Do you sometimes feel that you have no idea what you are doing? that's how I felt today.
When learners come from Grade 3 to Grade 4, they come across a big change in the curriculum. Grades 1-3 only focus on Literacy, Numeracy and Life-skills. In grade 4 there are 9 Learning Areas. (Home Language [English]; First additional language [Afrikaans]; Mathematics; Social Science [History & Geography]; Natural Science [Science & Biology]; EMS [Economic Management Science]; Life Orientation; Technology; and Arts and Culture [Music, Dance, Drama And Visual Arts]).
This is my first year that I start the year with the grade 4's. Last year I only came to grade four during the second term (I used to be with the Grade 2's). So when I started at grade 4 last year, they already knew how to work, and they could work on their own. I never knew that they struggled this much in the beginnig of the year. The leaners can barely open a book on their own, you have to help them (I guess that they might be affraid to work in the wrong book). I can't ask them to write today's date, for they won't do it unless I write it on the black board. Theydo not understand when I say, "Write it on the top line" or "Skip one line." Or "Write in one line only, not two."
Last year when I got here, Every one could work by themself, and I could immediately start working with them. Now, I have to show them how to work; step-by-step. I didn't plan for this, so now I have to go and revise my planning for the first few weeks. Yet another thing which makes my 'start-of-the-year-chaos' more chaotic.
Speaking of which, two new learners started in grade four today; Kingsly and Bokang. Neither of them say much, they cannoth write their own names, and they just stare when I speak to them, so I'm not even sure if they understan English. At least when I put my finger to my mouth and said "shhhhhhhhhh", Bokang knew that I meant "Be quiet." Kingsly just kept on talking to, what I believe is his imaginary friend. But I'm sure that we'll get them sorted in no time.
Luckily, on days like these, I feel that things can only get better (Well, let's hope so anyway).
Happy learning!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
Teaching in South Africa
My teaching experience is much different from some other teachers in this country. When I said thatit is a 'semi, under-priveledged school' I only meant that some of the lerners in the school are very, very poor. But we still get subsidized by the governtment. That means that they pay some of the school fees, and they sometimes donate things like art supplies and staionary. But the school is still dependant on the scholl fees which the parents has to pay.
There are some schools in South Africa which is worse off, by far. Not only do they have only poor learners, but their facilities are terrible. there are schools in South Africa which do not even have propper class rooms. Children have to sit outside and learn. In these cases, where there are no prper school buildings, there are obviously no library, or a place to store their text books.
I must say, I honestly do not know how these schools work, and if it is at all effective. But at least, when the children are there, they keep out of trouble. I'm sure that these schools must have some system which they work from to ensure that the children get some form of education, but I really don't know what that is.
Our school year starts with the new year. We only have a 'short' summer holidays (4-6 weeks). We start in middle January with our first term and we go on 'till the end of March. we then have a 2-3 week holiday and then we start the second term in middle April. The second term then goes on 'till en of June. Our winter holidays (remember in South Africa, winter is during June, July and August) are about 3-4 weeks. (Except for this year with the soccer World Cup in South Africa; we will have a 5-and-a-half week holiday which will stretch over the duration of the World Cup.) Our third term is then untill the end of September, and we then get a 1-2 week spring break. And then we have the fourth term 'till the start of December, after which our Summer holidays start.
This all means that I just started my second week of school (we started January 13). So everything is still in chaos at school with new enrollments. I teach the grade fours (age 9, turning 10). Unfortunately it is around this age that the parents start sending their children to our school. The schools in the locations (slums) only teach in African language, and many parents believe that if their children know English that they will do better in this country. All the universities and colleges in South Africa teach in English and Afrikaans (a language very close to Dutch, spoken by the descendants of the Dutch wo colonized South Africa in 1652). The school where I teach has a LOLT (language of teaching and learning) of English. and we then teach Afrikaans as a second language to all the learners.
Now I said that "unfortunately" the parents send their children to our school to teach them English, because it is hard for us to do that when we have eight other Learning Areas tofocus on. The parents do not realize that because the children cannot speak/understand/read English, that they will never be able to do the History and Geography and Science and all the other subjects, because they are taught in English. These learners sit in a class, where a teacher speaks a language which they do not understand. It is really sad to see that these learners struggle so much because of their parents. I say that it is because of their parents, because I feel that I would never send my child to a school, where he/she will not be able to understand anyone. Some of the schools in the locations are well equiped and they have great teachers. I don't really see the need for the parents to send us their children if they cannot speak any English. Offcourse there are parents who taught their children English, and with them it goes really good, but the others will always suffer. then there is also the fact, that while you try to help this child, all the other children in the class are also left behind. We do not have assistants in our classes and we have to handle the 35-40 children infront of us on our own.
