Liberian Boy Recites the Silent E Phonics Chant

What is this video about?
In this video, you will see a little boy rehearsing the Silent E phonics rule. The clip is part of a recap of Linda Mitchell's trip to Liberia, Africa to teach children how to read at the ICF Mission of Hope school. Linda taught over 150 children at the school from June 1 to June 14, 2014. Liberia is trying to rebound its education system after a 14-year civil war. Many children are still unable to afford to got to school. Linda used the phonics teaching methods of Marva Collins, introducing the English-speaking children to the phonics chants and spelling rules.
*****************************************************************************
Every morning, the rooster crowed exactly at 5:15.
Every morning, the rooster crowed exactly at 5:15.
Every morning, the village MOTHERS sang their praise songs.
Children hauled water from the wells, treading the rocky roads with buckets balanced carefully on their heads.
Bucket baths. Coal stoves. Laundry tubs catching the torrential night rain.
Lizards, cackling chickens roaming free, palm trees, and fruit trees.
A bowl of rice, spicy beans, spicy fish gravy, fufu, and cassava. Spice reigns.
The tastiest bananas. The juiciest, sweetest pineapples and mangoes.
“Africa hot” for real.
Electricity, sometimes. AC, never. Internet, maybe.
Casting all vanity aside. Enduring light afflictions for the cause. Focused on the mission at hand.
A parade of children walking the long distance to the mission school, bundles of wood in hand-for the cooks.
A parade of unschooled children walking the long distance to the farms, gathering corn, fruit, and vegetables-for selling at the markets.
Clang, clang, clang! A summons for the school children.
“Good morning, Mud-duh. How was your night?”
“Good morning, Teacher Mitchell!”
A disciplined assembly of dozens of green-uniformed children-praying, pledging allegiance, singing and clapping, encouraged to learn.
Staring at this strange, new teacher who looks like them. A Bassa woman, perhaps?
Student roll call: Surprise, Darling Girl, Chrisabel, Glorious, Blessing, Princess, Patience, Archie Boy, Sunday Boy, Garmenie, Gorpu, Lorpu, Rennie, and Kapemah; and many Biblical names: Mary, Sarah, Rachel, Rebecca, Jeremiah, Isaiah, David, Emmanuel, Joseph, Jacob, Peter, Samuel, and Joshua.
Learning the Marva Collins phonics chants:
“Long A, long A…A. A. A. A with a macron says A. A blank E says A. Ai says A.” and so on to the letter Z.
Chanting the rules:
“Tap and tape, tap and tape. Sh, sh, sh. Silent E makes the vowel say its name.”
“Pet and Pete, Pet and Pete, Sh, sh, sh. Silent E makes the vowel say its name.”
Applying the phonics lessons to the t-shirts they wore.
Students got prizes for their hard work. Books, candy, medals, and trophies.
“Thank you, Teacher Mitchell.”
A poetry recital contest: “Be strong, we are not here to play, to dream, to drift…”
Saturday sack races and games.
Every child pitching in dirt to build a science lab, laboring under the hot sun.
A welcome serenade.
A farewell serenade.
Harrowing drives through the crowded, colorful marketplaces. Sharing the bumpy roads and smooth Chinese-built highways with ubiquitous motorbike taxis. Honk! Honk!
Everyone’s a merchant.
Everywhere a church.
American brands abound.
Lush greenery, rubber trees, and red dirt--the backdrop for houses with zinc roofs. Palatial homes nestled among humble homes. Many homes unfinished and abandoned. Land for sale. Peaceful living.
Capping off the mission with a relaxing stay at the oceanfront Kokon Ecolodge.
Oh, war-torn Liberia, may your glory days return.
There’s much work yet to do. A young population preparing to lead and lift.
Here I am, Lord. Send me.
Send me back to smiling faces, open hearts, and amazing love.
Linda Mitchell is the founder and executive director of the Metro East Literacy Project, in the St. Louis, Missouri metropolitan area. To learn more, visit www.metroeastl....

[@literacyisliberation7599]

It was such a joy to teach these Liberian students. They were eager learners.