Every chair taken!

Two weeks ago literally every chair in my apartment was 

taken, when all 7 of this year's Interns came to our 

teaching time.  We have started the year with 2 weeks 

of focusing on characteristics of teachers and children. 

Now, we are looking into why ALL the activities in the 

Daily Program of the Playschool are important and how 

to run a Daily Program that will develop the Preschooler 

in totality.  7 is more than I had planned for, but I am 

excited for what the Internship can open up for each one 

of them.  Last year, two of the Interns found new interests 

and opportunities for their future and I am grateful that 

the Programme could play a part in that.

The Maths Club in Lingelihle also started with a bang! 

I could never have imagined that kids would be so excited 

to attend a Maths Club.  I am happy that 2 of the 

Interns are joining me there.  The help with the older 

grades and that should free me to help those with learning 

difficulties.

In Carinus, I am taking Grade 1 learners again in small 

groups.  During the holidays I developed a reading book for 

teaching Afrikaans reading and I am now testing this material 

with these learners. So far, so good!!!

We have lost 3 monthly donor this past months.  So, if you 

are doing a sport event and would like to make us your charity, 

this link could help to channel funds to us.

Evelyn

Camp and Graduation

 The 2nd of November 2019 will be remembered by many as the day Siya Kolisi's Springbok team won the Rugby World Cup in Japan, but for some kids from Cradock it will always be remembered as the day they for the first time ever, swam in the ocean.

So, 1-3 November I took 10 kids and 2 of the 2019 Interns camping in Jeffreys' Bay.  We were welcomed in the Mission House on the Global Leadership Academy's Campus.

The first evening we sang songs, played games and divided into groups for team activities.  Saturday morning picnic food and snacks were prepared after breakfast and then the great trek down to the beach took place.  For the locals it wasn't really a beach day, with the wind blowing a little bit strong, but a little bit of wind wasn't going to stop any Cradocker from this first in a lifetime experience.  We first had a photo shoot at the Dolphin Statue and then it was into the waves.  It was fun to witness their excitement!

Later those who were brave enough also had the chance to go down the Super Tube Slide a few times.  After ice-cream they took another dive in the sea, before returning to the Mission House exhausted.

In the late afternoon it was time for Netball and Soccer, boys against the girls. (Needless to say that the girls won the Netball and the boys the Soccer.)  It was great fun!  Before we had pizza I taught them a new card game which also involved the grabbing of spoons :-D!!!!  After dinner we made photo frames and then we watched a movie together.

The next morning Cornelius Ngosa came to share his life story with us, which was very inspirational.  The camp was a great success!  The kids were SO co-operative and the Interns SO helpful in every way.

The next weekend, 8 November 2019, we then had our Internship Graduation.  It was a celebration of their engagement with this programme.  New things lies ahead for each one of them.  I wish them well.

Evelyn

Sophakama Internship 2019

I feel so happy about this year's Intens!

I have 5 students.  2 from the ACVV; 1 from Michausdal; 1 from Lingelihle and 1 from my church in town.  Each one of them are bringing something unique to the table, when we meet on Friday mornings. 

The lady from Michausdal work with me twice a week in Carinus Primary School, where we give more individual attention to 60 Grade 1  learners.  In this the 3rd term, out of the 60 learners, only 10 kids' progress are slower than we have hoped for, but are still in a far better place than when we started with them in February.  The rest of the kids are progressing so much and that brings us joy.  We have made a difference in these kids' lives.  I am happy for this Intern to have had the opportunity to have this exposure.  Now she understands the process of learning to read and she will be able to teach other kids as well.

The lady from Lingelihle has a real heart of compassion for the hurting girls in her community.  She has decided to study Social Work next year.  I think the Community Project Management is proving to be very beneficial to her.

One of the ACVV Interns is also looking into furthering her studies in Social Work.  She has impressed me with her commitment and deep thoughts about life.

The last 2 Interns are guys.  The second ACVV Intern is working with me at the After-school programme of the ACVV 2 afternoons a week.  He has an understanding of Higher Grade Maths, which is very useful.  He also has a heart for Children's Programmes in the community and on Saturdays you might find him holding Gwarra-dance competition in Michausdal.

The last Intern is a young man with a heart to use sport in poor communities as a tool to mentor learners in the area of Social/Emotional well-being.  He is also working towards Hockey coaching qualifications in the pursue of this dream.

In November we hope to take some of the older children we taught this year on a camp.  We look forward to this weekend with the kids at the seaside.

That will conclude this year spent together as Sophakama Internship 2019.

Evelyn

More than meets the eye!

The end of last year I was really worried about one of the girls whom I taught.  It seemed that she was bent on throwing her future away.  It was as if the hurt that she felt made her reckless.  Her guardian though, committed to provide her with a good, safe space to come to terms with her hurt.  And so, I was amazed at the girl that returned after the holidays.  Her clothes, hair and attitude all proclaimed a greater peace.  She is now even helping others with their work.  Thank you, Mamma for your wise love and care.

