STILL TO COME …

KANAKUK KAMPOUT!

Mark your calendars now for the return of Kanakuk Kampout next summer! The dates are June 5-9, 2023. Registration is now open, so make sure to register early before the spots fill up like last summer ! https://kanakuk.com/kampout/

I S S I O N S

Tutoring Afghan Children

Several months ago, we became aware of the need for tutoring for some of the Afghan children. We are now working with children, ages of 5-12 (pre-K through 6th grade). Some of them are doing well in school and learning English well; some are not. One of the children we work with is far behind her classmates, creating a major dilemma we have not yet solved, even though we have met with school personnel to try to address the issue. We have assisted her in learning some basic vocabulary words and assessing her math skills.

The parents in the home are limited in how much they can help, because their own education is limited, with little to know reading and writing skills in their native language, Pashto, and they do not understand much English.

The biggest problem for the children is that they have very limited English skills; for this reason, they often don’t understand what is being taught. For example, just reading their science lessons can involve advanced English reading skills as well as some basic knowledge about the physical world. The boy in the family, who has the greatest understanding of English and can carry on a conversation in it, appears to be making the most academic progress.

We are using a variety of ways to help them, such as reading to them, engaging in games, working puzzles, and doing other hands-on activities. Games can teach counting and other skills such as the names of colors in English. Board games are a novel idea to them and to their parents. The children have never owned a board game before. They also have not owned books.

The children have been excited to receive the tutoring. We try to make the learning as fun as possible. For example, we are using a large floor puzzle to show the continents of the world.

The tutoring is not going to be a magical solution because the educational discrepancy for some of them is so large. We’re still in the process of trying to figure out how to be as effective as possible in the limited time we spend with them each week. But we are pleased that the children are showing signs of improvement and are understanding more. The process has been enjoyable for us as well as for them.

Ed Beckham