Los Libros : Teaching With and Without Books
Lorianne Tenove
One never thinks about where to get a book to read in Canada . Apart from online choices , you can buy books at bookstores or many different shops , including secondhand bookstores . We are also so fortunate to have access to public libraries that have a plethora of free resources for all interests and age levels .
In Mazatlán , there are few libraries , fewer still that are publicly accessible , and very few bookstores . English literature is also hard to find , so when one finds a second-hand book somewhere , it is a treasure .
In August , we experienced hurricane Nora , and there was a lot of water damage throughout the city with houses flooded , cars underwater , and sometimes no power or internet . The school fared well , but many books were destroyed from seeping rain .
I wouldn ’ t be so devastated in Canada because books are in abundance and easily replaceable . Not here . Every English book is so darned precious .
Last year , I asked everyone in my circle to donate books , and the response was awesome . We had a truckload of books to bring to Mazatlán , but guess what — the border was closed . If only I had a private jet , because we could certainly have flown across the border !
Good literature and picture books are a big part of helping children learn to read and increase their interest in reading . Many of the books that were destroyed were stories that I had read to my children and students over the years . They are really like your friends .
Reading for me during the last eighteen months was a lifesaver , as it was an activity that helped pass the time as well as keep my mind off world events .
I love the author Eric Carle , who is famous for writing stories such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar . Recently I tried reading Panda Bear , Panda Bear , What Do You See ? It ’ s a sweet book , but maybe the vocabulary was a little too sophisticated for three-year-olds who are learning English for the first time . Like , what is a whooping crane ?
The Mexican teacher was trying to correct me when I said “ water buffalo .” She said , “ No , it is booooofalo ,” and I said , “ Si in Español , but bufffffalo in Ingles !” She forgot I was teaching in English — awesome . So , out of all the animals I taught them , which one did they remember and kept repeating ? Monkey , of course , because children love monkeys . I prepared materials to make monkey puppets . Every child received all the necessary body parts to piece together a puppet . They all came out one hundred per cent perfect — because the teachers made them for the children ! As I watched this unfold — which it did for the rest of the week — I thought , there is a lot more teaching that needs to happen in this class , my friends .
Three-year-olds need to do their own thing , even if they put the monkey tail on its head ! That ’ s all I have to say about that .
Lorianne Tenove continues to make vibrant connections with students and teachers at the Canadian International School in Mazatlán . As this article goes to print , she is eagerly awaiting a truckload of books from Alberta .
news & views WINTER 2021 | 35