From the moment we step off the bus in the mornings we are greeted by the staff and pupils with such warm smiles and greetings. This has been a week of amazing cultural exchange.
Louise has continued to work with Standard 8, joined this week by Lauren as we worked with the children to write up all of the outdoor games she has taught the Sports leaders. We took the whole class out to play the games led by the leaders and then came back to class to write them up. The pupils loved illustrating their writing with coloured pens taking such care. We have covered them in tacky- back to preserve them for future use!
We all combined together to work with the Standard 6 and 8 classes and their teachers on a Scottish theme. Using many of the items we brought with us and the plastic globes that hang in the HT office we introduced 7 Scottish themes and then the children worked in groups to carousel their learning setting the pupils tasks to make illustrations from each area. Again we were impressed by the enthusiasm, concentration and interest demonstrated by the pupils and staff. This extended to their singing and then dancing the Virginia Reel out on their pitch. Fantastic fun! Jane and I spent some time this afternoon creating a display in the library aided by a crowd of eager helpers who just couldn't stop playing the mini bagpipes Jane brought with her and insisting on putting every single picture we had into the display!
A challenge for Louise this week was teaching a lesson on the 'Partition of Africa' a bit of research needed! The focus however continues to be demonstrating strategies that reinforce pupil understanding and making the learning fun. The children's enthusiasm just makes it so rewarding. One of the many highlights has to be the singing In rounds I have done this week supported by Henry the Standard 8 teacher and Lauren. Also the help from the library monitors who today came and stuck coloured stickers on all of the books as I helped Costive in the library.
In Standard 6 working with Jane the teachers, Nellie and Grace, and learners have been responding well to using the aifl strategy of no hands up in a variety of subjects including Life Skills, Science, Social subjects and Chichewa. It was a pleasure for us to see Robert Bonya who enjoyed learning about joints outside with Standard 6.
Highlights with the sports leaders this past week have been, organising a football tournament with standard 7 with referees, coaches for each team and a sport leader coordinating the games. We have also been discussing the importance of sportsmanship in all of our lessons ending games with high fives and lots of smiling faces. Past MLOLs Fraser and Caroline will be pleased to know that we played parachute games today with the standard 1s with over 70 learners around it at a time!
At the start of the week we had Mark and Molly, student teachers from Strathclyde University joining us. Mark worked with Lauren and the sports leaders and showed us his football skills!
As today is Lauren's last day at Linpunga, before starting at Mpata tomorrow, she and Henry created a timetable for the leaders over the next few months to give them opportunities to lead activities and agreed this with Mr Kodo, Acting Headteacher.
This afternoon we all stayed after school to attend the 'Theatre for a change' club led by Standard 8 teacher Alinane. It is a fantastic club where the learners dance and sing songs but also discuss important topics about growing up in Malawi and challenging cultural issues within their communities. We finished our afternoon watching traditional African dancing and singing, we love Lipunga!
