As teachers in the U.S., we are all about keeping the kids engaged and motivated. The same holds true for many teachers here in Zambia. Stella, a new teacher at Shine, understands the concept of multisensory teaching. Take for example, phonics instruction, she explains and models a new sound, the kids write it down, and then Stella plays a game with them. She gets them standing up, using their other senses to ensure the information just learned stays with the student. She bounces balls, she sings songs, she puts them into teams to find the right sound on the chalkboard. But there’s more to Stella style, she knows the power of using both Nyanja and English to help the students understand. Many of her students are new to school and speak mostly in Nyanja. Stella strikes a balance between language #1 and language #2. We have had the opportunity to observe Stella in action and have heard the laughter coming out of her classroom. The kids are lucky to have her and will continue in their reading progression thanks to her dedicated style of teaching.

It’s Child Health Care Week in here in Zambia. All over the country, mothers are bringing their babies to central locations in communities and compounds to receive the necessary immunizations. These women patiently stand in line for hours with babies nestled on their backs in chitenges waiting for their turn with a nurse or doctor. Shine has graciously hosted the Ministry of Health the last two days, converting their multipurpose space into a make-shift clinic for the women and children. This is just one example of Shine Reading Academy not only helping the children of the compound but helping many more. Another example of this devotion to the community is adult literacy education classes. Every day when the children knock off at 3:30, teachers shift gears a bit as adults enter three of the classrooms as they are trying to improve their English reading and speaking skills. A to Z is so very proud to partner with Shine Zambia. It is definitely more than just a school, it’s becoming a beacon of light in the community.

When preparing for this journey, I did what any neurotic or rather meticulous and eager traveler (thank you euphemisms!) would do. I read about Zambia and was surprised to find the national language is English. The “Oh everyone knows English,” in me assumed everyone would be speaking English and you know what assuming does; it makes an… issue for people because they think they know everything and then are proven so embarrassingly wrong. However, as a teacher I love to fall, fix it, get back up, and try again. I realized the importance of the E.L.L (English Language Learners) strategies when working with these students. Changes to instruction were critical, so I increased emphasis on vocabulary and visuals, decreased the speed of my speaking, and am attempting to learn some phrases in Nyanja (the local language spoken in Lusaka). Using all of the strategies, the literacy bridge from America to Zambia is being built. It began with reading, then writing, and now speaking. On that note, Zikomo or thank you, for following our literacy life abroad.

The A to Z Literacy Movement does exactly what the title describes. Ensuring books enter students’ hands and hearts fulfills a piece of The America to Zambia Literacy Movement. However, literacy is more than books. Last week, the focus of the movement was writing. Empowering people through reading allows them to understand what their continent, country, city, or compound is putting into place. But empowering people through writing, well, that allows them to imagine and create the future of their continent, country, city, or compound. The students of Shine Zambia are beginning the journey of becoming writers. We focused on communicating thoughts about books, creating stories with lessons, expressing feelings, and building vocabulary. By introducing these principles of literacy, we continue to send a clear message: From America to Zambia, we hope to empower the youth of Zambia to write a new history for themselves and their country.

Nichani chamene timawerengela? Why do you read?
 Goal: To understand books can teach us much more than we thought.
Kids at Shine Zambia have been working hard on extending their thinking this week. We encouraged students to dive deeper in their reading comprehension, to go below the surface in understanding. They have journeyed through different stories, thinking beyond the text, trying to figure out the lessons to be learned and possible themes. As we discussed the multiple themes in The Great Kapok Tree, the students wrote their favorite on a sentence strip that was then displayed on the wall. This reading skill is quite difficult for most students, yet we feel our goal is definitely attainable!

On Wednesday afternoon, Claude Mulota, the principle of Calvary School, invited us to his house to have lunch with his wife and daughter. Claude lives in the compund, Matero, about a ten minute walk from the school. Both husband and wife are very proud of their family’s three room home. It was a cultural experience I have been waiting for the last three years.
While eating cornflakes and warmed milk, we relaxed and talked about his school and the problems it is facing. He shared the news that the school can no longer provide lunch for the students except for one week a month. We discussed the bathrooms that sit unfinished in the school yard. Because of limited salaries, two teachers have left the school during the past year. Yet even with these difficulties, Claude remains hopeful things will improve. He has faith in the school, the church and the community.
As we walked back to school after lunch, I thought about how fortunate I am and what a pleasure it has been to serve Calvary School, providing them with books for their students to enjoy. It feels like what we do is a small drop in a gigantic bucket, but it is something and the students have books in their hands and the love of reading in their hearts.

Azure skies, ruby roads, sparkling eyes, moving feet, swerving cars, and me. Where do I fit in this beautiful and wild mix? Do I fit? I think I am still wading my way through this new experience. Although I am sifting through this cultural transition, I am sure this is the most remarkable place I have visited so far. The culture shock I’m experiencing seems to come from having American background knowledge on Africa and now experiencing the real thing. Yes, poverty is part of daily life, but it does not define the people. The spirit of the Zambian people inspires me. Men, women, and children are all eager to talk to and greet us. When they need to go somewhere, shoes or not, they make the trip by foot. Materials are carted around on bikes, peoples’ heads, or a mother’s back. Despite what we may define as third world the Zambians, in my mind, are of the first world. First to smile and introduce themselves, first to welcome us, first to cook for us and teach us how to eat their food, first to laugh and play, first to be thankful for what they have, the first to share what little resources they have with the white well off women visiting them. In my short stay so far whatever cultural differences exist we are wrong to think anything less of the Zambians due to their economic and technological status.