Camping and Math Class Lessons

The Great Rift Valley

The campsite

The last several days have been so full!  This weekend we took the whole school on a campout.  The juniors and seniors went to the Mara and the freshman, sophmores, and elementary students went to Hell’s Gate National Park.  I went to Hell’s Gate and Friday morning we loaded up three truck/bus type vehicles with a total group of 85 and headed off. It was a great time!  I can not tell you how many tents I helped set up on Friday.  Many of these kids had never done anything like this before.  I live in the biggest city in East Africa and many of the students here come from wealthy families all over East Africa.  It rained Friday night and Saturday morning but it rains just about every time I go camping and so this was nothing new to me.  The kids however, were not too sure about it.  They did not want to get wet!  Thankfully, the weather cleared up and we did some hiking that afternoon.  That was amazing! We were able to hike down in the gorge and see some pretty neat landscape features.  In some places the climbing was a little difficult.  Many of the kids needed help getting up and so Derrick went on top of the rock and I stood below and gave kids a leg up while he caught them and pulled them up.  On Sunday morning we broke camp and I helped with tents again.  After this weekend, I feel like an expert in tents.  The kids then had the option to go rock climbing or biking.  I chose to go with the group that went climbing.  I took rock climbing at Southern my first semester there and I loved it!  I have been climbing with friends several times since then and am hoping to get my own gear when I get home so that I can go more often.   The rock that we were going to climb is the rock the inspired Pride Rock (The Lion King).  It was really neat. I helped a lot kids in and out of harnesses and climbing shoes and had a great time doing it!  A lot of the kids were really scared to do the climb and some only made it up a few feet.  I was really proud of the ones that were willing to give it a try!

School so far this week has just been great.  I have said it before and will probably be saying it for the rest of my life.  But I think that I learn more from these kids than they do from me.  Today Katie (the other SM elementary teacher) and I lost track of time while the kids were out at recess and ended up giving them an extra ten minutes.  This would be fine, except that it cut into math class. Math is the class that I have the hardest time fitting everything in for.  I teach 5^th and 6^th grade math and it is a juggling act for sure.  The first few weeks, I really thought that I was going to pull out all my hair in frustration.  It has gotten so much better though now!  I am able to get it done and feel like the kids actually learned something.  They are all passing too, so I must not be doing too terribly. 

 

Anyways, we called the kids in late.  The 5^th graders came in arguing like they always do and everyone came in wanting a drink.  I also knew that the 6^th graders had had some difficulty with there homework the night before and we needed to cover some of the material.  I was slightly stressed trying to figure out how in the world I was going to teach two different lessons and review yesterdays lesson in my now shortened math period.  I was about to open my mouth to get after all the kids for being so rowdy coming in.  To tell them that they had better sit down and be quiet because we had way too much to do.  Then I looked around.  They were happy and laughing and having a good time, while still getting their books and preparing for class. I realized that I had a choice.  I could yell at them to sit down and then rush through the lesson.  We could have done it.  But as I was sitting standing there and looking around I realized that if I did that I would be taking the joy right out of the room.  They would not be having fun anymore, but would be upset about being yelled at. I would not be happy, but would be irritated because I had to yell at them again.  So I decided to laugh with them.  We went over the homework from yesterday.  We started to cover a bit of the material that we were supposed to cover today, but did not make it through.  I assigned some extra practice from the day before and we made it through the class with everyone smiling. 

Anyone who has known me for a while know that I tend to be very task oriented.  I like to see what needs to be done and get it done.  I do things quickly and efficiently and I really don’t slow down or stop for much of anything.  You cannot always do that with kids.  Its not good for them!  They need you to slow down.  They need you to take the time.  To listen to them.  To understand where they are coming from.  I am again learning my lesson.  Slow down.  My kids are so happy most of the time!  I cant help but think its because they realize what us adults miss.  Life is not an emergency.  It is not something that needs to be rushed through.  There are more important things than your lesson plans or your to-do list.  I think that kids are so happy because they take the time to laugh.  They take the time to wonder at the things around them.

Teaching....

These kids make me think.  Hard. All the time.  And these kids make me laugh so much!  I learn so much from them on a daily basis.  I am learning how important it is to be clear in what you are expecting and how to be more explicit in your explanations.  I tell one student to “grab the door” and he walks over, grabs it by the side and proceeds to say, “Ms. McCauley, its too big for me too carry.”  I laugh because I am not really sure what else there is to do.  I say, “sit down right now” and I have a kid literally sit down right where he is, on the floor, in the middle of the classroom.  I say, “take a seat” and I have a 2^nd grader pick up there chair and ask me where I want them to take it.  I just love these kids. Sometimes they are just being smart.  They think it is very funny to take everything I say very literally.  Other times I am pretty sure that they really have no idea what I was actually asking for.

