The Inquiry Initiative:
A Partnership of Missouri Educators and Educators in Kitale, Kenya
by LaChrisa Crenshaw, Javania M. Webb, Terry Daily Davis, and Shea N. Kerkhoff
The second activity was planning and leading a day camp for children. Around 500 children from around the community came to play games, sing and dance, share stories, and create crafts. The theme of the camp was social and emotional learning as well as having fun. Drs. Terry Daily Davis, LaChrisa Crenshaw, and Javania M. Webb led three different workshops to educate the children about healthy emotions and how to regulate them. Everyone was fed a nutritious breakfast, lunch, and a snack. This was one of the groups' favorite contributions to the trip in Kenya.
Dr. LaChrisha Crenshaw and some of the
children from the community
The teams’ third assignment was to facilitate professional development for K-12 teachers. The day-long workshop brought teachers together from schools across the county to learn about teaching strategies for critical thinking, integrating technology, and social and emotional learning. The day started with Dr. Michelle Falter offering a workshop on promoting more student focused learning in the classroom. Much of the discussion and activities encouraged educators to think “outside the box” with ways students could engage in critical thinking. Dr. Falter modeled visible thinking routines that educators could apply in the classroom. Drs. Crenshaw, Daily Davis, and Webb offered a workshop on self-care and wellness as an educator. They discussed how toxic stressors can impede burnout in the profession if educators do not take care of their mind, body and spirit. They offered techniques to support self-care that educators could add to their toolbox for wellness. Yoga, meditation, deep breathing, and centering themselves were demonstrated with everyone. Participants shared ways they could practice action items to help de-stress their day and promote wellness in order to better take care of themselves. Many educators expressed a great need for this workshop after the training concluded because they did not have a good self care regimen in place to prevent burnout throughout the year. Participants of the self-care workshop were given different ways to look up self care tips on their phone via social media and YouTube.
The final activity was conducting observational research on learner-centered teaching in elementary and secondary schools. Observational research involved attending classes and documenting teaching strategies as well as student engagement. The classrooms that were observed included primary and secondary levels. And the subject matter included English, chemistry, mathematics, history, physical education, physics, Kiswahili, and more. It was truly amazing to see how engaged the students were in the classroom. The teachers were intentional in making sure that students were understanding the subject matter by having them to perform mathematical
equations or having their peers to critique their answers. Students were eager to participate, as there seems to be a real zest and eagerness for learning. The entire school staff was very warm and welcoming of the team observing each day’s lessons. Teachers were equally curious to hear and learn about the educational system in the United States. In some classrooms the teachers invited the observers to greet the classroom and share some of our experiences with students as it related to the subject matter they were learning. Students were eager to hear about life in the United States and asked many questions. It was really enlightening to see students so engaged in their education and the value they place on schooling.
It was a busy trip; however, there is still more work to be done. The Missouri Literacy Association and St. Louis Regional Literacy Association donated $650 and $1350 respectively, which went a long way to purchase building materials. The team and the community were very grateful for the donations. If you’d like to donate towards the completion of the girls’ dormitory, please visit this donations page https://www.goingglobalinc.org/kenya!
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