One more person will read and write because of me!

As many of you know, I'm currently teaching a special ed class in Moshi, Tanzania. And if you know me at all, you're probably just as shocked as I am that I was appointed such a postition. I have very limited experiece with children and NO experience with people with disabilities. The abilities of the students vary widely. Some have profound problems such as downs syndrome and some have more mild issues like ADD and dyslexia. One student was stood out to me was Bahati.

I'm not even sure why she is in this class. She's the one that has her assignment done before I'm finished passing them out. And she's the one that always has her hand up when I ask them a question. I thought there is no way she is being challenged enough in this school. So when I handed out today's assignment, I handed her a different one. I drew pictures of family members and animals and asked her to trace the corresponding word, and then write it again. Both in swahili and english. It was a bit tough for her at first, but she understood it after a while.

Its really and awesome feeling when you see the transformation you are making in another person's life. I don't feel the school is the best fit for her. She really should be in a regular primary school. She was a bit angry at me at first. This was all happening while the other kids were colouring. But I told her (in english, I'm only human people!) how well she was doing and how proud I am of her. I'm developing more worksheets for the coming weeks for her. She will be reading whole sentances by the time I'm done! Next, its spelling of numbers and verbs.

Bahati and I