Well that's us nearly half way through our last week here in beautiful Malawi. The country is beautiful and so are the people who live here! We are five very lucky girls who got the privellage of visiting and working with these amazing and outstanding people... Especially every child we have met and worked with! We will keep them in our hearts and remember them forever.
Sharon has been working at Chilimoni primary school with Linda who is a HT and Anne who is a PSA; both from Carmyle Primary School. Sharon has been assisting them with engaging and active lessons plus she has been helping them to set up a paired reading scheme in the school's makeshift library. Additionally she has been observing the Malawi teachers whilst collecting data for her research project. At break times Sharon has joined Linda and Anne in setting up a choir, listening to the beautiful voices of the children. These two ladies have a wealth of knowledge and experience between them and Sharon is grateful for everything she is learning from them!
Katie has been working at the Catholic Institute with Laura who is a CT from Holy Cross Primary and Stephen, a QIO focusing on numeracy. Laura has used innovative and exciting teaching strategies that have inspired CI and Katie for future practice. Laura, Stephen and Katie have been working on a paired reading project, training standard 8 pupils to help aid younger standard 3 pupils develop their reading skills. The teachers at CI have taken over the project and are training more standard 8 students this week. Katie is very appreciative to work with fantastic students and teachers at CI.
Caitlin has been working in Zingwangwa Primary School with Jenny, a history teacher/ visual aid teacher in ASN and Richie, a high school drama teacher. She has been spending her mornings in the Additional Support Needs classroom observing and assisting Jenny and the ASN teacher John. At half 10, when the class finishes they spend time building up the library's painting it and organising the books. She has also spent time observing Richie's lessons and drama techniques. Caitlin is having a great time in the school and values her experiences greatly.
Jacqueline has been working with Kathleen and Ned in Ngumbe primary school - focusing on the use of the library to develop children's literacy. The team have worked together to establish a welcoming library with the hope of sparking children's interest in the books. Kathleen and Jacqueline have been working together to deliver engaging literacy sessions for smaller groups of children in the library, which model good teaching practice methods and questioning skills for the class teachers. Jacqueline is having a fantastic time in Ngumbe primary and have found both the children and staff to be some of the happiest, friendliest and most welcoming people she has ever met!
Rebecca has also been working in Ngumbe Primary School along with Caroline and Fraser - focusing on introducing Sports Leaders into the Primary School. This has been an exciting challenge for the new 10 leaders in Ngumbe. They have spent a lot of time training leaders and teaching them new skills which will help them with their new responsibility. Rebecca has particularly focused on teaching leadership skills to the children. Rebecca is throughly enjoying her time in Ngumbe.
