Fun Friday!

It is a little late but I thought I would share what our Halloween Fun Friday cconsisted of! 

Since the Primero (Kindergarten) Classroom spent so much time learning about pumpkins, songs, and colors during the month of October, Megan my cooperating teacher thought it would be fun to have the children decorate pumpkin sugar cookies!  In preparation for our fun Friday, the presholars (preschoolers) decorated little pumpkins and a Happy Halloween sign.  They then put colored noodles on a string (great fine motor activity) and then put there pumpkins on the string!  The end product- a colorful necklace! 

The Primero classroom made pumpkin headbands!  They used black paper and Halloween rub ons (also great fine motor activity) They then created a Jack O' Lantern to go in the middle of their head band!  The kids worked very hard while creating their headbands (better then I had anticipated)! 

We then joined together the two classroom and handed out sugar cookies to the children!  We gave them Orange frosting to decorate their pumpkin and then we had black frosting so they could create a face!  It was a lot of fun and the children seemed to really enjoy their Fun Friday (their was lots of laughs and giggles and children that were working hard)! 

As some of you may know that I normally do not believe in teaching themes with the children but things change when you have different types of children and are in a different country!  The thought process behind teaching in themes to the children at this age is that we are working on building vocabulary.   We do not necessarily plan everything around the them but things can be easily Incorporated such as learning about pumpkins!  The children were learning colors, sizes, shapes, textures, numerals, and so much more! 

Also once a week I lead a conversation group with three children from third grade!  The idea for the conversation group is to provide children with more opportunities to be exposed to English!  Last week I had my first group and to start things off we play Candy Land!  The children had to say the colors and the number of spaces they were moving in English!  I have to remind them to try to speak in English so we say things such as "My Turn and Your Turn" the children were super excited to play!  After the game I had the children draw a picture of their family and then we labeled the family members in English and in Spanish!   I have really enjoyed the two conversation groups that I have had so far! 

More to come soon!

Exploring El Cajas

On Saturday the 29th,  we left Cuenca around 8a.m. and headed to El Cajas national park! 

El Cajas was declared a national recreation area in 1977 and a national park in 1996, "El Cajas" (Boxes) covers an area of 29,000 hectares (72,000 acres) of mountainous terrain between 9,700-13,500 ft.  The park is situated on the western cordillera at the continental divide, about 30 KM west of Cuenca.  A once glaciated region ( U shaped valleys and rigid peaks) over 400 lakes and lagoons formed after the last ice age, around 12,000 years ago. 

Today, the park is littered with these pasternoster lake, all inerconnected by visible and subterranean rivers and waterfalls. High altitude and moisture are the dominant climatic variable in El Cajas, forming two interesting ecosystems:  Montaine cloud forest and Andean paramo, or shrubby high altitude grassland. 

Our tour guide showing us one of the plants~

More contemporary Cajas popular history dates to 1989 when the upper-middle class teenage girl claimed to have been visited by the Virgin Mary while campling in the park.  Monthly pilgrimages to the sanctuary are still made by people from all over the Ecuador and from all different backgrounds.  In the last decade the young girl's story has been discredited by the Ecuadorian media, which reflects popular discourse on the topic today.  Nevertheless the site is still of religious and spirtitual importance for many Cuencanos. 

Cajas is also unquie in that it is run by the ETAPA, the local municipality of Cuenca.  It is the only park in Euador to be run at the local level (though still funded nationally), and many of the employees of the park have a long family history with the area.  This was done in part because Cajas provides most of Cuenca's drinking water (+60%), which is managed by ETAPA.  It's elevation and climate means it can get very cold, especially at night.  Heavy fog can reduce visibility to just a few feet, making a knowledge of the area and a compass very important.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Its Off to A New Place We Go!

On Sunday October 23rd we ventured out to learn about about the great culture of Ecuador!   We had a couple stops on our way to Ingapirca Archaelogical Site! 
We all meet at the school around 8a.m. and loaded up in a van to begin our journey!  We first stopped at a gas station so people could load up on chocolate and caffefine (to help with altitude sickness)!  I of course got some chocolate to help with my altitude sickness (in which I did not have :) )

Our second stop was in Biblian, where we went to the top of the cathedral (300 + stairs, but well worth it once we got to the top)! 

