Arandis, Namibia: Storylines

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Storylines

This past trip, most of my mornings in Arandis I would be helping out with the second grade class at the Talitha-Kumi Christian Academy. Doors open at 7:40, with arrivals of the students typically around 7:45.

Getting there early, and on time, always ensured that I would get a hug from many of the children as they walked through the door.

Between 7:50 and 8:00 would be Worship and Praise time for the entire school. During this time singing and dancing would be included as well as the reading and a discussion of a Scripture passage. After Worship and Praise, the classes would begin splitting off into separate classes, starting with 4th & 5th grade class. The rest of the children remained in the center area for calendar time and alphabet time until 8:20, when the final split occurred and all the children were in their respective leveled classes. For the 2nd grade, this meant the start of reading/phonics segment from 8:20 to 9:10 and mathematics from 9:10 to 10:00. Break followed from 10:00 to 10:20 and it was after break that I would venture on over to the pre-primary and kindergarten to help out there.

I must admit that trying to explain or teach the material to the children was sometimes a challenge in the way the material was presented. What was particularly difficult was trying to explain what a word meant, or what an object was, for something they may not be used to or get to experience as part of their culture. The teaching material was clearly American based, and as Mike pointed out one day…even the months used earlier during calendar time had American seasons and holidays attached to them; like snow scenes in December or summer scenes and our Independence Day in July. I wondered it the children ever really noticed or have ever questioned the material.

The other issue I encountered was similar to when I would help my daughters with their math homework and it was presented in a manner that I did not learn back in my day. Granted its only 2nd grade math but having to teach or show a concept so that it is understood by all was challenging at times. Developmentally, many of these children were clearly at different levels. And, noticeably, the girls in the class seemed to get things faster than the boys.

What I found rewarding, as I suspect most teachers do, is when you see the child using and employing the teaching methods or aids that they learned. But for me, it went beyond that inherent sense of personal satisfaction that I had done something helpful; that I possibly was able to forever impact the life of any one of these children.

For me, at that time and in that place, seeing that happen provided me another glimpse of why I was there and where, in His story – God’s story – I was appearing.

I am awestruck.

posted by Don @ 7:19 AM

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