The 2^nd through 4^th grade and I are currently reading Flat Stanley.  It is a book about a boy who is flat and the adventures that he goes on.  One of the things that happens in the book is his family mails him to a friend to visit.  So as a project we mailed “Flat Stanleys” to some of my friends and family.  They are pretty excited about it and in the three days since I mailed the letters, every day at least one kid asks me if we have gotten any response yet.  I have tried to explain that it will probably take weeks.

In 5^th and 6^th grade math I was asked if I am a tomboy – one of my 6^th grade boys is very interested in that answer and lately, on a daily basis, has been pointing out different things that I do that make him think that I am a tomboy.  Another one of my 6^th graders pointed out to me that “math is mental abuse to humans”.  I also have a 5^th grader that has really been struggling with math this year.  I think that I have done everything short of standing on my head with him to try and help him understand.  We have written out problem after problem.  We have drawn pictures.  We have used blocks.  We have tried examples using pie and pizza (unfortunately imaginary pie and pizza).  We have stood up and walked around.  If you can think of it, we have probably tried it – and then some.  But he is finally getting it!  It is so exciting that math is starting to make more sense for him! I am no longer getting blank stares during math class, but getting answers when I ask questions!  Today this student and I did a little bit of a victory dance in excitement for how far we have come! But then of course we got right to work on homework….

Then there are the students that have to have things explained several times and I have to think of every possible way to say something to help them understand.  It is frustrating when they say, “ok, I get it” and then two minutes later are asking you to explain the exact same thing again.  So it’s back to the drawing board.  How in the world to I communicate this subject to you in a way that you can understand?  It’s a question that I would love to be able to ask these kids and sometimes I do.  However, they typically don’t know either and so it is a lot of trial and error.

            I have a second grader that often asks me what day it is.  Every time I tell him I get a similar response.  Generally it is something along the lines of, “Ms. McCauley, time is going way too fast.”  I can’t help but agree.  These days mostly fly by.  When I am being called in several different directions at once sometimes I think that I might just lose my mind.  Sometimes I get a little short with one of the kids and yell at them when they really didn’t do anything wrong.  Sometimes I am far too lax and let them get away with a lot more than I should.  At any rate I am learning and I think that they are learning too.  Teaching can be frustrating.  But getting hugs from my kids in the morning, having little ones that want to hold my hand when we are just walking around, being called over to the swings to watch as they show me what they can do, and victory dances in the classroom make it more than worth it. 

Slow

Slow.  Just slow.  I am realizing more and more that I am always in a hurry.  I walk fast.  I eat fast.  I shower fast.  What for?  Why am I always rushing?  Hurry hurts people.  Hurry hurts kids.  Here in Africa everything is slow.  Or at least it seems like everything is slow.  The kids walk so slow!  The lines take an eternity.  Mail takes weeks.  It takes forever to get places because of the traffic.  It drives me nuts!  But I am realizing it is so good for me  It is Sunday morning and I was in the shower and I was rushing.  As I realized what I was doing I just started to laugh at myself.  It is a Sunday morning.  I have no appointments today.  Nowhere that I really have to be and while I do have several things I want to get accomplished today, I have more than enough time to get them all done.  So why am I rushing?  How much do I miss out on because I am always in a hurry and always trying to get to the next thing.  

School Days

A note taken from two of my students in class the other day:  Excuse the spelling.  I copied it exactly. 

Student 1: Hey, did you see the look on (that other student’s) face?  I wonder what is wrong with her?

Student 2: No, but she was arguing with Mrs. MacCle and Mrs. MacCle said she shoud stop it.

Student 1: I know.  I think she wants excuses to not do her math or math is too hard for her.

Student 2: Eh, I don’t think that

Student 1: Whatever.  Anywho, lets continue working.  And I think you mean didn’t I think that.

Student 2:  don’t use that word Anywho Arg and don’t tell me that I am using your arg ok I am using my own arg.

Student 1: Ok Ok. Lets continue.

Student 2: Continue what!

Student 1:  CONTINUE INDEPENDENT!  Arg.  We don’t want much homework do we?

Student 2: I did not say we do! Arg.

Student 1:  (Name of student), just continue if you don’t want homework.

Student 2: ok ok ok so never mind!!!!

Student 1: whatever

Student 2: You said we should continue so lets continue ok!

Student 1: ok ok. Don’t give notes back then, ok?

Student 2: ok, you don’t give notes back.  Keep this not ok

Student 1: That’s what I said!  Don’t send notes this time!

