Week 2 – 10/02/14

Professional

'Four in a row'

Practising addition of four numbers

In contrast to many P2 classrooms across Northern Ireland Year 1 in Ambrosoli International School do not have time scheduled for structured play, but children are still given an opportunity to learn through playful approaches. As outlined in the Northern Ireland Curriculum ‘Play provides opportunities for children to experience learning in a meaningful and purposeful way.’  (CCEA, 2008, p.3) Learning of core subjects such as literacy and numeracy are taught using active learning strategies and interactive games.

'Sleeping bunnies' - This weeks song for 'Stop and Sing'

Children in Ambrosoli International School are celebrated. In the morning the children learn to say 'hello' a new language. On a Friday the entire school stops for a time called ‘Stop and Sing’ with a song sung across the PA system and children in each class join in singing and dancing in their classrooms. My hope is to develop an inclusive and loving community as I teach because I believe this environment is the key to successful learning.

Cultural

Sparkles Salon

As we explored Kampala we didn’t only stand out because we are white but also because we are girls. It didn’t take us long to realise that streets and shops were mainly populated by males. ‘According to a local proverb, “Woman is only the passive earth; it is the man who provides the seed.”’ (Hafkin and Bay, 1976, p.161)Within the Ugandan culture females are often seen as inferior to males with women spending much time in the home and men pursuing further education or work.

As a weekend treat we headed to Sparkles Salon to get a manicure, pedicure and to get the orange dust removed from our hands and feet. I was surprised to see that the beauticians were men, something that wouldn’t be as common in Northern Ireland!

Deep clean

Home Sweet home!

Personal

This week we finally settled into our new home for the next three months at Red Chilli.

Red Chilli

Although there is an excellent restaurant at Red Chilli we are really enjoying cooking dinner for ourselves. Unfortunately we haven’t quite perfected the correct portion sizes yet and have a habit of cooking enough to feed a family!

Chopping some vegetables

Some 'home' cooking

On Thursday we went to visit the Tomorrow Heroes' boy’s home. It is a home for 10 street boys who show potential and an eagerness to learn. They are sponsored to live in the house and attend school with a hope that they will be able to get a job and support themselves after the age of 18. Each boy has a fascinating story to tell and they loved having visitors and were interested to hear about our families, despite the fact that many of them do not have much or any contact with their family.

At home I love spending time with my family and especially enjoy when our extended family get together. On Saturday my granny celebrated her birthday with a family party and although in Uganda I was still in attendance with a Skype call to join the celebrations. This was a true expression of Ohana:

‘Ohana means family.  Family means no one gets left behind… or forgotten.’ (Lilo and Stitch, 2002)

Over the past two weeks communication with home and the knowledge that there are many thinking of us has made settling in this new country much easier.

Smiles from home!

 References 

CCEA(2008) Learning through play at Key Stage One, A resource book, Belfast: CCEA.

Hafkin,N. and Bay, E. (1976) Women in Africa: Studies in Social and Economic Change, Stanford: Stanford University Press.

Lilo and Stitch (2002) Film, Directed by DEBOIS and SANDERS, USA:Walt Disney Pictures.