Sheila Dykstra, a member of Hope Fellowship, is an Education Consultant in West Africa with Christian Reformed World Missions—she teaches teachers. Teaching is not a valued profession in West Africa, and Sheila helps teachers learn to teach children in a loving, Christ-centred manner.
In her blog, Sheila recently wrote:
“Earlier this year I had the privilege of doing some teaching for a graduate teacher training program. It is a new program that has been launched by a consult of one of the schools I work with called Meadow Hall School in Lagos, Nigeria.
The training program was three months in length. The participants were people who either had graduated with teaching degrees and not yet found a teaching job, or people who were passionate about teaching but didn't have teaching degrees. Teachers had a variety of training that broadened their knowledge base about teaching, they observed classes and even did some teaching as well. They did group projects which they presented to their colleagues. One of the aims of the program is to give teachers more practical teaching and learning experiences, and broaden their knowledge base and experience in the classroom.
I was able to work with the teachers for one week. What fun it was! We covered topics from lesson planning to classroom management. One of the other topics was creating bulletin boards.
The graduate teachers had a good time. I loved their openness to new ideas, as well as their freedom to ask questions of how these ideas practically work in the day to day life of a teacher. I also had the opportunity to challenge teachers to think about what difference their faith might make as they approach these various topics.
Fast forward a few months.
I returned to Meadow Hall school to participate in a teachers "camp" that the consult holds for schools all over Nigeria. Daniel, who was one of the graduate teachers has now been hired as a teacher for Meadow Hall. Daniel had been a quiet, yet very reflective participant during the graduate training program. He now had more questions for me. Daniel is someone who takes in a training, but is thinking all along how the training can possibly be put into action in his context. He is an ICT (Information Communication Technology) teacher. He wanted to know how classroom management would work when different students are coming and going every day. He wanted to know how he could possibly add "activities" when there was so much "content" to teach. It was great! I happened to pass by the computer room and saw some beautiful and creative bulletin boards - yep, they were his! He had even reflected on the connections between faith and technology. I was impressed. Daniel also continues to email me on occasion to give me "updates".
It is not often that teachers come back and share EXACTLY how they are putting ideas into practice in their classroom. But when they do, it's really encouraging. Join me in thanking God for Daniel! Pray that God would continue to challenge him and use him to reach the lives of his students as well.”
Sheila is currently doing “home service” where she connects with churches and partners. Each time she speaks in church, she gets time (usually about 10 minutes) to share what’s been going on in the last two years of work for her. Understandably, it’s difficult to encapsulate 2 years into 10 minutes. If you’d like to hear more about what Sheila is doing and have a chance to experience a taste of West African culture, mark Sat. May 31 on your calendar and join Sheila at Knox Christian School for the “Hands on Africa” event. Activities, food and fun for all ages.
Please continue to pray for Sheila. To keep up with her, you can check out her blog at http://www.sheiladykstra.blogspot.ca/.
In her blog, Sheila recently wrote:
“Earlier this year I had the privilege of doing some teaching for a graduate teacher training program. It is a new program that has been launched by a consult of one of the schools I work with called Meadow Hall School in Lagos, Nigeria.
The training program was three months in length. The participants were people who either had graduated with teaching degrees and not yet found a teaching job, or people who were passionate about teaching but didn't have teaching degrees. Teachers had a variety of training that broadened their knowledge base about teaching, they observed classes and even did some teaching as well. They did group projects which they presented to their colleagues. One of the aims of the program is to give teachers more practical teaching and learning experiences, and broaden their knowledge base and experience in the classroom.
I was able to work with the teachers for one week. What fun it was! We covered topics from lesson planning to classroom management. One of the other topics was creating bulletin boards.
The graduate teachers had a good time. I loved their openness to new ideas, as well as their freedom to ask questions of how these ideas practically work in the day to day life of a teacher. I also had the opportunity to challenge teachers to think about what difference their faith might make as they approach these various topics.
Fast forward a few months.
I returned to Meadow Hall school to participate in a teachers "camp" that the consult holds for schools all over Nigeria. Daniel, who was one of the graduate teachers has now been hired as a teacher for Meadow Hall. Daniel had been a quiet, yet very reflective participant during the graduate training program. He now had more questions for me. Daniel is someone who takes in a training, but is thinking all along how the training can possibly be put into action in his context. He is an ICT (Information Communication Technology) teacher. He wanted to know how classroom management would work when different students are coming and going every day. He wanted to know how he could possibly add "activities" when there was so much "content" to teach. It was great! I happened to pass by the computer room and saw some beautiful and creative bulletin boards - yep, they were his! He had even reflected on the connections between faith and technology. I was impressed. Daniel also continues to email me on occasion to give me "updates".
It is not often that teachers come back and share EXACTLY how they are putting ideas into practice in their classroom. But when they do, it's really encouraging. Join me in thanking God for Daniel! Pray that God would continue to challenge him and use him to reach the lives of his students as well.”
Sheila is currently doing “home service” where she connects with churches and partners. Each time she speaks in church, she gets time (usually about 10 minutes) to share what’s been going on in the last two years of work for her. Understandably, it’s difficult to encapsulate 2 years into 10 minutes. If you’d like to hear more about what Sheila is doing and have a chance to experience a taste of West African culture, mark Sat. May 31 on your calendar and join Sheila at Knox Christian School for the “Hands on Africa” event. Activities, food and fun for all ages.
Please continue to pray for Sheila. To keep up with her, you can check out her blog at http://www.sheiladykstra.blogspot.ca/.
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