School Visits Start!

-

Started the day with my hat on and in a T-shirt by afternoon.

We started with a visit to one of Montevideo’s larger (1400 students) and lowest income schools for ages 12-any age. Let me explain more. Grades 6-12 come from 8:20 - 14:20. Then, from 15:00 to 17:00 students can come for what would be the equivalent to our GED. At 18:00-23:00 the school is open to any adults 18 and older to work on Associate type degrees. This school focused on CTE (Career and Technical Education) with emphasis on sewing, shop, metals, FCS mixed with social sciences and language classes. This type of programming has become the focus in many regional schools for those students who will not be able to afford or access universities or colleges. 

Some big differences from this school and US schools: the VERY tiny libraries and the cement ping pong tables that are the main attraction at recess, no heat, so students are all wearing their coats, and many hats and gloves and sadly no classroom technology to be seen. (See pictures below).

The FCS students prepared us an AMAZING lunch with squash soup, bread and edible flowers! 

Our afternoon school,Alfredo Nobel, was a quaint rural school with a highly involved PTA. This was a K-4 school based on inquiry learning using the Globe Curriculum. The students at both schools were kind and gracious, but at Alfredo, it was obvious there was parental and community support that helped drive the positive outcomes of this school. The parent group fundraises each year to pay for two of the teachers at the school. Otherwise, classes would be 30-40 students each.  They have access to technology, have created a wonderful, large butterfly garden and have a bit of a music program unlike many schools here. Once again, though, the library was only a few book shelves.

Oh~ and of course the bathrooms are always a bit of a mystery~ where is the TP going to be? Can you put the TP in the toilet? How to flush? (Today this was three different ways- handle on the wall, a pull cord and a lever on a tank above the toilet!)

And note the video of “futbol” with a ball made out of tape due to the fact the school nor the students can afford a soccer ball.

Library 

 Ping pong!

Toilet #1(notice pull cord on wall)

Squash soup!

Library #2

Alfredo Nobel school working on Scratch coding








Comments

  1. DerekJune 7, 2024 at 4:18 PM

    The squash soups looks great!

    ReplyDelete
  2. LoriJune 10, 2024 at 5:49 AM

    How can people send books or soccer balls to donate to the schools? That would be a great project for a club or sports team.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Uruguay - Aquí vengo! Here I come!

-
Image
  Familia y Amigos(as)- In just a few days, I'll be heading to Montevideo and Salto Uruguay as phase 3 of my Fulbright fellowship journey! It's been an amazing year of growth, both personally and professionally, and I'm excited to continue learning in South America throughout June. The focus of my Teacher Global Classroom Fulbright program is to provide training, experience abroad, and course work that encourages teachers (and in this case, me) to bring more international perspectives to my classroom and school. I truly thought I was already doing this in my classroom, but after this program, I realize I had much to learn and still do! Next fall I will launch my website with comprehensive tools, resources and personal experiences. For now, I'm adding to my toolbox by immersing myself in Uruguayan culture and Spanish language. Heading to Uruguay this week is what my cohort and I have been working towards all school year. We are a group of 16 from all over the United St
Read more

Full Days ~ Educational Awesomeness!

-
Image
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 Ur
Read more