After a few days of being unwell and my antibiotics finally kicking in, I was delighted to return to Nayizi to work again this morning!
I have spent my time in the lodge creating visual learning aids for Place Value and the Sense Organs for my own class, a writing scaffold for Bill to use in English and a daily calendar for Alison and Ferhat to introduce as part of the morning routine in their Under 6 centre.
Today the weather is warmer than it has been the past few days- it has been cloudy and cool!
Upon arriving in class, I was delighted to see Judith using the marking code with pupils and working on developing peer assessment within the classroom. Some visual aids from all curricular areas are displayed around the room, too.
It is very evident that Judith and Masavina have been developing their confidence in using some of the new strategies suggested to develop teaching and learning in their classroom.
The class timetable is displayed for everyone to see and both teachers are trying to work within the allocated times as much as possible- lessons are broken down into 35 minute periods, which makes it very difficult to have as much impact as teaching in 1 hour blocks would allow. Bill and I have discussed with the Head Teacher the positive impact teaching in 1 hour blocks at home has on pupil learning and engagement as it allows pupils to think critically about their learning, to work together and to solve problems to help them learn. This, coupled with peer and self- assessment makes for high quality teaching and learning experiences.
Class monitors have also been introduced to help teachers around the classroom, for example:to clean the chalkboard;collect and distribute jotters etc. All very positive progress! It is lovely to see pupils enjoying taking on a role of responsibility within their classroom!
Today, Marie joined Bill and I in Nayizi and spent some time with the Head Teacher and DHTs. We all met during our tea break to discuss plans to reorganise the library, to create more space and hopefully paint the library before our time here is up.
I returned to my class and Judith worked with Marie to select junior librarians who will help her run and organise the library each school day- more responsibility for pupils around the school!
I delivered a lesson about the the nose, the parts of the nose, how to care for the nose and problems that may arise in the nasal area. Pupils engaged positively in their learning and again peer assessed their work.
Finally, I managed to introduce 'The Community Song' for the first time today. I also tried to teach Masavina how to use the video function on my phone. It is truly amazing to have 179 pupils singing in unison and having a go at the tasks I have asked them to complete. The pupils then sang a song which they have been preparing for me- it was beautiful!
A great day in Nayizi- now finishing off some planning with a Malawian sunset- what's not to love?!
