Day 5 Friday December 2nd in Joska

We traveled by bus two hours out into the farming country to a boarding school for 6-7-8th graders. The students had left for their winter break, but some high school students were there having a camp. One unique thing about this school is that the kids live there and see their parents about 3 times a year for a month break.
The school has it's own farm, they grow many vegtables, and have chickens running loose around the school grounds, as well as two ponds where they raise fish. The food the school does not need for students is sold to others. I think this is a great idea.
The sleeping arrangements are interesting a 3-tiered bunk bed room that sleeps a total of 48 boys or girls (depending on which dorm it is)in one large room. No closets, just a small cubie about the size of 18x18inches for all their personal belongings. Do you think this would be a good way to get your education? What if your family had almost nothing to provide a good life for you, would this be a good solution for education?

Day 4 Spent in Pangani-Working with teachers today

Everyday we ride the bus for about 30 minutes to an hour to get to our school.  The traffic is crazy; cars, carts, bicycles, vans, buses all squeeze together to try to get  to where they are going.  There are no lanes.  Tonight it took us one and a half hours to get back to our motel because of an accident.  Pedestrians weave in and out of traffic across the streets.  I can hardly look out the windows, I'm afraid that we will hit someone.

This is class 5 red; 5th graders and their teacher.  They stay in the classroom the entire day. With the exception of a little time in physical education.  Notice the plates on the desk?  Yes, they eat lunch in their room also.  A 5 gallon plastic tub full of rice with some vegtables mixed in (cabbage and carrots) is their lunch everyday.  They have no eating utensils.  What this picture does not show you is the mold on the patched concrete walls, floor, and ceiling, and the spot on the floor where they burn coal to keep warm on cold days.
I spent the day in six classrooms and then spent the afternoon sharing ideas with their teachers.  The people are very caring and eager to share about their challenges and joys in life.

Day 3 in Kenya

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Today was Christmas at Mabatini, Mission of Hope School.  We had 340 children rotate through activities, that included a craft, music, story, and recreational games.  I spent the previous day at this school in several classrooms working and teaching alongside the teachers.  Later in the day, I spent time working with two head teachers (one from this school and one from a neighboring school) to talk about new strategies they could use in the classroom. 

In their school the children stay in the same room and the teachers rotate.  That would eliminate the need for lockers or passing periods.  Do you think this would work in our schools?  Much of their work is done orally, that means that they all memorize the same information and repeat it together.  Each level has a test that must be passed before you can move on to the next level or grade.  One other think I enjoyed was the way the students greeted their teachers.  The said in unison, "Good morning to you.  We love our school, we love our teacher, I will work hard and stay strong to learn my lessons."

This was their last day of school and we had a graduation celebration at the church for the younger students advancing to the next level.   We climbed the hill to the church, past a large pile of rocks that blocked the road, beyond the ever-growing pile of garbage, through a herd of goats to the ceremony.   Complete with graduation cap and gown, cake, songs and poems performed by the students, pictures, and even a short congratulatory, encouragement speech from Mrs. Mar.  The community was very welcoming and receptive to our interactions with the school, and thankful for  the food baskets we had spent the afternoon preparing for them to take home over their break. 

Our team had raised money from many caring people who live in Wichita to be able to provide food baskets that contained food for about 1 week for the children while they are on their school month long break.  Many of these children get one balanced meal a day from their school.  So they were very happy with the gift of corn, green maze, rice, flour, sugar, and oil.  The children were overjoyed by the cake at their graduation.  Each child had one small bite.  Yes, bite. 

The poverty is unlike anything you can imagine.  The traffic is absolute chaos.  I will talk with you when I return more about my experiences.  Perform to excellence in my absence.  Until next time. Love Mrs. Mar

The Flight to Kenya

28 hours from Wichita to Nairobi, from airport waiting to plane riding.  Sitting for two 9 hour stretches on a plane is like reliving a dream that you can’t awaken from.  One of those dreams where you feel as if you are in a state of falling and can’t wake up or finally hit the ground, just lingering in limbo. Feeling as if I’m neither here nor there, just being, in a zombie-like state.

Once on the ground in Nairobi joy overcomes the lengthy, lethargic, lingering hours on the plane.  While darkness greets our arrival, I am overcome by the faces of multiple races blending together, the languages of the earth blending together in song with the vans, cars and taxis that await weary travelers as they venture into the city.

