So, I´m currently the 4th grade teacher at Viña del Mar, the elementary school in Estero de Plátano. In an attempt to improve the overall quality of education provided throughout the country, the government of Ecuador has started reviewing the cualifications of all of the teachers in every school and high school throughout the country. Both the 4th and the 5th grade teachers of Viña del Mar are still being reviewed, and therefore Katy and I have stepped in as their replacements... as if we (being non-teachers and non-native spanish speakers) are more qualified than those same teachers under review. However, I find it encouraging that the government has taken such an interest in the quality of education given. At least they´re doing something.
Viña del Mar is located on a small cliff overlooking the ocean on the north side of Estero de Plátano. There are 5 classrooms, 7 grades, a Director-Professor, 3 teachers, 2 volunteers, and almost 100 students. The students arrive at 8AM, get into formation, and spend the first 30 minutes of the day eating a small breakfast (provided by the government). After an hour and a half of class, they leave for a 30 minute recess which usually includes eating more snacks and playing soccer or hopscotch in the school yard. Class resumes at 10:30 and lasts until around noon, when the students are served lunch and then released to their houses for the day. On a GOOD day, the kids are actually IN the classrooms for about 3 hours.
I probably spend about an hour each day yelling at the rowdy gang of boys wrestling, screaming or intimdating frogs in the back of the classroom. I realize that the students behave differently with me than they do with other professors, and I often have to bring in another professor or the director into my classroom just to SCARE a few of them into behaving. Many of them have very little respect for me as an authority figure because I first became their playmate outside of school. That being said, I still feel like the overall quality of education could be further improved if the students were actually in the classroom for more than 3 hours a day. Which brings me to my NEXT slide.
The first day I taught class in Viña del Mar this year, I taught both the 4th and 5th grade together, as the Director was unable to teach and Katy had to cover his class of 6th and 7th graders. In this classroom, of about 50 8-12 year olds, I quickly realized that more than a few of the students could not read or write. At first I thought they were just being difficult and were choosing not to write the assignment until a few of their classmates informed me that ´´el no puede´´ (he can´t). These kids have been in school for almost 4 years and still haven´t learned how to read or write. Their previous teachers have sent them onto the next grade, for multiple years, knowing that they were behind... knowing that they were not ready. Why. And, how do I, as a professor, teach Language and Social Studies and Science to a classroom full of 4th graders when a few of them can´t even write their own names?
Katy and I have decided to start an after-school literacy program. With the help of the professors and the Director of the school, we´re going to identify all of the students in 3rd-5th grade who are extremely behind in reading and writing. I also want to inform and try to involve each of their parents (some of whom are illiterate) in the process or to at least gain their support and encouragment for their children. Katy and I are going to sit down with each of the students for at least an hour after school a few days a week and give them the time and attention they need and deserve.
I honestly have no idea how long it takes, or exactly HOW, to teach a small human how to read or write. I may be naive in thinking that a few hours a week can actually make a difference. Who taught us how to read? And how?? I specifically remember reading little yellow books with my mom or my grandma in our living room every day after school... but I can´t remember how old I was or what I was busy doing in school at the time.
On the second day of school, the 4th graders of Viña del Mar spent the day reviewing (or learning) the Alphabet.
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