to date facilities than most other schools. We were treated to a concert by their junior band, which was fabulous!



Afterwards we went to a township elementary school, Kama Primary.  The contrast between the two schools is simply astounding. I know we have schools of varying socio-economic levels in the US, but to see these back to back in the same day made a strong impression on me.

Students at Kama Primary shaking hands to say hello

It truly shows that money can buy better education. The children at Kapa were delighted to see us! They were on break when we arrived, so we were able to go right out and say hello.  They ran through the field shouting "Americans!" and soon most of the learners were running to greet us and shake hands- again, many "Molo's!" were being said.  :)   As break time ended, we visited classrooms. Some had 67 children! Bless those teachers!  We had fun entering a classroom, introducing ourselves, and suddenly finding our selves singing "Head, shoulders, knees and toes" or the "Hokey Pokey" with them. They may not have supplies or money, but they were loving and cheerful!
The third school we visited this week was Northern Lights, a school for children with special needs. It was the most calm school, filled with loving teachers and students. Each grade has its own classroom, and there were rooms for speech and physical therapy.  We visited a few classrooms,then the learners went outside for break time. We were able to sing and talk with them until it was time for us to go. I spent time with first graders, and their favorite song was "If You're Happy and You Know It". It was such a warm, loving experience!

Students from Northern  Lights