lesson planning and the need for more teachers

we just finished our first week of classes in Chichigua and Pancho Mateo. it was just about as opposite as you can get from the first week of classes in the states, but for two gringas fresh off the boat with combined teaching experience of about 18 months - 2yrs, i think it went pretty well.

on Tuesday we passed out uniforms to the students in Chichigua. every school in the dominican republic has a uniform of a blue button up shirt and khaki's. so we thought it might be good if we, too, had uniforms. many people have donated clothes that we used to compile a random assortment of solid colored shirts and khaki's for these kids. it was so great to see them bathed and wearing their clean, new clothes when we returned on Thursday. (i wish i had taken a picture, but alas, i did not have my camera. i'll be better prepared this week.) however, they didn't quite understand that we have TWO classes - one for the younger kids and one for the older. so there was a bit of chaos, but we think we've got it all straightened out.

things in Pancho Mateo went fairly well, also, with the exception of students not coming to class on time (though this, as we all know, is not a problem specific to the DR). though we had about 150 kids sign up in PM, we had only about half of those show up for the first week. yet most of those that did show up were very enthusiastic - they're a fun bunch of kids.

Camille and I spent friday writing our lesson plans for next week. i've written a good many lesson plans in my day. i've even written lesson plans without any set curriculum or textbooks and for a variety of levels in one class. but i've never written a lesson plans for kids who, though they're 6 yrs old, don't know basic concepts such as the alphabet, or though they're 12yrs old, have had little to no schooling...and on top of that, they only come to our class twice a week. these kids need so much in the way of education that my lesson planning was frustrated by the simple fact that there is no way humanly possible for camille and i to be in two places at once (and therefore have classes FIVE days a week in both villages, rather than two).

so what i decided is this: WE NEED MORE TEACHERS!

if only we had more teachers, we could have classes for these kids every day of the week, in both villages. if only we had more teachers we could spend more time outside of class mentoring those who are more motivated. if only we had more teachers we could have a much deeper impact in the lives of these kids as we pour so much more into each one of them.

but before you hop on a plane and head for Puerto Plata (cause i know my short little speech impacted you that much), talk to sharla. i must admit that i have not yet discussed this felt need with her, but i'm sure she is more than aware.

what i am very thankful for is this: that we (not just camille and I, but also Jennie, our 3rd roommate, and Jim, our current intern, Brian & Bethany, all the groups that pass through, financial supporters, prayer supports, moral supporters...) have the opportunity to be a part of the process that will eventually lead to more teachers, more classes, more schools, more educated haitians and dominicans, and ultimately, more souls in God's Kingdom.