Plague of the moth like bugs with 4 wings
It seems like something odd is always happening these days. I guess I am living on a new continent. Last night I ate dinner early and came back to the library to see if I could find anything of the parade or a football game on the DSTV. I didn't have any luck wih that but I did watch a little World Series of Poker and World's Strongest Man on ESPN. There were more bugs around than previous evenings but this is Africa right? There should be a few more bugs since we leave the windows open all the time. This night was different though, after the rain millions of this crazy moth like flying bugs with at least 4 wings (they lose wings rather easy so I guess they start with some extras) were everywhere at the school, and attracted to the lights. I shut off most of the lights in the library and that helped, but what I didn't realize was that the kids left the outside light on by the door of the library. When the power went off momentarily around 9pm and I lost my internet connection I decided I may as well go home and discovered a swarm of these moth things outside. I can't even describe how thick the bugs were in the porch area. I had no choice so I flipped the outside light off for a minute to get them to stop swarming it, and pulled the outer door to me so that I could get the pad lock off it from inside, which didn't make much difference but it helped a little then I quickly pulled the door shut, locked it, closed the outer door (burgler bars) and put the pad lock on and moved out into the open. Every light at the school had its own swarm of the bugs that had arrived in plague like proportions. So no big deal, its not like they are biting or anything but, its very dark by my house so I had left my porch light on so that I could see my way returning after dark. Yes, there was a swarm outside my house, with all the windows open, but luckily not as bad b/c my house is a little ways from the rest of the buildings and the other lights. I unlocked my door quickly and shut off the porch light, and just went to bed. If I turned on any lights the moths would have swarmed me inside and its too hot to shut all the windows. I climbed underneath my mosquito net and slept quite well through the plague of the moth like bugs with 4 wings.
Yesterday I discovered that the library books are sorted by fiction and non-fiction and then onto shelves based upon the first letter of the surname (fiction) but not sorted beyond that. So, one of my projects is to alphabetize all of the books and many are even on the wrong shelves. Several of the children are used to helping in the library so they take care of the checking out of books, although many books get lost because we can't find them on the unorganized shelves. Also, the youngest kids go home today and the older ones on Tuesday so I am going to send out my helpers to try to track down books that were checked out but not returned. Just to alleviate some fears, once we organized the R shelf we found the 2nd book in the Harry Potter series.
This morning I inventoried the laboratory equipment that the school has that doesn't get used. There isn't enough to have a full lab but I will be able to do some demonstrations. This evening since it is Friday the kids will come to the library to watch a video for 50 cents. After kids ask if they can play games on the computers they all ask if I am going to show a movie on friday. They have a routine, so why not?
The other idea I am going to work on is to have the kids apply for positions at the library. Many of them have experience but I don't know who did what and who was competent. I think in January I will have them apply and probably test them on alphabetizing so that the ones who are able can put books back on the shelves properly. My organizational level might be a little ambitious but the ministry of education tends to put a lot of emphasis on presentation and organization rather than content so maybe it will work out. I also think we need to have a reading club where they earn points for reading books and writing a plot summary. I'm not sure what the rewards will be but maybe coupons for extra time on the computers or free admission to a movie. Give away your own product right?
The rest of today I have paperwork to fill out about the school/community for PC and language to study.
Yesterday I discovered that the library books are sorted by fiction and non-fiction and then onto shelves based upon the first letter of the surname (fiction) but not sorted beyond that. So, one of my projects is to alphabetize all of the books and many are even on the wrong shelves. Several of the children are used to helping in the library so they take care of the checking out of books, although many books get lost because we can't find them on the unorganized shelves. Also, the youngest kids go home today and the older ones on Tuesday so I am going to send out my helpers to try to track down books that were checked out but not returned. Just to alleviate some fears, once we organized the R shelf we found the 2nd book in the Harry Potter series.
This morning I inventoried the laboratory equipment that the school has that doesn't get used. There isn't enough to have a full lab but I will be able to do some demonstrations. This evening since it is Friday the kids will come to the library to watch a video for 50 cents. After kids ask if they can play games on the computers they all ask if I am going to show a movie on friday. They have a routine, so why not?
The other idea I am going to work on is to have the kids apply for positions at the library. Many of them have experience but I don't know who did what and who was competent. I think in January I will have them apply and probably test them on alphabetizing so that the ones who are able can put books back on the shelves properly. My organizational level might be a little ambitious but the ministry of education tends to put a lot of emphasis on presentation and organization rather than content so maybe it will work out. I also think we need to have a reading club where they earn points for reading books and writing a plot summary. I'm not sure what the rewards will be but maybe coupons for extra time on the computers or free admission to a movie. Give away your own product right?
The rest of today I have paperwork to fill out about the school/community for PC and language to study.
posted by Brock Blackburn at 8:53 AM
1 Comments:
Yikes--AJ's always telling me that bugs could take over the world if they all formed a conspiracy. Great idea about organizing the books. Suggestion from DeZavala Elementary: get sticks of some kind that the kids can put in the place where they pull out a book while they decide if they want it. You're already finding ways to motivate your students! You're going to be a great influence in their lives. We're praying for you.
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