Full Days ~ Educational Awesomeness!

These last days have been so full that I haven’t gotten to make a post! Nothing like bringing 16 absolutely amazing humans together and allowing them to learn and grow professionally as their only objective each day. We have had so much fun visiting schools in Montevideo and our rural placements. It seems like every spare moment is spent comparing and contrasting schools here to Montana, by brainstorming ways to improve our own classrooms by connecting with teachers here in Uruguay.

Several of the days in Montevideo, We met with the ministry of education and other educational leaders for what is the equivalent of their department of state. What we learned is that well thought out programming is in place and altruistic motivations exist to provide the best for all kids in education. However, Jim ust like the United States, the on the ground reality looks very different than what is planned at the nation’s educational office (ANEP).

One of the really grand objectives is that 4% of the Uruguayan education budget is spent to provide every student in the nation with a one to one device through a national education movement called Ceibol. Today we visited a school that would be the equivalent to one of our most small towns in eastern Montana: It is an hour and a half from any access to town or city amenities. In the middle of the playground, Ceibol has placed a very large cell tower, along with ensuring each student has their own device! That said, From visiting with the teachers, it appears that this one to one digital device works incredibly well for the nation until high school. At that point students are expected to hold onto their device for the rest of the educational career, with no repairs or updates made.

Yesterday we traveled for eight hours across the country and stopped at an ecological park, and I got to see my first capybara and Nandu! We arrived to Salto late and had just enough time to have dinner, take a walk, and learn more about the famous soccer player who was born here~Luis Suarez. 

Today we had a very, very full day at an incredibly wonderful rural school about two hours from Salto. The students greeted us with complete enthusiasm, and we spent the day sharing stories, playing games, eating lunch and reading with them. The landscape and scenery reminded me a lot of parts of rural Montana. The lead teacher, Pablo, also raises cattle as a hobby just to make today feel more like MT. One would think that this school would be removed from many of the real life issues based on their remoteness, but Pablo, the lead teacher, is a Fulbright teacher who has also won a national award for connecting his lessons to clean water systems and environmental awareness. He might be the most calm and Zen teacher that I’ve ever been around. He had 22 students bearing in age from 5 to 11 with multiple abilities. He was exceptional with all of them and has built a community of parent involvement, including a Friday reading program. We had the pleasure of hearing some of the parents and children read seven lovely stories to us this afternoon.

The weather today it was in the 80s which is unusually warm. Last week we have reports of some of the coldest weather of the year.

So much more to share, but want to leave today with my message that I am amazed, and in awe At the work these teachers do in this country.

Luis Suarez~ national hero

 Rural School #67

Pablo and Fulbright crew

Lots of art~ soccer balls and hearts

Sharing goodies from the U.S. 

Pablo and his cows

Celebrating the end of A long day!

Library #1

Library #2