2015 ServeHAITI - Together We Learn - Day 4

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

--Maimonide

Today the teacher training begins - "Together we learn."  This is year three for ServeHAITI which involved a commitment of 20 schools to send a teacher each of three weeks for a three day training every summer for the past three years.  In return the school receives a suitcase of materials and resources.  Since this is week three, principals will arrive on Wednesday to pick up their suitcases and three additional chalkboards for their schools.

Four of the teachers came to the clinic yesterday to spend the night, sleeping on the benches downstairs. They live much too far to walk in the morning for the training; some as far as five hours.  They have brought one set of dress clothes to wear every day - no blankets, no pillows. They have come with a desire to learn and an eagerness to bring home to their schools new chalkboards and books.  Knowing how far they travel, each morning begins with a hearty breakfast of beans and rice.

Today's lesson was focused on  a review of how to write a lesson plan.  Then we moved into science with the topic of natural disasters - something they are very familiar with - earthquakes and hurricanes.  Alfred is the interpreter for the training.  He and I are a team and both of us share a passion for the Haitian teachers.  Brooklyn is here to help and makes sure materials are distributed, snacks are prepared, and offers extra help to those who seem confused.

 In our lessons, we learned about tornadoes even though they do not have them in Haiti.  We gave them strategies to help engage their students - two column notes, think-pair-share, and Picture This - using photos to help students feel a part of what they are learning.  They will receive sets of the photos depicting natural disasters in their suitcase of materials provided to each of the 20 schools participating for the past three years. We know they have no access to copy machines; some have limited paper supplies, but we placed the photos in plastic sleeves to help protect them.  We also used a strategy called Musical Walk and Talk.  They were given a card with the letters indicating a tornado or a hurricane.  While the music played, they walked around.  When the music stopped they were to find someone with the opposite letter on it to discuss what they knew about hurricanes and tornadoes.  We know they all have cell phones and can play music over it to provide this strategy in their classroom.  They smiled and enjoyed the movement and the music.

The key is giving them opportunities to look at the books and understand how non-fiction books are organized.  They will receive these books as part of their training.  Many come from chaotic homes and teaching organizational skills is critical to be successful academically. The previous training said they still did not understand tornadoes even though they read about it, so between electricity outages, they were able to view a video on the deadly Oklahoma tornado.  Previously, we had made a tornado in a bottle so they could see the vortex.  After the video, several picked up their bottles to look again at the vortex - an anomaly found in both tornadoes and in the eye of a hurricane.  Connections were made and Alfred gave a, "Woo hoo!" in joy at the learning that took place.


We discussed with them the importance of developing relationships with their students.  It was something they had not considered, but we emphasized how through connecting personally with students they are more apt to learn.  One of the teachers shared at the end of the session she had never built relationships with her students but she would do it from now on.  Another point of success during this training!

Clinic Kitchen

Other things were happening in the clinic.  Scott, Brian, and Sam replaced six doorknobs, unclogged a shower and re-plumbed the kitchen sink.  The kitchen is critical as it provides breakfast and lunch to all teachers and volunteers along with drivers and interpreters.  Brian brought a drain snake to leave at the clinic and trained some of the workers on how to put it to use.  They were encouraged that their clean up from a mouse infestation from last year has not returned.  The solution?  Lots of cats around the clinic!

Stairwell view of Clinic Kitchen

Other volunteers have kept busy in the medical clinic. Amanda, a nursing student, is adjusting to the different way a medical clinic in a developing country is run.  Michelle, Lindsay, Abby, and Maeve are getting to know the Community Health Workers who have a tremendous task of visiting homes around the Grand-Bois area to make sure the needs of children and families are taken care of.  Scott and Paige are busy coordinating all of the work here for ServeHAITI.  It is a remarkable group of people assembled this week, all with the same heart to serve, all with a growing love for the Haitian people.

Together we are learning...an appreciation for the Haitian culture...spending time reconsidering our own lifestyles back in the states....appreciating the contagious joy and graciousness shown by a people fighting to survive.