What Will They Do With This?

We are three weeks into the school year at Nicaragua Christian Academy. Since the New Teacher Orientation, something has been weighing on my mind. You see, in Nicaragua, education means something vastly different than to parents, educators, and students in the United States. Those of you who know me have often called me a "natural-born teacher." Until recently, I never understood what that title truly meant. I learned that in most Nicaraguan schools, "learning" consists of copying textbooks and dictation from the teacher. Then students would simply memorize key facts and respond accordingly on tests.

Hallway at Nicaragua Christian Academy

My teaching style has always been anything but rote memorization, so you can imagine how I responded to this. How can true learning take place in these little minds?  Then, our director made a point to explain the difference that NCA is making in Nicaragua. Focusing on academic excellence with a biblical foundation- that is the school's mission. After hearing this, I decided to reevaluate the definition of "academic excellence."

Academic excellence is so much more than the regurgitation of facts and figures; it is so much more than letter grades on a transcript. Academic excellence is the ability to think-to think critically, and to solve problems. The true definition of learning requires a change in behavior. We must do something with the knowledge we obtain....Well, I 'll get back to that later.

So, on the first day of class, I asked each of my classes what their individual goals were for the school year.

Each student wrote down a goal and then a way he or she could work towards that goal on a post-it note. Then they stuck each note to our class poster. I took some time after class on the first day to read their responses. To my surprise, the number one goal hands down was to make good grades. The number one way to attain this goal was to study. I decided to pray over these responses and for each of the students who wrote them. I asked God how I should respond to the message they were sending me. "Mrs. Kane, good grades equal success, and I want to be successful." Few of the goals were to "learn something new" or "have fun." God showed me that I needed to think about my goals for the students. Why did He bring me to Nicaragua? To lecture and give tests? No, He sent me to teach the future generations how to think, and how to think critically from a biblical perspective. And He is equipping me daily for this task.


My response to the students' message began on Day 2. I decided to incorporate a collaborative learning

World Studies Students Working Together to Solve Problems

environment where students would have to work together, listen to one another's ideas, and collectively respond to questions like: "What would you have done differently if you were in his or her shoes?" Students have varying responsibilities within the group and everyone's point of view is equally valuable. The environment is created to be a safe way to explore new ideas in light of what we learned. We compare and contrast, analyze and synthesize, and most importantly, evaluate ideas in light of what we know. Certainly, there are facts to be learned, but what they do with those facts is far more beneficial to the mind than simply getting a good grade because they remembered them correctly for an exam.

This brings me back to my earlier point. "Learning is a change in behavior." When we learn, we change our

Future Leaders of Nicaragua and Other Nations

habits, redirect our behavior, and adjust our methods. When we obtain knowledge we must do something with it. We can know all of the facts about the Bible, just like the Pharisees. But, do we have the critical thinking skills to apply what we know to daily life? That is the mission here. To teach students how to use what they know to help future generations.

Each Wednesday, in addition to daily Bible classes, all students attend Chapel. When I attended the first chapel, I stepped back and watched the future generations of Nicaragua, as well as other nations, absorb the Word of God. I found myself asking, "What will they do with this?" My prayer is that true learning takes place in the heads, hearts, and lives of future generations.

What's Black & Red & Rolls All Over?

The Kane family's new Nica vehicle that's what! 

     We are truly blessed to have found and secured this 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser. Apparently this will be a necessity for getting around in some of the more remote areas during the rainy season, because we have been told that a lot of the roads wash out and become impassable.

     Although I have been told the process went quickly and fairly smooth, the process was a bit more than I expected. Once we found the vehicle (which was no easy task) we had to go see it and test drive it. The next step was to hire a mechanic (who showed up on a motorcycle, wearing a suit and tie)  to come see it and give us his two cents worth (in Spanish, which we had to have translated by a friend). After that, came the negotiation process (we got the price down $500 from what the seller listed). Once a price was agreed upon, we had to have the school cut us a check for the purchase price, fax the seller's lawyer copies of our drivers license and passports and wait for an appointment. (this meant three days of hoping no one else would come buy it out from under us which had already happened with the first car we were going to buy). Upon receiving an appointment, I had to go with the seller (an ex-pat from Italy who sought asylum in Nicaragua for undisclosed reasons) to the (Spanish speaking) lawyer's office and complete the paperwork (also all in Spanish). The vehicle was now ours (we hope)! Finding my way back to the school on my own through the narrow streets of Nica in an area of town I hadn't been to yet was another leg of the adventure of becoming a car owner in Nicaragua. This vehicle was priced within the mean for used cars of this type, although it needs about $300 in repairs, our colleagues at the school feel like we got a decent deal. 

     God's provision has come through because of the awesome supporters He has put in our path. Thank you, God and thank you to all who have committed to supporting us for these three years.  

                                                          Stay Tuned for More on our Adventure in Gods Work field.....

                                                                                                                        Jeremy