|
The Home Visit Once a year children enrolled receive a personal visit at home from their class teacher. It is an exciting time for both parties, preparations are made and the day is looked forward to for weeks. Often the teachers set off early in the morning and travels many kilometres using the map drawn by the family to find their property or house
Sometimes wrong tracks can be deceptive and there are few occasions when the 4-wheel drive vehicle really comes into its own on steep and rocky places. But finally the right turn is there and the home gate is found and welcomes are always warm.
After the welcome cup of tea and initial shyness overcome it's down to work and assessment. Much time is spent advising the mother supervisor about teaching matters and usually a special lunch is on for the teacher. Children love to do art and craft activities that have been especially prepared. At the end of the lessons the children love to show their teacher around their home and where they play.
One of the joys of teaching Distance Education students is the country side that we get to travel through on home visit days. Whether it be through rugged, dry sheep country or through lush rainforests we all come back with a deepened appreciation for the beauties of the Australian bush. There is always a story to tell about the eagles seen or the snake on the road or the sounds of the birds or the particular wattle trees in bloom along the way. Teachers also always return to school with a renewed appreciation of the job done by the home supervisor and with a greater understanding of the particular needs of their students.
|
