Adventurer of the Month

So honored to have been chosen by the good folks over at Go 4 The Summit as the "Adventurer of the Month." Be sure to check out the article and see all the great things they are doing for the field of education!

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J

Life in Belize!

Hello all! Things are going very well so far here in Belize! My first week of teaching went very well and so far has proven to be a very rewarding and worthwhile experience. I've finally got a schedule finalized where I'm teaching and observing only the 3rd form Chemistry class as well as the 4th form Organic Chemistry. Some days they are only 40 minute classes, but others they are 3 blocks long to accommodate time for lab, and then there's a couple random 2 block classes but sometimes they are organic, sometimes physics, and sometimes a discussion about drugs on the island (not really in the lesson plan).

Introduction to Chemical Equations

I've learned a lot of interesting things while I've been in the classroom. Because of high school not being required students may decide to go straight there after they finish primary, or they may decide to go work and then realize that they want to further their education. Because of this, the age of the students in the classrooms varies significantly. My organic class has students ranging from 15 to 21 years old. Because of this different maturity levels are present and make for a teaching style that certainly requires adaptability. I think because of the presence of the older students there is certainly less discipline than I experienced with other students in my high school years. A student has never had to be removed from the classroom, and very infrequently will the teacher or myself have to ask a student to stop whatever they are doing that may be disruptive to the class. I find it to be much more typical of the classroom dynamics in college. As a college student, much like these students, we have made a choice to further our education and aren't there to socialize but rather learn.

Exothermic Demonstration

The term "teach to the test" could not be more applicable in Belize. All teaching is done in accordance with CSEC (Carribean Secondary Education Certificate). Any and all teaching that is done is conducted according to what is on the test and to prepare students to take the different kinds of tests. From what I understand, the exam is incredibly important as it basically decides your future. If a student does well on one section more than the others, a University will dictate that that is the major that they will have and must take classes in that discipline. University is rather stringent on enrollment as a 70% on the test is not considered average, but rather below it. From the conversations that I've had in class with the students and the teacher, it is rather apparent that many of the students do not understand the importance of the test, or the way it is structured and how significant it is in their lives. Many asked questions about the test and how it works that many students would ask about college during their freshman and sophomore years in high school.

Doesn't matter what country I'm in, I still suck at soccer

Safety at the school is hardly present at all when it comes to Chemistry. No goggles are provided and students in other labs such as Biology are known to grab the chemicals and mix them together at random and see what happens. Although, considering that my cooperating teacher did that it's not really surprising! Waste disposal is non-existent, a chemical solution containing lead was thrown off the balcony to the place where students sometimes eat down below. As a lab assistant back at Luther whose sole job is to make sure students are wearing there goggles (and play music) I am scrambling to create labs that I find safe and don't involve chemicals that pose serious danger. 

All in all it is a fantastic experience though to get to see what education is like outside of the US. I learn something every single day. My teacher, despite his safety faults, is an incredibly good educator. He does a fantastic job of teaching his students and takes the time when it is necessary to make sure that they truly understand the content in new and interesting ways. But besides being in the classroom I've certainly been enjoying my time in Belize! Still running a lot and kayaking, and taking in the sites of the town. For the last couple days I've had a golf cart to use so I was able to get a few more groceries at a time than what the basket on the front of my bike can hold. The last couple days have been absolutely beautiful, with the wind calming down to only a breeze and temps in the low 80's. There are also a group of students here from Christopher Newport University in Virginia who are getting their masters to become teachers, 4 of them at the high school with me. It's been great to be able to spend some time with people my own age, and it has also served as a great tool to compare the education that takes place in the different classrooms that we have. Tomorrow Jeff, who arranged my stay here at White Sands will arrive and Friday mom and dad will be here. Excited for my next week of teaching. So far I have a lab planned for Tuesday as well as general lessons and a day explaining my Organic research that I have done to my class. Hope all is well with everyone and it's not too cold wherever you may be!

