This week was marked by being a complete reversal of my experience at Omungwelume JSS this term. Leaving me at the end of term feeling like I've really made a difference, that I'm going to be missed, that I'm still creating changes and I'll leave something positive long after I'm gone.
As other teachers stop teaching or do tests, and too much review, I've been still actively engaging my classes. Now that teachers are being cajoled into the classrooms, the discipline problems are much reduced. So I tried something a little different. We learned about renewable energy in Geography so we built and cooked on solar ovens. This may sound simple, but it blew their minds that the sun could cook food (albeit slowly). The idea of doing it cheaply is cool too and now most of my learners are vying to "win" the solar ovens in a draw next week. We cooked porridge (in Owambo, porridge or Oshifiima is made of mahangu or maize)...this "Jungle Oat" porridge they think is hilarious--- the Oshiloombu "white person's" porridge. So even though it only half cooked they fought like wolfhounds over ever last morsal...(of course they're not all fully nourished so they'd eat anything...even chalk). We heated up our solar shower and they thought that was amazing too...the whole school was flocking to see this "phenomenon". One learner put it real nice... "Oh, miss, you are so knowledgeable...you bring us new ideas, new technology!" I'd love work on a project how solar could be better utilized cheaply in places with ample sun....it really just seems so logical. Sounds like a masters maybe? :) Hahahaha....
Today was the last Friday of class so I held a library "party". All my library helpers came and all I had to do was announce it and feed them a cookie and some juice, let them listen to music for a few hours and they worked worked worked. Our library is well-labeled, ship shape and ready for next year. Together, Chris and I found two of his book-aholics going into Grade 12 at his school to run my library next year in case there is no volunteer or super-human teacher to run it and teach a full load. So they have been coming and training with me. I'm pretty proud about that. Sustainability of these things is key. So we had an amazing time hanging out with my favourite learners. I miss them already and will remember today forever.
Whilst that was going on, I was feeding Mr. Haindobo while he laboured on my new Learning Listening Centre room. He's patched the hole and today he scraped and painted it a light blue, and fixed the door handle. We're well on our way now. Once the shelves are up I'll be home free. Hooray! I don't think I'll ever be able to this easily feel like superwoman with such simple ideas. It's fantastic!
Oh, one more day highlight...teaching my 8D's the double meaning of "ass" and how to insult each other. I'm not sure which one they think is ruder...being called a bum or a donkey? There's about equal numbers of both here so its a real toss up...donkeys can be real dumb. Thanks Helen for a great story from Brothers Grimm which kicked this discussion off! :)))))