Before we go, we put together short bios for every team member. We have them translated into Mandarin and on Day 1, I give them to the orphanage directors. They have opened their doors to us; I feel like it’s respectful to let them know who they’ve welcomed in. When the directors read that a few of our team members had early childhood teaching experience, they asked me if they’d teach a class for the kids there that their staff teachers could observe.
Of course. We’d be glad to.
That is, I hoped they would be. I kind of giggled when I told them at lunch what I had said yes to. But, they didn’t mind at all. They were totally glad to.
Phew.
They joined forces, sorted through supplies we had brought and even supplies one of them had purchased as souvenirs at the pearl market. Somehow, it all fit together perfectly…you know…somehow. And, what happened today was a perfectly typical preschool lesson.
It started with circle time with a dollar store microphone and little picture cut outs.
Then, in small groups, the kids went around to centers where they played and we played and we talked about colors and shapes and numbers.
Followed by relay races using frisbees we had brought for gifts (and later used for that purpose) and little balls shaped like the world.
Two handed first.
Now one hand.
Hǎo bù hǎo.
Then we gathered again with a few more smiles this time than when we started. 5 Little Monkeys was read aloud in English and translated…though I’m not sure that was really needed. Some things are just funny no matter what language they’re in.
Apparently, “If You’re Happy and You Know It” is the same way.
The director told me later that day that the teachers liked it. They said they don’t teach like that, using games and play to teach children facts but that they saw how much the children liked it and that it worked to help them remember things more than just teaching them in traditional ways. They said they’d like to try doing some of that.
It’s already Day 4? I wish we could sit and have circle time with all of those teachers and encourage each other for a while.