Yesterday I went to meet my new head teacher at my new primary school – Grace at Layibi Techo Primary School. I learnt that I will be teaching English to P6 and P7 students – equivalent to around year 5 and year 6 students. Numbers are a little sketchy at the moment (results and new enrolments still coming in). Last year there were two P5 classes of around 100 students in each class. This year there will only be one P6 class. Depending on how many children repeat, stay in school and new enrolments, there could be up to 200 students in one class! Eich! Classrooms here are certainly no bigger than UK or Oz, possibly smaller. I thought I was up for the challenge but now slightly worried… can I teach that many children? And when does crowd control become teaching? When children learn? Many children here fail and have to repeat, it is no wonder why… I was thinking that I will hopefully be able to bring some new insights to teachers here, but I think managing that many children I will be learning a lot from the locals! School starts February 4th.
READ for Life
Photo gallery
Dan, Myron and Jody
Earlier days and happier times with these pigs… before swine fever.
Our brave Myron!
A demonstration lesson with P1.
Jody with P1 class teachers and the lovely P1 class (not all 142 present, but many of them!)
Our first set of published phonics readers!
Look who found a big rat!
School classroom built from church ruins.
Always a teacher… helping out children with some extra homework during a teaching visit to South Sudan.
A P1 pupils’ written work on a slate during a phonics lesson.
Dan and Myron on the road…
Teacher training…
Dan, JB and Bear.
Children putting into practise what their teachers have learnt – practical activities!
Jody teaching student teachers at the local Primary Teacher’s College about how to read aloud
On a refreshing weekend away to Sipi Falls.
Jody sharing at the local primary teacher’s college on reading fluency.
Sharing some laughs over reading games.
Dan and Myron after a bike ride.
Joanne and Dan
Hippo’ing around at mini golf.
Using local materials for teacher training…
Anyone for a game of football? There’s no electricity in this village in South Sudan but there is a generator and football hall – what more do you need?
Dan and Myron at Fort Porta.The Recreation Project
Dan and Jodes... in Gulu, Uganda 