Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
Beginning Year 3 in Belize
We arrived on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. It is hard to believe this is the third trip to this amazing country. I had seven students travel with me to Belize City and two others join us in San Pedro Town later that afternoon. Dennis and one additional student came in on Thursday. We got through customs without mishap and boarded the small commuter airplane for the 17 minute hop over to San Pedro. Arriving in town, the hot, humid air was like a blast furnace. We got settled in at Pedro's Inn and headed for Estel's for lunch. We were greeted enthusiastically by Peter, owner of Pedro's, Cindy, the hotel manager, and Walter, in charge of maintenance and just about everything else. Charlie, Jambo, and Molly (resident dogs) were also glad to see everyone. Wargumas for dinner and then we were all went to bed early-exhausted from the trip. On day two, we relaxed at Pedro's. Everyone went snorkeling off of Ramon's pier. We stood in line at the chicken drop--where bets are taken to predict where a startled chicken will poop on a numbered game board. We hurried back to Pedro's for Trivia Night where our team came in tied for 2nd place. Better luck next week.
Friday was our day to check in with each school. We dropped 33 books off at the Ministry of Education's lending library in town and then headed to the high school. It was Open Day and the high schoolers demonstrated their knowledge through science fair-type displays. In the science lab we saw a miniature version of the chicken drop. The chicken kept trying to escape. One of the students noted that there were high schoolers demonstrating propane and fire without any concern for safety--welcome to Belize! Our favorite was in the science lab where one student was displaying four tiny puppies. Another student had Brutus, his Great Dane. Brutus was taller than his owner.
We also visited Isla Bonita Primary School where the students met their partnership teachers and the students who will be in their classes. The Infant I class (first grade) was enjoying some art activities that ended up being more paint on their hands than the paper. Students assigned to the high school returned in the afternoon to take part in the staff meeting and meet some of the teachers.
We all met back at Pedro's where it is Paella night and Gino and the Shack Shakers will be playing. Derrick Banos is still on the island. He is the gifted guitar player we first met during our first trip. Derrick makes his own guitars and is under the guidance of Drummer Dan (Berlin group from the 80's). We were told last year that upon graduation, Derrick would head to the US for college. He is still here so I will be interested to hear the story behind that change of events.
I am going to try to share some video but it is difficult to get it to load on the hotel internet. I will keep working on it.
Friday was our day to check in with each school. We dropped 33 books off at the Ministry of Education's lending library in town and then headed to the high school. It was Open Day and the high schoolers demonstrated their knowledge through science fair-type displays. In the science lab we saw a miniature version of the chicken drop. The chicken kept trying to escape. One of the students noted that there were high schoolers demonstrating propane and fire without any concern for safety--welcome to Belize! Our favorite was in the science lab where one student was displaying four tiny puppies. Another student had Brutus, his Great Dane. Brutus was taller than his owner.
We all met back at Pedro's where it is Paella night and Gino and the Shack Shakers will be playing. Derrick Banos is still on the island. He is the gifted guitar player we first met during our first trip. Derrick makes his own guitars and is under the guidance of Drummer Dan (Berlin group from the 80's). We were told last year that upon graduation, Derrick would head to the US for college. He is still here so I will be interested to hear the story behind that change of events.
I am going to try to share some video but it is difficult to get it to load on the hotel internet. I will keep working on it.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
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.
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.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
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.
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.
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