Tuesday, November 4, 2008

10 reasons for GHANA!

I would encourage anyone and everyone who is thinking about going overseas to student teach to seriously consider going to Ghana. I guarantee you will have the most amazing experience; I know I sure did. I went to Ghana thinking that I would get some new ideas and strategies about teaching, learning and living a new culture and way of life and share some of my knowledge and experiences with the teachers and students at Christ the King. I certainly did all of that; but I gained a LOT more. I grew as a teacher. I feel that I became more comfortable and confident in my abilities, my choices and my outlook on being a teacher. I learned how to adapt and change plans at the last minute and to overcame obstacles (culture, language, and ethnicity) while my time in Ghana. It is an experience that will be with me forever and that helped me become both a better person and teacher.

Things to know before heading to Africa..
*It is HOT!! Bring cool and comfortable clothes
*Bring ideas of activities and lessons you would like to do with the students.
*Be FLEXIBLE!
*Be open to trying new things (especially foods!).
*Be prepared to live a more 'simplistic' lifestyle.
*Bring pictures of your family, friends and SNOW...They all love it :)
*Attend every traditional event or show you can...even church; you will find differences.
*Change your spellings of color to colour, favor to favour (etc.) and learn as much of the Ghanaian languages as you can!
*Prepare yourself for the differences the schools are. (discipline, management, lectures, etc) If you are not open to new things and change, it can be difficult.
*Get ready to LOVE your host family, play soccer every Sunday, help with household chores and hear endless stories.

Good Luck :) You will love your time abroad and upon returning home you will continue to think about Ghana continuously! ...all you will want to do is to go back :)

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

OCTOBER!!

It is October!! I can not believe that means in a little over a week we will be headed home. I am ready to get back to my family and friends, American schools and the COOL weather.....but I really will miss the students and teachers at Christ the King and my new African family :) How I have grown to love each and every member of the family.

This weekend Walt and I traveled to Hohoe and in the Volta Region. It is a small, quiet town but has amazing two amazing waterfalls (Wli Waterfalls). We had to hike to get to them. The smaller one was about 40 meters tall and was about a 45 minutes hike; while the larger one being about 600 meters tall and taking about 3 hours to get to. I am not a nature kind of girl, but I soon learned how to be one. Making my way through a jungle, in 90 degree weather, with a walking stick while trying to avoid 'fighter' ants which bite you...it was quite a sight! The falls were truly breathtaking. They were so large that even trying to get close enough to take a picture you got so wet. They have a small pool at the bottom of the falls where tourists can go swimming; if only we brought our suits :( I can't wait to show off the pictures. Definitely a sight worth seeing!

Teaching this week is well. I started the week off by talking to my students about respect, manners and classroom rules. We talked a lot about being quiet when the teachers are teaching, treating your classmates how you want to be treated and taking care of the classroom. I have a feeling they are getting it! My lessons have really been going fast, mostly due to their participation and interest in listening and not chatting. I love it :) We have been using our transition time to play spelling review games which the students absolutely love. They call them Miss Andrea's American Games....its cute!

I learned about being real flexible as a teacher today. I had what I thought was an awesome lesson planned. The children were going to be creating art work while learning the comprehension strategy of mental images. But about 10 minutes before my time to teach my teacher came up to me and said that the students had to take a 'Monthly Comprehension Exam.' I guess each month they take a test and the results get posted for the parents to see how the students at CTK are doing. So I had to quickly find a story for them to read and create questions for them to answer...all in less than 10 minutes. It really was a test for me of how flexible I am and how to think on your toes. Really a daily lesson I am learning here in Ghana. It all turned out well; and hopefully I will get to teach my lesson Friday or Monday.

This weekend Walt and I will be taking a short cruise to the Dobi Island. It is in the largest lake in Ghana. Being our last weekend we will see Auntie's village one last time and hurry home to play futball with our 'brothers' on Sunday on last time :(

Hope all is well with everyone at home!
See you all in a week :)
miss you.
Andie

Friday, September 26, 2008

Monday, Sept. 29

It is the end of week 4! I can not believe that we only have three weeks from today left in Ghana...weird how fast time goes by. On Wednesday, I had my first observation by the assistant headmistress. So, needless to say the children were extremely well behaved. They sat in their desks, the isles were clear, the chit chat stopped, and there was not one children randomally roaming around the room. It's so different much teaching can change when you are not constantly begging 10 year olds for a quiet room! haha. I got through the lesson without disruptions. It was wonderful :)



Today during my lessons, one could definitly notice that the headmistress was not present. A class of 45 chatty 10 year olds is such a challenge to control. Once I get their attention it is a bit better, but the minute there is a question or I turn around to the chalkboard, chaos erupts! Seriously...pens fly, children roam, voices scream....water even spills! haha. I used the punishment technique for the first time today. One student decided he would not sit down and listen to me, so he had to knee on the classroom floor (which is concrete) with his hands raised above his head. That showed the others that I was serious. But they still gave me some of their break time so that I could finish the part of my lesson they didn't let me during class. AH....some angry little children! haha. Each day I am learning the importance of classroom management; yet it is such a hard thing to do. When I get home, a class of 20 will seem like a piece of cake! I might even be able to hear my own voice a little bit.....!



