Week of March 31-April 8

I am behind in my blog postings so I will try to catch up today.  Last week was fairly uneventful.  All the students settled into their classrooms and most were teaching on a regular basis.  Last Sunday we all went sailing and snorkeling at the barrier reef. Dophins rode with us part of the way back into San Pedro. It was a great day although most of us came home with sunburns.  I spent the week doing intern observations.  We stopped in to see the children at the preschool and read the book our students wrote last  year-The ABC's of Belize.  The children were excited to identify the familiar animals and items from their community that are featured in the book.

Elizabeth Crawford and Bill Bolduc, both faculty at UNCW, along with Zack, a film student, were here last week filming our students in the classrooms teaching. Also, in town, were Steve Meinhold (UNCW) and Marilyn Cantrell, both representing the Wilmington Sisters Cities Organization.  Kim Duvall and two advisers from UNCW spent part of the week here as well.  it was busy week with visitors.  Bri Reck joined us on Wednesday in anticipation of the graduate students arriving this weekend.

Last Saturday we went to the Marco Gonzales dig site on the south end of the island.  It was a Mayan Trading Center and there are many artifacts just scattered on the ground.  I found a piece of obsidian, volcanic glass, on the ground.  The guide took it for the collection they are putting together because it is rare to find.  The Mayans used the obsidian as a cutting tool.  The Belizean Government has just declared the site a National Park and they are putting together a museum and education center for school children.  It was very buggy and we all got a lot of bites.

On Friday, three of our students went to the Belize Zoo and Banana Boat, a water park in Belize City, with the preschoolers.  They came home with tales of petting monkeys, birds, and getting very close to a jaguar.  Tonight, several of our students are playing the parents at RC Primary School in a soccer (football) game.  Tomorrow, I will go snorkeling again, with the grad students this time.

Today we went to Isla Bonita to participate in a school fund raiser for the playground and for Ms. Yvette's father.  Her father needs medical treatment and family was not able to pay.  They sold bar-be-que chicken plates and had the children paint a mural on the school wall.  This afternoon will be lazy as it is hot and sunny.

 Riding 5 miles to Marco Gonzales dig site.

Dolphins swimming by our boat on Sunday.

April 9, 2011

After-school snack of salt, lime juice and ice.

Kyle showed the teachers at Isla Bonita how to use the e-Readers.

 

Keeley buys ankle bracelets from a young beader.

March 21-25, 2011

The first week of internship in the Belizian schools has been successful.  The photos below show a busy week.  Most of the students taught in their classrooms by the end of the week. Some have taken over the class fully and are currently planning for next week.

Having bikes to ride this year has really made it a lot easier to get around.  We are able to ride all over the island and park anywhere.  Unfortunately, bike theft is a problem and one student had a bike stolen from the school--she left it there overnight.

Dennis and I met with the Minister of Education's representative in San Pedro Town, Candy Armstrong on Thursday.  She is going to set up a meeting with the Minister of Education and some of the people in his office for us when the graduate students come in.  She is excited to have our graduate students hold some professional development activities for the principals and lead teachers while they are here.  She is particularly interested in discussing working with children with special needs and principals supporting teachers as instructional leaders.  This International Professional Development Site is becoming more formalized.

I was able to sit in with two of our students and their teachers as they planned for next week.  At Roman Catholic Elementary School each grade-level plans together for the week.  Two of the teachers asked us if this was how teachers in the US plan.  We said that was not what usually happened. It seemed like a good idea as they planned to share activities.  Kathleen and Keely are going to teach science and creative arts for all four Standard 1 classrooms next week.

At Isla Bonita Elementary, the students presented the school with the UNCW flag and sang the National Anthem.  Parents came by and picked up report cards while most of the students taught all day.  Ms. Addie (principal) and Ms. Dianna (school cook) treated us to lunch as a "thank you" for working with the school this year. We had delicious chicken tacos served on crispy, flat tortillas and fresh watermelon.

Saturday we spent half the day at the Palapa Bar and Grill.  They had chicken burritos and watermelon juice for everyone.  They also had large tubes for floating in the ocean and everyone played a tossing the coconut into the tube game.  Kyle won the tee shirt first prize.  The students at the high school spent the morning helping with the field day.  They were ready to cool off in the ocean when they joined us at Palapa's.

Today, Sunday is a day for planning for next week. Although a few students went diving or sailing, most are nursing sun burns from yesterday and getting ready for next week.

Kathleen is treated to rice juice.

Students line up at the start of the day.

Teacher Kyle

Teacher Katie

Planning for next week.

Presenting the UNCW flag to Isla Bonita Elementary School.

Saturday and some fun on the water.

Moray Eel

An eel like this came swimming out of the coral while I was diving.  He opened his mouth just like this and then swam back into the coral.

March 16-20, 2011

We have been here a week and this is my first blog posting!  So much going on.  We struggled to get internet the first few days.  Peter-hostel owner-purchased high-speed internet for us beginning Monday.  It has made a huge difference.  I spent most of Wednesday-Sunday trying to get online and then being thrown off the minute I thought it was finally going to work!

Arrival on Wednesday was uneventful.  The flights here arrive early--so different from flying anywhere in the States.  We got in in mid-afternoon and got settled in.  No TV remote for my room--back in the dark ages.  Just glad there is air conditioner and a TV that works.  Everytime a plane takes off I hear the pilots through my TV--we are next to the airstrip.

Thursday we did our walking tour of San Pedro and stopped in the schools to say hi.  Everyone was happy to see us. 

Friday was our first offical day to stop in the schools in anticipation of students starting to teach on Monday.  It was the end of the quarter for all three schools.  The high school had a special day of exhibits for parents and the students were on hand to describe their posters.  See the young man below in the white uniform.  He was very articulate about his math poster. The secondary students spent several hours touring the posters and talking to the students.  The elementary students at Isla Bonita Elementary met their teachers and got some assignments for Monday.  The elementary students at RC Elementary did not get to meet their teachers--it was exam day and they will meet everyone on Monday.

RC is a new school for us so we really don't know what to expect.  The RC (Roman Catholic) elementary is the public school. Classrooms have 30-40 children and no air conditioning.  Ms. Kay, the principal, is very nice, but very strict.  I think our students are nervous about Monday.

The weekend was a time to relax. We found a great new spot to eat--Latitudes.  Great wraps and smoothies.  I went twice and enjoyed a creme-cicle milk shake and a turkey wrap with avocado, cranberry sauce, and cheese.  We have been back several times and it is everyone's favorite spot on the beach.

Saturday, five of us took a diving lesson and went out to the reef.  We saw an eel and swam with a sea turtle.  My problem was staying on the bottom--I kept floating to the surface.  The instructor said it takes time.  I hope to get a copy of the eel picture from one of the students.  The eel came out, opened his mouth and startled all of us.

Sunday was a great brunch by one of the restaurants in our honor and then we all rested

First Week

First Week

Countdown to Belize

One week to go and we will be in San Pedro Town again!  Can't wait.  We have two additional graduate students going with us.  Somebody asked me today if I was ready to go--are you ever?

Last minute details--getting shirts ordered, finding out everyone's flight information, do they want to rent bikes, etc.  Can't believe it is that time again.