Friday, April 12, 2013
I feel like I am finally adjusting to the routine and schedule of the school as well as the workday. Today is Friday and I wrapped up my first week at St. Andrews. I learn something new every day and am growing to love my students and their parents more each day. I actually feel like a part of the school here. My teacher, Ms. Chavari and I get along so well and we have a lot in common. The schedule here for the school is different. Mondays through Thursdays Infant classes I and II attend school from 8:30 to 2:20and on Fridays these classes dismiss at lunch time. However, the teachers have to stay until 3:40 everyday. This week Carly and I have been staying until 5:00 or later.
In the U.S. typically teachers have a planning period at some point throughout each day. This is normally during the students' specials time. Here at St. Andrews there are no related arts classes, these elements are incorporated in the classroom with the teacher. As a result, the teachers do not get a daily planning period. The Infant II teachers utilize the time that they have on Thursdays from 2:20 to 3:40 and Fridays from 12:45 to 3:40 to do the planning for the next week. Each week the teachers are required to turn in a weekly summary lesson plan that outlines what they will do for each subject each day. These lessons must be aligned with the national standards, contain the content addressed, strategy utilized, and the method for assessment. This is similar to what is required in the U.S. at many schools.
One thing that is very different from schools in the U.S. is the lack of technology. None of the classrooms at the school have any form of technology. No computers, iPads, iPods, CD players, radios, etc. There are also no whiteboards, just chalk boards. Sometimes the students have to draw their own lines on their paper for writing. St. Andrews is considered one of the more prestigious schools, so I would love to visit another school that represents the other end of the spectrum. I found out that my teacher just learned how to use a computer this year. She took a course at the University of Belize, as she is currently taking courses to become a licensed teacher. She is working under a provisional license as of now and has 26 years of experience. She is extremely interested in how certification and education works in the U.S. and I am happy to answer her questions. She actually just completed her internship, which would be equivalent to our student teaching and graduates in June. We have bonded over this commonality since I will graduate in May.
In one of my previous posts, I mentioned how religion is incorporated into the curriculum. Every Thursday all of the classes attend a church service at the local Anglican church down the road from the school. The students sing songs, participate in giving offering, pray, and hear a sermon from the pastor. This was a very neat experience.
I also mentioned before that the school dismisses for an hour for lunch every day. During this time, many parents come in to pick up their children, take them to lunch, and then bring them back. Other students eat at the Cafe, which reminds me of a summer camp canteen or concession stand. They can try all kinds of goodies. I tried what is called an "idele." It is a type of slushie/water popsicle, but about a million times better. Nothing is better than an idele in this 103 degree heat.
I am very impressed with the amount of parent involvement here at St. Andrews. I see almost all of the parents on a daily basis. One of my student's parents brought me a huge piece of chocolate cake, one day just because. Another student brings me a fresh banana each morning. I talked with my teacher about this today because I thought it was so sweet and she said that it is simply the culture here. She said that she gets something from at least one student each day. It is the way that the parents and the students show how much the love and appreciate their teacher. The students must love Ms. Chavari because we got cake, donuts, bananas, and croissants this week. I think that I could really get used to this. So much for trying to watch my weight while I am here.
I had the opportunity to participate in parent teacher conferences and the issuing of report cards today. This was so neat as I was able to talk one on one with each parent about his or her child. I it amazing what one can pick up on in just a week. I can already identify many of the students strengths and some of their weaknesses as well as their interests and quirks. One of the conferences was completely conducted in Spanish. Many of the children and parents here can speak three languages, English, Creole, and Spanish and my teacher can communicate with all of them. I would love to be multilingual or even bilingual for that matter.
One of my student's mom really likes to talk and stays after to talk with me just about every day. We exchanged contact information and she has offered to plan some fun weekend adventure for Carly and I. Her and her husband own a couple of businesses in town and he is also the futbol supervisor for Belize. Another one of my student's mom owns a restaurant and has invited Carly and I to come for a free breakfast one day. Did I mention that I love the people here? Everyone is so welcoming and willing to help!