Biking home from school

J

The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

 Walk from town to the resort

I have safely arrived in San Pedro Belize and have been loving every moment of it! Flights went well, and had an overall travel time of 12 hours from leaving my house INCREDIBLY too early in the morning on the first (Thanks Ame for bringing me!) to arriving at White Sands in San Pedro. Travel involved a flight to Houston, then to Belize International, and then finally a flight in a flying sardine can over to the beautiful island of Ambergris Caye. Went fairly without incident. I hesitate to say that everything went perfectly. I brought a significant amount of glassware and other chemistry equipment for the school here which customs in Belize liked to interpret as drug paraphernalia. Wahoo.

Since coming here I've had some time to explore the island a little bit as well as the town. No one can own the beach here, so there is an amazing path along the length of the island for walking, biking and the occasional motorcycle. Runs have been great along it, as the sand is packed pretty hard. The water is great! Since the Meso-American Reef (second largest barrier reef in the world) lies about a half mile away from the beach, there aren't many big waves, which allows for some kayaking to the reef to go snorkeling! Have yet to spend a whole lot of time actually snorkeling, but just jumped in the water with my mask and snorkel to check it out, but it is truly an amazing sight with some of the best coral formations I've ever seen.looking down the street from school

The town of San Pedro is very tourism based. Most of the establishments are for tourists, or to serve the people here who are here to work for the tourism industry (schools here are all for the children of Belizians who work at the resorts and other establishments) The roads are all fairly narrow and travel is done mostly by bicycle (way to go Belize!) Cars are few and far, except for a few vans for taxis, and the occasional work truck. The majority of the transportation here is done by jacked up golf carts. If anyone is looking to sell one and can get it here, you'll be in great fortune, a new cart starts at $22,000 Bz ($11,000 USD) and a used one in good shape fetches ONLY $16,000 Bz ($8,000 USD). The town is made up mostly of different kinds of  and art stores as well as resorts, a few schools, and houses. So far I've only seen one park. Mr. Kelly, the director of the science department at SPHS said last week that the town is more intersted in creating property that can be sold to tourists rather than creating space for parks and schools.

Irregardless that school was better than what I assumed it to be, with the lab being fairly well stocked with equipment, fairly lacking in chemicals though. In Belize, there are four 'forms' for high school. 1st is equivalent to 9th grade in the US, 2nd is 10th and so on. Compared to the rest of the Caribbean (the school uses a textbook and system that is fairly universal to the Caribbean, called CSEC, which also produces the tests that students need to pass) Belize is short, as most other countries will have 5 separate forms. This is especially noted in the sciences, where all students in the 2nd form take a general science class, mostly biology, chemistry, and physics lumped together. 3rd form students take General Chemistry while 4th form students take Organic Chemistry. So needless to say I was thrown for a little loop when the only instruction I had been told to prepare for was "moles and avagadro's number," and now I'm trying to review my organic. I plan on observing classes this week so that I can develop a lesson plan for next week for both the general chem class as well as a separate lesson for the organic class. I teach with Mr. Kelly and Mr. Sedacy. Both Belizians, Mr. Sedacy obtained his bachelors degree in North Carolina. Both arrive at school around 7 in the morning, teach class and stay after to answer questions till around 4:30 and then head home for supper. This last fall the school also started a night school, so they both come back at 6 to teach science and stay generally till around 10:30, or even 11 at night, and then get up and do it all again the next day! Apparently weekends involve doing a whole lot of nothing. Although the teachers usually get together and play pool and hangout at a bar (I have been cordially invited, this should be interesting.) Mr. Kelly was also telling me about their staff trip in the spring, to none other than Las Vegas. The only meaning I could pull away from why they are heading there is because it would be fun. Apparently staff development?