On Wednesday night was the school's first PTA meeting. It was scheduled for 5:30 pm so school closed at 2:30pm. They do this so that teachers can go home and eat dinner before they'd have to come back to school. Walt and I didn't know about the meeting until that afternoon, so it was a nice treat to hear that school closed a little early too! The meeting was scheduled to start at 5:30 but you know, we are all on African time!! So we just delayed it a little bit until 6:15. haha. There were SO many parents there. Since it was the first one of the term, they introduced new teachers, board members and talked about some of the things that the teachers and parents want to accomplish during the 2008/2009 school year. Since I have never been to a PTA meeting before, it was nice to see one and what goes on. But wow, they run long. We didnt get out until a little after 8. I did get a chance to meet some of the parents of my students. I loved that. Ghanaians are all extremely nice and welcoming :)



This weekend we stayed in Accra. Saturday afternoon Walt and I went to the Art Center. That is the market where they sell all of the handmade jewlery, drums, bags, etc. Everything is so beautiful that I can not believe it is all made by hand. Auntie had taught us how to bargain, so I was ready to get some good deals. It is amazing how expensive they first ask you to pay, but once to talk to them you can land up getting something down to $2 or $3, when $25 was their first amount. It is crazy, but definitley worth it :) Sunday I started learning how to cook Ghanaian dishes. I now appreciate even more all the auntie has been doing for us. These dishes take about 2-3 hours to prepare. Most even longer....all by the hot little charcoal stove outside in the 90 degree weather! We played soccer outside with the boys for a few hours. Boy was that a workout. I can feel it in my legs and stomach today when I laugh or stand up...they are too good for me :)

We do not have school tomorrow due to a Muslim Holiday. So we are going to the market with auntie to get material and then going to the botantical gardens. Tomorrow night I am finally making tacos and guacamole for the family for dinner! Hope everything is well at home. I looked at the weather and it looks like it is cooling off...while here it HOTTER each day!

See you all soon :)
Andie

Monday, September 22, 2008

Monday, September 22.

YAY...for another week completed!! Each day at school seems to get better and more exciting. I am beginning to feel more comfortable and confident with myself and my teachings. But with that, it continually makes me realize how different schools in American are as compared to Ghanaian schools. Classes don't have lunch count, calendar, community circles, read alouds; simple things that I have seen teachers start and end their days with. Teachers have a homeroom, but are only there when they are teaching their designated subject areas. If not teaching, they are doing lesson plans or marking homework in their office. Some days students may only see their homeroom teacher at assembly and at closing. The advantage of classrooms I have seen who do such activites in America is that is brings the students and teachers closer. You are able to really get to know each other and create the bond that will help you all year long. Seeing different ways are useful; it will help my to create my classroom just the way I want it!!

Teaching is going well. One thing that I have come to learn very well is the African concept of time and the clock. For everything there will be a set time when things need to be done, when they start, and when they end. HOWEVER...that does not mean they have to start, end or happen at that time. Since there are no clocks in the classrooms; teachers may go over their alloted time by ten minutes or leave twenty minutes early. Because of this I have been ready to start my lesson early and am able to add in a few extra points or questions because of the extra time, but at a different time I might not get to everything I had planned because my time was cut short. No one seems to notice; it simply is the African way :)

This weekend Walt and I traveled to Cape Coast. It is about two hours west of Accra. There we went to two castles; Elmina Castle and Cape Coast Castle. These two castles were owned by the British and Portugese and used to hold slaves. The tours were amazing! I was able to learn a lot of history and see things that most people are not able. We saw the male and female dungeons, the "door of no return" and the last view/scene that the African slaves saw before they boarded the slave ships. These castles can really bring tears to your eyes seeing exactly how and where slaves lived. We also went to a forest and went on a canopy walk. This was absolutely beautiful!!! It was about a 2o minute walk through a wooded forest area until you reached the canopy. The canopy itself lasted about 30 minutes. It was a small, narrow rope with a wooden board to walk on that rocked back and forth every step you took (a little scary and not for someone who is afraid of heights!). I believe we were about 100 feet in the area; above the trees looking out onto the city of Cape Coast. BEAUTIFUL :) The way back to Accra on Sunday was eventful. The two hour bus ride turned into almost 5 hours!! Surprisingly the bus took off only about 20 minutes late (on the way it was 1.5 hours late!!) but it also broke down an hour into the ride home. So we had to wait on the hot, stuffy bus for almost two hours until another bus could get to us and bring us back to Accra. Even with the bus troubles; the trip was definitely worth it. The history and sights that we saw were amazing!

