"Now you are African mothers!"

After realizing yesterday that my students only know how to add up to ten, yet still needed to learn how to add up to at least 1,000, I decided to introduce the number line to my students.  The introductory lesson went well, and it seemed like the students were following along.  I just wish I had more time to work with addition, so I could allow them time to use inventive strategies, or time to work up to such big numbers.  But for now, I will continue to work with the number line to get them adding money.

Morning meeting practicing our rain storm! The P3 teacher joined us today!

In English today we played Sparkle-a spelling game, to wrap-up our unit on clothing.  And then the kids labeled their watercolor pictures from the day before.  Finally, we did a morning meeting outside, where for sharing the students shared their paintings and told us what their person was wearing.  It was a great way for the students to practice the English words they had been learning in conversation, which to me is more important than perfecting spelling. 

During lunch Katie and I ended up with baby Evan and baby Alian on our backs.  We were carrying them around like their mother’s do.  And all the teachers kept telling us “Now you are African mothers!”.  It was fun for the half hour that I did it, but Evan was heavy and I was sweaty afterwards!  I can’t imagine doing that all day every day. 

Me with sleepy Evan!

"Now you are African mothers!"

After lunch today, there was a soccer tournament held to celebrate the soccer balls that we brought to the school.  Before the tournament began King James had all the students gather and he showed them the trophy they would be playing for.  The kids even had jerseys that they put on.  The older students were the ones playing, and then the younger students had teams that they cheered for.  The kids had little soccer songs and chants they sang, and everyone was just genuinely excited about the tournament.  Katie and I spent the time watching the games and hanging out with some of the girls in both of our classes.  They were having my try out saying different words in Lukunzo and then would laugh at my failed pronunciations.  They also played with our hair and nails (all the students, including the girls, must have shaved heads).  

King James showing the trophy

Lining up before the match

I think the cows mark out-of-bounds

This boy was wearing one shoe
and I saw another boy wearing the other.
He explained that since he is left-footed he wears
that shoe and his friend who is right-footed wears
the other. You do what ya gotta do!

Hanging our with Jane at the soccer match

Throw-in!

Some action

Here's a video of some of my students and Katie's doing a cheer