Combined Classes - 1st Week

In a recent post, we spoke about the changes that were made in regards to the school location and the class structure, this can be reviewed in the post entitled "Changes".

When we announced to both classes that we were going to combine the two sessions, there was a mixture of emotions.  The morning class had always expressed a desire to meet the afternoon class.  The sentiment by the afternoon class was not as enthusiastic.  They had anxiety over how they would be treated by the other class.

Day 1 of the new session was interesting.  Some of the boys from the Remar group walked into the class with their armour on ready to do battle if need be.  Each of the boys sat in their own familiar, safe cluster of friends throughout the day eyeing one another.  

Not only were the boys in a new environment but we were all without our trusted friend and interpreter, Scarleth, for the entire week.   Her presence is comforting for us all, not only to handle the language barrier but in helping with the cultural differences.  

On Day 2, we broke them into small groups and integrated the boys.  During any type of break in working on their projects, they would move back into their safe cluster for conversation.

As the week went on, the barriers began to disintegrate.    After all, they are teenagers and teens are naturally curious about their peers.   On Friday, we had a field trip planned to take everyone to a Furniture Co-op.  This would allow the boys to see furniture made by locals and inspect the quality of the pieces. They enjoyed the trip to the co-op, inspecting the furniture, getting ideas for future projects and seeing what furniture sells for in the marketplace. 

Our other objective was to get the boys outside of the classroom in a casual atmosphere.  We stopped on the return trip at a local park near our house.  We purchased "frescas" and chips for everyone.  Can you imagine everyone having their own bottle of soda and a bag of chips, 16 people in all and the cost was $8.10 US.   When we observed the boys talking and laughing with one another, we knew combining the classes was the right way to go.

After the field trip, it was the first pay day for some of the students who had finished their stools and sold them.  They worked as 2-man teams and shared in a portion of the profit.  Making stools will be an ongoing project which we hope will be a constant source of revenue for the school and the students.   

It was a week with lots of challenges in combining personalities, stretching the boys beyond their comfort levels, and teaching them tolerance of one another.  This is just the beginning, it can only get better with time.  They each are unique in their ways but even the "stinkers" are a joy to have around.  The week was exhausting, but we are ready for more.