School Days

A few months ago, there was some changes in the first grade. There were originally two big classes. Now there are four classes averaging twenty children in each. There was some problems with some of the kids not learning at their potential so they hired two new teachers and me. I was put with a haitian woman and together we teach 19 children. 

Here is my class:

Woodarline

Madianise

Nesly

Guivenson

Lovelie

Madialine

Josena

Anderson

Stevenson

Judeline

Erbrinia

Woodelove

Nedjina

Chella

Ivenson

Josiane

Poupouche 

Madias

Rosedarline

Everyday is an adventure but walking to school is an adventure alone.
It is the rainy season, so that means a lot of mud on most of the school roads. Not only do some of these kids have to walk 30+ minutes to school, but they have obstacles of mud, rivers or both. If we have a late days rain, that means the next day there is going to be a lot of mud. They can't just ask their mom or dad if they can get a ride to school because its muddy. In most cases they just walk. However when there is a lot of mud, the attendance is down in the classes. I usually just take off my shoes and walk in the mud filled with rocks, poop, water, garbage and who knows what else. The kids try to stay out of it, but sometimes they fall, or trip. As they say they are "scared" of the mud and are amazed that I am not "scared" of it. I would rather walk in the middle and reduce my chances of falling. Either way everyone comes out of it with feet covered in mud along with splats on your back on your leg.

My class is made up with the kids who had some of the lowest grades in the first grade. Two of them being over the age of 10. One being Poupouche (the deaf boy) who teaches the kids in his own way, but is also making progress as well. The other is a girl and slowly she is improving but is catching on a lot slower than the others. Some of the kids didn't even know how to hold a pencil properly or use a notebook when we first started with the class.  The first few weeks everyday we did the same thing. Made them write their names, do some work with letters, count and do things to learn the numbers 1-10, and that took up 5 hours.
Now some kids can write their names, are excelling in reading, know numbers 1-40, and can do some simple addition. Then there are others who just learned how to write the letter a and number 5. They are all at different levels, but they all are improving and seem to be learning a lot. Its so cute to see them be so excited when they finally understand or can finally do something. I think these specific kids were not getting the attention they needed in a class of almost 50 with one teacher.


Everyday is a surprise.
I never know the temperaments of the children from day to day.
The weather effects attendance, and their moods.
Kids feel sick and don't want to do anything.
If they are hungry that depends on their willingness to work.
Everyday you are never certain how many kids will be at school.
I never know how my personal space will be violated.
I am usually poked EVERYWHERE everyday, so thats never really a surprise, I prepare for that.
I never know what my role will be at recess. (the mobile jungle gym, playing hand games with girls, sitting with the teachers, getting my hair done, playing keep away, playing heads or tails, play with marbles which is like our bloody knuckles and I learned that the hard way, or sometimes I can sneak away and hide down the street visiting a woman I know so I can get away from the children)
I Never know who is going to slap, kick, punch, or pull someone down to the ground.
I Never know who is going to have an accident by the latrines and just walk around with their pants off, crying until someone helps.
I just never know what is going to happen. Its wonderful.


From this experience, I have to give a lot of credit to all of my teacher friends. It really is a way in which I am developing my own patience. Sometimes I just want to scream. Then I have to remember they are 5 and 6. It also doesn't help that they know I will play around with them. It can be difficult in class for them to listen to me, which can be very annoying. Luckily the Haitian teacher puts them in their place. I can't help that I am a pretty cool play toy.

Here is some pictures from other parts of the school day:

 

This is lunch everyday. Rice and some sauce

 They love the rice and sauce combo. They especially love it when it has sardines or spinach in the sauce.










After everyone eats, they wash their dishes. You can't see the small opening, but there are probably five children fighting to get water. It is constantly a muddy wet area where a lot of fights break out. They all want water at the same time.

Then some girls volunteer to wash the dishes. This also means that they don't have to be in class for the twenty minutes. It becomes a whole production. usually with one girl in charge yelling at all the others. 

This is the kitchen where all the food is cooked. These stoves are made to be fuel efficient and use less wood and cause less smoke. 

In other news:
We have had visitors from Eastern Illinois. Including two of my best friends who came down to surprise me on the trip.
We have been preparing for our summer camp.
We went on a mini vacation. We camped on the beach, snorkeled, ate sea food, relaxed, and spent time with our Haitian friend Guardyne.

Life is good.