Observing inside 2nd form General Science 

From what I can decipher from my schedule, each day of the week there are seperate classes, since I'm teaching with two separate teachers for a grand total of 24 seperate classes with around 30-45 students in each class for a grand total of around 900 students. I have a feeling invididual names aren't going to be happening. As I already stated, I'm going to focus on just the chemistry classes and will probably observe the general science classes this week, and then work more intently on my own lesson plans. 

In the meantime I'm hanging out nights at the resort, getting to know the people who work here and asking them questions about Belize and what it's like living here (in addition to getting the down low on where to shop and where to eat. Score) Teachers here aren't paid a whole lot (surprise surprise) but there seems to be a lot more respect for them since most people generally don't receive any schooling beyond middle or high school. Hopefully I'll be getting my certification in SCUBA diving, about time. Even though I've been diving for over 6 years, apparently my word isn't good enough to just give me the card, believe me I tried. Also plan on doing some kayaking more on the ocean and keeping up with my daily running and working out. So far I think I've logged over 40 miles on the beach, trying to burn off Christmas dinner and good homecooked meals. I plan on heading into town some more to check out the recommendations on different places to eat and explore some of the different local artists galleries, as well as generally just trying to stay out of trouble. According to the toll booth attendant, I've already achieve 'local' status, so I'm pretty psyched about that, especially since it will save me over $50 this month since the bridge is the only way to get from north of town into the heart of town. Just waiting for more adventures to come and to be joined by Jeff Boeke from Luther, mom and dad in a couple weeks, and after them my girlfriend Amy! Should be a lot of fun and hopefully I'll have all the ins and outs of Belize figured out before they get here. Talk to you soon!

J

Snorkeling out on the reef (over a half mile from shore but still only 2-3 ft deep)

Un-Belizable

Eat your heart out tropics lovers. 

So why am I headed to Belize? Great question (my parents keep asking me) I am in my 4th year of classes at Luther College majoring in Chemistry with a minor in Secondary Education. As part of my education career we are required to spend a second Jterm doing my developing practicum:

The developing practicum takes place when students have completed their core courses and have taken some classes about teaching methods. Most students teach away from the Luther area for this practicum, seeking out opportunities anywhere in the U.S. to teach in settings with which they are less familiar. This is also a three-to-four-week experience, but this time students do much more planning and teaching than during the introductory practicum. Professors and students use audio and video communication throughout the practicum for questions, feedback, and ongoing instruction.

So naturally I decided to be as difficult as possible and explore my other options, with me eventually finalizing an adventure to Belize. Thanks to a great friend at Luther I found a spot to stay, at the White Sands Cove Resort, not even a mile from the school.

Where I'll be staying, White Sands Cove Resort

I found the San Pedro High School on the island and contacted the principal, Mr. Emil Vasquez to obtain permission to come and teach. After nearly two months with no reply I finally was granted permission to come and stay. I'll be teaching with Mr. Paul Kelly, director of the sciences and the athletics department at SPHS. So far, I know that I will be teaching mostly inorganic chemistry sections and I believe a couple sections of organic. As far as equipment and the extent of a laboratory your guess is as good as mine! 

Geography

The area of Belize that I will be staying in is Ambergris Caye. It is an island that is actually an extension of the Yucatan peninsula. The main town on the island is San Pedro, population around 12,000 people. The entire island is pretty much a resort destination, and all the inhabitants serve the tourism industry. The schools here were established for the children of these individuals who are working. Overall Belize is a very small country, roughly 16% of the size of Iowa. 

 I'm very excited to explore Belize, and plan on travelling of the beaten path and doing as little "tourism" as I can. I know the teachers at the school as well as myself are interested in discussing the educational institutions within our separate countries. I know very little about my placement, making me more excited to go there and dive in with both feet! 

When I'm not teaching I hope to be SCUBA diving, kayaking, swimming, biking, or taking in the sites of the island and the beautiful country that I will be in. I will be leaving on January 1st in the early hours of the day and returning the 29th. I'll be sure to keep you clued in to all my adventures and insight into the educational system of Belize.

J