Thumbs Up Teaching Techniques

I figure that, every once in a while, you deserve an update on the reason I’m here- teaching. My main teaching focus this term, as I’ve mentioned, is my Form 1 Mathematics class at the Seminary. Within the 69 students I have, not surprisingly, some who breeze through, some who sleep through, and two who look exactly like younger Dwayne Wades (okay, that part was more surprising). Anyway, it is up to me to help a) improve their math b) improve their English c) get them to not hate math d) keep them awake e) improve their higher level thinking skills. Let’s just say this task will require some experimenting.
Last class we talked about how to divide by fractions (multiply by the reciprocal). I busted out “reFLIProcal” to help them remember that you flip the fraction, but it wasn’t really sticking. *Disclaimer: What I’m about to describe may have been quite the opposite of a good teaching technique, but it felt necessary at the time.
It was a Friday and a lot of them were starting to doze (most of the ones who struggle with English the most). Thus, as I started to explain that it’s as simple as me switching from standing on my feet to standing on my hands, I got a questionable idea. It seemed mild bribery was the way to go. Thus, I promised to stand on my hands at the end of class if, after going the whole 80 minute class, the students could loudly tell me what you do when dividing by a fraction (“Multiply by the RECIPROCAL”). Naturally, they remembered (although I did hear some “reFLIProcal”s). Let’s just say my hands were stood on a cheering/laughter ensued as I fell into the blackboard. (No mzungus were injured in the making of this memory). Shameless, I know, but it happened.
Other than that instance at the end, however, the students are still slow to catch on to the whole “100% participation”/active participation, so what did I do? I went with what worked of course. That’s right, one more small bribe (they really were “deals” more than bribes”). I happened to mention that I can stand on one finger (better than I can on my hands actually), and they definitely woke up. However, they don’t get to see this feat until participation in class and on homework attempts picks up. We’ll see what happens…
Oh yeah, and I even busted out an educational idea that I had back in my days in the Education Department at CSB/SJU. I taught one class back then, and I taught it on absolute values. I like describing absolute values as “doors of positivity”. No matter how things start, when they come through the doors, they are positive. My plan is to eventually label my classroom doorway as such in order to cheesily help create a positive atmosphere, but I don’t have my own classroom here, so that will have to wait. Anyway, I did still use the doorway as my example. I explained the notion, and they were close to getting it, so I ran out the door and peeked in the window. I explained that I was negative as I frowned/gave thumbs down, then I ran through the “doors of positivity” and had a smile/thumbs up. After a few rounds, by the time I would enter the room the students would great me with a thumbs up and shouts of “Positive!” I think it was the first analogy-type thing they’ve understood! After the handstand, as I departed from class, they shouted, “Aliki!” As I turned to see what their question was, thinking, “Yes! A Question!”, they grinned and gave a thumbs up (a general sign of acceptance around here).
I’m not going to lie, it felt kind of good. More than the acceptance (who doesn’t want to be accepted) I was pumped about the idea that maybe, just maybe, we can do something here. Now when I see them they laugh and throw me a thumbs up. It’s hard to read if it’s mild mocking because they think I’m ridiculous or if it’s genuine, but I’m fine either way.
In sports news, we’ve had a couple of decent volleyball games recently, and a bunch of seminarians are interested in and getting decent at throwing Frisbees. Get ready Nairobi!
*Great American Influence: The other day I was shooting hoops with one student from St. B’s, and he started talking to me about American hip hop. I swear to you, I had the most in depth conversation about Lil’ Wayne’s musical abilities that I have ever had (the kid was using words like “bass” and “tenor”). Of course, he later stated that he likes Kanye West because of how he moves his hands when he raps…