Thankful Thursday: an answered prayer

 Hey reader,

I trust you are well. Let me start by welcoming you in my space. I hope you'll find it to be a safe space.

So, I feel like this past month I've been struggling to breathe - so much workload. Anyway, that's always the case. But there's pressure to improve and do your best.

I'm still a facilitator for grade 1 - grade 3 learners . So far I have 3 new learners. Two are in grade 2 and one is in grade 1. Two can't write much nor speak English.

My biggest challenge has been the grade 1 learner who'd cry when she had to write. I requested for her report card and let's just say it was extremely bad. She didn't meet grade R requirements- hence she can't write, doesn't know alphabets, can't really colour, not familiar with simple words(sight words) like and, is, this etc.

Besides being a Christian  school, we emphasize on the three Rs - Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. Our kids write quite a lot. And I commend this - I'll explain in upcoming blogs.

So, kids coming from other schools often struggle with writing quickly or neatly. So the grade 1 learner would cry hysterically when she had  to write.  I'd have to sit next to her, which disadvantages other learners. It was frustrating. She didn't mind writing on the dots. But I've been pushing for her to write on the line. Two days passed and she simply refused. This was such a stressful scenario because she would cry and I just dislike using  coercion. Thankfully the principal intervened. I'd also requested the other learners to pray for her.

Today, she finally wrote and did all her work like other kids 😃. And she actually can write on the line now, although she still needs to perfect her writing (spacing and correct way of writing). She said, as she left for home: teacher I'm love you🤣. I've also been choosing love instead of coercion. This has been the cause my stress. I'm just praying she improves in other areas too. 

The other grade 2 learner isn't bad. At least he can write on the line. He must just work on his pace and I need to encourage him to write neatly.