Reflections on the first week of elementary school

I’ve had the opportunity to observe all of our interns in Isla Bonita Elementary School. The primary teacher candidates are doing an absolutely fantastic job providing instruction to the elementary students. They have all been give opportunities to lead their classes and the faculty at the elementary school is so supportive of their efforts. As I enter the classrooms, the students will rise and say, “Good Morning Mr. Dennis!” All have school uniforms (boys in red polo shirts and khaki pants; girls in red polo shirts and khaki skirts) and are often as polite as can be.

I’ve observed Miss Wendy Unsworth teach science (levers) in Mrs. Yvette’s Standard 4 class and Health Science (HIV aids) in Mrs. Sharon’s standard 5 class. All the teachers are tasked with visiting a health science curriculum on a yearly basis; that is, the content is recursive from year-to-year. And, I'm really surprised by the explicit nature of the sex education discussion. But, confronting teen pregnancy, alcohol and drug use, and AIDS education through effective strategies at an early age offers solutions to the problem. Students are encouraged to ask any and all questions of their teacher during class. At first, it was uncomfortable to observe, because the curriculum contrasts with the education I’ve had as a student and the education I was tasked with providing as a teacher in the states. But, Wendy presents the content is such an approachable and enthusiastic way. She facilitated conversations that were exciting and viable. I think the students benefit by being well informed of the dangers while extinguishing those “urban myths and legends”.

I’ve observed Mrs. Amanda Barnes teach Standard 3 science in Hector Trejo’s class. She led a great lesson on the solar system and integrated her laptop computer. She downloaded a solar system software package titled “Microsoft World Wide Telescopes”. The students were amazed by the software and graphics! I was amazed as well and I teach high school science. Student interest is very high! The students are definitely enjoying her presentation…this is a great way to add visualization for students addressing the problem of “scale” that many students have. Amanda has a way of making direct instruction more student centered and student active.

Miss Kristen Brenton has real approachable voice and style with the Infant 1 and 2 children (5 and 6 years old). You can tell the students are really motivated by her instruction! Kristen was asked to lead Mrs. Addy’s class during the first week. What a challenge! Mrs. Addy is also the principle and as you could imagine, leading a daily classroom and running a school at the same time sure would present some challenges for any administrator. I think Kristen has really risen to the challenge and adapted quite well to the prescribed curriculum. And, I believe Mrs. Addy appreciates the freedom to lead the school in the daily tasks required.

The teacher candidates marched in a parade with the Isla Bonita marching band on Saturday afternoon. They thought the experience was long but very cool! The band marched for Earth Hour and many people lined the streets cheering the bands on. They marched to the north end of the island and attended the bonfire in celebration. On Sunday, the teacher candidates assisted with a cookout to raise finances for the student trip inland. They ate and hung out with the teachers and students all afternoon. We can’t be thankful enough for the reception we have received! And, I’m proud of the ongoing job that our teacher candidates are doing at Isla Bonita.

Reflections on our first week in the high school

Without getting into great detail, we’ve had a very successful first week in the high school. Week One began as teacher candidates became acclimated to their physical surroundings, met and observed their partner teachers, reviewed their schedules, and were introduced to their new students. San Pedro High School is a small high school (450 students), but the building and the classrooms are new. And, while the schedule seems confusing at first, it makes sense after a week of attending classes. The language of English is shared, but we have heavy accents relative to the English spoken on campus. And, to make communication more difficult, students have a tendency to mix English, Spanish, and Creole, during one conversation. So, the struggle to effectively communicate is always present, but in general, all the teacher candidates get their message across to the students.


Interesting: The students don’t move from the class to class, the teachers do! So it’s the teachers that rotate, not the students.

The science laboratory is ‘in process’ of being refurbished. The laboratory classroom is one of only two classrooms on the third floor of the high school. There are five sinks and each has water running to it. There is a few shelves of chemicals but many look old. We’re told by the Science Department Chair, Paul Kelly, that teachers often have to use household chemicals as replacements. I asked if there was a chemical company in Belize and he said no. They will periodically order materials from Mexico or the United States, but it is very expensive (more expensive than what we pay). And many of the chemicals ordered from the Mexican company come directly from the US anyway.

