Instead of each teacher having their own classroom while the students travel from class to class, students have their permanent classroom and teachers have to travel from class to class. We all have our desks organized by department in the teacher's lounge (one big room). During the times we teachers don't have class, we are working in the lounge. I don't particularily agree with this method of scheduling, but, what do I know- I'm just a 1st year volunteer.
Well, today, after a homeroom session in which we were missing 12 desks, started with an all school Mass in the gymnasium . (I'll have to take a picture of it; it is a cement floor with a tin canopy over it.) Girls sit on the bleachers (cement levels) and the boys have to carry their desks from their homeroom into the gym and then back again afterward. After Mass, each of the teachers, staff and volunteers were introduced. The students went wild for the teachers they loved, but when it came to new volunteers, such as myself, I could literally hear the crickets in the background. Haha! We began our shortened schedule of classes afterward. I had 2nd form boys first, who were very energetic and fun. Because of the shortened schedule, I barely even got through my ice breaker in each class. I had each student fill out an interest inventory (short questionnaire) about a partner and then they had to introduce them. I told them that whoever gave the most entertaining or creative presentation would get an automatic 100% on the pop quiz later in the class. I told them I’ll still give the pop quiz tomorrow, so I think it freaked them out a big. Good. I’ve got them scared already.
After my boys class, I left campus and went to the rectory for lunch. Another helping of rice, beans and stewed chicken. I thought I liked the fried bananas, but I’m starting to think otherwise. I need to get some more veggies in my diet, so I am hoping to go to the market this weekend to pick some up.
I finished off the day with my 2nd and 1st form classes of girls. I got to the same point with those classes too, so a pop quiz is in order for tomorrow. GET EXCITED! I have yet to announce my winners of a pop quiz perfect score, but that also builds the anticipation. On the interest inventory, my last task was for them to write a couple of personal questions for me on the back. (Here in Belize we are expected to be a lot more open with our students than I would ever be in the states.) Here are some of the funny questions I got:
The most popular one was, “do you have a boyfriend?”
Can I visit you one day?
How old are you?
Do you have any children?
What is your phone number?
What is your favorite song from Justin Bieber?
What is your parent’s contact information? (That was one of the questions I had on the inventory)
Are you married?
Do you like to give demerits?
I’ll use these questions on Turn Around Tuesdays where I start class by picking one of the question to answer about me.
We weren’t supposed to have Mass today; it was supposed to be on Wednesday, so I didn’t anticipate the schedule being so short. I didn’t get a chance to even touch my policies and procedures, so I guess I’ll just have to push everything back. I guess the #1 thing I’ve learned in my teaching experience is flexibility, but here, it is taken to a whole new level- to the extreme. It’s kind of overwhelming, but everything will work itself out. I’m not worried.
Side note: students here are so worried about getting their backpacks dirty that they won't let them touch the ground! The keep them on their laps for the whole class. One kid was wearing it during class, so I said, "Get comfy and stay awhile," but he freaked out when I asked him to take his bag and put it on the ground.
Also, they always call the girl teacher "Miss" (pronounced "Mees"). I am Miss Shelby. I will also be trained to respond to "Miss! Miss!"
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Well, it's definitely the rainy season...
I'm only half planned and here I am, writing my little heart out the day before first form orientation. (I don't know if I've clarified it before, but 1st form is to freshman year as 4th form is to sophomore year. The grades below secondary school (primary school) are called standards. You have classes called Infant 1 and Infant 2 (1st and 2nd grade). Then Standards 1-8 correspond with 3rd through 8th grade.)
Well after doing somersaults and jumping through about 15 hoops, I finally received my permanent teaching schedule for the year. Before changing it around, I was teaching 1st, 2nd and 3rd form math. Here at Mount Carmel, classes are split by ability (tracking) into remedial, basic and genral, and 1st and 2nd form are also split by gender. Whoever created the scheduled time tables made it very difficult for our department by giving splitting up each form between 3 or 4 teachers instead of giving it to 1 or 2 teachers. By splitting up the forms, there is a great inconsistency between teaching styles and pacing of curriculum. Another volunteer in the math department, Lucia, and I did a bit of reorganization of the department to make it more efficient and consistent for teachers and students. This is what I have been working on for the past week. As a product of our hard work, I will now be teaching only 1st and 2nd form math. 1 class of 1st basic math and 2 classes of 2nd general math. Confusing, I know.
