Back to biochemistry & using kinaesthetic learning

Ran an art class everyday last week for 2.5 to 6 year olds, with an appearance of Philippe, a 1.5 year old. We had two students for the whole week and then two who came for one day. It was exhausting I won't lie but got me thinking creatively and researching up ideas of things to do - had to have extra projects in mind in case we got through everything ahead of time. I was also teaching a new grade 7 boy from Hellenic who lives on a farm but comes into town, my form 3 (we mostly looked at the book Spies but did some maths and bio) and then had my Chinese favourite (who had also been coming to the art - so double whammy).

Tomorrow I do an intensive study revision with a lower six from Peterhouse, who needs to go over biochemistry but is apparently a highly kinaesthetic learner. This is a challenge I won't lie. It is also hard to know where he is at with understanding and how to plan my lesson for the first one. Going to build models of molecules out of mini marshmallows and dry spagetthi (your idea, thanks Sheree) and also make colour coded cutouts to build up DNA. Still looking for more ideas and suggestions online. Am regretting giving a discount as the amount of prep this involves is possibly not worth what I'm charging, sigh, but it is good to get back to some biology.

This coming week will also be the Harare International Festival of the Arts. Will mostly be going to the music. There's a Korean pianist who is supposed to be in the top 20 in the world, there's a Greek group that will play Greek music as well as samba sort of music. Um, a Canadian that does a mixture of Josh Groban, Sarah McLaughlin and The Barenaked Ladies genre, a Serbian violinist and a German cellist, a South African chamber group that are twinning with a British guitarist, an Azerbaijan, Serbian and Austrian who will play classical music and then an Irish band. We're also going to a tenor and pianist from Portugal I think. Will have to be careful though travelling at night as a friend had a smash and grab near us last night.

For next term I suddenly may have a job homeschooling a 4 year old and a grade 2. Means I will be pretty busy as will still be tutoring in the afternoons. Have had someone offer me a classroom to teach from but it won't be worth it as paying rent will make what I earn much less. It's more lucrative to drive to people's houses, although it makes it tiring and is wear and tear of the car.

Easter house sitting

Have been able to chill a bit this week and last as I am down to one student - my four year old. His dad suddenly has been keen to have my mum teach him for some of the lessons. Was a little put out as I have a CELTA qualification but it turns out there is a grade one entrance exam at Sharon School in June. I therefore having to push the vocab, getting him to speak more fluently and go over things like nursery rhymes. My four year old does miss playing so I stay on a bit after tea and play with he and Bado the puppy. The current favourite game is he being a policeman and I'm the robber but I get given directions of where to run to in the garden with Bado bounding after me. He's getting good practice at giving directions - trying to get him to say left or right. My student's dad is keen for him to come to art classes I will be running with a friend the week after next.

Through friends I suddenly have some potential grade 7 students who all need help for the entrance exams. My form 3 and grade 6 may also start again after next week. I should enjoy the slower pace while it lasts. I have had a bit of dip mood wise though with not being as busy and having less structure to my day. I need to start my next sewing project - a giraffe and elephant mobile for a friend's baby. Hope to go get some felt and fleece tomorrow from Mount Pleasant Fashions.

Today's my first day house sitting but nearly had heart failure when I got here as the house keeper had already gone and locked the keys inside the flat - aaaargh. Was going to have to call a locksmith but luckily a couple from another flat nearby came to help and under my mum's suggestion the husband went and got his fishing rod and we got the keys that way - phew! Took Charlie for a walk and now settled in for the weekend. It is a lovely complex with a river flowing through and lots of pretty gardens.

The Avondale Stream flowing through.

Charlie

A bit of drama and the end of term

Last weekend I had a nice break up in Nyanga with some other friends. We stayed at the Blue Swallow time shares at Troutbeck. Whilst two of the guys fished - the reason for the trip, the rest of us chilled, played badminton, walked around the dams and visited the local Nyamoro Dairy. It turns out I snore rather loudly as my room mate couldn't take it and went and spent one night at the hotel. On the way home we stopped at World's View, which was surprisingly windy.

My drama was that before we left for Nyanga I'd gone to dinner with friends and on the way home we saw a house on fire. We went to see if we could help in any way and saw it was an elderly man standing in his garden with the domestic workers. It looked like he'd lost everything so I contacted Bambazonke to see if people could chip in to help him out. Well this well intended gesture seriously backfired as i first got an angry call from his daughter demanding to know who exactly I was and what organisation before saying they didn't need any help. I therefore told everyone who responded to my petition there was no longer a need. This week I got a really rude text message from the son saying how dare I infringe on their privacy and he was reporting me to the police for fraud for my request on Bambazonke. I am a bit affronted as it was meant with the best intent and I didn't get a thank you, instead just verbal abuse.

I had my last day of term with my grade one and my 9 year old yesterday. For the grade one I had a meeting with his parents. I told them about a particularly hard lesson on Tuesday when my student was aggressive and kept screaming and getting very worked up. The parents just said he gets like that and then tried to say they think he's being lazy. This along with not being allowed sick leave have made me decide to give my notice. I feel reluctant to give up on my student and my stubborn side doesn't want to let go but it is not a healthy situation for me.

My exciting news is that I will be visiting England again in August. I have one of my best friend's wedding just outside Paris and will then try see people in England. Now just have to see how to have spending money with the whole bond note situation here but will make a plan.

Went to Lin Barrie's exhibition at The Studio last night which was an enjoyable evening. She had also  painted on ceramics at The Studio. I got my bowl back that I painted at the depression support group meeting. It still didn't come out exactly like it was supposed to but was better than last time. Tonight I'm going to the Dance Trust of Zim show at Twin Rivers School. I spent this afternoon helping my form 3 with questions on the book Spies. He hadn't read the chapter we were doing so I gave him a bit of talk that he can't do literature if he doesn't read the material. Tomorrow there's a Chamber Orchestra concert at Arundel.

Lin Barrie's art and ceramics for wild dogs conservation.

My second attempt of pottery painting at The Studio.