Interesting: Available chemicals are ‘difficult to come by’ so many are beginning to explore on-line support (i.e. Chemistry – burette simulations). But teachers make due as best as possible.

The computer laboratories are on the second floor and are air conditioned. This is quite a relief when escaping the outdoor sun and the heat. The computer room is well lit and the students have availability to the computers. The rooms are not sterile like they are in the states. Dust from the outside is always a concern and it often covers some of the keyboards and screen. There are some computers that don’t work, but for the most part, it is a working computer laboratory. John Derian and Margo Ennis led four “integrated science” classes in the computer lab. Their partnership teachers, Mr. Che’ and Mr. Paul Kelly, encouraged them to take the students to the lab to explore volcanoes. Margo and John chose to use a National Geographic Kids website. The students investigated volcanic characteristics using authentic images and small simulations. They classes was so well behaved and each student seemed to really enjoy and learn from the activity. They were able to almost complete the entire worksheet that Margo Ennis prepared to guide the learning experience.
They do have an LCD projector to present information onto the front screen. John Derian had also utilized the tool to give a lecture of the “phases of the moon” on Friday. His students sat around a large table and took notes from the lecture.

Interesting: While the computer lab is very well equipped, the processing speed is a bit antiquated. It is not impossible to use, but one requires patience.

It is interesting as many of the rooms in the high school have candy wrappers and plastic bottles strewn about despite the best efforts of the teachers and the principal to encourage the students to keep their areas clean. In fact, this has become a topic of conversation during the past faculty meeting. The school isn’t necessarily dirty, just very dusty. Tropical breezes constantly flow ashore from the adjacent ocean. In fact, it has been so windy the last week that snorkeling and water activities are difficult. But it is the breezes that keep the school cool. There are few air conditioners. So we aren’t complaining!

Monday, March 23rd

Today was the first formal day all of our UNCW students will spend in San Pedro’s schools. I was able to see all elementary students and their teachers at a morning assembly. Wendy Unsworth taught all the primary school students (and teachers) to “create rain”, a short interactive activity where students created clouds then thunder and then rain using their hands and snapping their fingers. All seemed to have so much fun! I was introduced to the students later during morning assembly as ‘Dr. Dennis’. I made a short speech to the teachers and student body, thanking the school for allowing us to visit and the opportunity to be engaged in such a ‘cool experience’.

I later observed both Kristen Brenton teach infant 1 or Kindergarten. The topic of her presentation was the science topic 'wedges'. Students were asked to visualize how a knife might work as it cuts butter or how an axe would work as it chops down a tree. I was able to assist her in the instruction, and I appreciated her involving me. The curriculum is very prescribed and all teachers have a strict standard course of study to follow. The students are tested using a Caribbean exam at the end of the year. They have to be prepared! She did a great job and she is so patient with the students. Most of the curriculum is teacher-directed, but Kristen tried to engage the students using authentic and practical examples.

I was able to also observe Wendy Unsworth teach standard 4 or fifth grade. She also was teaching science and focused on work. That is, Force X Distance = Work. She asked if one of the students could pick me up. He tried, but couldn’t. So, I asked if work was done. We had a long discussion with the students as to why work hadn’t been done because I hadn’t moved a distance. Wendy had lots of energy and enthusiasm. It is so contagious for the students to see her so excited.

I’m really enjoying the opportunity to observe our students as they begin and to see the friendly faces and enthusiasm of the Belizean children.

I attended the high school in the afternoon and met with many of the high school teachers again. We had lunch prepared for us by the teachers who had taken us fishing the Saturday prior. The meal was arranged in the cafeteria…that is, a open air stand that you would see at a high school football game. You know, the ones where the windows are prepped open and there is only room for like six people inside. See the picture included! They prepared whole snapper with a Cajun mix of vegetables and fresh tortillas. We even had the opportunity to serve the students from the stand.

I was able to observe Will Fassbender teach during the day. He read a short story called the lottery. The students listened and he questioned them about the story. In fact, he gave out pieces of paper to each student and one was labeled with a black mark prior to the story. The students soon realized that the lottery from the story wasn’t a money lottery, but a sacrifice ritual. Will didn’t sacrifice anyone, but he did award the winner with a snickers bar!

