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on Alison Helm (Ghana), 17/Nov/2011 20:36, 34 days ago
A Busy Week in Many Schools. . . . .After having a weeks 'break' to recover from a bout of malaria, I have bounced back this week keen to make the most of the short time I have left in Ghana. In the schools where I have been working for a while, I am keen that the class teachers now start to take the phonics sessions as I have been modelling them for a number of weeks. This has been met with 'mixed success' with lots of teachers demonstrating great understanding and enthusiasm, and a couple of others slightly less so!The KG teacher in these photos is doing amazingly well and sonext week I will ask some of her colleagues to watch her session; the idea being that the phonics method of teaching remains sustainable and embedded in their literacy curriculum after I have gone home.(I potentially ruined their concentration when I pulled out the camera!!)I have continued to do some 'model' phonics lessons and 'team teaching' in some other schools where I have not being working as long. It continues to be motivating and rewarding to meet teachers who are keen to learn new methods in order to teach their children most effectively. In this year 2 class the teacher was so enthusiastic to join in which then made his pupils equally as determined . . . .MayI PlayToday? No Way!(does anyone recognise that t-shirt!)Apart from the phonics work, I have been working with a number of schools to do some 'link' letter writing work with their older pupils. This is to encourage them to write and receive letters from children in the UK so that both sets of children can learn about each other. (This is with both with children from Curwen and some pupils from a school in Hull).This has included the 'Binaba Girls' Sports/Literacy Project' where the 15 girls have been working this week on writing a descriptive piece about their school to send to year 6 children at Curwen.Although the enthusiasm from the children and many teachers is extremely heartening, it is deeply saddening to see the absolute lack of resources available for the lessons and within the schools. (Highlighted this week when I brought some photos and glue for the girls to use with their descriptive writing, and there was much confusion over what we might do with them!)Furthermore I think I could honestly say I have not seen one story/reading book in any of the schools I have visited during my time here.As such I am so excited about the prospect of the 'Curwen books' that should be arriving next week . . . I plan to spend some of my remaining time here working with head teachers to try to establish small libraries within their schools in order to make best use of this amazing resource which will allow so many children to be able to learn about new things.Watch this space!A final shot to show that it isn't all work and no play . . . . (and to inform Mother Helm, that with much surprise, I was repeatedly commended on my artistic abilities during this Halloween party!!)(For anyone who is not sure . . . I'm the one in the middle!)Thanks as ever for the emails and facebook messages - it is reassuring to think I haven't been forgotten!Love and HugsAli x