​RICHARD’S WORK WITH ZAMBIA TEACHERS TO HEAL CHILD AND ADOLESCENT TRAUMA

 

Richard is now working with teachers in Kitwe, Zambia to help them develop trauma-informed teaching methods that will help children and adolescents to heal trauma as they learn and develop into quality young writers.

 

The focus is in two parts:  1. Developing “Trauma-Informed Teaching Methods” that build a safe, supportive, and healing space for the learners, and 2. Working with “Mindfulness Practices” that are simple, straightforward, and brief--that lower stress, improve academic performance, and increase acts of kindness in the room.

 

The teachers have received Richard’s book, THE MINDFUL WRITING WORKSHOP: TEACHING IN THE AGE OF STRESS AND TRAUMA” for free, and they now wish to learn how to make use of methods from the book.

 

Richard donates his time for this work. And also Kambwali Katenga, a Vineyard Pastor in Kitwe, donates his time as Program Coordinator for this project.​

 

 

PLEASE CONTACT RICHARD:

 

***If you wish to donate to this project. We are in need of additional funding. 

 

***OR, If you wish to bring this class to your teachers or school, in the U. S., or elsewhere.

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COST OF FUNDING ONE COHORT CLASS IN ZAMBIA FOR 8 WEEKS:

 

*120 dollar/smart phone X 12 to allow each teacher to access Zoom Class —           $1440

*300 dollars—to acquire internet time to conduct class —                                            $300

*MATERIALS—one 2 dollar notebook each teacher, Graduation Ceremony, etc. —  $500

*Kambwali Katenga travel to recruit teachers, and sustain sessions —                      $500

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                                                                                                                                               $2740

 

Thank you!

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LETTER TO PRINCIPAL AND TEACHERS

Dear Principal AND Teachers,

 

I am writing to you because I believe I can help you and your colleague teachers make an important learning step in teaching writing. Also, I believe I can help your students become more capable writers and more likely to attend secondary school. I hope to show teachers how to teach writing powerfully. And I hope to show students how to be powerful writers. This work would be with grades that we decide. It would be free and would occur by Zoom. 

 

THE PROPOSAL

 

TEACHERS

 

I propose to work with a small group of teachers (about 10) once per week for eight weeks. 

 

1. I will guide them in reading my book. 

2. I will involve them in writing to show them how to teach with ideas from the book. 

3. I will teach mindfulness practices from the book that create peaceful, healing classrooms.

4. And I will help them plan for how they can use this learning to teach their students. 

5. Teachers will receive my book for free.

 

STUDENTS

 

At the same time I propose to work with a group of up to 20 students once per week for about eight weeks in a WRITING CLUB. During this time the teachers can observe me. 

 

1. The students will learn how to get good topics and how to craft their papers well, and how to use writing for healing. 

2. The students would receive free writing notebooks and pens and pencils.

 

ABOUT ME

I am from the U.S., and I am the author of a recent book, THE MINDFUL WRITING WORKSHOP: TEACHING IN THE AGE OF STRESS AND TRAUMA. The book shows how to teach writing effectively, and it offers restorative practices that are healing for both teachers and students. As stated, the teachers will receive this book for free. Because of my relationship with Kambwali Katenga I am desiring to offer this work to you for free. 

 

This work might begin in mid 2024. I hope you will want to collaborate in this exciting possibility! Please feel free to find out more about my work from Kambwali Katenga and at my website: www.minddfulwritingworkshop.net I hope we will be in touch!

 

Best wishes, 

Richard Koch

rkoch@adrian.edu

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PLAN FOR TEACHERS IN “MINDFUL WRITING WORKSHOP” CLASS:--KITWE, ZAMBIA

 

**TEACHER--RICHARD KOCH, AUTHOR OF “THE MINDFUL WRITING WORKSHOP”

 

**PROGRAM COORDINATOR, KAMBWALI KATENGA

 

**—Each teacher will receive the book for free.

 

**GUIDELINES—

 

-Sessions will run for 8 weeks.

-Sessions will be 90 minutes long on ZOOM.

-Begin Tuesday, July 9th at 4 p. m. (Zambia Time).

-Participating teachers will receive a "CERTIFICATE OF PREPARATION" from the NATIONAL WRITING PROJECT, Berkeley, California, U. S.

-Teachers must be present for at least 6 of the 8 sessions.

-Teachers will make a short plan about how they will use ideas from the class.

 

**COURSE SCHEDULE—

 

WEEKS 1, 2, 3

 

—Read one chapter of the book each week and prepare for discussion.

—Richard will demonstrate “Mindfulness Practices” each week.

 

WEEKS  4, 5

 

Richard will demonstrate and guide teachers in using the TEACHING METHODS from the book—we will be a WRITING COMMUNITY together.

 

WEEKS 6, 7

 

Richard will help each teacher to “MAKE A PLAN” for how they can use ideas from the book in their own teaching work. EACH TEACHER WILL MAKE A SHORT PLAN--and share with the group.

 

WEEK 8

 

ESTABLISHING THE COHORT--We will plan how our group can continue to work together. And we will plan how Richard can continue to help the teachers to implement their plans.

 

***Richard will be available to help with this work after the class is concluded.

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VIDEOS:

 

We have completed the COHORT 1 GROUP OF TEACHERS of this class. There are three short videos below of GRADUATION DAY of Cohort 1—VIDEO 1—“RICHARD’S OPENING REMARKS,” VIDEO 2— “TWO CLASS MEMBERS PRESENT WHAT THEY LEARNED,” AND VIDEO 3—"THE GRATITUDE CEREMONY” that closed the day. Click on each video to begin playing.

 

*Zambia Cohort 2 Class has been launched, July 23rd, 2024.​