An update from Emma, Kelsy, and Aspen

Emma: I have had a great first week at MotherCare. I am placed with 4 year olds who love to read books. They enjoy listening to me read and learning new English words like squash. On Friday, I had the opportunity to learn traditional Nepali dance with the children. The students are learning dances for a festival in October. During outside time, I have lots of fun playing “police” and racing. I also have been helping the children write their letters. We have worked on writing M and B. 

 Here I am building a town with blocks that I brought from America. The children really enjoyed making tall buildings and then knocking them over with cars.

Kelsy: This past week has been an adventure in a toddler classroom at MotherCare International Preschool. I have ten children in my class between the ages of 18 months and 3 years old. The school year just began at the beginning of May, and since this is the children’s first experience away from home, our focus has been on learning the routine and keeping the children comfortable. We spend much of our day outside in the sandbox and on the swings, and on Fridays we swim in an above-ground pool that’s also temporarily set up on our playground. I have truly enjoyed building relationships with my toddlers, despite the language barrier. We love to have pretend tea time.

Here we are playing on the swings on the playground.

Aspen: During my first week at MotherCare I have been able to create relationships with the children in my class as well as my mentor teacher. I am completing my internship in a toddler classroom (18months – 3 years). Currently there are one five children in my class so I have been able to learn names quickly. My mentor teacher speaks to the children in both Nepali and English. She is very good about making sure I know what the children are saying and how to respond.  Every morning I am greeted by my wonderful mentor teacher. On the first day I sat with the children and as soon as I showed interest in engaging in their play they took me in. One little girl always comes up to me and asks if I want to make cake with her (cake-a plastic cup filled with sand). Each day my connection with the students grows. I introduced a marble run to the children, using marbles and pool noodles, the children were intrigued by the motion and stayed engaged for quit some time. I am anxious to see what I learn this week and to watch the group grow in our knowledge and experience.

As I pointed to the shape the children would tell me the color and the shape name. The children really love to ask me “What is this?”