You are getting a prize, and get to choose between pizza or a certificate. Which would you choose? This was the issue in my Senior One (my babies ;-) class yesterday...
"So, the other day we talked about prizes for the winning Novel Study Project team and I was thinking...what about a pizza party?"
General chatter and then some hands beginning to be raised.
"Well, Mrs. Fath, I don't like the idea of just the winning team getting pizza. How will everyone else feel? It's not fair."
"Okay, but isn't that the whole idea of a prize? You know, someone wins..."
Next hand and a looonnng, drawn out contribution to the discussion.
"May I paraphrase and you can let me know if I've got this right. What you are saying is that you think a certificate that you can keep for a long time would be way better than pizza that you just eat and it's gone?"
"Yes, Mrs. Fath, that's right."
"Hmmm," I ponder trying not to raise my eyebrows through the top of my head in amazement at the thought processes here.
Another hand...
"You see, Mrs. Fath, what is the point of something that just tastes good for a few moments and then is gone?"
My heart stops--I think. Once again I am in awe of these wonderful, thoughtful children! Can you imagine any 11-12 year old choosing a certificate over pizza? It reminded me of a study I'd once read, the results of which suggested that when trying to determine key factors in success, a group of students had been tracked over time to measure their academic and career success. First, though, a very simple test was done to measure these students' ability to DELAY GRATIFICATION. What the results indicated
was that those who had self-control and could delay gratification were far more successful than their peers who could not.
So, here my little ones are choosing the long-term benefit of a piece of paper (granted a snazzy piece of paper it will be!) over the short-term lovely taste of pizza.
What can I say? I'm saving some money here!
"Oh, Mrs. Fath, and it has to have the Headmaster's signature, right?"
"Yes, I'm sure he'll be okay with that."
"And YOUR signature Mrs. Fath."
"No problem!"
They ARE wonderful!
Wendy
Thursday, 24 January 2008
Sunday, 20 January 2008
Wall to Wall
Yes, the highlight of last week, for me, was WALL TO WALL kids in my living room. Movie night at the Fath's with my IB1's was initiated and it was such a joy for me to have these young people whom I like so much welcomed into my home to fill it with their laughter and just their presence.
It was a little lesson for me in small miracles too...
I'd been thinking about purchasing a projector for my computer so that I could show presentations like Power Points and movies, and much to my frustration, had been roadblocked for this Friday anyways. Shopping around for the 'best quality, lowest price' had left me into January and then the one I was planning to buy had been purchased so another one was on order for me and to arrive on Wednesday. It didn't. Then it was going to be picked up in Bloemfontein and back by Friday at 2:00. It wasn't. Feeling very disappointed in losing my BIG SCREEN concept, I checked around. Who else would have one? I was directed to another computer store, whereupon I was pleased to find one, only to be told it was M1,000. more. No thanks....BUT they had one for hire. For rent? Yes. How much? A price I was willing to pay.
Wendy was the lady I was directed to, to talk about the hire. Hmmm...another Wendy in Lesotho. How about that! By the time I was through attaching my computer to make sure everything was working okay and chatting with Wendy, the price for rental? FREE! Wendy's are really nice, hey?! Well, this one sure was.
To me it was just a lovely affirmation that this crazy, and fraught with complications plan to have my students over was GOOD.
And it WAS good. Most of this students are boarders, and boarding school is a pretty meager and dull existence so the students enjoy getting out. For me it's just a great opportunity to build into the lives of some very fine people.
We watched The Hurricane, the story of Rubin Carter and REALLY, for me, the story of Lesra Martin. The thing I love about the story is that it speaks about how caring about others and CHOOSING to make a difference in their lives can have significant and long-reaching impacts. Lesra started his life in the home of alcoholic parents and was virtually illiterate when he was met by the Canadians who took him into their home and gave him a 'hand up'. Meanwhile, Rubin Carter was in an even more hopeless situation, in prison for murder, having already served 16 years when Lesra entered his life. The course of events that unfolded led to Carter's release from prison and to Lesra becoming the lawyer he'd dreamed of being.
In fact, I met Lesra Martin last year at our Alberta Teacher's Convention, shook his hand and talked to him briefly. It was a real pleasure, because he is one of my heroes when I think about how young people CAN make a difference.
It was a little lesson for me in small miracles too...
I'd been thinking about purchasing a projector for my computer so that I could show presentations like Power Points and movies, and much to my frustration, had been roadblocked for this Friday anyways. Shopping around for the 'best quality, lowest price' had left me into January and then the one I was planning to buy had been purchased so another one was on order for me and to arrive on Wednesday. It didn't. Then it was going to be picked up in Bloemfontein and back by Friday at 2:00. It wasn't. Feeling very disappointed in losing my BIG SCREEN concept, I checked around. Who else would have one? I was directed to another computer store, whereupon I was pleased to find one, only to be told it was M1,000. more. No thanks....BUT they had one for hire. For rent? Yes. How much? A price I was willing to pay.
Wendy was the lady I was directed to, to talk about the hire. Hmmm...another Wendy in Lesotho. How about that! By the time I was through attaching my computer to make sure everything was working okay and chatting with Wendy, the price for rental? FREE! Wendy's are really nice, hey?! Well, this one sure was.
