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.