Finnish school policies about mothers
in the pictures: two pictures of my computer room and picture of computer parts from our hardware matching activity.
good christian songs
2/6
Hmmm….lots going on today. I arrive at school around 8am. “Leaga le Mataio.” “Aisea?” (why? I say.) I guess I’m supposed to be here a t 7am…oh well..it will easier next week, when I’m living at the school. I’m still living with my father (the mayor—pulenu’u) right now. I sign in to “the book” with my orange pen with blue ink, and realize it’s a pen from Finland. http://www.turkutouring.fi/. Sweet finland key chain, and Finnish pillow case.
memories of Finland--my mom is Finnish. I've been to finland 3 times. Finland is>...
..far from SAmoa. I don't have internet, so I can't find exact distance. but I know I couldn't ride my bike to Finland from Samoa. I have finnish silverware (a camping set), 2 pillowcases
More cleaning of rooms and desks, an assembly where students were introduced to teachers (faiaoga) among other things. In Samoa, kids are segregated according to how they do on tests, into year groups 9.1,9.2, 10.1,10.2, etc. 9.1 students get better scores, 9.2 students don’t. when 9.1 students were called to stand up (tu i luga), there were 8 girls, 2 boys. 9.2 students=>7 boys, 4 girls. A total reversal. Girls do better in classes. Is that the same as in the USA????
Then the boys (tama) went with the male teachers (of which there are three), and the girls (teine) went with the female teachers (of which there are eight). I was asked to say a few words. I said a few in Samoan, then I spoke in English, and the VP translated. I talked about the eight words: discover, learn, create, share, caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. I think these are important words, especially as the youth of Samoa go out into the “bigger” world,…
We had a staff meeting—going over policies—privacy, dress code, and procedures--communication and determining who would teach what classes. We have geogra
phy, science, maths, economics, computers, Samoan Language, and a few others. I’m now on the sports committee…yea…plyometrics here we come;) don’t worry, it will be fun, I promise. Plyometrics (is not in my MSWord default dictionary;(_) is a way of exercise that emphasizes agility, side to side, front to back movements, and speed—just what you need for success in soccer and rugby. We also have committees for music, staff/store room, stationaries, staff fund, SFS manager (Sosaiete Faiaoga Samoa Lefaga—society of Samoan teachers), and the library.
Fun with the annual computer plan. I’ve never actually created a really bonafide plan for teaching. My teaching has been very>>>impromptu. I did create a simple curriculum/teaching plan for the poetry workshop, but nothing for a whole year…fun fun fun. No really. I have a meeting at the Ministry of Education tomorrow to talk to a lady in the curriculum department. That’s one of the things that’s different here in Samoa. PCVs can talk to people in high places a lot easier than in the USA.
Lefaga Secondary School’s priorities for this year are: 1)reading opportunities for the students, 2)get more furniture for the school, 3)all teachers being computer literate (one or two teachers being able to teach computers after I leave, 4)a better partnership with the parents, more communication.
The principal seems cool, wants to get things done and improve the school and opportunities for the students and teachers.
I read something that made me sad. There are some poems (solo, same as a towel) students wrote on butcher paper hanging in the classroom where we had our assembly—about mothers and fathers. here is a piece of one:
Mother is the heart of my family.
From her heart whispers good advice to my daddy.
A precious family has a precious mother,
Who carries all the troubles of children and father.
There is no word for “sore,” which is what my right arm is right now. I got a massage from one of my family members last night. That felt really nice. Second massage I’ve had in Samoa;) my hand hurtsàleaga le lima.
The TV says SAmoa wants to reduce the crime rate by 10% by 2010. This is Samoa. why so much bad karma? Monkey see, monkey do--violence does waht violence sees. i don't think SAmoans have any knowledge of media literacy...well I'm not sure of that. I wonder if I could work that into my curriculum.
Hmmm….lots going on today. I arrive at school around 8am. “Leaga le Mataio.” “Aisea?” (why? I say.) I guess I’m supposed to be here a t 7am…oh well..it will easier next week, when I’m living at the school. I’m still living with my father (the mayor—pulenu’u) right now. I sign in to “the book” with my orange pen with blue ink, and realize it’s a pen from Finland. http://www.turkutouring.fi/. Sweet finland key chain, and Finnish pillow case.
memories of Finland--my mom is Finnish. I've been to finland 3 times. Finland is>...
..far from SAmoa. I don't have internet, so I can't find exact distance. but I know I couldn't ride my bike to Finland from Samoa. I have finnish silverware (a camping set), 2 pillowcasesMore cleaning of rooms and desks, an assembly where students were introduced to teachers (faiaoga) among other things. In Samoa, kids are segregated according to how they do on tests, into year groups 9.1,9.2, 10.1,10.2, etc. 9.1 students get better scores, 9.2 students don’t. when 9.1 students were called to stand up (tu i luga), there were 8 girls, 2 boys. 9.2 students=>7 boys, 4 girls. A total reversal. Girls do better in classes. Is that the same as in the USA????
Then the boys (tama) went with the male teachers (of which there are three), and the girls (teine) went with the female teachers (of which there are eight). I was asked to say a few words. I said a few in Samoan, then I spoke in English, and the VP translated. I talked about the eight words: discover, learn, create, share, caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. I think these are important words, especially as the youth of Samoa go out into the “bigger” world,…
We had a staff meeting—going over policies—privacy, dress code, and procedures--communication and determining who would teach what classes. We have geogra
phy, science, maths, economics, computers, Samoan Language, and a few others. I’m now on the sports committee…yea…plyometrics here we come;) don’t worry, it will be fun, I promise. Plyometrics (is not in my MSWord default dictionary;(_) is a way of exercise that emphasizes agility, side to side, front to back movements, and speed—just what you need for success in soccer and rugby. We also have committees for music, staff/store room, stationaries, staff fund, SFS manager (Sosaiete Faiaoga Samoa Lefaga—society of Samoan teachers), and the library.Fun with the annual computer plan. I’ve never actually created a really bonafide plan for teaching. My teaching has been very>>>impromptu. I did create a simple curriculum/teaching plan for the poetry workshop, but nothing for a whole year…fun fun fun. No really. I have a meeting at the Ministry of Education tomorrow to talk to a lady in the curriculum department. That’s one of the things that’s different here in Samoa. PCVs can talk to people in high places a lot easier than in the USA.
Lefaga Secondary School’s priorities for this year are: 1)reading opportunities for the students, 2)get more furniture for the school, 3)all teachers being computer literate (one or two teachers being able to teach computers after I leave, 4)a better partnership with the parents, more communication.
The principal seems cool, wants to get things done and improve the school and opportunities for the students and teachers.
I read something that made me sad. There are some poems (solo, same as a towel) students wrote on butcher paper hanging in the classroom where we had our assembly—about mothers and fathers. here is a piece of one:
Mother is the heart of my family.
From her heart whispers good advice to my daddy.
A precious family has a precious mother,
Who carries all the troubles of children and father.
There is no word for “sore,” which is what my right arm is right now. I got a massage from one of my family members last night. That felt really nice. Second massage I’ve had in Samoa;) my hand hurtsàleaga le lima.
The TV says SAmoa wants to reduce the crime rate by 10% by 2010. This is Samoa. why so much bad karma? Monkey see, monkey do--violence does waht violence sees. i don't think SAmoans have any knowledge of media literacy...well I'm not sure of that. I wonder if I could work that into my curriculum.
posted by bigchainring at 3:48 PM
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