Carly and I have booked our first adventure for the weekend. We will be going to Pine Ridge where we will see the 1,000 foot waterfall, explore a cave, and hike through the jungle. We will also be visiting Caracol, which is a well known Maya ruin site.
We plan to go downtown tonight, grab a bite to eat, and enjoy the cool night weather. We have made it a point to try a new restaurant every night.
At first I was very out of my element in regards to the school, their discipline system, and curriculum, but now I am learning to appreciate what it has to offer and how it is effective in its own way.
I am so glad that it is Friday night and I can't wait for the adventures that await us tomorrow!
In the U.S. typically teachers have a planning period at some point throughout each day. This is normally during the students' specials time. Here at St. Andrews there are no related arts classes, these elements are incorporated in the classroom with the teacher. As a result, the teachers do not get a daily planning period. The Infant II teachers utilize the time that they have on Thursdays from 2:20 to 3:40 and Fridays from 12:45 to 3:40 to do the planning for the next week. Each week the teachers are required to turn in a weekly summary lesson plan that outlines what they will do for each subject each day. These lessons must be aligned with the national standards, contain the content addressed, strategy utilized, and the method for assessment. This is similar to what is required in the U.S. at many schools.
One thing that is very different from schools in the U.S. is the lack of technology. None of the classrooms at the school have any form of technology. No computers, iPads, iPods, CD players, radios, etc. There are also no whiteboards, just chalk boards. Sometimes the students have to draw their own lines on their paper for writing. St. Andrews is considered one of the more prestigious schools, so I would love to visit another school that represents the other end of the spectrum. I found out that my teacher just learned how to use a computer this year. She took a course at the University of Belize, as she is currently taking courses to become a licensed teacher. She is working under a provisional license as of now and has 26 years of experience. She is extremely interested in how certification and education works in the U.S. and I am happy to answer her questions. She actually just completed her internship, which would be equivalent to our student teaching and graduates in June. We have bonded over this commonality since I will graduate in May.
In one of my previous posts, I mentioned how religion is incorporated into the curriculum. Every Thursday all of the classes attend a church service at the local Anglican church down the road from the school. The students sing songs, participate in giving offering, pray, and hear a sermon from the pastor. This was a very neat experience.
I also mentioned before that the school dismisses for an hour for lunch every day. During this time, many parents come in to pick up their children, take them to lunch, and then bring them back. Other students eat at the Cafe, which reminds me of a summer camp canteen or concession stand. They can try all kinds of goodies. I tried what is called an "idele." It is a type of slushie/water popsicle, but about a million times better. Nothing is better than an idele in this 103 degree heat.
I am very impressed with the amount of parent involvement here at St. Andrews. I see almost all of the parents on a daily basis. One of my student's parents brought me a huge piece of chocolate cake, one day just because. Another student brings me a fresh banana each morning. I talked with my teacher about this today because I thought it was so sweet and she said that it is simply the culture here. She said that she gets something from at least one student each day. It is the way that the parents and the students show how much the love and appreciate their teacher. The students must love Ms. Chavari because we got cake, donuts, bananas, and croissants this week. I think that I could really get used to this. So much for trying to watch my weight while I am here.
I had the opportunity to participate in parent teacher conferences and the issuing of report cards today. This was so neat as I was able to talk one on one with each parent about his or her child. I it amazing what one can pick up on in just a week. I can already identify many of the students strengths and some of their weaknesses as well as their interests and quirks. One of the conferences was completely conducted in Spanish. Many of the children and parents here can speak three languages, English, Creole, and Spanish and my teacher can communicate with all of them. I would love to be multilingual or even bilingual for that matter.
One of my student's mom really likes to talk and stays after to talk with me just about every day. We exchanged contact information and she has offered to plan some fun weekend adventure for Carly and I. Her and her husband own a couple of businesses in town and he is also the futbol supervisor for Belize. Another one of my student's mom owns a restaurant and has invited Carly and I to come for a free breakfast one day. Did I mention that I love the people here? Everyone is so welcoming and willing to help!
Carly and I have booked our first adventure for the weekend. We will be going to Pine Ridge where we will see the 1,000 foot waterfall, explore a cave, and hike through the jungle. We will also be visiting Caracol, which is a well known Maya ruin site.
