Although my cohort Jesse and I enjoyed our time in Bangalore, we were both happy to arrive in Trivandrum to spend the week at our host school, St. Mary's Higher Secondary School.
We were greeted with flowers and a banner. Our host Babu Louis proudly introduced us to the faculty and staff as we toured the campus.
The physical campus reminded me of the Muslim Girl's Orphanage School. Because the teachers move from room to room, the walls are bare of the motivational and subject matter posters I and my colleagues use to decorate our rooms. The comparison ends there. Jesse and I were pleased to see the students engaged in activities which promoted critical thinking skills. Every student was engaged and learning.
We were greeted with flowers and a banner. Our host Babu Louis proudly introduced us to the faculty and staff as we toured the campus.
The physical campus reminded me of the Muslim Girl's Orphanage School. Because the teachers move from room to room, the walls are bare of the motivational and subject matter posters I and my colleagues use to decorate our rooms. The comparison ends there. Jesse and I were pleased to see the students engaged in activities which promoted critical thinking skills. Every student was engaged and learning.
The students treated us like rock stars. When asked for my autograph, I signed it with the same sentiment I have written in yearbooks for the past 23 years: Work Hard, Play Hard, Live Well.
Although we were assigned to spend time with Standard 10, I also would go to the library when Standard 4 was slated to be there. During their library time, they would choose books in English from the shelf to read. I would help them sound out and understand the new words.
Although we were assigned to spend time with Standard 10, I also would go to the library when Standard 4 was slated to be there. During their library time, they would choose books in English from the shelf to read. I would help them sound out and understand the new words.
We were present for the inauguration of the literary club. The self-named Lunch Bunch is a group of inspired teens who not only love reading but love to share what they have read.
On Thursday I presented a workshop on using writing workshop to develop writing skills. In an hour and a half I tried to give as many tools as I could to help the English teachers from several schools. I showed them how to use mentor texts, explained why and how to write with and for their students, and demonstrated how to develop rubrics for writing.