Reflecting...

Hole In One!

Friday, March 7^th, 2007

I am starting to realize that teaching is a lot like golf. At times it can be so frustrating you are stressed and overwhelmed. Even if you have put in the money and time for classes, you know all the strategies, tricks, nothing seems to be working. Then, when you least expect it….a hole in one! So rewarding, you realize why you love this so much and never want to do anything else. Well, I declare this week of teaching my hole in one week! The fact that last week was probably one of my most challenging ones so far probably made the success I faced this week taste even sweeter.

I am starting to see huge improvements in my students reading and writing skills. It is extremely difficult here because the class sizes are so large, and if I could I would work one on one with every one of my students, I would. Even spending five extra minutes with some of them after class you see improvements, so I can’t even imagine what twenty to thirty a minutes a day would do. But, I have tried to be patient, and do my best and I am facing some of the most rewarding moments I have ever experienced in teaching. One student in particular holds a real special place in my heart (I know, you aren’t supposed to pick favorites), but he is what the locals would refer to as “a walkabout”. This simply means that he spends more time on the streets than anywhere else, and therefore has a bit of a stigma attached to him. For a couple weeks I would be lucky to get a word out of him and every time I asked him how we has doing he would reply, “not good Miss”. So I looked at the situation and realized that I needed to be persistent and reward him every chance I get with praise. At first it was a struggle, he could barely read or complete a sentence, but today when I was working with him he began writing a short story and was really excited about it. He loves being read to and is so into James and the Giant Peach that we are reading in class right now, he always begs for me to read one more chapter. I notice a whole new confidence in himself and his writing. He is starting to actively engage in class shooting his hand up often to share his answer without any concern of being wrong.

The problem is that since the class sizes are so large, and there simply aren’t the resources here so many kids slip through the cracks. Back home that is not an option we pride ourselves in the fact that no child is left behind, but that is easy to say when we have classroom aides, social services, school psychiatrists etc. Not to mention smaller class sizes. I have had some really informative conversations with my teacher about some of the struggles that occur here and it is hard for me to wrap my mind around the home lives that some of my students have to deal with. Some of these students are so mature and eager to learn, what they accomplish with so little is incredible. Some of my students inspire me with their eagerness to learn against all odds. I have such a short time with these kids and I will do all I can to help them academically and to give some of them a real sense of self worth. This week was so rewarding I am grateful to have this experience to grow as a teacher and a person.