We plan to go downtown tonight, grab a bite to eat, and enjoy the cool night weather. We have made it a point to try a new restaurant every night.
At first I was very out of my element in regards to the school, their discipline system, and curriculum, but now I am learning to appreciate what it has to offer and how it is effective in its own way.
I am so glad that it is Friday night and I can't wait for the adventures that await us tomorrow!
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
I'll try to keep my posts shorter, but it is just so hard when I want to share everything! Today was my first day at St. Andrews. The typical school day at St. Andrews could not be more different from a school day in the U.S. We started out with a faculty meeting where the teachers prayed and sang church hymns together as well as a devotion with scripture. St. Andrews is an Anglican school. All of the schools here are formed based on religious denominations. There are Catholic, Anglican, Nazarene, and Baptist schools here. There is no air conditioning in the classrooms, or anywhere in the school for that matter. With it getting up to 100 degrees today, you can imagine how hot it was. I am currently still adjusting. The students started out with a twenty minute time block in which the teacher taught a bible lesson. Then we spent an hour on math skills. My students are currently learning the relationship between repeated addition and multiplication. The students used beans and egg cartons as manipulatives to help them visualize the problems. Recess was from 10:00 to 10:15. Then we had an hour of language arts instruction where new vocabulary was introduced and the students practiced their writing. St. Andrews has very high expectations for students' work and requires a high degree of neatness. Unlike the United States, the schools have very limited access to worksheets, if any. The students complete most of their work on notebook paper in small books. After language arts, we dismissed for lunch. Carly and I came home and Ms. Harrison made delicious chicken burritos and mango juice. We assembled back at school and began social studies, where the students learned about transportation by air, water, and land. Then we moved on to Spanish instruction and then finally homework time. St. Andrews strives to give its students the opportunity to be bilingual. Each day the afternoon schedule changes and students receive instruction in various areas. Each time the students meet or dismiss they pray. Religion is a key component of the curriculum here, which is very different from public schools in the U.S.
Tonight Carly and I went downtown to grab a bite to eat and did some souvenir shopping. Today was a very long, but great day. I'm looking forward to relaxing and calling it a night. Pictures will be coming soon!
Tonight Carly and I went downtown to grab a bite to eat and did some souvenir shopping. Today was a very long, but great day. I'm looking forward to relaxing and calling it a night. Pictures will be coming soon!
Monday, April 8, 2013
Well, the internet connection at the Princess Hotel wasn't working, so I wasn't able to post or communicate with anyone Saturday or Sunday. Today has definitely made up for it though!
Today, the lovely Galen University representatives picked Carly and I up from the hotel and transported us to San Ignacio, Belize, which is about two hours away from Belize City. They took us out to a traditional Belizian restaurant where I tried the well known plate, rice and beans. They also have beans and rice, and no they are not the same thing, in fact they are very different. I also tried some of their freshly squeezed orange juice, which was to die for. I think I am going to make it a goal to try a new type of juice every day. So far, I have tried orange, lime, and mango. Watermelon is next on the list. Joshua, Kristy, and Mr. Owen took us to Galen University where we met Dr. Aline Harrison, which is the nice lady that we are staying with. They gave us a tour of the university. It was so different from our universities and colleges in the U.S. Their university only had four classrooms and was contained within one building. The neat part was that everyone knew everyone and the atmosphere was very relaxed.
Next on the agenda was to tour the school that we will be teaching at, St. Andrews. I met my host teacher, Ms. Avasiera. I'm sure I couldn't be more off with the spelling of her name. She teaches Infant 2, which is the equivalent of second grade in the U.S. I am so unbelievably excited to work with the students tomorrow. The layout of the school is very different. First off, there is no air conditioning. Did I mention that April and May are the hottest months of the year in Belize? Therefore, the weather is going to take some getting use to. The great thing is that the school is very open with lots of windows. The students have their own cafe. There is also a basketball court that the kids can play on during recess. We get an hour lunch break in which we go home to eat our midday meal. I'm excited for burritos tomorrow! Dr. Harrison's mother, Alicia will be cooking our midday meals. All this week I will be observing and getting to know the students, the teacher, and the school routine.