Maybe some one of you,might ask why we don't get translators. That answer is easy. In South Africa there are 11 Official Languages, and I don't know how many other native African languages one might find here. Most White people in South Africa only speak English and Afrikaans (I have attemted studying an African language [Zulu], but that's very very difficult). Black people in South Africa Can Speak one or two African Languages, and maybe English. It would therefore be almost impossible to have a translator for every child who doesn't speak English.
I know that this post might seem that teaching and education in South Africa is really bad, but that is definately not the case. (If it were, then I would have moved to another country by now to provide my daughter with better education) Yes, some schools struggle (Considering the really poor schools, my school is defonately in the top 30% of schools). My school has this oneproblem with the non-English speaking learners, but the rest of teaching in my school is great. We have Hockey, Netball, Cricket, Soccer and athletics at my school. (We used to have Rugby, but our boys[mostly black boys] prefer soccer [it's the white boys who likes rugby more]). So there is absolutely nothing wrong with teaching at my school. Like I said, today was day 4 of the school year, so everything is still just a bit hectic right now, but I'm sure that things will calm down soon enough.
Well I have a few lessons to prepare.
Happy learning!
xoxox
There are some schools in South Africa which is worse off, by far. Not only do they have only poor learners, but their facilities are terrible. there are schools in South Africa which do not even have propper class rooms. Children have to sit outside and learn. In these cases, where there are no prper school buildings, there are obviously no library, or a place to store their text books.
I must say, I honestly do not know how these schools work, and if it is at all effective. But at least, when the children are there, they keep out of trouble. I'm sure that these schools must have some system which they work from to ensure that the children get some form of education, but I really don't know what that is.
Our school year starts with the new year. We only have a 'short' summer holidays (4-6 weeks). We start in middle January with our first term and we go on 'till the end of March. we then have a 2-3 week holiday and then we start the second term in middle April. The second term then goes on 'till en of June. Our winter holidays (remember in South Africa, winter is during June, July and August) are about 3-4 weeks. (Except for this year with the soccer World Cup in South Africa; we will have a 5-and-a-half week holiday which will stretch over the duration of the World Cup.) Our third term is then untill the end of September, and we then get a 1-2 week spring break. And then we have the fourth term 'till the start of December, after which our Summer holidays start.
This all means that I just started my second week of school (we started January 13). So everything is still in chaos at school with new enrollments. I teach the grade fours (age 9, turning 10). Unfortunately it is around this age that the parents start sending their children to our school. The schools in the locations (slums) only teach in African language, and many parents believe that if their children know English that they will do better in this country. All the universities and colleges in South Africa teach in English and Afrikaans (a language very close to Dutch, spoken by the descendants of the Dutch wo colonized South Africa in 1652). The school where I teach has a LOLT (language of teaching and learning) of English. and we then teach Afrikaans as a second language to all the learners.
Now I said that "unfortunately" the parents send their children to our school to teach them English, because it is hard for us to do that when we have eight other Learning Areas tofocus on. The parents do not realize that because the children cannot speak/understand/read English, that they will never be able to do the History and Geography and Science and all the other subjects, because they are taught in English. These learners sit in a class, where a teacher speaks a language which they do not understand. It is really sad to see that these learners struggle so much because of their parents. I say that it is because of their parents, because I feel that I would never send my child to a school, where he/she will not be able to understand anyone. Some of the schools in the locations are well equiped and they have great teachers. I don't really see the need for the parents to send us their children if they cannot speak any English. Offcourse there are parents who taught their children English, and with them it goes really good, but the others will always suffer. then there is also the fact, that while you try to help this child, all the other children in the class are also left behind. We do not have assistants in our classes and we have to handle the 35-40 children infront of us on our own.
Maybe some one of you,might ask why we don't get translators. That answer is easy. In South Africa there are 11 Official Languages, and I don't know how many other native African languages one might find here. Most White people in South Africa only speak English and Afrikaans (I have attemted studying an African language [Zulu], but that's very very difficult). Black people in South Africa Can Speak one or two African Languages, and maybe English. It would therefore be almost impossible to have a translator for every child who doesn't speak English.
I know that this post might seem that teaching and education in South Africa is really bad, but that is definately not the case. (If it were, then I would have moved to another country by now to provide my daughter with better education) Yes, some schools struggle (Considering the really poor schools, my school is defonately in the top 30% of schools). My school has this oneproblem with the non-English speaking learners, but the rest of teaching in my school is great. We have Hockey, Netball, Cricket, Soccer and athletics at my school. (We used to have Rugby, but our boys[mostly black boys] prefer soccer [it's the white boys who likes rugby more]). So there is absolutely nothing wrong with teaching at my school. Like I said, today was day 4 of the school year, so everything is still just a bit hectic right now, but I'm sure that things will calm down soon enough.