To me it was just a lovely affirmation that this crazy, and fraught with complications plan to have my students over was GOOD.
And it WAS good. Most of this students are boarders, and boarding school is a pretty meager and dull existence so the students enjoy getting out. For me it's just a great opportunity to build into the lives of some very fine people.
We watched The Hurricane, the story of Rubin Carter and REALLY, for me, the story of Lesra Martin. The thing I love about the story is that it speaks about how caring about others and CHOOSING to make a difference in their lives can have significant and long-reaching impacts. Lesra started his life in the home of alcoholic parents and was virtually illiterate when he was met by the Canadians who took him into their home and gave him a 'hand up'. Meanwhile, Rubin Carter was in an even more hopeless situation, in prison for murder, having already served 16 years when Lesra entered his life. The course of events that unfolded led to Carter's release from prison and to Lesra becoming the lawyer he'd dreamed of being.
In fact, I met Lesra Martin last year at our Alberta Teacher's Convention, shook his hand and talked to him briefly. It was a real pleasure, because he is one of my heroes when I think about how young people CAN make a difference.
Saturday, 12 January 2008
Christmas Joys in Africa -- 2007
Christmas started on December 23rd. when we enjoyed Christmas Carols by Candlelight at the home of Debbie and Aaron, from Australia.
This lovely Christmas angel is Tianna, the daughter of two other Aussie friends.
Sparklers the same night...
Outside there are few signs of Christmas. No snow! Just the hats ;-) and a gentle sprinkling that took us indoors...
We moved inside out of the rain to enjoy our carols by candlelight.
December 25th. Benno and I were out at Beautiful Gate visiting with the babies and with the Bo Me' that had to be away from their own families that day. We also went to Brad and Nicole's for a pot-luck dinner. A lovely day it was!
The 26th. we met Jared, Dylan and Byron in Dundee and then headed on to Umfolozi-Hluhluwe Game Reserve, St. Lucia, and then the Drakensbergs before heading home to Lesotho.
Dylan arrived with pies! What a great Christmas treat.
Umfolozi-Hluhluwe... and our welcoming committee
Twas a hot, hot time there and this Water Buffalo knows how to keep cool!
like stopping by the highway stands to buy pineapple fresh from the fields, or mangoes.
or, at St. Lucia, cavorting in the gorgeous, warm Indian Ocean.
Our next stage of the journey was north to the Drakensburgs and a hike through Thugela Gorge on New Year's Eve...
New Year's Day was spent at Sterkfontein Dam with a friend of Dylan's from Jo'Burg. Darrel parks his tent and catamaran there for the month of December. What a great life!
Dylan cliff divin--well, this one's more of a JUMP--at the dam
First sunset of the New Year
The next day--our final day before heading home--was spent hiking to one of the highest waterfalls in Africa. The drive up the mountain was breathtaking!
and the hike itself was equally exhilarating. Words--at least MY words right now--just do not do justice to this fantastic place! What a world of beauty!
Three stages of the hike required a climb up heavy-duty (fortunately!) metal ladders which Dylan and Byron are climbing here.
Jared relaxing at the top. Fortunately there were some lovely pools there to cool off in.
This lovely Christmas angel is Tianna, the daughter of two other Aussie friends.
Sparklers the same night...
Outside there are few signs of Christmas. No snow! Just the hats ;-) and a gentle sprinkling that took us indoors...
We moved inside out of the rain to enjoy our carols by candlelight.December 25th. Benno and I were out at Beautiful Gate visiting with the babies and with the Bo Me' that had to be away from their own families that day. We also went to Brad and Nicole's for a pot-luck dinner. A lovely day it was!
The 26th. we met Jared, Dylan and Byron in Dundee and then headed on to Umfolozi-Hluhluwe Game Reserve, St. Lucia, and then the Drakensbergs before heading home to Lesotho.
Dylan arrived with pies! What a great Christmas treat.
Umfolozi-Hluhluwe... and our welcoming committee
Twas a hot, hot time there and this Water Buffalo knows how to keep cool!We had OTHER ways...
like stopping by the highway stands to buy pineapple fresh from the fields, or mangoes.
or, at St. Lucia, cavorting in the gorgeous, warm Indian Ocean.
Our next stage of the journey was north to the Drakensburgs and a hike through Thugela Gorge on New Year's Eve...
New Year's Day was spent at Sterkfontein Dam with a friend of Dylan's from Jo'Burg. Darrel parks his tent and catamaran there for the month of December. What a great life!
Dylan cliff divin--well, this one's more of a JUMP--at the dam
First sunset of the New YearThe next day--our final day before heading home--was spent hiking to one of the highest waterfalls in Africa. The drive up the mountain was breathtaking!
and the hike itself was equally exhilarating. Words--at least MY words right now--just do not do justice to this fantastic place! What a world of beauty!
Three stages of the hike required a climb up heavy-duty (fortunately!) metal ladders which Dylan and Byron are climbing here. 
Jared relaxing at the top. Fortunately there were some lovely pools there to cool off in.
We wish all of you the very best of 2008!
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