I have fully planned week one for my 1st formers, but my 2nd form lesson plans are virtually blank. Good thing it's only a 4 day week with 1st form orientation occupying all of Monday. At our last orientation meeting, we teachers asked the administration what the format and schedule of orientation would be and we never got a straight answer. I don't think anyone knows what their doing for tomorrow. Can't wait to see what the homeroom teachers pull out of their bag of tricks! I'm not worried. I love spontenaety! Also, I'm not in charge of a homeroom, so I have no reason to be worried.
Gosh, just this week has shown me how different the education systems of Belize and the U.S. are! In orientation, one of the speakers asked which of us teacher had heard of differentiation in the classroom. There were maybe 2 or 3 of us who raised our hands....out of more than 30! Some of the teachers here think I am the most creative person in the world because of the activities and games I have suggested they use in the classroom. I'm not! It's just basic planning for classes that they aren't comfortabe or knowledgeable about. It's actually very interesting how differently the school is run here. I can tell that they are trying to get more closely in line with American education and it's very exciting to see how they go about doing it. I'm sure I'll learn a lot from their systems as well.
We volunteers have been playing basketball with some of the students outside of school. It's pretty embarassing, I won't lie. To sum it up, we have been getting SCHOOLED! I hope that with a bit of practice I can get good enough to keep up with these guys! Now we've been playing volleyball too, and I feel much better about myself after. There are quite a few of us volunteers and staff members who like to play, so I can't wait for more! I also decided that I really just do not enjoy playing futbol (soccer). That's all.
Well, it's the 'rainy season' here. They weren't joking when they chose the name. We haven't gone a day without a downpour- usually at night. I only hope that my wimpy umbrella will hold up until I can get a better one over Christmas break. The other day, we were walking to the rectory for dinner and had to walk through a street that had turned into a river within 5 minutes. By the time we were done with our dinner, though, much of the ground was dry. How bizarre!!
Okay, I'll go plan now. Pray for me, please. I'm praying for you all.
Well after doing somersaults and jumping through about 15 hoops, I finally received my permanent teaching schedule for the year. Before changing it around, I was teaching 1st, 2nd and 3rd form math. Here at Mount Carmel, classes are split by ability (tracking) into remedial, basic and genral, and 1st and 2nd form are also split by gender. Whoever created the scheduled time tables made it very difficult for our department by giving splitting up each form between 3 or 4 teachers instead of giving it to 1 or 2 teachers. By splitting up the forms, there is a great inconsistency between teaching styles and pacing of curriculum. Another volunteer in the math department, Lucia, and I did a bit of reorganization of the department to make it more efficient and consistent for teachers and students. This is what I have been working on for the past week. As a product of our hard work, I will now be teaching only 1st and 2nd form math. 1 class of 1st basic math and 2 classes of 2nd general math. Confusing, I know.
I have fully planned week one for my 1st formers, but my 2nd form lesson plans are virtually blank. Good thing it's only a 4 day week with 1st form orientation occupying all of Monday. At our last orientation meeting, we teachers asked the administration what the format and schedule of orientation would be and we never got a straight answer. I don't think anyone knows what their doing for tomorrow. Can't wait to see what the homeroom teachers pull out of their bag of tricks! I'm not worried. I love spontenaety! Also, I'm not in charge of a homeroom, so I have no reason to be worried.
Gosh, just this week has shown me how different the education systems of Belize and the U.S. are! In orientation, one of the speakers asked which of us teacher had heard of differentiation in the classroom. There were maybe 2 or 3 of us who raised our hands....out of more than 30! Some of the teachers here think I am the most creative person in the world because of the activities and games I have suggested they use in the classroom. I'm not! It's just basic planning for classes that they aren't comfortabe or knowledgeable about. It's actually very interesting how differently the school is run here. I can tell that they are trying to get more closely in line with American education and it's very exciting to see how they go about doing it. I'm sure I'll learn a lot from their systems as well.