We were invited to attend the Monday afternoon faculty meeting. The teachers discussed their attendance policy and why it wasn't being enforced by the principal. They discussed specific student academic issues and the problems they were having with discipline. Principal Vasquez was questioned about specific students and whether or not expulsions were possible for those who had missed too much time in class. Seemed eerily similar to the many faculty meetings I had attended as a high school Biology teacher!

We were asked to present some ideas for professional development and to my delight, the teachers were most interested in have some training in student-centered methodology. We will prepare a 2-hour seminar, and I will deliver to the high school teachers over the final two weeks we are in schools.

We went out to dinner with three Belizean teachers: Michelle, Che’ and Rafeal. They took us to a Belizean food stand and we all ate for less than two dollars! We enjoyed their company and exchanged stories.

Sunday, March 22nd

We have coffee available each morning at the Inn. This saves the students and me a little bit of money each day. Many of us enjoy the coffee by the pool under the increasingly hot sun…and it gets hot quick!

The NCAA basketball games begin at 10:00 AM here and luckily we have a TV to watch…or at least get updates.

I had a great breakfast…pancakes with fresh bananas baked in with tomato juice…yummy!

Many students decided to snorkel on Sunday afternoon off the dock in front of the resort hotel Ramon’s. The pier extends around 200 yards from the beach. A few students have bought a basic mask and snorkel for $12.00 in the local gift shops. This is pretty cheap for San Pedro Island. Many of us were able to see grouper, yellow fin snapper, parrotfish, red snapper and silk snapper to name a few of the fish.

We celebrated Kristen Brenton’s 22nd birthday at a restaurant on the water called the Blue Water Grill. While the restaurant was expensive, even by our standards, the food was delicious. The flavor and the spices added to each of dishes are really different from many restaurants in the states. Sometimes it doesn’t matter what food you are eating because the spices and sauces create such incredible flavor. I had conch and shrimp ceviche for an appetizer and Thai beef salad…spicy and sharp to the taste. And, Bellikan Beer is the beverage of choice for many folks on the island. But, we won’t be having too many of these type of evenings…too expensive when there is other good food on the island.

Some students went for ice cream late while the others went home to prepare lesson plans for their first day in schools. It seems that all are a bit nervous because few know what to expect. Tomorrow should be an exciting day for everyone!

Saturday, March 21st

We decided to pursue a recommendation of a teacher in one of the schools and eat at a small restaurant called Papouses. Again, the restaurant is like walking into someone’s kitchen, except one wall is missing…the wall to the road. A real nondescript store that you’d never notice unless you were really looking for it. There had maybe three tables in one small room (like a tiny waiting room), and all eight of us seemed to take up almost the entire space. Most of the food is cooked on the side of the road (more like an alley) on ‘makeshift’ grills. I made the wonderful mistake of ordering a shrimp burrito. All of the other students had received their meals and even finished their dinners before I had a chance to even see my food. When the server/cook/hostess (she performed all the culinary functions!) brought my meal, I had never seen a burrito so large in my life. It could’ve fed a family of four. We all laughed, but it was really good food. John, Kristen, and Amanda helped me finish my meal!

What a morning! Kristen Trotter, Will Fassbender, John Derian, and I met the Dean of San Pedro Junior College, Gustavo Ellis, the San Pedro High School vocational teacher, Alberto, and the Chairwoman of the School Board’s husband, Mr. Guerrero. The rest of the student group will fish next weekend. We all arrived at 7:00 AM and went off to the back bay on the other side of San Pedro island. We were all excited to see a different side of the island.

El Capitan Guerrero is acting president of the local Lion’s Club in San Pedro town, and is perhaps the most influential man in town. He also is the oldest fishing guide on the island, and we are told, the best! We soon will see. We left the dock in a 25 foot skiff. Mr Guerrero caught live bait (sardines) first using a cast net. “Just look for the birds,” he says. Sure enough, there was a huge school of sardines in around 4 feet of water. And the birds were wading and roosting from their morning meal. We drove south with our bait, parallel to coast but inside the barrier reef. The reef is a short ½ mile from the coast. You can see the waves break over it from the shoreline. We turned West, away from the ocean, and coasted through mangrove forests. I am acutely aware of the trash on the shore. It seems like there is more garbage than one would usually see on Masonboro Island.

