I'm sorry it had been so long since I have posted anything! I cannot get my computer to connect to the Internet here, so I only have my phone to use! Needless to say, the last thing I want to do after my long day of teaching and volunteering, is type out my blog on my phone... But today was a unique day, and I want to share about my experience with one of my learners today.
During the last period of my day, Mr. Mungunda (my cooperating teacher here) was teaching a social studies lesson. During this time I was floating around the classroom to monitor behaviors and beginning to mark some of the learners' exercise books. I looked over and noticed one of my learners, Jacob, with his head down on his table. I quietly walked over to him, rubbed my hand across his back and told him he needed to pick his head up off the table. I give my learners the option of sitting up or standing up (they must stand on a piece of paper and still participate as normal). Jacob slowly pulled his head up but it was clear he was quite sleepy.
About 5 minutes later, I see Jacob with his head down again. I had chosen to ignore him for a bit and see if he would pick his head up alone, but after another 3 minutes he was out like a light. Again, I quietly moved over to him and tried to rub my hand across his back to wake him up- nothing. I grabbed his shoulder and gently shook him- nothing. Finally, after a solid 15 seconds of me gently shaking him an calling his name, Jacob's eye flew open and I could see he was disoriented. Then come my questions.
I often ask my sleeping learners, even back home, if they have eaten breakfast , what they ate, etc. it usually explains some behaviors. I ask Jacob if he ate breakfast, "no miss" he replies. I ask him if he ate during tea break, "no miss" he replies. I ask him if he usually eats breakfast, "no miss" he replies. Then I ask if he eats dinner, to which he asks if I am asking if he eats at night and then gives the "no miss" response. At this point I am almost in tears and racking my brain as to what I should, or CAN, do in this situation. I ask Jacob when he gets to eat then and he replies, "When my grandmother gets to bring food home from work, miss." At this point I tell Jacob he needs to find me first thing tomorrow morning and I will give him some crackers to eat before school and during break, as I explain to him that it will help him stay awake during class. He quietly says he understands and that he will find me in the morning.
At this point, the school bell rings and all my other learners are beginning to pack up to go home. I still couldn't shake my uneasiness and worry for Jacob as I sat by him. I remembered that I had a granola bar in my bag from tea break. I asked Jacob if he was going to be eating tonight, "I don't think so, miss" is his response. Most of my learners had left, but there were still too many children around for me to give Jacob my food. I tell him to stay in the classroom for a moment as I walk to gather my things. The end of the school day is normally quite chaotic, as everyone wants a hug goodbye and to ask me a million questions. I finally get Jacob outside the classroom, where most of my learners are no longer around, and I pull out my granola bar and give it to Jacob.
The only response was a quiet but audible, "thank you so much, miss" and the bar disappeared into his pocket. He was about to cry, I was about to cry, and all I could think was how he was likely going to take the bar home and share it with everyone else he lives with. I reminded him to find me first thing tomorrow morning for crackers an he gave me one last, "yes miss" before leaving. And this is the moment I realize that I am forever changed by these incredible, absolutely resilient, beautiful children. I am in awe.
