Roller Coaster Wednesday

     On a day like today, I do not know where to begin. I guess I should start with the fact that I am not feeling completely up to par. I have a cold setting in, so I wasn't my normal 110% energetic self. That being said, I was definitely not in the best shape to deal with the whirlwind, craziness of the day, but I did.
School started with watching some of our learner climb the flagpole to untangle it. The whole time I was freaking out. That being said I was below the pole at all times ready to 'catch' if need be (like that would have actually helped). Of all days to wear a skirt, I wish I hadn't because I would have much rather climbed it myself than watch one of my learners do so. However, they were fine and successfully fixed the flag and got down safely.

     7E English was my first class of the day, which consisted of me talking about the homework with them as the teacher made copies of the game they were suppose to play. Once she was done, she gave them a spelling test and the period was over. I think we will play the game tomorrow instead. That being said, the game needed dice, which the school didn't have. She had asked the learners to bring some, but only got 3. I then showed her how to make spinners via paper and 2 paperclips and it was a hit. The rest of the day, no matter which teacher she talked to, she showed them the 'American spinner'. It was awesome.

     We then taught 7B, which was almost identical to the period prior. However, she had a meeting with the principal so I gave the spelling test. She then came in just in time to hand out the homework and discuss the game for next time. They began their homework while we began grading. We then came across a book that literally had random letters for each word and had no resemblance to what it was. As the learners began to transition to their next class, we began to discuss what the cause of this could be and steps to take to help the learner. She, however, had a meeting, so we are going to discuss it tomorrow. Being that this ended up being only 1 of 3 learners' tests that looked like this, she told me that she would love for me to come up with a support system for them and start it up so that she can continue it when I leave. No pressure, right?

     On the way to the office to do some planning before break, I then saw them: 5D. Although they were not 'mine' for this period, they were throwing each other in puddles, against walls, into poles, hitting, and yelling. Whether they were suppose to be mine or not this period, I wasn't about to just walk by like other teachers were doing. Despite that I do not regret stepping into this scenario, I definitely didn't realize that I exactly I was about to get into. After 20 minutes of telling them to stand in a straight line, stop talking, stop hitting and to be leaders and respectful, all I had was 40 learners chatting when my back was turned, and 5 learners sitting to the side on the wall waiting to be talked to. I then had them enter the class and take their seats. This then began another 30 minute time block of all 45 learners whispering, hitting 'secretly' (or not so secretly), yelling, making sound effects and throwing things. Throughout all this, I would go through about 5 minutes of silence, 30 seconds of trying to talk, then repeating the same cycle.

     Finally, I left the room. Granted, all I did was go around the corner, but the room went dead silent when I did. Finally, a few boys began bickering again and other learners began to be afraid that I was never coming back again. When the noise level once again began to raise I entered into the class, walked to the front, and stood silently. It took about 32.8 seconds before the room was dead silent. Many of the learners began to cry, but many other still were just silent for a moment before continuing on with their 'games'. I then made the decision that as much as I want to be able to handle this, to get them to care, listen, and respect me and each other, I needed support. Being that it was now break, I snagged Veronica to stand in their with them and I went and got the principal. I apologized that I had to get her, but she said it was great and that she was already planning to have a talk with this group as other teachers were complaining about them.

     She entered, and it went silent. They all sat up straight, fixed their uniforms, and the prinicipal power followed. She had them come up with 3 rules that they had to follow at all times: Listen well, Do not talk in class (other than when told to), and stand in a straight line. Mrs. Kamahanee then also let them know that I would be reporting to her after every class period I had with them to inform her on their behavior and if they met these 3 rules. If they didn't they would be detained all of break and for an hour after school with her practicing these 3 rules. We then dismissed them for the last minute of break, and I headed to the staff room exhausted.

