We were given these nice little books from Adventures in Missions to help record our journeys. At the end of each month’s section, it asks the question: “What made your heart come alive this month?”
My answer this month? Counting cubes, Malawian children, and teaching math with rocks.
Our ministry this month has been working in a Malawian preschool. At the beginning of our time, we made a rotation so we could each experience different parts of the ministry: cooking, greeting, house visits, and teaching (math, English, expressive arts, Bible). Originally, I was not overly excited about teaching math. Turns out I’m actually weirdly passionate about little ones knowing their numbers through creative ways.
Yesterday, we practiced counting by doing math outside. I say a number, and the children go collect that number of rocks. I count with them, helping their little fingers to point at each rock. If they grabbed too many, I dramatically drop several on the ground until they reach the appropriate amount, and then instruct the child to count them again. Once correct, each child places his or her respective rocks on the number pattern traced in the dirt. At the end, #1-5 are written in rocks on the ground. One by one, the children come to each number. The children must say the number, show it with their fingers, and then trace the number. LOVE IT.
My other math lesson I’m super proud of also took place outside. This one required them to listen to my clapping. I would clap a certain number of times, and they would respond by shouting how many claps I did (which was surprisingly difficult for them), and then have to jump that number of times. (Ex: I would clap 3 times. They say the number 3. They jump 3 times).
I love my math lessons, but the reality is that I am only here a few weeks, and then these children will be consistently instructed by others who are here. The teachers at this preschool are members of Life Church, and are not teachers by trade. As such, they care deeply about the children, but do not have the training necessary to run an effective classroom. Between being an American student and previously teaching special needs pre-school, I had some clear ideas of things that would be really helpful to share. I talked to our contact and asked if it would be okay if we led an hour of teacher training. He ok’ed the idea and set up a time.
That time was yesterday. We started the meeting with fantas and prayer, and then each took turns sharing with our African brothers and sisters. Our training began with Josh talking about the importance of vision. From there, Jenna gave an overview of curriculum and classroom planning. Zach taught on teaching methods, Galina shared ideas for structuring the classes and rooms differently, and I spoke on discipline. (How it is about training hearts and minds, rather than about inflicting punishment). Lauren expanded on what I said and talked about caring for children and loving them well, and Stacey finished off the training with ideas of how spiritual formation can more emphasized in the classroom. It turned out great! Our contact said that “this is the best possible thing you could have done for us”, and that the training was a huge gift.
I loved seeing how each of us were able to come together and organize our ideas into a format that was encouraging, practical, and beneficial to the teachers (and thus, students) of Moyo preschool. Teacher training was a success in so many ways. I’ll be sad to leave those who now feel like “my” students behind; I feel better knowing that we have given practical resources for excellence to the teachers.