The weather here is getting a little warmer each day. The rainy season is ending and the hot season is beginning to start. Whether truely the hot season or not, it is HOT to me all the time. The sun especially; it is burning!! As much as I love being sticky and glistening all day (haha, yea right!); I am ready to come home to the fall weather!
Hope everything is well!
Miss you.
Andie

Monday, September 15, 2008

Teaching :)

Finally the teaching is beginning! The students have finally begun to settle down and in perfect timing for me to start my lessons. My lessons last week went very good. I was able to get through them without many disruptions. During comprehension class I was able to take the style that my teachers uses but make it my own. She has told me that she knows the teaching styles in America are much different than the lecture and note taking done here. So she encouraged me to add in my own style. So to activate schema and prior knowledge the children did a little activity. They loved it and listened to directions wonderfully! That really made me feel more comfortable. During my dictionary lesson, the students had to get out a few giggles; which I totally understood. I am an accent and they were trying to say the words exactly how I say them, which seems impossible for all Ghanaians :) It was very cute. I assured them no matter how they 'say' the word, the meaning and spelling will be the same! Having lessons to create at night and over the weekend keep me busy too. It feels nice to actually be doing something productive for the classroom. I am looking forward to having success with my lessons this week as well!

Each week after school on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday the students have different activites they can participate in. Tuesday is called "Talent Hunt", Wednesday is "Activities" and Friday is "Sports." This gives each child an opportunity to find a hobby and learn something new. I have decided to spend my time in the Salsa Dance class for Talent Hunt and Basket Weaving for Activity. Get your dancing shoes on......when I get back I will share my dancing skills with all of you :)

This weekend Walt and I went with some teachers to a funeral for a father of a student who passed away. The funeral was so different than those at home. The mass seemed more of a celcbration of life with the loud Ghanaian music and dancing than that of a mourning ceremony. After the mass everyone goes to the home of the deceased. There they eat a light meal, have some drinks, listen to music and dance. This is a time for all family and friends to come together and share in this time. Funerals as also held 1-3 months after a person has passes away. This is so that the family can ensure that everyone who wants to attend can plan around it and make the arrangements to attend. It was so different, but I had a great time learning about a Ghanaian tradition.

Everything at home is going well too. Auntie continues to spoil us and serves us new food each day. I have definitely learned to be thankful and appreciate everything I have and am given at home. We have not had running water for about 5 days now. The water we take for granted when brushing our teeth and taking a HOT shower is something I will be thankful for when I go home. I am learning that no matter what 'goes wrong' there is something I can do to make the situation better. The small bumps that I have learned to deal with here in Ghana, is something that will make me a more appreciative American! Really a lesson we should all go there.

Im continuing to love Africa and am so happy about my decision to come here. I feel like I am growing more as a person and becoming more confident than I ever thought I would from this experience. It's continuing to be great :)
Have a great week.
Miss you all.
Andie

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Tuesday, Sept 9.

Well, I have been in Ghana for two weeks now and just finished my 6th day of school. I am at Christ the King International school in Accra in Class 4 (grade 4). My cooperating teacher teaches comprehension (reading), construction (grammar) and spelling to both 4th grade classes. So, those are the subject areas that I will be taking over! The first major difference that I noticed between 4th grade at home class 4 here, is that elementary teachers at home teach most/all of the subject areas to their students. Here my teacher only teaches those three areas. THe other 4th grade teacher teaches Citizenship Education and Religious and Moral Education. Subejcts as math, science, social studies, French, Ga/Twi (Ghanaian languages) and Creative Arts (music and art) are all taught be different teachers who teach only that content. It seems that teachers here have a lighter load!
The school days are structured differently as well. Students are to school by 7:30. From 7:30 to 7:50 they have silent time and then from 7:50 until 8:00 they have assembly each morning. ASsembly is a time when the school comes together each morning to pray, sing and say the national anthem and such. Then classes begin and go until 3:30. While the classroom is filled with 45 busy bodies (CRAZY...I know!!) it is never quiet. The students may be very loud and active, but they are never disrespectful to their teachers. Greeting each teacher they see, standing up when being called upon, and greeting each teacher who walks through their door.
I have not started teaching yet; tomorrow actually. But when I talk to the class most laugh when I speak. It is hard for me to get their attentino. I do not think they have learned yet that I am one of their teachers and so I'm starting to demand that I get the quiet classroom and respect that others get. They seem to be much more attentive to the male teachers as compared to the female ones. I guess this will give me something to work on while I am here :)
Other than school, Auntie is keeping us busy always eating and experiencing new things. We sat down and plannned out the rest of the weekends Walt and I have left to travel. We are now booked!! We have sightseeing to other villages, regions and even some trips with a few teachers (all of which are so extremely nice and welcoming).
That is all for now. I will keep jounrnaling, especially now that I will have started teaching.
Hope all is well!
andie

Monday, August 4, 2008

...facts!

8.4.08
*Ghana is located in West Africa. I will be both living and teaching in Accra (the capital city of Ghana).

...link to a map of Ghana http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Shared_ASP_Files/UploadedFiles/%7BF9DEAC0C-3677-4E11-B0E6-6F5C9013B892%7D_Ghana.gif

*Since Ghana is located just north of the Equator the climate is warm, humid and sunny. I will be there during one of the rainy seasons which is September to November. I have also learned that the average temperature is between 26 degrees C and 29 degrees C.
*Population (2004) Ghana: 20,922,000 Accra: 1,904,000
*