The Sanctuary of the Virgen del Rocio. The Cathedral, built in stone, is located on the top of a hill. A few minutes Verdeloma there are other populations as well as the beaches of Fatima and St. Louis. For its part, Tambo (to 43 km. Azogues) has a church with several valuable pieces of religious art. Delegate (at 25 km. Azogues) is made as shigras colorful handicrafts (handbags), colorful sashes and ponchos

While we were driving, we noticed a statue on the top of one of the moutians- we were told that it was the Virgin of the Clouds - which kind of made sense because it was at the top of the moutain and I assumed it was in the clouds!  But little did I know we were going to be able to get a great view of it from the top of the Cathedral! 

Inside the Cathedral

Halfway to the top!

A million stairs later, we made it ! 

Third Stop:  On our way to Ingapirca we stopped along side the road at a place that was cooking a pig!  There are several of these little places along the sides of the road, cooking chicken, pigs, and guinea pigs, and etc...   We had the great opportunity to try pig skin!  At first I said that I was not going to try any of it but when we got there I decide taht I will try at least everything once (why not?!?!)  They roast the pig over open flames until the skin becomes totally black, then they scrap the black off and cut the skin into pieces! 

Trying the pig skin (piel de cerdo)

We drove a little further and then stopped at a Market that sells animals.  People come there to buy, trade, and sell their animals.  It is mostly pigs, sheep, and cows that were being sold when we stopped.  There was also people selling kitchen items, clothing, and food as well. 

After the animal market we made our way to The Ingapirca Archaeological Site! The ruins of Ingapirca, located approx. two and a half hours from Cuenca, are the most important ruins in Ecuador.  Ingapirca is set on a picturesque hillside and overlooks a small village of the same name.  The area surrounding the ruins is used primarily for agriculutre and raising cattle, with traditional methods (hand and animal power) still used by a majority of the farmers.  

The main structure, the so-called Temple of the Sun, demonstrates some of the Incas' finest mortar-less stonework, and is surrounded by seemingly less important ruins thought to be the residences and storehouses.  There is still debate over the use of the ruins, and archaeologists have at times referred to the ruins as a temple, fortress, or as a royal stopover for imperial runners between Quito and Tomebamba (Cuenca).   

There is so many more awesome pictures !  I will have to show you all when I get back! 

Open Aula and Calabaza Carving (Pumpkin Carving) :)

This week has been a great week at the school!  I have been learning so much!  The school has studies different countries and have different open aulas (open classrooms) where the national teachers plan activities once a month and the international teachers plan activities once a month. 
For the international teachers open aula we planned activities related to Taiwan.  Megan and I planned to make lanterns with the children!  It is pretty amazing the things you can think of doing with such little resources!  It seemed to be a big hit for the children because I put together about 90 papers and we only had about 10-15 left afterwards! 

Here are just a few pictures of the open aula- it is basically a free for all and the children can go to the different location throughout the school and participate in the activities of their liking! 

This is a picture from the national teachers open aula- one of the activities was making masks!

This is from our open aula where the children make lanterns out of paper!!  They turned out great!!!




This whole month the children have been learning about pumpkins and singing several songs about pumpkins (while learning about body parts - where eyes nose and mouth are on a head- color recognition, size and shape, they have been learning to count and recognize numbers in English as well!  All through the use of pumpkins)!   As well as learning about the American culture/holiday- Halloween and what people in the states do with pumpkins!! 
This not only seemed to fun for the children but I think Megan and I enjoyed gutting and carving pumpkins as much as the children did!  (some child seemed very skeptical of touching or putting their hands inside the pumpkins while others dove right in and seemed to enjoy it greatly!!) 
Here are some pictures !

As we had been teaching the children that pumpkins are orange - we had to suddenly tell them that pumpkins in the United States are orange while pumpkins in Ecuador are green (unless they are just not fully rip yet)  But we explained this to the children and then began gutting the calabazas.

We broke off into to groups for each classroom (Kindergarten and Preschool both got to participate in calabaza carving!! 

                                                                       Digging right in!!!! 

After we finished with all four pumpkins we put candles in them and had the children come in and look at the Jack O' Lanterns!!  We than sang the Jack O' Lantern song while admiring our creations !!! 