After the tour of the school, Dr. Harrison took us downtown, which is only a five minute walk from our house. We explored some of the local shops and restaurants. We ate dinner at her brother's pizza shop, Yoli's Pizza, at the park. Then we went to the local supermarket and got some breakfast items. It was so fascinating to see the different items that they had. There was a lot of rice and beans and then more beans and rice and you can't forget tortillas. I found some M&Ms, so I was able to get my chocolate fix.
Today was an adventure! I met a lot of new people and I can't wait for tomorrow's adventures.
Today, the lovely Galen University representatives picked Carly and I up from the hotel and transported us to San Ignacio, Belize, which is about two hours away from Belize City. They took us out to a traditional Belizian restaurant where I tried the well known plate, rice and beans. They also have beans and rice, and no they are not the same thing, in fact they are very different. I also tried some of their freshly squeezed orange juice, which was to die for. I think I am going to make it a goal to try a new type of juice every day. So far, I have tried orange, lime, and mango. Watermelon is next on the list. Joshua, Kristy, and Mr. Owen took us to Galen University where we met Dr. Aline Harrison, which is the nice lady that we are staying with. They gave us a tour of the university. It was so different from our universities and colleges in the U.S. Their university only had four classrooms and was contained within one building. The neat part was that everyone knew everyone and the atmosphere was very relaxed.
Next on the agenda was to tour the school that we will be teaching at, St. Andrews. I met my host teacher, Ms. Avasiera. I'm sure I couldn't be more off with the spelling of her name. She teaches Infant 2, which is the equivalent of second grade in the U.S. I am so unbelievably excited to work with the students tomorrow. The layout of the school is very different. First off, there is no air conditioning. Did I mention that April and May are the hottest months of the year in Belize? Therefore, the weather is going to take some getting use to. The great thing is that the school is very open with lots of windows. The students have their own cafe. There is also a basketball court that the kids can play on during recess. We get an hour lunch break in which we go home to eat our midday meal. I'm excited for burritos tomorrow! Dr. Harrison's mother, Alicia will be cooking our midday meals. All this week I will be observing and getting to know the students, the teacher, and the school routine.
After the tour of the school, Dr. Harrison took us downtown, which is only a five minute walk from our house. We explored some of the local shops and restaurants. We ate dinner at her brother's pizza shop, Yoli's Pizza, at the park. Then we went to the local supermarket and got some breakfast items. It was so fascinating to see the different items that they had. There was a lot of rice and beans and then more beans and rice and you can't forget tortillas. I found some M&Ms, so I was able to get my chocolate fix.
Today was an adventure! I met a lot of new people and I can't wait for tomorrow's adventures.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Days 1 and 2
Wow! So much to share. Yesterday Carly and I arrived in Belize around 2:30 p.m. The first thing I noticed was the wonderful weather, sunny and 85 degrees. That's right, be jealous fellow Kentuckians. Flip flops and tank tops are what my future holds. We caught a cab with a friendly couple and checked in to the Princess Hotel and Casino. The ride to the hotel was crazy! There are no stop signs and drivers literally drive all over the road. Our hotel was definitely not what we had expected. It turns out there are no beaches in Belize City, which is kind of a bummer, but we have found lots of other activities to entertain us. The culture is so evident in the decorations in the hotel and even with the staff. A nice gentleman that works for the hotel took Carly and I to the supermarket where all of the locals go. We went to buy some bottled water and snacks. We were a little shocked when a box of cereal, Cheerios to be exact, was priced at $10. It turns out that the currency ratio from U.S. money to Belize dollars is 2 to 1. So, to us it was really $5. Getting use to the ratio has definitely been a challenge. However, Belizian money is absolutely beautiful! (I'll post a picture soon!) We treated ourselves to a nice dinner and called it a night.
