Positive Change

Head Teachers were asked to write, “What positive Change has the BBC provided for your school in October?” Here are their responses.

1. The BBC helps the children to know the meaning of some words
2. It helps children to know verses in the Bible and memorize them.
3. It helps children to know some stories in the Bible
4. Children can now dramatize some stories in the Bible.
5. It helps the student to understand why they have to behave in certain ways.
6. They now have the opportunity to learn certain verses that can be used everyday.
7. They understand God’s ways better
8. Music as part of our life
9. Children and Teachers alike are being motivated by the Bible Stories.
10. It helps to increase vocabulary
11. Lateness is being minimizes as children hate to miss assembly (Bible story time) now.
12. Teachers find the integration aspect of the BBC interesting: They can see how one subject is related to another.
13. Children enjoy the Bible Stories: arouses friendliness among kids
14. It has made the children to respect elders
15. It has brought both workers and children obedience
16. It promoted children into a standard that is helping them to fear God and love others.
17. It had made them to persevere in all things and helps them also to stand out to be role models
18. class participation
19. class control
20. Attitudes of children and teachers have changed
21. love for one another
22. It helps to mold the character of the children
23. It helps them to be friendly
24. Children are now able to recite memory verses
25. They can tell stories from the Bible.
26. It has helped them in their reading skills
27. Attitudes got from the Bible stories are seen portrayed by some of the pupils

Challenges of today:

1. Trying to teach while hearing the neighbor teacher repeatedly flogging several of his students.
2. Knowing that the teacher of the class where I was providing a “model classroom management and teaching method lesson” is one of the harshest floggers I have ever worked with.

I believe the teachers who think you have to harshly flog African children can and want to be more loving to their students, but they need encouragement...God alone can provide the support and encouragement they need. Will you pray with me for these and other teachers as they transform to in their discipline methods? Prayers for love, patience, self control, creativity and wisdom are welcome. God can do it!

Practicing an interactive Christmas Concert idea with the Head Teachers

If you want a copy of the script of this great Christmas Story presentation e-mail gwenjoy@gmail.com.

Biblical Based Character Words

The character traits our 11 pilot schools have taught so far this year are.

Obedience: Do what I am told without grumbling.
Creativity: Doing something in a new way "God saw all he made and it was very good." Gen. 1:31
Responsibility: Doing what I know I should do.
Perseverance: To keep trying even when something is difficult.
Honesty: telling the truth, and admitting any wrongdoing.
Integrity: Being honest and trustworthy in all you do and say.
Reliability: Being trustworthy at all times
Sportsmanship: Playing fairly and behaving the same whether you win or lose.
Love: Caring for others with God in mind

Over time, Saturday training and friends who help!

Knut Sassenberg: a teacher trainer in Germany assisted TE while visiting family here in Sierra Leone. Oct. 10th

Cami Sigler: Missionary friend, spent her Saturday morning standing in the puddle with TE, training teachers. Oct. 17th

Evidence that the teachers are trying the Constructive Discipline methods

Terry Ortman, training and modeling in Transformation Education Schools

Terry is the author/compiler of the Biblical Based Curriculum which is being used as Character Education in schools of 6 different counties (Bolivia, Federated States of Micronesia, Honduras, India, Liberia, Sierra Leone)

July

Training Education leaders to train their teachers
12 pilot schools invited. 18 educators participated.

EDUCATE FOR HOPE

July 18th, Education Forum and Lunch sponsored by Houghton College in partnership with World Hope International.

28 educators came to share education practice ideas.

Some questions addressed are:

What does it mean to educate for hope? What is hope?

What is the sorce of hope? What should we hope for?

What are the challenges, how can we overcome them?

Training School Supervisors for the capital city of Sierra Leone

Photo: part of the supervisors trained 15 Minisry of Education supervisors in total were trained.

Photo: Participant Haja Fatmata Cole receiving completion award from TE trainer and Ministry of Education Supervisor Mr. Augustine Alpha.

TE trained trainers who have conducted the last two workshops:

From the left: Mr. Albert Karimu, Mr. Kamanda Boima, Mrs. Hawa Kamara, Mr. Augustine Alpha, Gwen Joy Smith

TE Trainers are Training

Saffea writes that he learned about the Classroom Discipline Plan as facilitator Ryanne Shafer concluded the Constructive Classroom Management lessons.

During the Value of the Child Lesson the participants dramatize Mark 10:13-16..."People were bring children to Jesus to have Him touch them..."

Jesus was teaching his diciple. The disciples rebuke the children BUT

...Jesus said, "Let the children come to me...He took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.”
Christ is not here to stand up for, touch and bless the children. We want to follow His example. We want to be His hands and feet.

Colossians 3:27 "Christ in you the hope of glory."

