Good week seminar at Kisarawe

Dear Family and Friends,

Mwangaza's on-site seminar at Kisarawe was the culmination of much discussion and planning.  It began with an "informal" invitation from their Ass't Headmaster in June, 2010, when he was one of 5 participants from his school attending one of our seminars at Mwangaza.  He shared with John Kavishe his hope that Mwangaza might consider bringing the team of facilitators to Kisarawe in 2011 to share the methodology training with his total staff at one time.   

John & Salome, our teammates, did some "trial runs" but offering and leading 3-day on-site seminars earlier this year.  In each case, teachers of one or two schools were divided so that 1/2 would still be teaching supervising Mon-Wed while their colleagues attended the seminars, then switch places for Thurs-Sat.  Although time constraints limited the scope of the seminars, results were positive and reinforced moving forward with discussions regarding Kisarawe.

Many factors of logistics, financing, and responsibilities had to be considered, including the challenges of budgeting when the economy was affecting donations.  (No one ever said for sure, but we suspect folks even took into account whether or not those 2 old (we continue to hear "that's a compliment") teachers from DeKalb could handle the long trip to hot and humid Dar es Salaam.)   This spring, a 3-way partnership was developed, when Kisarawe's Diocese's Companion Synod in the US agreed to pay for the transport and rooms for Mwangaza's facilitators, leaving Kisarawe to cover on-site costs. 

Timing for seminars is always a challenge, for some students are testing or otherwise involved until early June.  Yet, waiting to go to Kisarawe would adversely affect the seminars already planned for June at Mwangaza.  A compromise was developed: only about 1/2 of Kisarawe teachers would attend, but another LSS in the area would send a few teachers.  The sign tells us we have arrived and the Headmaster welcomed us and the participants as we awaited the rest to arrive for Monday's opening.  

We divide the week into 12 sessions, with teacher presentations as the final activity and assessment of how we/they have done.   For each session, 2 of us will plan and present, with one primarily leading and the other also active when participants are working in groups.  Meanwhile, there are always responsibilities for those who are not "in front" for that session.  In fact, our driver Allen showed good talent with a camera, and we have included a number of his shots.  Here, Mama Sharon was listening and reflecting with one of the groups, while John was working with another, and Salome and Mike were making photos.  Then, Sharon & Mike led a discussion.

        

We always model "grouping and group interaction" in our seminars, including grouping those teaching the same subjects (which provides discussion between teachers from different schools) and grouping those from the same school (which provides discussion across content areas).  Perhaps Mike's favorite group of that week was the 4-some on the left, all teachers of English.  What great respect they showed to each other and what serious listening they gave to each others ideas, even though the members greatly differed in age, had 2 - 40 years of teaching, and of course included both genders.  

On the right is another interesting make-up, including the Ass't Headmaster, a pastor (remember, Lutheran Junior Seminary) and 2 gentlemen strong in content but very different in the mastery of English.

Since 6 pix is probably pushing our bandwidth's limit, will be right back with more.

Peace and love,

Mike and Sharon