Literacy

ADULTS


The adult literacy class has been in session for around a month.  Last night I sat outside city hall with the facilitator waiting for the students.  Out of 80 community members, we initially invited 20 we thought to be the most motivated.  Six of those twenty have been attending class regularly.  Last night two showed up.

I am confused as to what is the problem. Are they not interested?  There is nothing else to do here, so they are probably at their houses.  How can I motivate them?

It is a bummer they don't regularly attend, because the two teachers are fantastic.  They surpass my expectations every time.  I am lucky to have them and will do anything to help them get nombrared (given a teaching job, which is competitive and very political).

CHILDREN

Three other volunteers and I had our Todos Leen (children's literacy intervention program) workshop last weekend in San Juan.  It went great, and I think the participants, who are children's literacy tutors working with the volunteers, learned about literacy and techniques.  The three people I brought from Monte Bonito cannot stop talking about it.  I hope we can repeat the workshop again.

The workshop was a kickoff to the literacy program I have at the elementary school here.  One other facilitator and I are working with 3rd and 4th graders in small groups.  These students are not reading and writing at the level of their peers.

I wanted to run the program during the morning session.  On paper it goes from 8-noon.  In reality, they start around 8:15/8:30, leave for breakfast around 9:45 to 10:30, and depending on the grade, leave before noon.  If you go to the school you will most likely find the teachers gathered in the principals office or outside the gate chatting with each other while the children are running amuck in their classrooms.  No wonder these kids can't read!

While I was evaluating the children we work with, one 4th grader sat down with me.  I asked him to write his name on the paper.  He looks and me and says, I don't know how to write my name.  I was astonished, what do you mean you don't know.  He explained how he used to know, but he has forgotten since.  I assured him he would learn how to read and also write his name.

Today is day two of the program.  I was exhausted after day one.  It feels good to be busy and making a positive impact though.