One Whole Month

It doesn't really seem like a month since we've been here. One of the teachers asked us how long we've been in Gorkha today (quite randomly but appropriately) and it seems like we've been here way longer. The week is almost finished now (we have a wedding on Friday and so are not going to school) and it seems like yesterday it was Sunday!

We left school at lunchtime (or half-time) today as the last lesson for us is period 5 which is my science class and we thought we'd head to the Gurkha Inn for a warm shower.

The first lesson of the day is period 1 which I teach English to grade fours. They are a relatively quiet class. They are just starting to get used to putting their hands up for questions and are starting to want to answser questions a lot more. Which is great. Except generally it involves them jumping up and down squealing "I, miss, I!". It's good they're enthusiastic, but it definetely needs controlling. And so today when I put up my hand they sat in silence with their arms crossed. It looked very British and took a little bit of practice. They seemed to think it was quite fun though!

The grade 5s who I teach English to second period are slightly louder. There is one kid who I think is ADHD who does not like sitting down. He is very enthusiastic but really struggles to sit still for the whole lesson, and gets bored very easily. When he is sitting at the back then it is acceptable for him to stand for some of the lesson, as long as he is quiet. This doesn't work when he sits at the front. However, when there is something to do he generally does work hard, so it's just a question of making it interesting enough for him to listen. They were also introduced to sitting down with their arms crossed today and so we got through the work. I also used register numbers to choose who answered questions. It's very useful that they answer the register by number instead of name and so do know their numbers.

Although taking the register in grade four there are always some that don't seem to be listening, same ones each time as well...

My grade 7s are the only science class that I teach, the loudest class and also the one I enjoy teaching most. To start with it was a battle to get them to be quiet long enough to say my name. They have now settled and listen well. I still have to move some of them sometimes, but they now listen without talking and seem interested. There is also only the occasional few that come late to lessons now, soon to be reduced to none. While the teachers are allowed to come at whatever time, or not turn up, the students are expected to be there when the teacher is. They are no longer late because if they are they are required to answer a question before they walk through the door, must to the amusement of those who were already in the class the first time I introduced this.

I hope to pick up another science class as I enjoy teaching it a lot more. I think I am also better at teaching it as well and I have more enthusiasm for teaching science than English and I'm sure this effects the children's enjoyment as well.

In between classes, in the 'leisure' periods, we generally sit with the teachers and often go for tea. There is a tea shop about a minutes walk from the school and you get a cup of milky chia for Rs7, about 6p. We also plan lessons and are beginning to learn the braille contractions (ie the words that there are shorthand for in braille). This turned out to be very useful as the blind girl in my grade 7 gave me a note that I was able to read. It took a while, but at least I know the alphabet now!

Hope you're all well.