First Weeks of School

It has now been three weeks since the school has opened for the year. The first week of school consisted of learners coming with their parents or guardians to register at the school. No classes took place that week and I spent my time in the library or sitting in a classroom full of learners with not much to do. The second week we had a tentative timetable (class schedule) which was set on a seven day cycle. This meant that after seven days, the cycle repeats itself. Every day has a different class schedule and because you are only in school five days a week, every Monday, Tuesday, etc. was different from the other. This was very hard for me to get my brain around and it freaked me out a little. I was glad that on Friday of that week we were presented with a new schedule that was on a five day cycle. Now my week looks the same every week – even though each day is different. Below is my current timetable:

Monday: Period 1 – Math 8A Period 5 – Art 9A
Period 2 – Math 8B Period 6 – Off
Period 3 – Off Period 7 – BIS 9A
Period 4 – Math 8C Period 8 – Off

Tuesday: Period 1 – Math 8B Period 5 – Math 8A
Period 2 – Art 8A Period 6 – Off
Period 3 – Math 8C Period 7 – Off
Period 4 – Off Period 8 – BIS 10A

Wednesday: Period 1 – Art 9B Period 5 – Math 8A
Period 2 – Math 8B Period 6 – BIS 8A
Period 3 – Math 8C Period 7 – BIS 9B
Period 4 – Art 10A Period 8 – Off

Thursday: Period 1 – Math 8A Period 5 – Art 10B
Period 2 – Art 8B Period 6 – Art 8C
Period 3 – Math 8C Period 7 – Off
Period 4 – Math 8B Period 8 – Off

Friday: Period 1 – Math 8C Period 5 – Math 8B
Period 2 – Math 8A Period 6 – BIS 8B
Period 3 – BIS 8C Period 7 – Off
Period 4 – Off Period 8 – BIS 10B

There are eight periods each day, each 40 min. long. We have a 30 minute break after period 4 each day. There is no time allotted for changing classes, so the actual class period is less than 40 minutes long. Sometimes the time moves so fast, it’s hard to get everything into the lesson. But some days, the time moves very slowly.

I’m still learning the best way to teach and it’s a trial and error process. It’s challenging not really knowing the level of each learner, but I’m sure that will reveal itself after the first test. I’m working on learning everyone’s name which is also a challenge since I have over 200 names to learn. My grade 8 math classes are about 36 learners in each class. For Art and BIS (basic information science), the classes are split where the boys come one week and the girls come the other. This makes it easy for lesson planning since one lesson lasts two weeks!

Other happenings during the past few weeks have included a back to school dance, movie night at the hostel, and a Miss New Comer Pageant. Each of these events was so much fun and it’s nice to see the learners outside of the classroom in a more relaxed atmosphere. All of these are also fundraisers for the school. At the Miss New Comer Pageant, I was responsible for collecting the money at the door. We charged N$3 per person and we ended up collecting N$700! All this money goes back to the learners in different ways.

Overall things have been good these first few weeks of school. At times, frustrating, as is with any new job, but I’m learning as I go and taking advice as it is given to me. I’m working on getting ahead this weekend by doing as many lesson plans as I can.