Our first full day in Belize was complete with an array of new experiences. Our hotel offers a complimentary breakfast with fresh fruits and traditional Belizian foods. I tried what was called a "johnny cake." It would be equivalent to what we would call a biscuit and it was fantastic. I also tried a fresh omelet cooked to order. The fruit was wonderful and so fresh. We tried papaya, watermelon, and bananas. Probably the weirdest thing that we encountered was the fact that they do not have liquid milk. They only offer powdered milk. After a big breakfast, Carly and I headed to the streets to explore the inner city. We were so excited to be immersed in the hussle and bussle of everday life in Belize. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly. Virtually everyone we walked by said hello and asked us how we were enjoying our stay in Belize, so refreshing! The city was mixed with slums and upper class areas. One minute you could see a brand new structure and then around another corner would be a shack. I also noticed that all of the schools were private and represented different religious denominations. We saw lots of children out and about today, which made us wonder if schools were in session on Fridays. The highlight of my day was when a security guard at the local bank introduced himself to Carly and I and thanked us for our assistance in the school system. It made us feel extremely appreciated.
We also went to the Belize museum where we brushed up on our Belize history. I'm pretty sure we walked over 7 miles today. Needless to say we were beat. We came back to the hotel and rested. We decided to get dressed up for dinner and headed to the local Hour Bar and Grill, which was recommended by our cab driver and our hotel friend. Ocean front view and a sea breeze made for a perfect evening. Can't wait for tomorrow!
Wow! So much to share. Yesterday Carly and I arrived in Belize around 2:30 p.m. The first thing I noticed was the wonderful weather, sunny and 85 degrees. That's right, be jealous fellow Kentuckians. Flip flops and tank tops are what my future holds. We caught a cab with a friendly couple and checked in to the Princess Hotel and Casino. The ride to the hotel was crazy! There are no stop signs and drivers literally drive all over the road. Our hotel was definitely not what we had expected. It turns out there are no beaches in Belize City, which is kind of a bummer, but we have found lots of other activities to entertain us. The culture is so evident in the decorations in the hotel and even with the staff. A nice gentleman that works for the hotel took Carly and I to the supermarket where all of the locals go. We went to buy some bottled water and snacks. We were a little shocked when a box of cereal, Cheerios to be exact, was priced at $10. It turns out that the currency ratio from U.S. money to Belize dollars is 2 to 1. So, to us it was really $5. Getting use to the ratio has definitely been a challenge. However, Belizian money is absolutely beautiful! (I'll post a picture soon!) We treated ourselves to a nice dinner and called it a night.
Our first full day in Belize was complete with an array of new experiences. Our hotel offers a complimentary breakfast with fresh fruits and traditional Belizian foods. I tried what was called a "johnny cake." It would be equivalent to what we would call a biscuit and it was fantastic. I also tried a fresh omelet cooked to order. The fruit was wonderful and so fresh. We tried papaya, watermelon, and bananas. Probably the weirdest thing that we encountered was the fact that they do not have liquid milk. They only offer powdered milk. After a big breakfast, Carly and I headed to the streets to explore the inner city. We were so excited to be immersed in the hussle and bussle of everday life in Belize. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly. Virtually everyone we walked by said hello and asked us how we were enjoying our stay in Belize, so refreshing! The city was mixed with slums and upper class areas. One minute you could see a brand new structure and then around another corner would be a shack. I also noticed that all of the schools were private and represented different religious denominations. We saw lots of children out and about today, which made us wonder if schools were in session on Fridays. The highlight of my day was when a security guard at the local bank introduced himself to Carly and I and thanked us for our assistance in the school system. It made us feel extremely appreciated.
We also went to the Belize museum where we brushed up on our Belize history. I'm pretty sure we walked over 7 miles today. Needless to say we were beat. We came back to the hotel and rested. We decided to get dressed up for dinner and headed to the local Hour Bar and Grill, which was recommended by our cab driver and our hotel friend. Ocean front view and a sea breeze made for a perfect evening. Can't wait for tomorrow!
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Last day here in the good ole United States! It has been perfect spending the day with my mom, best friends, and sisters. I still can't believe that I leave tomorrow! I'm FINALLY all packed and ready to go. Five weeks seems like a long time and I am going to miss some very special people, but I am sure that it will fly by once I am there. I thank God that I have been blessed with such a wonderful opportunity.
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