Last week I started assessing the kids who the Grade 1 teachers identified as those who, with a little bit of help, would be able to learn the skills needed to pass Grade 1.  It is nice to work with those who are eager to learn and loves a challenge.  Their eyes have a brightness.  Then you also get those who just lacked the stimulation, but will with a little bit of discipline get there.  The hardest to work with are those who have come to believe that they can't.  With them, every, however small, success, needs to be celebrated, magnified and poured into their soul, with a teacher's praise of the mouth and belief in the eyes.  This might take time, but what beautiful flowers will the soil so watered produce.

The good news that I received from Patensie and Jeffreys Bay is that the tutoring of last year were successful.  Parents are happy!  The tutors are therefore encouraged and passionate to continue helping more children.  I trust that this will also happen with the people I am training here in Cradock this year.

A New Maths Club in Cradock!

Yes! 

A month ago I started a Maths Club in Lingelihle, Cradock at the Church of the Assention, Anglican Church. When I went to suggest this possibility, Rev. Zweli Tom was very positive and immediately gave a retired teacher in the congregation the responsibility to partner with me to see to the establishment of this club. This opportunity was then made public during two Sundays in the Worship Service, after which I evaluated all the learners that came. Now, after one month there are 12 learners enrolled at the club.

When the first learner arrived for evaluation I was a little nervous to see that she was a High School learner, since I made it very clear that this Club will start to lay the foundation in Maths. At the end of the day most of the learners that came were Grade 8's. When I however graded their evaluation sheets, I saw that they indeed still need some work on their foundation. I have seen in the past that it is actually never too late to lay the foundation and that it will help them to continue with better grades.

It is with sadness though, that I also observed that these learners already carry emotional scars, because of their struggle in Maths. I try to communicate that there is no need to be embarrassed when you are practicing a new skill and struggle. You should rather be embarrassed when you quit practicing a skill, in other words, give up. They however are learners that are willing to invest time and energy after school to continue practicing their Maths Skills. I am convinced that they will indeed reap the reward of this sacrifice.

At Carinus Primary School, where I am helping one Grade 1 teacher with 19 of her learners who need help with reading and perceptual development, I am happy with the learners' progress. I hope that we will be able to continue here and even grow the programme.

All the best for this last stretch!

Evelyn

Homework clubs in Churches

I was so encouraged 10 days ago when I attended the Beyers Naude Workshop for the churches in the Eastern Cape in Willows, Port Elizabeth. The theme of the day was: Alternative Economic Models. In her talk, Rene August, (an Anglican Priest that is a staff member of The Warehouse) presented one of the main solutions that the church so easily can engage with, as opening their spaces to homework clubs in the afternoons free of charge. She continued to say that it will have a huge impact on our economy when the youth are able to finish their education. Of course, I agreed with her completely.

After this session, I spoke to Hendry Tromp of the URCSA, Gelvandale. He was happy to know that what he and I started in 2013 at his church, was now recognized as something all churches should engage with.

Here in Cradock I know of two churches that are doing just that. (There might be more, but I have not discovered them.) One is in Atlanta, Lingelihle. Their building is a sink structure that leaks when it rains. Yet, when the pastor of this church was asked if a homework club can be started in his church, he immediately agreed and encouraged the church's members to get involved with it. Well done, to him!

My experience has been that:

* kids don't as a rule destroy these properties

* these spaces are left clean after it was used

* if congregations get involved the church and the community benefit from this getting to know each other.

I would like to encourage those that see a need for a homework club in their community to approach churches in their community and ask them if they would be open to host a homework club. You might be surprised at how eager they are to help. If they are not eager, at least you held up a mirror in front of them, so that they could see their hearts. (The time when churches could be comfortable and excluded from the problems the community is faced with, is long gone.)

In studying Early Christianity I discovered that the word synagogue has the meaning of the gathering of people. In the first century the building where people gathered for prayer, was the community center. I think it is time to bring this together again. We have all these buildings. Let it again become centers of empowering communities to live lives as whole human beings. Education will be a very strategic area in this vision. Living in Egypt within the Coptic Community, I saw this lived out practically with wonderful success.

Come on, try it!

Evelyn

Teaching Maths in Large Classes.

In a radio interview in 2014 Max Du Preez spoke to Brian O’Connell on RSG about the education situation in South Africa. Brian in that interview said: “Because South African children these days have only 20 % of the resources that white kids had before 1994, we must become incredible in teaching large classes.”

I was very intrigued by this statement, not completely convinced that it is realistic to hope or pray for something like that. The end of last year though, I met a couple from the USA who have been working in a Township School in Cape Town. There they developed a method how to teach CAPS-Maths in the primary level in large classes, who has proven to be very successful. The key they say is that learners get a lot of time to practice in the classroom, without the fear of making a mistake.

Two schools in Jeffrey's Bay have now committed to learn this method. This makes me extremely hopeful. If we can introduce this method to more and more schools, what positive influence will this be able to bring about in our educational system.

Now, I also have hope that there might be a method to teach reading in large classes, without leaving a large percentage of learners behind. If you, as a teacher, have a method that has been working in classes of 40/45+ in the area of teaching reading, please share that with us.

Evelyn