My First Week Teaching

Kamrin Hooks
Oct 31
4 min read

At various points in my life, I have wanted to be a professor.

I could close my eyes and clearly visualize myself in front of a group of young adults, teaching some incredibly thought-provoking topic.

Yet here I am in Lesotho, teaching two-letter sounds and using stones to divide to second graders. And actually enjoying it!

The Experience

The Peace Corps education volunteers participated in our only practicum before permanent site placement — a hands-on teaching experience designed to prepare us for real classrooms once we arrive at our assigned schools.

I had the privilege of teaching Grade 2 English Literacy and Numeracy. When teaching in the school environment in Lesotho, the curriculum is very learner-centered.

It has three main categories for instruction:

Concrete (something the learner can touch)
Pictorial (using drawings or visuals)
Abstract (using mental understanding)

As a teacher, you start with something concrete that learners can hold, move to a picture or drawing that explains the topic, and finally teach the abstract concept of the topic, which requires only mental effort, no drawing or hands on things.

The order of instruction can be dependent, though; for example, grade 2 may not get to abstract, concepts and grade 7 may not start with concrete ones.

My First Lesson

For my very first lesson, I taught how to multiply two-digit numbers by one-digit numbers.

My concrete plan utilized grouping actual stones; pictorially, I demonstrated to the students how to use vertical and horizontal lines to find the answer.

Since they are in grade 2, the abstract method wasn't a significant part of the lesson — but several students chose to use it anyway!

It was fascinating to see them try to multiply "the old-fashioned way" because as the teacher who is following a specific syllabus from the Ministry of Education, I needed them to show me how to do it using one of the methods I showed.

I never thought I would ever say, show me your work.

Communication Across Languages

My learners were so sweet and participated incredibly well — especially considering that I speak an average level of Sesotho and they speak an average level of English.

English is one of Lesotho's official languages, since the country was once a British Protectorate.

(Sidebar: we have tea and biscuit time twice a day! I now drink my tea with milk and sugar! I feel a little British. I’ll definitely be bringing tea time home with me).

“Subjects" or “Windows”

Students at the primary level have a few different “windows” (their word for subjects) each day:

Sesotho Window, English Window, Integrated Window (Sesotho and English), Life Skills, and Numeracy.

As Peace Corps volunteers we’re trained to teach English, Numeracy, and Life Skills.

Life Skills lessons cover topics like body autonomy, body changes, peer pressure, and life in Lesotho. After reading the cirriculum, I’m amazed by how thoughtful it is

During my observation week, my co-teacher led a discusstion on learners rights — including the right to say no, the right to learn, and the right to receive an education. Powerful stuff.

Brief of Lesotho Schools

Schools here are federally funded. The school I practiced at had electricity, but some do not.

Every day, the kitchen brought me lunch, and every student received a free meal. I looked forward to that meal — partly because it was delicious, and partly because lunch lasts one to two hours!

Testing My Learners

At the end of our practicum, we were asked to administer an exam to the learners that covered the material we taught.

I taught multiplication and division with two digits, making words with two-letter sounds, common nouns, and proper nouns.

I was nervous — I wanted them to excel.

And they absolutely did!

Most of my learners passed according to the Lesotho education standards, I was and am so proud.

They worked so hard.

My New Title

No matter where I go now, if I see any students from my previous school — whether I taught them or not — I hear:

“HELLOOOO TEACHER”

It’s so precious, especially when it comes from the little Grade 1 kids whose backpacks are bigger than they are! I can’t believe I was ever that small.

The world is too big for such precious humans.

The School System of Lesotho's has three primary levels:

Pre-School
Primary (Grades 1–7)
High School

Funding is provided only up to Grade 7. After that, families must pay fees for secondary school.

At the college level, students usually need sponsorships — similar to scholarships.

Looking Ahead

I know teaching will have its downsides. Lesson planning and weekly preparation can be challenging, but they do make each day run more smoothly.

I only taught for a little over a week, so after I’ve gained a few months of experience — maybe even a whole first quarter— I’ll share another edition about teaching with even more real-world experience.

This first week has shown me that teaching is about a lot of patience, laughter, and learning how to meet students where they are.

“One child, One teacher, One book, One pen can change the world”.

Malala Yousafzai