I think it looks more like a watermelon on the outside than the typical pumpkins you see in the US. 

Jack O' Lantern!! 

This was so much fun!  We cleaned the seeds and plan to have the children count out the seeds and place the correct amount of seeds to the corresponding numbers 0-10 on pumpkins that they painted!  We also hope to have a few seeds left to cook for the children to try!  We are also going to try to make a pumpkin soup and pumpkin bread from two of the pumpkins (that way we dont waste them)!!

Things have been great here!  More to come later!

Chau!!

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!

Journey to Cuenca ! 10/9/11

After leaving Quayaquil, we had about a 4 to 4 1/2 hour van ride to Cuenca!  It was a very interesting ride and many things to see along the way.  This picture is of a 'house' or 'hut' we saw many of these along the way (what seemed like out in the middle of nowhere... 

Foot Hills of the Andes !  I think pictures just do not do justice to how beautiful it is!!

Another view!

This is one of many sugar cane fields

This is a banana tree... There were several fields of them along the way.  Something interesting that I learned is- what we typcially perceive as the top of the banana is really the bottom because of the way it grows (wish I had a pciture of how they grow, I never really thought about how they grew, maybe I will have one at a later time). 

Gas Station that we stopped at!  Guess the price of gas!  They have people that fill your tank up for you..

As I mentioned we traveled through the Andes- We went up to about 13,500 ft then back down to about 8,400 ft.  Didnt feel to good on my head or ears! But it interesting.. there were many cows, chickens, horses, even a baby pig wondering in the road as we were driving.  (Driving here is nothing like in the States either...It is rather scary and I cant believe there is not more accidents.  People turn right in front of buses, dont stop at stop sign, constantly honk at each other, pass no passing zones, pass when cars are coming at you, etc...)  That will take some time getting used to (if I do at all, I would not want to drive here and I am thankful that I dont!!)

Hotel that we stayed at 10/9/11 - Cuenca's Country Side!! It was very beautiful and relaxing !! This is Blair and I - we roomed together the nights in the hotel ( I was not feeling very photogenic)

View from our hotel!  So pretty! Wish we could have stayed longer!

More to come soon!

First Couple of Days Take Two

Things I saw in Guayquil take 2:



This is an agave plant that is filtered to make tequilla. 

This is a plant that is used in the panama hats- the closed leaves ares used to make fibers which are used in the hats. 

I believe this is the main cathederal which is 85 yrs. old.  The old one was made completely out of wood!

It is hard to tell, but the trunk of this tree is green!  It is a typical dry forest tree called a Ceibos Pentandra.  It has adapted here during the dry seasons.  The trunk usually turns green around Aug. and then flowers bloom and there are used to make cotton. 

 On average, Guayqauil gets approx. 15-18 ft. of rain during a four month period (rainy season)!!

This is the Main City Hall that was built in 1928.  In 1896, the old building became infested with rats! Some people had the idea that they should set a fire to kill the rats!  The old building was made of wood (we all should know what happens when you set wood on fire!) the fire spread and became out of control spreading through the city and six people lost their lives.   This marked the beginning of a new city! 

These are pictures from the RiverFront which used to be the main port of Guayaquil until the 1970's when the city decided to build another port on the south side which took over. 

This is a pirate ship reproduction.  A pirate took over the city (not sure when this happened didnt catch that part) and this is a replica of his ship. 

This is a view from the dock.  It was very beautiful!

This is the view looking across! 

Ecuador has 52 different types of mangos, but they only export approx. 5 of them!!  This is a picture of a mango tree!

If you notice on the top of this monument, there are flags of countires that were set free from the Spanards. 

Before we departed from Guayaquil, we were able to see some of the parade that was going on.  October 9th is a day in which they celebrate the Independence of Guayaquil!  There were so many people everywhere, it was somewhat overwhelming to me but glad I was able to see some it!!

On our way out of Guayaquil, we stopped at Mall de Sol (a very big mall) to eat lunch. This is where I truly felt out of place because I could not read anything on the menus (but also did not McDonalds, Taco Bell, or anything else that is typical in the State) so I ordered some pollo and fries (chicken and fries)! 

From here we were going to the Country Side of Cuenca to stay in another hotel!