Leaps and Bounds

 

As we approach the final weeks of school, I am beginning to notice how much the children seemed to have learned and picked up this year.  I am certain the learning process has been going on the whole time, but recently it is just hitting me at how far so many of these children have come.  Looking back to the first weeks of school when so many of the children were shy, quiet, uncertain of myself and the other teachers, missing moms, only sticking to one area in the classroom, not sure what to make of all the things inside the classroom, and so much more…I would never guess these children we have running around the school are the same ones.  Every single child is walking tall to and from school, proud to be attending the Twana Little School.  They are very confident (some overly so…hehe) in themselves and their ability to make it through each day.  They are picking up English at a rapid rate, some more than others, but understanding the daily routine with ease and excitement.

When the children came to the school, very few had been exposed to letters, numbers, books, balls, writing, not to mention all the other areas of the school the children participated in throughout the year.  At the end of the year, most of the older children know ALL of their letters, all the children can look at a letter and read it in a book or on paper, the younger children are beginning to remember some letters and are doing a great job hearing the sound and relating it to words they already have in their vocabulary.  They are able to count up to 30 without much help and read numbers and letters left to right.  Hoping and praying that their grade 1 teachers will encourage them to pick up reading rather quickly, since these little ones have worked so hard at mastering the foundations!! 

In other areas, outside none of the children were able to jump rope properly, they had a hard time catching balls, they were very subtle in their play, and didn’t interact with one another much.  Now with the blessing of a playground, the children are crazy as ever.  I can’t get them to sit still for one moment when we are having outside play.  Children seem to reach out to other children they don’t usually play with outside of school, and they are just running around, playing in the slide, see saw, with balls, jump ropes, and anything else they can get their hands on.  So many of the children can jump rope now with great confidence and some even have mastered the hula hoop.  They run around with joy and laughter, not for one minute being shy or self conscience. 

Inside the classroom, the children have also taken large strides in their play.  When they first came to us, very few of them seem to do imaginative play, or really do much other than move things around from place to place.  Now, I can hardly keep them sitting at morning meeting as they are racing to choice time before they are even dismissed.  They are interacting with one another in dress up, with blocks, animals, and all sorts of other things around the room.  They will often wonder to math or science centers in pairs and work together to discover what is there for the to do.  I am so impressed with how they jump in and make believe with all the items in the classroom!  They are so much fun to watch…

 

I am just in awe of everything God blessed us with, the doors that He opened to make of this possible, and the strength and faith He gave us to make this year a success.  These children have benefited so much and I pray that they feel the love their Heavenly Father has for them, more than anything else they take away this year.  Thank you to everyone who was a part of this, who was used by God to make such a difference in each of these children's lives; a difference that cannot be measured! 

 

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it  and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings,which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

                                             2 Timothy 3:14-15