Third Day of Teacher Training and some Celebrations

The 30th July started with excitement not only was its Maddie's birthday but it was also the clearest day we had experienced. Maddie sat in her birthday chair eating her nutella and banana on toast with the best views across lake Kivu to the hills of the Congo and beyond (not a bad way to spend your birthday). What Maddie did not realise was that this was only the beginning and this would be one of her most memorable birthdays to date.

The amazing birthday cake made by Maddies mum that travelled all the way from London 

This was our third day of teacher training and once again theme of the day was variety; we taught ICT, mind-mapping, investigations and inquiry as well as lesson planning. 

In the ICT lessons Maddie taught the teachers the correct layout for a formal letter. They were required to write a pretend letter to their head teachers reporting back on the teacher training and we were really pleased with the positive things to say about how well organised the course was as well as the many strategies they had learnt. No one other than Maddie and Bridget seemed bothered when a small herd of cows walked through the school mid lesson, a fantastic photo opportunity!

One of the cows that passed through during ICT

Teachers making huge progress in the ICT lab

Jo used mind-maps to show how teachers can use these as a tool to categorise ideas. The teachers were excited by the prospect of being able to easily get students to break down information and demonstrate their understanding of a topic through summarising and connecting ideas. 

Mind-mapping really got the teachers thinking

Categorising information to go in a mind map

Fantastic examples of mind maps

Bridget introduced teachers to investigations and inquiry based learning. She was able to expand on the work of both Maddie and Jo's lessons on differentiation and mind mapping to demonstrate how teachers can use the strategies of inquiry to make their lessons more student centered. They particularly enjoyed trying to solve the height of the person who's footprint was mysteriously left in the room and were very interested in Natasha's idea of using a water gauge made out of a simple plastic bottle to investigate into rainfall in the area. 

Bridget and Natasha comparing height. 

Mid-Inquiry!

Investigation into shapes

Stephan expanded the teachers knowledge on lesson planning by explaining how to set out lessons focussing on ensuring lessons were 'chunked' with a starter, activities and a plenary and also spoke about the importance of adding in assessment. The teachers were able to bring in their knowledge of formative and summative assessment as well as starter activities taught earlier in the week. 

The importance of lesson plans being explained

The debate topic of the day was a controversial one- The moot being, 'Women should stay home and look after their children'. It is safe to say even with a convincing argument from the proposition the opposition ensured this moot was taken down.

The debate

An afternoon tea treat for Maddies birthday

The day ended with even more excitement than it began. We had a surprise birthday party with all the Rwanda aid team for both Maddie and Jo (Who's birthday is when we are on the plane home) with a dinner out and plenty of cake. We were humbled by a heartfelt speech from Peter on behalf of the Rwanda aid team expressing their gratitude and thanks for all the work we have put in over the past two weeks but also for the support they have from Devonshire House School parents as this really does contribute to the success of the outstanding work Rwanda aid completes. 

Team photo overlooking lake Kivu

The excitement of the day really bubbled over when a phone call came through telling us one of the Rwanda aid team had just had a baby girl. We had the privilege of being invited to the hospital and felt honoured to be a part of this special moment. For all of us this was the youngest baby we had ever met, and are not sure visiting hours in England would have allowed all 6 of us at the hospital an hour after the baby had been born at around 10pm. It is safe to say that after the events of the day we all slept well!!