We volunteers have been playing basketball with some of the students outside of school. It's pretty embarassing, I won't lie. To sum it up, we have been getting SCHOOLED! I hope that with a bit of practice I can get good enough to keep up with these guys! Now we've been playing volleyball too, and I feel much better about myself after. There are quite a few of us volunteers and staff members who like to play, so I can't wait for more! I also decided that I really just do not enjoy playing futbol (soccer). That's all.
Well, it's the 'rainy season' here. They weren't joking when they chose the name. We haven't gone a day without a downpour- usually at night. I only hope that my wimpy umbrella will hold up until I can get a better one over Christmas break. The other day, we were walking to the rectory for dinner and had to walk through a street that had turned into a river within 5 minutes. By the time we were done with our dinner, though, much of the ground was dry. How bizarre!!
Okay, I'll go plan now. Pray for me, please. I'm praying for you all.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Just a few photos
Just a little summary of my mission thus far.
The chickens that keep me up in the morning, afternoon and night.
The Mopan River that borders Benque. Just a hop, skip and a jump away from the house.
The outskirts of Benque. Squint and you can see some of the mountains and the jungle.
1st b-ball game with a candidate, other volunteers, refugees and some students. I didn't play, just cheered them on.
Mount Carmel Catholic Church. The only Catholic church in Benque.
My house! It has a wrap around balcony.
Sean and Molly on the drive from the airport in Belize City to Benque.
Sean, Molly and I waiting for our plane from Houston to Belize City.
They all kind of loaded in reverse order.
Enjoy.
The chickens that keep me up in the morning, afternoon and night.
The Mopan River that borders Benque. Just a hop, skip and a jump away from the house.
The outskirts of Benque. Squint and you can see some of the mountains and the jungle.
1st b-ball game with a candidate, other volunteers, refugees and some students. I didn't play, just cheered them on.
Mount Carmel Catholic Church. The only Catholic church in Benque.
My house! It has a wrap around balcony.
Sean and Molly on the drive from the airport in Belize City to Benque.
Sean, Molly and I waiting for our plane from Houston to Belize City.
They all kind of loaded in reverse order.
Enjoy.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Well...I made it!
Here I am, sitting in the computer lab of Mt. Carmel High School in Benque, Belize. I'm finally here and this adventure has finally started! Travels went just splendidly, despite lack of sleep and a student of psychology, working on his master's degree, who decided to impart 2 hours of his knowledge to everyone within 5 rows of his seat on the plane. My ride back from Belize City back to Benque didn't now I was coming (despite the travel itinerary I passed on weeks go), but thankfully I travelled with Molly and Sean, who did have travel plans. After our 2.5 hour ride to Benque, we were introduced to the principle of the school and shown to our houses. Well in short, our house is beautiful. I feel spoiled in such a nice house, which surpassed all of my expectations. After eating my first meal at the rectory with Jonathan, Molly, Sean and Brynne, we came back to the house and discovered that our water was not hooked up...Needless to say that after 2 unclean days and walking in very humid weather, I am sticky and smelly. No one but the flies have mentioned anything yet.
Well, off to my second meal of rice and beans. Peace out, ya'll!
Well, off to my second meal of rice and beans. Peace out, ya'll!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
This is the season for a new annointing
It's finally here. The day that will start me on the journey of the rest of my life. I know absolutely nothing that will happen after my flight leaves from the Sunport at 8:55 this morning. Here is a short list of possible future situations:
1. My plane crashes before I even touch down in Houston for my connecting flight.
2. Our van breaks down outside of Belize City, 4 hours from Benque, and I need to use my great wealth of survival tactics in order to weather the 56 different species of snake and the Central American Wooly Opossum.
3. I love my year in Benque and return for a 2nd, 3rd, etc.
4. I fall madly in love with a resident of Belize and decide to raise a family 2,400 miles from my New Mexican home. (My mom's worst fear)
5. I fall madly in love with a religious order and decide to dawn a full habit.
6. I struggle a lot this year, but learn even more.
Any one of these is possible, but pray with me that God's will sides with options 3-6.
