CEDEI School

Hola!!

Tuesday October 11 we meet the children and staff at CEDEI school! CEDEI school was created in September 2003 by a nonprofit corporation named "IDEAS" (Interamerican Social Assistance and Education Corporation).  IDEAS's mission is to contribute to the development of programs in Ecuador through national and international centers of education, research, and social growth, dedicated to strengthening the social, moral, and ethical aspects of human beings. 

The school now includes a nursey school (1-2 yr olds) a preschool room (3-4 yr olds) a kindergarten classroom (5-6 yr olds) and a classroom for each of the grades 1st through 7th!  CEDEI is adding a classroom grade level each year and eventually will have a high school in addition to the elementary and middle school levels! 

The educational philosophy of the school is based on the multiple intelligences of Howard Gardner: language/linguistic, math/logic, spatial/visual, kinesthetic, music, naturalistic, and interpersonal/intrapersonal relationships.  The school also strives to teach the children about the world, its cultures, traditions, festivals, foods, dress, traditional stories, and the like with the intention of giving each child a sense of belonging to the human race. 

This is a view of the school when you first are entering and looking straight ahead!  On the sides of the staircase is two cement slides (believe it or not you fly down these slides) !! :) Very Fun

Each classroom has a Spanish speaking Ecuadorian teacher, but also has English speaking international teachers who teach specific grade levels in English!  (This is where I come into play) This way the children can learn English from native speakers at the same time and in the same natural way that they acquire their native language of Spanish!

This is a view of the only 'play' area that has grass!  There are two sets of swings (4 swings total for the entire school) as well as couple of jungle gym areas and a teeter totter) 

 Although I had no idea of what to expect I knew that I would know a familiar face!  I am currently placed with Megan V.  who I worked with at the Children's Center in Whitewater, WI!  I work with Megan to teach English to the children in the prescholar room (preschool room) and the primero de basica (Kindergarten)!  It has been a wonderful experience so far with getting to know the children and learning their names!  All the children call their teachers Tia or Tio (Meaning aunt or uncle) - Thus I am Tia Brittney !  It has been an adventure and truly exciting learning how this school functions!  This is nothing like your typical U.S. school at all!  I think the school and the teacher both national and international do a terrific job with the children with what little resources they have! 

Here are some of the children in which I work with!  The children are learning about jungle animals and they made snakes out of panty hoses and newspaper!  They then took them outside and were playing with them! 

This is a long branch that the children place between the two wall sides and play (vollyball) during recess! 


I hope that gives a little insight as to the school in which I am student teaching at!  More to come!

Chau- for now!