      The next break period consisted of me helping more student teachers plan. One had figured out my schedule and had passed it around, so they now know when/where to find me. After planning a lesson on place value and another on teaching the various regions of Namibia, I headed to face my 5D group for math.
The moment I saw them, I knew they were mad at me, and I was okay with it. They lined up quietly, entered silently, and began class perfectly. I praised them for their great entrance/line, and we began. At first, very few participated and I was getting the death glare from many learners. However, being that this was my double-booked period, I reviewed and gave them problems to work on as a group. I then went around to check homework for stickers for their certificates before leaving. This gave me a great opportunity to talk to each of them about their work and what happened today. To this, I got many tears, and apologies from each one (even though I never asked for one). Many asked if I was going to leave their class or if I would go back to America today because they were so horrible. As much as these learners have pushed me farther than any other group of kids before, they definitely are sincerely remorseful for their actions.

     After the hugs and tears, I headed over to my 6A group--my authors. They were all working hard and so excited to be making books. Today, I successfully took all of their pictures for their "About the Author" section and they all completed their summaries, about the author blurbs, numbered their pages, and their title pages. Success! However, even with this upturn in the day there was a downfall. When discussing with them the plan for the next few days, working on the rest of their books, pasting pictures in on Monday and sharing Monday and Tuesday with the class, I was given horrible news: I was losing half of them. The class spoke two different home languages, and so did another grade 6 class. Instead of leaving them with their groups, they are going to put the like home languages together. This broke my heart. I am not excited for this to happen, and I am still unsure about where to go from here. However, I will figure it out...I have no other option.

     Eventually, school ended, which meant it was time for my home visit to Tia's house. Tia is a learner in my 5D class, so the events of the day were not the best ones to have happened when going to visit her home, but it all worked out. Jessica and I dropped off our school bags to the taxi, then began the trek to Tia's home. The learners were pretty excited to see us walking, and quickly we had a huge mob surrounding us as we walked down the streets of Katutura. With each arm containing multiple kids, and the sun beating down, I quickly became very hot. However, it was one of the coolest experiences yet.

     Tia's home ended up being about a 25 minute walk from the school. We were greeted with a lot of handshakes and smiles...and I mean A LOT. I met Tia's grandparents, some aunts and uncles, cousins and siblings. I then also met her mother, and later her father, too. We all sat down together in the living room and began to talk about why we had visited, where we were from and what we are doing in Namibia. I also got to talk a lot with them about their family dynamics, background and lives here in Namibia.

     Tia is one of 16 children that live in this home, and their are 8 adults living there, as well. Her father is one of 12 children, and him and 2 of his siblings' families live with his parents. They are all Damarra and have lived in Katutura for a very long time. Tia's mother, Shirley, is a grade 1 teacher and her father, Ronnie, is a hospital 'putter' (he delivers people to their rooms). Her grandfather use to work at the hospital, as well, and her grandparents both stay home to watch the young children during the day. Their house was quite small, and had a small living room, two bedrooms (fitting only a bed and a small dresser), and a kitchen. Behind the house was a patio and to shanty houses with more beds and couches. They gave us the whole tour, and we met each and every family member. We then took some great pictures with everyone and just chatted and played with the kids until we had to head back. Shirley had also bought for us juice and cookies for the occassion of our visit, and sent them home with us.

     All in all, I would still label the day a success. However, I am exhausted, my body aches and I am quite overwhelmed by all that has happened in the last 14 hours. With a lot of planning, prepping and to-do's before bed time, I probably shouldn't have blogged today. But even though I am not feeling too great and should use my time wisely for an early bed time, blogging has become a way for me to unwind after the day...and I definitely needed to today. On top of all this, today it hit me that my last day of school is 2 weeks from tomorrow. As I am becoming more and more attached to my learners, the staff and my school, I am starting to realize how hard goodbye is actually going to be. However, I am trying to push that out of my mind and focus on the immediate focus: what am I teaching tomorrow?

One of the learners climbing up to fix the flag

Learner attempt #2

Our newly formed walking group

Tia and some of her family members

AH! All these kids!! :)

Tia's Grandma-Me-Tia-Shirley

Queen and Reney

Some of Tia's family and friends

"miss...your hands are so soft..."

Tia's house

Playing with my hair and holding Tia's precious cousin

Apparently I do this and say "Fabulous" all the time...one of the many things they informed me of when walking us back to Steenkamp

Any face I made, she mimicked. Precious.

Tia and Me

Reney-Tia-Me-Anderella: back at school waiting for our taxi