Week 5 – 03/03/14

Professional

It’s hard to believe week two in City Parents School is complete! Once again it has been an exciting and busy week with a successful teaching observation on Thursday.

Getting used to using chalk

My teaching ability has been stretched and more skills have been developed. My computer, data projector, printer and laminator have been replaced by a blackboard, some chalk, card and felt tips. I am definitely not a born artist and so creating exciting and engaging visual aids for class filled me with dread! Yet, my heart was set on making a difference to these children and enhancing their chance of learning so each night I have become more ambitious drawing, colouring and cutting because 'a wealth of historical and recent research has demonstrated that comprehension and retention increase dramatically when visual aids are used.’ (Eline,1984, p.1)

Clever Croc helping us with Numeracy

As soon as I walk into the school gates I can’t help but smile especially when you see the smiles and waves of so many enthusiastic children. After class a pupil asked me ‘why do you smile when you see us?’. I realised that there are many children who don’t get a welcoming smile each morning as they come to school or receive a comforting hug when they are upset. It is easy to underestimate the affect you are having but an African proverb puts it beautifully:

 ‘If you think you are too small to make a difference you’ve never been to bed with a mosquito.’  (Urbanska and Levering, 2004,p.55)

Funny faces in P2Y

Big smiles from P2Y

Cultural 

'However little food we have, we’ll share it even if it’s only one locust. ~Malagasy Proverb' 

Chapatti, beans and rice

I had already noticed the generous hearts of the Ugandan people who would give their last even to us who have so much. In school each day the staff persistently offer us food and won’t take no for an answer. We came to discover that it was important for us to eat the food they offered us as it is rude to refuse and it is an excellent way to integrate with the staff. At break time we are served large mugs of African tea and baps. Dinner time on Friday we had a favourite African meal of Chapatti, beans and rice. It didn’t look so good but we were surprised at how good it tasted!

Personal

Tim Cahill ‘A journey is best measured in friends rather than miles’ (cited in Zaglada, 2010, p.238)

We have been so blessed to have made friends from Northern Ireland and England since we have arrived in Uganda. They have made us welcome in their home and have made sure we get the most out of our time in Uganda, introducing us to their friends from other countries.We mightn't have been at home this year for Shrove Tuesday but on Tuesday evening they invited us into their home for pancakes to celebrate pancake Tuesday together. They introduced us to a Kampala International Church where we now attend and each Sunday I am struck that under one roof there people from many different 'nations, tribes and tongue' worshipping together and sharing in fellowship. Personally this has helped and strengthened me so much already as I have been in Uganda.

 

Pancake Tuesday in Uganda

Kampala International Church

References

Eline, L. (1984) How to Prepare and Use Effective Visual Aids, USA: ASTD Press.

Mulch, M.(2003). Madagascar Saying, Old Sayings and Proverbial Wisdom.Available: http://www.historyofpainters.com/madagascar_proverbs.htm. Last accessed 09/03/14.

Urbanska, W. and Levering, F (2004) Nothing’s too small to make a difference, Library of Congress,Canada:Cataloging in Publication Data.

Zaglada, V. (2010) One Coach's Journey from East to West, Bloomington: Authorhouse.