By Adama Kone, Teacher Project Manager

As we start to get closer to the end of the school year, I’ve been talking with our teachers about the Chalkboard Art Contest. This is a chance for teachers to show off how they use the primary teaching tool in a Mali classroom — the chalkboard. Our teachers create beautiful maps, diagrams, and more to help students learn. I asked one of our teachers, Mr. Mariko, to share his thoughts on the contest and the value of chalkboard art.

My name is Lamine Mariko, I am biology teacher at Christiana Norris Middle School. I am thirty years old and I enjoy working at Christiana Norris Middle School so much. I have been working at this school for about three years.

I love to draw images on chalkboard for my students while teaching my subject – in fact, this is one of my favorite parts about teaching my subject. My students like my drawings too because when I start explaining the images and names, they get more engaged with the lesson and it seems funny to them sometimes because of the way I draw. Some of my students said that they wanted to become like me in drawing because they find my drawings so great!

I heard about the Chalkboard Art Contest of Mali Rising Foundation and I feel very excited about it! I hope I will do a great drawing this year and win an award. I would like to draw a heart system that I teach in 9th grade every year.

I really like this idea from Mali Rising Foundation since it not only allows teachers to win gifts but also encourages more teachers to draw on chalkboard. Many teachers do not like to create these drawings because they think it takes too much time to do it.

When I heard about the contest, I tried to encourage my colleagues to participate in the contest because it is fun and we can win gifts.  Also, many teachers do not know how important drawing images or pictures on chalkboard for students can be.

I like to do it because it helps students understand my lessons and makes them fun to students as well. As I said when they are more engaged in classroom during my classes. I find I do not have to talk as much anymore because my images or pictures tell students a lot about my lessons already.

The funny thing is that my colleagues are jealous of me because they said that they cannot draw as well as I do! Sometimes my fellow teachers come to my classrooms and enjoy looking at my drawings on chalkboard. They also take pictures of my drawings sometimes. This makes me really feel proud of my work!

So, I just want to say that I will surely participate in this art contest of Mali Rising Foundation. This contest is is so useful to teachers especially those who like to draw. I am also grateful to Mali Rising Foundation for coming up with this great idea!