Surprising Results from Pilot #1 at Orphanage

Day 3: Teaching outside to a group of 3- to 12-year olds.

We've taught four different classes at the orphange in May. When the Pilot #1 study was approved it was specifically for 5 orphans and 5 house mothers to learn English and Reading in short 20 minute lessons. However, that's not what happened. Right away we were told that it was way too hard for the administration to assign the house mothers.  So we were just going to teach the kids. Okay, we're flexible. In the end, our plan to teach the same kids didn't work out. Each day we received different kids. Also, we were asked to teach for 90 minutes. Keeping a 3 year old and a 12 year old and tons of other kids between those ages engaged for that long is tough to do. Praise God that He gave us what we needed to provide exciting lessons each day. This is not how we expected Pilot #1 to work out but here's what happened.

DAY ONE: On May 8th, we arrived expecting the room to be ready and kids selected. However, when we got there, we were suprised when we were asked, "Why are you here?" We told them we were here because we told us to be here on that day. So some kids were rounded up and we taught our lesson. One We found out at the end of the pilot study that it was too hard for them to assign kids ahead of time. Apparently it was easier to just wait until we got there and then they would find out what kids were available.

Day 3: Kit Howell get's the kids engaged with alphabet work!

 we taught in house 5, which has been reset up for teaching. No one lives there. We taught 7 kids from grades 2 to 5. We were expecting to teach these kids the entire time. 

Day 4: We get tables and chairs in our outdoor class.

DAY TWO we taught in the computer lab. Since 2/3 of our curriculum is taught via computers, this is a huge component of our curriculum. Sadly, we were not able to get online. Technicians were there but apparently the guy who knew how to fix this problem was in San Jose (4 hours away) so the computers remained offline. Lucky we had two of our own computers that could tap into the internet to teach part of our curriculum. We were given 10 kids, including three 4 year olds.  

DAY THREE was the most surprising of all. We arrived to find out there was no place for us to teach, unless we wanted to teach in the open out door concrete pavilion. Sure, we're flexible. Can we get a white board? Yes. They carried one out for us. Then they sent us 13 new kids between the ages of 3 and 12. That is like teaching early PK to grade 6. WOW. This was done with no warning. So we had the kids sit on the ground and we taught a short video lesson and then we pulled out our portable marker boards. The computer room was a stones throw away but a dentist was in there with lots of candy and he was working on the kids teeth. 

DAY FOUR was taught outside again. Another new group of kids. This day a translator joined us which was very helpful. Also, I requested chairs and tables. That worked out well. The computer lab was being used by the dentist and house 5 was being used by another trainer.

In the end, the kids were engaged and had fun for these sessions. My wife and son now fly back to the USA and I'll work alone on Pilot #2 in June and a final Pilot #3 during the first two weeks of July. I am really surprised at how this worked out. In Pilot #2, I've requested the same teens to come to each session. Please help me in praying for success of Pilot #2 and Pilot #3.