VIEWS FROM THE CLASSROOM (Sarah Lewis: RU Elementary Education)

Monday, being one of the last days we would be at the school, we handed out the large quantity of pencils and pens that we had brought here from home. I don’t think any of us will ever take an electric sharpener, or even a hand cranked one, for granted again after sharpening over 800 pencils by hand. We started in standard 7, and to see their faces when we walked into their class was priceless, as were all the other faces in all the other classes. Who ever knew that handing out something as simple as a pencil would get such a warm and thankful welcome. We had some extra time so Ryan, Katie and I went into the kitchen and gave out porridge while we waited for the VT girls to get there so they could see the feeding program and serve some too. After feeding, it was time for the Malawi Chibale Project's stakeholder meeting.   The stakeholder meeting is for the universities and the teachers of the schools that are part of the Chibale Project. During the meeting, we discussed the needs and dreams of the school, accomplishments that have happened at the schools, ways to help student achievement in the classrooms throughout the year and what things we could do in our yearly visits to promote student achievement. All the teachers and students had a lot of good things to put on all the lists. The most important thing I think that was said on the list of how to improve the student achievement was that there should be more structure in the classroom and more time spent in the classroom. I did LOVE playing outside with the kids every chance I get, but the reason they are at school is to learn, and I think that is something that the teachers need to really focus on. Also after reading the list, I saw that many of the things that they need/want aren’t really all that hard to do, like pencil sharpeners and maps.   After today, I came away with an appreciation of what we have in America and the resources that we take for granted so much. In the schools at home, the kids are unhappy if the computers aren’t working right, while kids here simply would like to have electricity. Also, after the stakeholder’s meeting, I saw how important it is that the Chibale Project and the teachers at the school work together to make a lot of the goals happen. Collaborating with each other, which at times I would think would be difficult, being half way around the world from each other, is key. The relationship that has been built at the school really does require work from both sides, and I see it as a good example to us as future teachers who will have to work with other people for success in all areas of our jobs.