News

During this time Teach First Lithuania had 118 fellows. These young people have worked for two years in 78 schools all over the country and have reached more than 26 000 children in different rural areas and cities. The program goals are as relevant today as they were ten years ago: to help schools to change, to reduce lack of teachers in the country and to raise the prestige of teachers’ profession for the joy and success of learning for all children.

The Kazickas Family Foundation is proud to support such meaningful work.

Teach First Lithuania team shares some heart touching moments from new program teachers on their first 100 days spent teaching: it is about the lessons they gave and the lessons they have learnt.

• I’m excited that children ask me for help, trust me and feel that I am going to understand their struggles issues in their families. The stories I have been trusted with force me to get real and see all the hurtful things they have to deal with and how they need people in their lives, who believe in every student and initiative changes. I feel and I hear from students that I encouraged them to start making changes in their lives.  (Agne, RM8)

• I do not regret even a single sleepless night spent preparing for lessons or presentation about the importance of a teamwork. I believe, I hope, and I know that I try my hardest to be the teacher I wish for my own children. (Asta, RM8)

• After the classes my whole body hurts from tension, walking, squatting, bending, talking, loud noise - I am trying my best to empower my students to study, work together and raise self-awareness. It makes me so happy to watch children’s excitement when they discover animal shapes in an abstract painting or when they succeed in creating the exact leave color. I understand that I have to gain each child’s trust individually. The best way to teach is through the positive reinforcement and sense of humor. It surprises children when they realise that a teacher is also just a human. (Egle, RM8)

• Fifth of October 2017 was a memorable day not because it was my first day as a teacher but because I got to learn so much about my fifth grade students. All children come from very different environments: one child’s mom is divorcing an abusive husband; the other one just got a baby sister and grandmother was diagnosed with cancer so he feels forgotten; the third one together with her little brothers was left by her mother to be raised by her grandmother who works as a bus driver and does not spend much time at home; the fourth one has a step-dad number ten; and the fifth one has a serious heart defect and needs a heart transplant. All these children are no older than eleven. That day I realized that I am not only their math teacher - I am here for the same reason I chose this path since the 11^th  grade – so I could help them. And the most wonderful reward – a hug from a student or just a simple “have a nice day”. (Gerda, RM8)

• How are students going to accept me if I stand there in front of them and just play teacher’s role... I simply tried to be myself. One hundred percent. It was one of my best decisions and the best lesson I’ve learnt during my first hundred days of teaching. Even though there is still a lot of chaos in my classroom, however six graders don’t just stare with blank faces anymore and now I know who these children are and what they’re trying to say with their eyes. (Inga, RM8)

• I was away and disconnected from Lithuania for eight years. Teach First Lithuania program gave me an opportunity to engage in country’s life by teaching. I think it is interesting and meaningful because I can help a person to shape his or her personality and connect with them. I think child’s education is beautiful and important. Also, I wanted a job that would be directly linked to philosophy, so I’ve chosen ethics. My goal now is to seek that my students develop skills to organize, communicate their thoughts, and not to be afraid to ask questions. I want them to experience the joy of learning and creative thinking. Hurray! I’m so excited that after a hundred days of school my second grader, who used to cry every time I spoke to her, said a sentence and smiled - it was such a beautiful smile! (Linas, RM8)