The fishing trip began well…we caught mangrove snapper, silk snapper, yellowtail snapper, and some small groupers. All told we reeled in 95 fish over the course of two hours. We were now prepared for dinner. Kristen caught the most fish as she is quite the fisherwoman! And john soon found out how long it takes to clean 95 fish! We cleaned the fish at the dock while large rays, bonefish, and pelicans swam around eating the tasty morsels.

More importantly, we all had the opportunity to talk about collaborations, partnerships, past failed efforts with American schools, and future efforts that would work best. I am now aware that a process exists for placing students in Belizean schools. Dean Gustavo talked to me about the Consortium for Belize Educational Cooperation (COBEC) and the positive influence the group is having. I hope to be at the conference on July 30th at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah Georgia. The opportunity to talk and share stories was so valuable! I learned more on this fishing trip about the process of schooling and collaboration than I did researching the field experience for the past two years.

Hey All!

Our WSE International students group arrived in San Pedro early this Wednesday afternoon after a long day of travel. We’ve checked into our accommodations and are excited to get started. Our four rooms on the first floor. You can see were we are staying here: http://backpackersbelize.com/

Wednesday Afternoon


In fact, we’ve already met with La Isla Bonita’s Elementary School principal Miss Addy Martinez, her teachers, and her staff this afternoon. We had a positive 30 minute meeting! It seems as if the school will be a good fit for our UNCW students. Our elementary teacher candidates will again visit with faculty and students for an hour tomorrow. The local paper is going to do a story on our students in the local paper and post to the web. I’ll be sure to share. Their start day in the elementary school is next Monday.



See their website here: http://islabonitaelementaryschool.com/index.html

We meet with San Pedro High School principal, Emil Vasquez at 2:30 (Central America time – 2 hours behind ours) tomorrow. We are hoping for results as positive as today!

Wednesday Evening

We enjoyed pizza and beverages at Pedro's Pub. We even rallied together an NCAA basketball pool for the group. Peter (the owner of the Inn) is a unique character and enjoys his Bellikan.




Thursday Morning

We enjoyed a Belizean Breakfast at one of the more uninviting restaurants on the island. But as we are finding out quickly, the more uninviting the establishment, the better the food! So, were told by the host schools, the 'cafe's' and 'deli's', while not attractive and very small (one table!), have incredible burritos, pupusas, and rice and beans.



Before our high school visit, we returned to Pedro's and watched some first round Basketball. But the basketball courts here look a little different! The high school does offer select sports and has a small marching band.





Thursday Afternoon

Principal Vasquez greeted our secondary students at the front of the school with a smile. He was really excited to see us! In fact, he was so excited to see us, he asked if we would be introduced to the San Pedro High School student body. ALL 400 high school students arrived to the open air auditorium from the three story school building as their classes ended. It was quite intimidating and we were definitely in the position of being the "other". Emil introduced me to the students and we received quite the reception. After some welcoming remarks, I introduced each of the four secondary students. Margo Ennis, Kristen Trotter, John Derian, and Will Fassbender (see each of the students here): http://people.uncw.edu/kubaskod/International/Student_summary.htm.
The reception for Will Fassbender was hilarious. You'd have thought he was a member of a "boy band". All the young ladies whistled and cheered!

After a 20 minute assembly, we met with the faculty. Principal Emil led the meeting and we all exchanged introductions. The three science teachers will be dispersed amongst the 5 science teachers at the high school. Schedules, textbooks, and syllabi's will be shared with us tomorrow. We had a brief tour around the building and were joined by the elementary student teachers. Mr. Kelly, the secondary chemistry teacher, shared with us a Belizean soup. It was affectionately called cow hoof soup and contained tripe...yummy!


How exciting to be here after all the planning. See the school's website here: http://ambergriscaye.com/highschool/

We have wireless Internet access at Pedro’s Inn, so feel free to e-mail me.

I do have a cell phone signal, but it is expensive to recieve calls. Please, e-mail me if you need my number.

I’ll post to the blog twice weekly. As the bandwidth provides in the future, I'll add images and video as the bandwith permits. As the students begin to post to their blogs, I’ll be sure to share those with everyone this weekend.