Student 2 Hey, I said don’t give note

Student 1: I said it first when I went on this part of the paper L

Student 2: ok ok! Don’t give note and what does this L mean?  And don’t give note answer this when you are done.

Student 1: L means mad and it is made with !! and a (( ok?  Don’t send notes BACK!!!!!!

Student 2: hey didn’t you see what I wrote don’t send notes!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok!

Student 1: too bad.  I said it first.  HeHeHe

Student 2: toooooooooo bad I also said it

Student 1: too bad too too much bad.  I said it first

Student 2: OK it math time

And the note ends there.  Sometimes these kids are so entertaining!   In the last few days I have had to explain to a student that it is not a good idea to pick your nose and eat your boogers, especially in public.  I had a 2^nd grader in the middle of his English homework look up and ask me randomly and ask what the purpose of life is.  Today after assigning homework to my 5^th and 6^th graders one of my 6^th graders said that this was the best Thursday of her life!  Then I had a 5^th grader who was singing his “Thursday blues” because he had more homework than he would have liked.

11/03/12

Before I left for Africa a friend and returning SM said to me that, “mission work really is just life in another country.”  I did not really think much of the comment then, but in the last few months it has come to mind several times.  The truth in that statement hits me occasionally and I just have to laugh.  It is amazing to me how quickly we adapt and how quickly things become normal.  The novelty of something new and different quickly becomes normal, and what was once foreign becomes so typical. 

Now here at Maxwell, we have it pretty good.  I have hot, running water (as long as I remember to turn on the water heater).  I live in a gated and guarded community about a half an hour from the largest city in East Africa.  I eat most of my meals in the school cafeteria and spend a good portion of my days in my little classroom that is hardly a three-minute walk from my house.

One thing that constantly puzzles me about Africa are the apparent contradictions that I see all the time.  On the walk to Roungi I will see Land Rovers and BMWs go flying by me on one side and on the other side of me will be a little kid in tattered and dirty clothes walking to school.  I will see one person in a suit walking around talking on their I phone and then a few minutes later see an old man beating his donkey trying to get it to stop.  Yes, the beat the donkeys to make them go and to make them stop.  I am yet to figure out how the donkey knows what it is supposed to do.  The one that really gets me is when you pass by the grocery store and there are chickens wandering around the parking lot or cows just taking a nap in one of the parking spaces.  All of these things, when I first got here were just astounding to me and I was constantly shocked at some of the things that I saw.

Earlier this week there was an old man and his donkey walking with a cart full of water I am assuming for his family.  He was struggling to make it up the hill.  The water cart, the man, and the donkey were all sliding backwards down the hill.  I quickly ran over to help him push his cart up the hill.  As I was pushing and struggling to help him make it to the top of the hill I was thinking about how easy it is for me to get water.  Here at the school we have water filters built into the sinks and I am able to fill up my water bottle several times a day and yet within walking distance of my home this man is struggling to get water home.  These are some of the contradictions of Africa.

Yesterday was Friday and we had a half-day of classes.  So after classes Tanzi, Emily and I walked into Roungi to some of the markets there.  These markets are just so great!  They are extremely crowded and you never know what you will find there.  The stands are extremely close together.  At the various stands you will find fruits and veggies for very cheap.  Ever wonder what happens to all the clothes that people donate for kids in other countries?  Well, they a lot of them end up in the markets in Africa.  It is so funny to me to dig through some of these piles and find all kinds of brand name clothing from the states being sold. 

Now in the markets, if you are not really interested in buying something you better not stop for too long or you will be attacked.  Not literally.  But if you look at one thing for too long it means you are very interested and the person owning that particular stand or shop will take that as an encouragement.  They will pick up the object and start talking about how nice it is and how they will give you a good price (which if you are white is about three times what you should actually pay for it).  If it is an article of clothing watch out!  They will try to put it on you.  And if it does not go on easily, that is not much of a deterrent.  They can make it fit! This can be extremely entertaining, as long as you are not the one being shoved into a dress. 

It struck me again yesterday as we were riding a crowded Matatu (a form of public transportation in Kenya) back to the school how funny all of this is.  I have grown pretty accustomed to being stared at.  It hardly phases me anymore.  It does not surprise me to see animals in the most random places.  Seeing large spiders and lizards crawling around in my house is normal (although almost stepping on a tarantula in my room at 5 AM this week did phase me a bit).  My mom e-mailed me again and reminded me that I need to post.  I really struggled to figure out what to talk about because its just life.  I don’t have any amazing stories to tell right now.  I teach and I love it. These kids make me think and daily they teach me far more than I think I am able to teach them.  But then I remember what life was like back home and realize that while to me this is just life, but to my family and friends at home it is still foreign and strange.  So this is a little taste of  some of my adventures in Kenya.