God's word "is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thourougly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16,17

4 Transformation Education trainers did great at their first week long training. They will train again this week, 17 government school supervisors.

Education Leaders who have been trained will be training May 11-15th.

Mr. Karimu, Mr. Alpha Augustine, Mr. Boima and Mrs. Hawa are the first officially trained TE trainers. In the picture Hawa is peparing her teacher materials for May 11-15th training.
15 teachers from 5 Freetown pilot schools will be trained at the government learning center pictured.

Progress on EduNation sponsored Mother Esther School

The school's stairs are highly appreciated and heavily trafficed by the community members.

EduNation's Vice President, Dean Weaver sharing family photos with Mother Esther students.

Partners together in the middle of the develing second floor of Mother Esther School.
EduNation's member, Mother Esther Staff and Transformation director.

Maikonko Light House Prep. School Presentation to visiting EduNation's sponsors

Maikonko, Light House Prep. School presentation for EduNation Sponsors

Books donated through EduNations are highly valued and being put to great use at Maikonko village. We are very grateful for the books, a room were they can be safely stored, shelves so they can be easily accessed and teachers who are confident enough to explore and share the content.

EduNations and Compassion Action Ministry (CAM) Men who are pillars to for the great transformation in the CAM villages. United in Christ!

Gwen would like you to see her blog. http://gwenjoy.blogspot.com/

Gwen would like you to see her blog. http://gwenjoy.blogspot.com/

Andy Pentlow (future Sierra Leone Missionary, Educator) testing his Sierra Leone teacher trainng wings

During the 2009/10 school year Andy his wife plan to work in Kamakwie, about 5 hours outside for Freetown. Andy came on an advance trip to explore the options. He taught with TE and "flew" wonderfully.

Partnering with Ministry of Education in Training Education Leaders of Five Pilot Schools

Above Trainers: Gwen Joy Smith, Mr. Alfred Karimu, Ms. Florence Macfoy, Mrs. Ryanne Shafer
Below School Leaders and Trainers: 7 School Leaders from 5 different schools were trained to take the Classroom Discipline Plan, Biblical Based Curriculum, and some Phonics Activities back to their schools.

Significant Change...CARING

"Both the Classroom Discipline Plan, and the Bible-based character
curriculum (BBC) have helped to improve my classroom this year. But
the biggest change has come from the BBC. I really love that one.
Let me tell you one story about that. A few weeks back, we were
studying the trait of caring. The definition for caring is showing
deep concern for others. It was during the following week, that there
was a big fire in the Kroo Bay neighborhood. Many families lost their
homes, and all of their belongings. One of my own students, Karimu,
lived in Kroo Bay, and lost everything in the fire. He was a very
poor boy, and only had one uniform which had holes in it. Anyway,
several of my students came up to me and said, "Teacher, we need to be
caring to Karimu. Let us bring him things to replace what he lost."
So the class took a collection of money, and many of the students
brought different household items for him. Among these items, were 4
new uniforms! This was all from the students' hearts. It was really
amazing to see the students show caring for each other in this way."
Teacher: Mohamed Alpha, Regent Square Municipal
Junior School, Class 4

Textbook libraries for 2 schools

EduNations, Compassion Action Ministries (CAM) and Transformation Educatio/ World Hope Library Efforts joined forces to get a text book library established in 2 CAM schools.

Children will now be able to attend school rather than always tend to the farms!!

The Member of Parliament District Representative showed his dedication by taking the tractor for a test drive.

Rice and Fish for the celebrations!

They were dedicated in Jesus name with the challenge of unity and the promise of continued prayer for spiritual and physical development.
Many Thanks were stated, sung and danced. Commitments were made to cooperate for effective use of the tractors.

Tractors Dedicated to Tonkalili Villages

Compassion Action Ministries' (CAM)'s staff are the new owners and care takers of the tractors.
Pictures Above: Simeon Sesay and Jospeh Bangura

Pictured above are a few of the farmers and beneficiaries of the tractor donation

The CAM farmers sang and danced to demonstrate their appreciation!

Compassion an Action Ministry (CAM) staff and Transformation Education (TE) dedicating tractors donated by Tractors for our Daily Bread, and Sherman Allen through Transformation Education.

Pictured Above: Gwen Smith, Simeon Sesay, John Bangura, Joseph Kargbo

Many individuals organized to make it possible for these 2 tractors to feed many people in the villages of Tonkalili District, Sierra Leone. Just to get them to Sierra Leone the following groups supported Transformation Education, World Hope International, EduNations, Compassion and Action Ministries, Christian Churches...

God promises that "All things work together for good, for those who love the Lord."

Please join Transformation Education (TE) in prayer for spiritual and physical development of Tonkalili District, Sierra Leone.

Hauling, Sorting, and Recording items shipped to bless Sierra Leone