Senior Volunteer Network

Teaching ideas wanted

Staff — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 10:38:33 +0000

Schools visited by recent teams have very few books, and reading is taught as a class lesson. Books available for the children to look at are usually pupil books, containing grammar, punctuation and comprehension exercises.

We are hoping to put together ideas for teaching English language and literacy. These may include:

1. Ideas for class and group activities to develop spoken language – drama, role play, circle activities etc.

2. Reading – phonics, sight vocabulary, understanding text etc.

3. Writing for different purposes

4. Note taking

5. Creative writing

6. Spelling, handwriting, punctuation

Any materials need to be easily obtained e.g. paper, card, felt pens. Please send your contributions to svnetprojects@googlemail.com as a Word document. We will collate these to produce a folder similar to the SVN Maths folder, which has proved very useful for volunteers on overseas projects.

SVN Conference 2012

Staff — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 10:27:20 +0000

We are already planning our next conference, to be held on the 13th to 16th November 2012. These events have been much appreciated by members in the past, especially as a chance to meet each other but also to learn more about going overseas on short projects. Several members have decided to go on their first project after attending the conference, and it is a great opportunity to be informed and encouraged.

The venue will once again be Kings Park in Northampton. More details will be available in the New Year.

Uganda report

Staff — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 20:02:24 +0000

This joint project involved four SVN volunteers, with diverse backgrounds and experience, who were helped by a young teacher from Mission Direct. The local Diocesan Education Officer provided liaison with schools and organised publicity. Three primary and three secondary schools were visited, followed by workshops attended by over ninety local teachers. Working with a range of schools rather than one is a new style for SVN .

The support and encouragement of Mission Direct was a great help in this worthwhile project. Another visit is being planned for next June, and there are many opportunities for follow-up work in the area.

Teacher training in partnership with Mission Direct

Staff — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 14:14:11 +0000

Teacher training projects with Mission Direct will take place in 2012

Uganda 7-24th June 2012,

Zambia 31st August – 16th September 2012

Primary teachers needed to undertake teacher training for serving teachers in Uganda and Zambia.

Cost £1495- includes travel , visas, accommodation, insurance and trips.

Chingola Zambia

Staff — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 14:08:02 +0000

2 teachers with Early Years experience needed to join a team from Wales to Chingola , Zambia . Dates:April- May 2012

Zambia report

Staff — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 16:21:13 +0000

Isabel Wodrow led a team of eight volunteers to Zambia in September, in a joint project with Mission Direct. Fourteen schools were visited during the two weeks, and over sixty five teachers shared in five days of workshops. The schools were all community schools receiving no government funding, teaching pupils who could not afford the costs of attending government schools. Some were orphans, and others from child-led households.

The teachers were divided into three groups for the workshops, and the topics included teaching and learning styles, maths activities, science, Special Needs and school leadership. Feedback was very positive, with many teachers wanting to learn more.

John Hallett visited a school for the deaf, staffed by very skilled and dedicated Christian teachers, and also a college for training teachers in Special Needs.

This is an ongoing project, and a return visit is planned for September 2012. It is hoped to take secondary as well as primary teachers next time, and possibly some with skills in IT or Special Needs.

Home School Weeks Thailand

Staff — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 19:57:08 +0000

Volunteer with primary school experience need to assist with 2 weeks of co-operative and creative learning for children of cross-cultural workers[TCK's] who are usually home schooled. Teachers with skills in teaching practical subjects such as art, music, PE and drama would be appreciated.

Dates:27th Sept-16th Oct 2012 Cost £1000+