Belize Teaching Experience

Margaret Pentecost -

Since last October when we sent out the acceptance e-mails, we have been looking forward to this experience.  The 19 students that were selected worked to raise funds, registered for a three hour class, and started the preparation for the trip.  They learned about the culture, history, geography, customs, government, and schools in Belize.  Our partner schools in Belize sent us a list of topics in March, and our lesson plan preparation began.  The CEHD students worked hard to develop appropriate lessons and gather resources and supplied needed to teach the lessons that they had planned. 

We arrived ten days ago.  For six days, the CEHD taught in the schools of Georgetown Technical High School, Red Bank Christian School, and Independence Primary Government School.  We had to be flexible and make adjustments as we went along.  As part of the program, our students were paired with Belizean teachers.  They worked hard to learn classroom management, student names, routines, and culture.  The schools that we worked in embraced our students and made them part of their faculty.

Nina Beck and I have had the pleasure of watching this group of CEHD students in this experience.  They have done an amazing job.  They were well prepared, flexible, and embraced the schools, teachers, and children of Belize.  They were wonderful ambassadors for our College and our University.