educational odds and ends

This week are some odds and ends for the school before we head into the spelling bee and mathematics competitions.  First and foremost is our "new" van (the quotations are because it is new to us).  We even had this one painted school bus yellow (a requirement here in Tanzania).  The new van is already in service and providing our students with those much needed rides.  Our previous van actually belonged to the local minister and had become more of a repair nightmare than something useful.  He was forced to get rid of it and we used a Landcruiser Prado for a short time but that was not a good vehicle for student transport.  You can help defer some of the cost of the van by making donations to Blessed2BlessU Ministries, Inc. PO Box 2016, Femont, NC 27830.

I have finished inventory of all the items left by the Mauldin UMC team in July and have distributed items to various teachers.  I am proud to say all our classrooms have multiple educational posters, Bible scripture posters and letter chains.  In addition our three preschool classes all have multiple toddler mats, mattresses and yoga mats for the kids to do activities on as well as take naps during the day.  Typically the preschool classes do not have scheduled classes after lunch so these items will be very helpful for those times.  

We have also started using the large novels (3 foot high books) to augment our Reading with Barnabas program.  The kids have started working on the puzzles and learning hand to eye coordination skills as well as problem solving.

The Mauldin UMC team also helped us purchase more books to reach my goal of each student having access to their own textbook.  We actually have enough for Standard 1 and 2 next year when the class sizes double for each.  All I have to purchase next year are the Class 3 textbooks for the smallest class we have.

Lately the kids have been very interested in one of my favortie things:  American Football.  I have been using flag football to try and teach them some basics but like their own football I have gotten stuck with the necessary beginner skills.  To make it more fun I have been downloading the Clemson Football games for them to watch on Friday afternoons during sport time.  So we do half of it outside getting exercise, but because the heat is back we move inside for visual aids in the sport.