1. My plane crashes before I even touch down in Houston for my connecting flight.
2. Our van breaks down outside of Belize City, 4 hours from Benque, and I need to use my great wealth of survival tactics in order to weather the 56 different species of snake and the Central American Wooly Opossum.
3. I love my year in Benque and return for a 2nd, 3rd, etc.
4. I fall madly in love with a resident of Belize and decide to raise a family 2,400 miles from my New Mexican home. (My mom's worst fear)
5. I fall madly in love with a religious order and decide to dawn a full habit.
6. I struggle a lot this year, but learn even more.
Any one of these is possible, but pray with me that God's will sides with options 3-6.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
I finally graduated!
...Well at least I finally feel like I have now. Until now, it felt like I would still be packing up my room for the 4th time and taking the 14 hour drive into Atchison, Kansas, home of the Ravens. Until now, I have subconsciously been waiting to see my housing assignment telling me that I will be an RA, with the names of my roomies listed beneath my room number. It never really felt like I was done with school (and in reality, I'll be going back to school for years to come), but the infamous facebook has put it into perspective for me. Statuses like "Benedictine, here I come!" (E.B.A.) and "Back to Atch. Love," (F.H.)make me finally realize that instead of packing up an entire trailer with my wall art and desk lamps, I will be confined to packing up two suitcases, a carry-on, and one personal item, much of which will be taken up by school supplies for my classroom.
I've finally realized that it's time to move on to bigger and better things- things that my 3 years in Atchison have prepared me for- things bigger than myself- plans set before me. I pull my hair back into a pony tail and brace myself for what is to come.
There is actually very little of what I know is to come in the future months. Here is a list of facts I do know:
1. I will be a volunteer teacher at Mount Carmel High school.
2. I will be there for a full school year, coming back home for Christmas break.
3. I will live in a house with the other women volunteers while the men will have a house of their own.
4. I believe there will be 13 of us this year- 8 returning from last year.
5. 3 recent Benedictine grads (including myself) will be part of the team!!
6. I am scared to death of reworking my sleeping schedule to wake up 4 times per week for 7am Mass.
7. Our housing and meals are free.
8. We eat all/most?? meals at the rectory of the church there.
9. I will be bringing a lot of bug spray.
10. Snail mail takes approximately 3 weeks to be sent and received with no guarantee of its arrival. (see address below) Good thing I'll have internet access and a 4 year old laptop. As someone famous once said, a four year old craputer is better than noputer.
Shelby Chavez
Catholic Mission
Benque Viejo del Carmen, Belize
Cayo District
Central America
11. Volunteers have the weekends off and are free to travel.
12. Benque is right on the border of Guatemala, which is very dangerous territory at present, so I have my doubts about traveling there.
13. The kids there love to play futbol (soccer).
14. Female teachers wear skirts to the knee or pants with a modestly fitting shirt.
15. I'm failing to recall any other things I know for certain.
16. So I'll just take up space to make my list look longer.
19. Want to hear an anti-joke?
20. Knock knock.
23. Who's there?
24. To.
25. To who?
27. To whom.
28. One more anti-joke for the sake of a longer list.
29. What's green and has wheels?
31. Grass. I lied about the wheels.
32. Please reference anti-joke.com for more.
34. Parental guidance is recommended.
35. When you are at the high school, a student would not say, "I'm a sophomore this year." He would say, "I'm in form two."
36. The academic achievement levels of many students is much lower than students in America. Teaching form one math would be comparable to teaching 5th and 6th grade math.
37. First year volunteers have been asked to refrain from dating while down there. I'm very okay with it, actually.
39. I can't get enough of John Mayer's version of Free Fallin'. Youtube.com it!
40. Bet only a few of you readers actually noticed the number skipping in my list. All for the sake of a longer list.
So you see, I don't know a whole lot about what I will be doing this coming year and it makes me flooded with emotions. I'm very anxious to know what I will actually be teaching, the number of students I will have, what form I will teach, etc. It actually makes me very excited to go into another adventure blindly, not knowing what will happen, going into it with an open mind and no expectations. For some it might be very constricting, but it's very freeing for me.