Well I have a few lessons to prepare.
Happy learning!
xoxox
Sunday, January 17, 2010
My School
So yeah, you know I'm a teacher. Let metell you a bitmore about my surroundings.
I teach at a 'semi-underpriveledged school (in South Africa). I say that is is semi- underpriveledged for many of the learners live in squatter camps. If you don't know what that is... Have you see 'District 9'? The movie where the aliens invade Johannesburg? Well if you have, those houses in which the aliens live, it looks exactly like the houses in the squatter camps. (Yeah, I don't think the movie is just about aliens, more like some of South Africa's History - Go Google 'Apartheid' and you'll know what I mean.)
Anyway, so me of the learners in my school live in the conditions of those 'aliens'. They don't have any resources to work from. They don't have a place to do their homework, and a lot of the time they don't even have electricity to provide a light to use when doing homework. A lot of learners have to take care of younger siblings, so schoolwork is definatily not a first priority.
I want to make learning fun for them. That is why I'm glad that I am teching them Arts & Culture this year. Arts & Culture consists of Music, Dancing, Drama and Visual Arts. I hope that I can make this a great learning experience for them.
I am starting with Music (one of my big passions). I can't teach them how to play different instruments, however I am going to teach them how to really listen to music. We are going to have our own make believe orchestra, where I am going to learn them how to conduct, and then every child will pretend to play a different instrument. We are going to listen closely to the song so that we can hear when the differnet instruments are playing. Then we are going to have our own concert.
The learners were very excited when I told them my plan, so hopefully it will work.
Wish me Luck!!!
Happy learning!
I teach at a 'semi-underpriveledged school (in South Africa). I say that is is semi- underpriveledged for many of the learners live in squatter camps. If you don't know what that is... Have you see 'District 9'? The movie where the aliens invade Johannesburg? Well if you have, those houses in which the aliens live, it looks exactly like the houses in the squatter camps. (Yeah, I don't think the movie is just about aliens, more like some of South Africa's History - Go Google 'Apartheid' and you'll know what I mean.)
Anyway, so me of the learners in my school live in the conditions of those 'aliens'. They don't have any resources to work from. They don't have a place to do their homework, and a lot of the time they don't even have electricity to provide a light to use when doing homework. A lot of learners have to take care of younger siblings, so schoolwork is definatily not a first priority.
I want to make learning fun for them. That is why I'm glad that I am teching them Arts & Culture this year. Arts & Culture consists of Music, Dancing, Drama and Visual Arts. I hope that I can make this a great learning experience for them.
I am starting with Music (one of my big passions). I can't teach them how to play different instruments, however I am going to teach them how to really listen to music. We are going to have our own make believe orchestra, where I am going to learn them how to conduct, and then every child will pretend to play a different instrument. We are going to listen closely to the song so that we can hear when the differnet instruments are playing. Then we are going to have our own concert.
The learners were very excited when I told them my plan, so hopefully it will work.
Wish me Luck!!!
Happy learning!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
not Half day
Let me get one thing straight before we start! Teaching is not a so called 'half day' job. I have to be at school from 07h00 'till 15h00, which you will see is the same amount of hours as a '9 - 5'job. Sometimes we as teachers have to stay longer on days which we coach sports. And then after that we still have to take the learners' assignments home to grade it, so our work goes on. So just to be clear, (especially to anyone whoever said that teaching is a 'half day' job and that teachers never work), we work as hard as anyother person out there. Probably harder than most.
Wow! Now that I have that off my chest, I can breath again. Don't worry! I'm not always this hostile! I just needed to state that for the sake of me and my fellow colleagues. Some people really think that teachers don't have real, fulltime jobs. Just a question to those people:Would you feel safe if your child is at school with a teacher who is 'sitting around and doing nothing while you pay the school-fees?
Didn't think so! Now have a little faith!
In this blog I am going to talk about my teaching experiences. This year is only my third year teaching. I don't have any trouble so far, but should I come up with a problem (which I will then write here), you are welcome to give me advice.
Happy learning!
*****
Wow! Now that I have that off my chest, I can breath again. Don't worry! I'm not always this hostile! I just needed to state that for the sake of me and my fellow colleagues. Some people really think that teachers don't have real, fulltime jobs. Just a question to those people:Would you feel safe if your child is at school with a teacher who is 'sitting around and doing nothing while you pay the school-fees?
Didn't think so! Now have a little faith!
In this blog I am going to talk about my teaching experiences. This year is only my third year teaching. I don't have any trouble so far, but should I come up with a problem (which I will then write here), you are welcome to give me advice.
Happy learning!
*****
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