Once again I have to make this quick because time is surely ticking away on my internet time.
This week I jumped into the deep end. For real. Being an Environmental Education major, I really wanted to do something relevant to education for my internship. And this was my chance. Two days ago, you would have found me standing in front of a class of 60 + students teaching about mangroves. That's right, I can now say that I have taught a science class in french in a school in the boonies of Senegal. What an experience!
I had met with the school director a couple weeks before, who is not a very talkative nor expressive man, and he had basically told me that if I wanted to do something in the school I should go for it. No guidelines, no suggestions, no nothing. So I decided to write a lesson plan on mangroves (a very very important ecosystem here). And then I found myself in front of a class of students, probably equivalent to 5th and 6th graders. I was ridiculously nervous, but had the assistance of the teacher and my ecoguide buddy Djien. It was so much fun! We facilitated for about an hour and a half, and it went really really great. After the initial uneasiness of me being a toubab and stranger, the kids got really involved and I could see the wheels turning in their heads when we asked a difficult question. Oh man it was awesome.
Well the count down is down to three weeks before my return to the States! I am just about ready to come home, though I know it's going to be a bittersweet departure from here. My family is already talking about how much I'm going to be missed here...
Well I send all my love to all you readers! Know that you are missed and appreciated for reading this!
There's something about a blizzard
8 years ago
1 comment:
amy that is sooo awesome! what a great opportunity and learning experience! i bet you learned as much, if not more than the students in your class! if you ever need help planning lessons, just let me know because i have some great resources on hand. here's something i reference a lot when trying to make sure my lessons work for multiple ages and learning levels:
http://www.officeport.com/edu/blooms.htm
it's bloom's taxonomy, and you've probably heard of it from teaching your summer classes, but oh well. it's here if you need it.
lots of love and i can't wait to see you!
annemarie
PS when exactly are you coming back to the states, and are you flying into minneapolis or madison?
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