Peer teaching for Grade 8 begins
Posted by Saul Garlick on August 13, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Peer teaching for Grade 8 begins
We have been working with several outstanding Grade 10 and 11 students: Tumelo, Ethel, Samson, and Thulani to create a curriculum based on the Resource booklet for the Grade 8 and 9 learners. After looking through the booklet, they decided that it was essential to work with some of the younger students to advise them on topics such as choosing subjects and careers. For example, if a student chooses the wrong subjects to study in Grades 10-12, he or she may not be able to be accepted to some universities or study what they want. Other information such as writing CVs and application letters along with FET Colleges (essentially trade schools that one can attend starting in Grade 9) was worked into the curriculum for Grade 8.
Implementing the train-the-trainers model, we worked for several weeks teaching Tumelo, Ethel, Samson, and Thulani all the information necessary from the Resource booklet. Each of them is in charge of teaching a section, and worked to practice teaching it back to us. The improvements in their teaching were amazing as they tended to simply read off the paper at the beginning and then become more comfortable teaching the material, involving the class, etc.
The four of them were in charge of organizing it with the teachers at Manyangana and decided to teach during the period of study time at the end of the say. They organized the schedule and set everything up to teach Grades 8A, 8B, and 8C so each of them had one class per day and then rotated. It was amazing to watch them take charge of the class – how nervous they were at first and how comfortable and confident they became. The Grade 8 learners surprisingly respected them and for the most part listened and took notes or did activities when instructed to. Grade 8A even asked them to come back and do another review or teach more material. They are planning to repeat the structure with the Grade 9 learners. It’s really exciting to see the students taking charge to help motivate their peers and teach them information that could be crucial to their future success.
Posted by David Lamb and Julie Walz, Fellows
We have been working with several outstanding Grade 10 and 11 students: Tumelo, Ethel, Samson, and Thulani to create a curriculum based on the Resource booklet for the Grade 8 and 9 learners. After looking through the booklet, they decided that it was essential to work with some of the younger students to advise them on topics such as choosing subjects and careers. For example, if a student chooses the wrong subjects to study in Grades 10-12, he or she may not be able to be accepted to some universities or study what they want. Other information such as writing CVs and application letters along with FET Colleges (essentially trade schools that one can attend starting in Grade 9) was worked into the curriculum for Grade 8.
Implementing the train-the-trainers model, we worked for several weeks teaching Tumelo, Ethel, Samson, and Thulani all the information necessary from the Resource booklet. Each of them is in charge of teaching a section, and worked to practice teaching it back to us. The improvements in their teaching were amazing as they tended to simply read off the paper at the beginning and then become more comfortable teaching the material, involving the class, etc.
The four of them were in charge of organizing it with the teachers at Manyangana and decided to teach during the period of study time at the end of the say. They organized the schedule and set everything up to teach Grades 8A, 8B, and 8C so each of them had one class per day and then rotated. It was amazing to watch them take charge of the class – how nervous they were at first and how comfortable and confident they became. The Grade 8 learners surprisingly respected them and for the most part listened and took notes or did activities when instructed to. Grade 8A even asked them to come back and do another review or teach more material. They are planning to repeat the structure with the Grade 9 learners. It’s really exciting to see the students taking charge to help motivate their peers and teach them information that could be crucial to their future success.
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