I'm sad. For the past three years of leaving home for the start of school, the end of Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks, it has never gotten any easier to say goodbye. I think this time will be a bit different, though. This time I can't just pick up my cell phone and text my best friend, Mae with something funny that happened during my day. I just can't call my mom when I need to vent. I can't just call my sister, Erica when it's on the tip of my tongue, but I can't remember who said the funny line from the movie that I keep quoting.
While I try my best to cling to those closest to me, I suspect that I'll have to distance myself a bit to find myself clinging closer to Christ than I have ever before. I find myself in a relationship (if you can even call it that) with Him that is in need of some dire repair. This is my prayer request from you while I continue to prepare for this mission- that I can set myself aside in order to truly find Christ. It's hard for me and I NEED your prayers.
I've finally realized that it's time to move on to bigger and better things- things that my 3 years in Atchison have prepared me for- things bigger than myself- plans set before me. I pull my hair back into a pony tail and brace myself for what is to come.
There is actually very little of what I know is to come in the future months. Here is a list of facts I do know:
1. I will be a volunteer teacher at Mount Carmel High school.
2. I will be there for a full school year, coming back home for Christmas break.
3. I will live in a house with the other women volunteers while the men will have a house of their own.
4. I believe there will be 13 of us this year- 8 returning from last year.
5. 3 recent Benedictine grads (including myself) will be part of the team!!
6. I am scared to death of reworking my sleeping schedule to wake up 4 times per week for 7am Mass.
7. Our housing and meals are free.
8. We eat all/most?? meals at the rectory of the church there.
9. I will be bringing a lot of bug spray.
10. Snail mail takes approximately 3 weeks to be sent and received with no guarantee of its arrival. (see address below) Good thing I'll have internet access and a 4 year old laptop. As someone famous once said, a four year old craputer is better than noputer.
Shelby Chavez
Catholic Mission
Benque Viejo del Carmen, Belize
Cayo District
Central America
11. Volunteers have the weekends off and are free to travel.
12. Benque is right on the border of Guatemala, which is very dangerous territory at present, so I have my doubts about traveling there.
13. The kids there love to play futbol (soccer).
14. Female teachers wear skirts to the knee or pants with a modestly fitting shirt.
15. I'm failing to recall any other things I know for certain.
16. So I'll just take up space to make my list look longer.
19. Want to hear an anti-joke?
20. Knock knock.
23. Who's there?
24. To.
25. To who?
27. To whom.
28. One more anti-joke for the sake of a longer list.
29. What's green and has wheels?
31. Grass. I lied about the wheels.
32. Please reference anti-joke.com for more.
34. Parental guidance is recommended.
35. When you are at the high school, a student would not say, "I'm a sophomore this year." He would say, "I'm in form two."
36. The academic achievement levels of many students is much lower than students in America. Teaching form one math would be comparable to teaching 5th and 6th grade math.
37. First year volunteers have been asked to refrain from dating while down there. I'm very okay with it, actually.
39. I can't get enough of John Mayer's version of Free Fallin'. Youtube.com it!
40. Bet only a few of you readers actually noticed the number skipping in my list. All for the sake of a longer list.
So you see, I don't know a whole lot about what I will be doing this coming year and it makes me flooded with emotions. I'm very anxious to know what I will actually be teaching, the number of students I will have, what form I will teach, etc. It actually makes me very excited to go into another adventure blindly, not knowing what will happen, going into it with an open mind and no expectations. For some it might be very constricting, but it's very freeing for me.
I'm sad. For the past three years of leaving home for the start of school, the end of Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks, it has never gotten any easier to say goodbye. I think this time will be a bit different, though. This time I can't just pick up my cell phone and text my best friend, Mae with something funny that happened during my day. I just can't call my mom when I need to vent. I can't just call my sister, Erica when it's on the tip of my tongue, but I can't remember who said the funny line from the movie that I keep quoting.
While I try my best to cling to those closest to me, I suspect that I'll have to distance myself a bit to find myself clinging closer to Christ than I have ever before. I find myself in a relationship (if you can even call it that) with Him that is in need of some dire repair. This is my prayer request from you while I continue to prepare for this mission- that I can set myself aside in order to truly find Christ. It's hard for me and I NEED your prayers.
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