Teaching in Grade 1 Class

Grade 1 Class is a mixed class of kids from 6-7 years of age.They are normally called lower primary class because they are above Kindergarten by one year of class.They range from 14 to around 18 children in class.They speak English,read English and write English.The participation of Grade one is class is super .

The subjects or lessons they learn are as follows;-English Language,English Reading,Mathematics,Social Studies,Science,Swahili,Christian Religious Education.

They have a timetable with a break of 45 minutes  interval.After such an interval another subject is taught as per the timetable.

All the subjects have the text books and teachers or volunteers teach  from text books.The teachers give class work as well as homework.Class work is to test  the class what they have learned.

The class is important because it has just moved from Kindergarten to lower primary level where thew syllabus is different.The class required support in getting to learn new subjects like Christian Religious Education,Science and Social studies.

The volunteers will engage in the teaching after orientation on how to teach, marking the exercise books which has class work and homework.They will also give class work  written on thew black board and check the work.

Before the kids leave for home they will give homework from the work they have been teaching so that they revise more as they do the work at home. The homework is done at home and brought the next day  for checking and revision before another work in class is given. We have four teachers on the ground in every class to show way.

Volunteers wake up by 8;00a.m in the morning and take breakfast ready to go to the project.

A van is arranged to drop them to the project and when they arrive the lessons are ready to begin between 9;00a.m -9;05 a.m.

Lessons are taught as per the timetable.

We have breaks in between then  comes lunch hour.The volunteers help in the distribution of food to the kids.

After lunch we have two more lessons then homework is given from what they were taught so that the kids can have work to do at home.The homework is done at home and brought the next day for checking and correction.

Our volunteer program works according to the government school schedule. Schools in Kenya are open on 3 non consecutive months and there is a school holiday for 1 month. 

Take example this calendar year 2017; schools were open from the first week of January to end of march and currently(April) have been closed on a one month holiday after which classes will resume on May's first week till end of July and a one month holiday in August. Classes then resume first week of August till late November to give way for the Christmas holiday in December. In between learning terms, (eg. January to March) schools are given an allowance to have mid-term holidays that usually last about 4 days, this is not compulsory and school principals can decide to do away with it. 

This rules apply to Kenyan junior schools(baby Class to 8th grade and high schools(form 1 to form 4) except for universities

learning is done only during business days which is Monday to Friday and not on weekends. 

Free time is  basically from Saturday and Sunday. But is a volunteer wants to go on safari then we can arrange with the volunteer on days available for the safari depending on when the touring company has allocated the volunteer time for the safari.

Otherwise from Monday to Friday is very busy days and very tiring because it involves the kids.They have the energy to play and take a lot of energy from those who teach them. In case volunteers what to do something after the school they normally can shop from the supermarket around,or take coffee as they relax in a nearby shopping center. We orientate the volunteer on the arrival day to be familiar with the market places,shopping malls and supermarket where to buy his or her personal items.