ALBERT STREET SCHOOL IN APRIL

I am now volunteering three times a week at the Albert Street Refugee School. I go on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 am- 1:00 pm. I have Year 2 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so that their teacher, Miss Joyce, can do her administrative work as the Deputy Principal. On Wednesdays, I have the Year 1 and Year 3 classes. I even have my own "little classroom" at the back of Miss Joyce's classroom! I take the blanket off my bed before I leave in the morning. This becomes my "mat area" for the children to sit on. The children seem to like it. Otherwise, they are expected to sit in the chairs all day and copy work from the board. The teachers are very welcoming to me and eager for me to teach their classes. They watch how I teach as they are not use to the "hands on" learning activities that I bring to the children. The children rush out to greet me with shouts of "Hello, Miss Diana!" and as many hugs as arms can fit around me!

Miss Diana's Classroom

My locker of resources at the opposite end of "my little classroom".

The children listened to a retell of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff".
They made finger puppets and then got to watch the story on my
 iPad. I have bought a little"jellyfish" speaker that allows
 them all to hear the story!

"Hands on" measuring activities! They had a lot of fun!

It was Mr.O's birthday and he was given a very big cake that we
could not eat. I took it to school and shared it with the Grade 2s.
 I asked if they liked cake. YES! Do you like chocolate birthday
 cake? Their eyes widened, their smiles beamed from ear to
ear and they said …
"YES!" Mmmmm!
That cake could not have had better recipients to eat it!

Just yesterday, I taught the children in Year 1 "5 Currant Buns".
All 32 children had to have a turn being the baker or a buyer
(with rand). I then read "Brown Rabbit's Party" using one of the
few big books from their over crowded, unorganised, tiny library.

They coloured in Easter Eggs, learning 'Ee' says "eh".

Then I gave them all a chocolate marshmallow Easter bunny.
Do you think they were excited?
Do you think they liked it?

As I was leaving, Tatenda and Prince were playing a game with their friend. I asked what
 they were playing. They showed me bottle tops that had pictures of superheroes stuck on them.
They battled for each other tokens.

It is the start of Easter break here. The schools only have the four day weekend off. So do I.
Back to school next Tuesday for me!

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!