Tonight sleep in a bed, not airplane seat is what I am looking forward too.  Tomorrow our team will be introduced to the city and we will plan our activities while here with our hosts.  I look forward to getting into the schools to meet the teachers and students I will be working with over the next two weeks.  Until I can write again, treat others kindly, peace and love.

Lesson for my Wranglers:  What styles of figurative language can you find in my writing? 

Nearing the time to leave

About 8 hours and counting until our flight is scheduled to leave Wichita enroute to the Mathare Valley, Niarobi, Kenya, Africa.  I can't believe it has been 5 months since I said yes to going on this trip.  In the midst of pain and sorrow I found a calling to extend myself for the sake of others regardless of cost to me. I am trusting that my going will be an encouragement and help to others.
This holiday weekend has been a time of reflection over the many blessings I enjoy. Friends, family, 3 meals a day, shelter that keeps me warm/cool/safe, and the ability to freely express my ideas. I will be working with kids and their teachers who have far less resources than we, yet somehow I wonder if we will have much more in common that I might have once thought?
I hope to have time and internet connection availability to share my journey with you in the upcoming days. Stay tuned.
Feel free to post a comment or question, IF YOU ARE MY STUDENT use initials and your class hour only, do not put your name!  This is for your safety, I will know who you are. I may not have time to respond to each comment.

Emerging technology - game reviews

1. http://www.quia.com/hm/80390.html
I previewed a Hangman game found on gamequarium. This is an online version of an old favorite. I found that it was effective in presenting review for my content area, while not extremely engaging or entertaining. Students receive feedback for both positive and negative actions. It is easy to use, and the goal is to recall figurative language terms by use of a clue. Students love the challenge of this game even though it may not have all the “bells and whistles” that other video games may have.
2. The Nobel Prize game site was very thorough, especially the science games. I enjoyed the extra information and attention given to the literature games, although fewer than the science games, students could benefit from the information about the author. I played” Lord of the Flies” a game that required recall from book elements.
The aim of this game is to introduce some basic analytical aspects of the book and to challenge the reader's memory through play. The game is interesting if you have read the book. It is an excellent character analysis, and student can reach the goal by trial and error if he/she does not remember the character/story well. I feel this would be a great review for students after reading the story and could be used in my class. It was fun, if you had read the book, the graphics and sounds pertinent to the topic, with the goal being to analyze character and plot, by moving objects or quotes from the story to elements of characters and plot.
"Lord of the Flies". Nobelprize.org. 24 Oct 2011 http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/literature/golding/index.html
3. WordStash “Half flashcard, half dictionary, and full awesome!” http://wordstash.com/
As a language arts teacher, I found this the most intriguing game, as it may or may not be called a game. This site provides teachers with a free account, where you can create word lists and flashcards with your students or search for lists to copy and use. I found a list of figurative language terms that I can use tomorrow in my classroom. This is going on my favorites list.
Students can find the definition, practice with matching and multiple choice games. It even has a learning mode that can be set to remember what you need more practice on. It is engaging, and gives student feedback by way of further practice for missed words. It has a time component that counts up. I especially liked the Waterfall game that had fill in the blank, which is a quick comprehension element. Students can monitor their own understanding, and take charge of their own learning of content words and their meanings. It also had an audio feature that would benefit esol students.

One of the difficulties I find in my practice is discouragement by others about using technology in the language arts classroom. Finding clear instructions and ideas for professional development is important in aiding "newbies" or seasoned teachers in feeling confident to try. I find that because of my age, and my efforts to share the technology that I am using in the classroom it helps others think that maybe they can try also.
The embedded video found on youtube is a good tool for reluctant or hesitant teachers to begin using in the classroom. It gives reasons a blog can be used in the Language Arts Classroom, and the benefits to students. This video is good in giving the listener/learner time to reflect on the ideas put forth. One idea that I think I could sell to teachers not currently using technology in the classroom is the posting of "Book Review" on blogs stating the ease of teacher reply to students. (Integrate Blogs in English-Teacher Professional Development, March 10, 2011)

Uploaded by Simplek12Team on Mar 10, 2011

Blogs In The Classroom - http://tinyurl.com/tlc-now