Math is often a subject that intimidates students in Mali, even though it provides many with the opportunity to secure good jobs after finishing school. As a result, many students try to avoid it, even in middle school. This presents a significant challenge for math teachers, who must find ways to inspire their students to engage with and appreciate the subject. Teachers committed to making a difference are constantly seeking creative strategies to motivate their students to embrace math. Recently I had a conversation with one of our dedicated math teachers, Amadou Doro, who shared with me both his biggest challenge and the secret to his success in the classroom.
Teacher Trainings Pay Off
We invest in teachers because teachers invest in students. Our year-long Intensive Teacher Support Campaign has a proven track record of strengthening teachers’ classroom skills, but we do not rest on the historical record….we grade ourselves just like we do our students. It’s only fair! :) This year participating teachers did a great job. Overall, teachers’ in-classroom skills improved by an average of 29% That means the average grade for a participating teacher went from an “F” to a “B”!
Going to the Source: Feedback on the Girls' Project
Excitement Already Brewing For Next School Year
As we wrapped up one school year this June, I was already shifting gears to plan for next school year! As part of that planning, I think a lot about how to make the largest difference for our teachers and, through them, our students. One of my favorite campaigns I work on is our Intensive Teacher Training Campaign. One reason I like it so much: our teachers and principals love it!
Principals Party at Year End!
Being a middle school principal is a hard job no matter where you are. But being one in Mali is particularly tough! Mali Rising principals are in remote places, far from their families or professional support. They manage young teachers and parents who are often unfamiliar with the education system. Many have classes with 100+ students in them. Sometimes, a principal needs a little support and maybe just a little fun when they face this reality day to day!
A Mali Rising donor wanted to find a way to give just that to our principals this year — an experience that would make them feel like someone saw just how hard they worked. So with that donor’s support we set up a year-end party for the principals. We gathered 19 principals at a national park outside of Bamako for a day of relaxing, good food, games, and awards. Read on to hear what one principal thought of the experience…
Better Teachers = Better Students
Once teachers in Mali leave their teaching program, they very rarely recieve any additional training or support. I’ve known teachers who have taught for more than 20 years and never had a day of addtional training ! That’s why Mali Rising steps up to train teachers – to be good at your job everyone needs a refresher and to learn new skills now and then. Each year, we focus intenstive training and peer support on a group of about 30 teachers. One of those teachers, Amidou Diarra, explains how the intensive work has helped him.
Teachers Need Teachers!
Teachers face many challenges while doing their teaching job. These include a lack of teaching materials, textbooks, trainings and peer meetings. To help teachers in our partner schools improve their work and help students succeed in school Mali Rising Foundation provides teacher training, peer meetings, materials, and more. Of all the support we offer, one teacher told us peer meetings are his favorite. Why?
Can a Peanut Plant Help Students Learn?
Teachers Connect Through Soccer
We want our teachers to get to know each other, so they can help each other and work together. to help with these connections, Mali Rising Foundation recently organized a soccer tournament for the teachers of our eight schools in the Baguineda area. Thirty-two teachers came together for some fun and bonding at the tournament.
Most Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award Winner
Each year Mali Rising honors three of our most outstanding teachers with an award. They are nominated by their principals, and a panel of teachers selects the best candidates for each award — most outstanding, most helpful, and most improved. Last month I was happy to deliver the award for Most Outstanding Teacher to a a very hard-working teacher, Mr. Chaka Diarra.
