3rd world education

I sure hope all of you who read this blog are enjoying it, but it is a pain in the butt to find time to write it, let alone a proper internet connection. We've have had a lot of power outages and the internet has been down a lot, that is why I have not written much.

So I realized that I have not told you much about my actual teaching. I am teaching P4 here which stands for Primary 4. I was told that it was equal to grade 4 in Canada but it's not even close. I would say more like grad 2 or some things grade 3 at best. The kids are still reading very simple books. A few lines on a page in large text. Their English is much better than most of the other schools the other volunteers work at but they lack in other areas. For the next 2 days they are doing mid terms. I just gave them their English exam this morning and will mark it tonight. I think they will do ok. However, tomorrow is their Science exam and I don't think they will do so good. I gave them a quick test on Friday and most of them got something like 3 out of 18. Not good. It make me feel like I am failing as a teacher. I'll keep trying though.

As I mentioned before I am having each kid write a journal entry a day. It was hard for them at first, but now they are getting into it. One boy asked my brothers name and now each day he writes to Chad. It is sooooo cute. He is excited for me to show it to Chad when I come home.

We finished making the masks yesterday and that was a HUGE hit. I took pictures of them all. All the other teachers have asked if we would do a performance in them. Everyone at the school is very excited.

Now for the money update. I think I told you that I have paid a years rent so that the school can have a proper office. We thought that we would get it next week but there looks to be complications. (that's Africa) The lady who is living there doesn't have a place to go, so we have to wait for her to find another place before we can move in. It may be a few months. I will try to take pictures of the space though, so you can see it. I have also paid to have a dividing wall put up between two classrooms. That should be built this weekend. Again I will take photos for you.

Today I have agreed to pay for all my P4 students to go on a tour. They have all been asking me to pay for it because only 2 of them can afford to go. It is only $250 dollars so I agreed to pay for them all. We are going on next Friday to see the airport and a safari. None of the kids have seen big animals nor an airplane. It should be good to get their reactions.

Today I am off to a HUGE market in Kampala. I've been told that it is sooo big that you need a guide or you will get lost. I have asked a teacher at my school to come with me. I can't wait to see what they have there! We were supposed to leave to go up north on Friday but I am unsure if we are going now. It is only 3 girls and they other girls are trying to back out. I am disappointed because that was one thing that I really wanted to do. I am still working on them.

Sorry but I have to cut this one short. I have to get back to school. I will try to write in a couple days if I don't go up North.