Teacher Teacher Teacher

So as a future teacher being able to explore the schools here in Gulu has been a great experience, and an experience that is not over. Over the last week or so Diana and I have been to a total of four schools. Two of the schools our kids attend and two of them which we hope to get our kids into for the start of the next school year.

The first school we went to, Demonstration is where 9 of our kids attend. We were allowed to sit in on and observe a P.4 (Primary 4) class. We walked into the classroom and I was shocked. 4 to 5 children to a bench, and those benches are not that long and children sitting on the floor. In total there were 108 out of 121 students in that classroom. We were given chairs to sit in the back and started to observe the class. What we noticed is that because there are no books everything has to be put up on the board, which takes time, lots and lots of precious instructional time. There was also close to ten minutes of instructional time lost just passing out notebooks. In the half hour that we spent in the classroom, I think about only 10 minutes of actual teaching occurred. To top everything off we were of course the biggest distraction possible in the classroom, which I felt awful about. We were given the opportunity to talk with some of our kid’s teachers that turned out to be a slight disappointment but not at all a shocking experience. In total most of the teachers were teaching over 250 students, on a rotational basis, so for the most part they didn’t really know who our students were.

The following day we were able to go to St. Joseph Primary School, which three of our kids attend. Upon arriving here they were ready for us, they had a schedule for us so that we could observe all of the classes our kids were in. We went to a P6 class first where I was 100% completely distracted by a lizard that was crawling around Diana and I. I noticed that in this class of well over 100 there was a boy in the back that had an awful tremor that looked painful. There seemed to be a bit more learning going on in this classroom as the teacher walked around the class and attempted to engage as many students as possible. We then were taken to a P4 classroom where there was serious learning occurring. We were able to observe a great math class. There were again well over 100 students in this class as well but they all seemed to be engaged. The teacher was doing examples on the board, and having the students talk her through the process. She had students come up to the board and do examples and she had them do seat work while she walked around to observe and check on the students. One of the best moments in that class was when one of our students who struggles the most in school went up to the board and struggled a bit, but with some help got the answer correct and the entire class clapped for her.

After our weekend, which will return to later we were able to go to two of the schools we would like to put all of our students in. One is an all boys’ boarding school and one is a boarding and day school for girls. Upon finally arriving at the boys’ school, which was quite the trek I was very impressed. We looked into a classroom, that actually had windows and I could actually count how many students where in the classroom without becoming overwhelmed. There were white boards, students were up at the teacher’s desks asking them questions, and they had books! There were papers on the walls with diagrams and maps on them. It was encouraging to talk with the head master because he pretty much said as long as we can pay they can come. It was a great school, their exam results are amazing, and nothing under division 2, and most results are in the highest division possible, 1. After leaving that school we walked to the all girls school. Here the classes are a bit bigger than I would like, but they cap it at no more than 70 in a classroom at a time, which is high but better than 150 like at St. Josephs. Again I was very happy to hear that our girls could attend as long as we can pay the tuition and they work hard and put in the effort.

The school tours are far from over for us though. We have one child going into secondary school next year so we need to go look at schools in the area and talk with here about where she would like to attend. There is also one more primary school I would like to observe, where many of the disabled children attend. Over all it has been an amazing experience exploring the schools here in Gulu. It has been an eye opening experience to say in the least. I knew that the conditions of many of the schools was going to be tough for me to experience but it is an experience that is going to make me a better teacher.

So back the weekend. It was time for Diana and I to be the teachers. We were asked to teach English on Saturday and well we were not really sure what to do. We would have many of our program kids and many non-program kids who are all at extremely different levels in their English. So we found some books here in the office and Diana set off to read with some of the younger kids who were still beginning with their English. I took off with a book that was a bit more difficult with some of the kids who were a bit more proficient in English. As we started to read they started passing out these small books and blank paper and told us that the kids could copy these books. Diana and I were both a bit confused because we knew they didn’t know what these books were saying so what was the point of copying them. So Diana sat down with one of our girls and said she wanted here to read the book to her. At first the girl resisted but finally started reading, after the first page she wanted to copy the book and Diana wasn’t having it, she had her read the entire book to her. As I observed it was wonderful to watch one of our kids finish a book with a little bit of help. While this was occurring I took another one of our kids and wanted to read the book that he was meant to copy. As we started to read the book, I realized that the book was entirely to hard for him, and I needed an easier book, I needed to meet him where he was. So we went back to the office to find a book better suited, though I didn’t find the ideal level I was looking for I found one that was more suitable. We started reading, and it was a struggle. It took us over 10 minutes to get through the first page, but we got through it. The second page was a bit longer and took us a bit longer to get through but we worked through it. I could tell he was getting very frustrated, he wanted to read and he wanted to read well but the book just was to hard. So I let him stop, there was no use in making him upset and frustrated when the book was just way to hard. I would have had him continue if it was more suitable to his needs but it wasn’t. However, I could tell he knew the book was too hard and he was proud he made it through the first two pages, and so was I.

Great Teacher moment: So on Monday our kids were out of school and some of them were here at the compound. I went outside to talk with some of them and the girl who Diana had read with asked if she could read. Well of course she can read, so I went inside and got the book she had worked on with Diana. Diana saw me get the book and asked what I was doing, I told her what was up. We were both thrilled. Here this little girl who didn’t want to read to begin with was asking me if she could read again.

So there is a bit of a look at the school experiences I have had thus far in Uganda. I am having a blast, and loving my time I am spending here but sadly it is going by way to fast.

Hanging Out, Having Fun, and Stepping in African mud.