Enjoy

Article published today

> Did an interview with the local paper a few days ago. This was published today.
> http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3277808

Island Tour

The Dominica Association of Teachers took the team on a tour of the Island today. A great way to get to know them better in an informal setting. We stopped at Emerald Pool for a dip in a pool surrounded by the most lush growth you can imagine. The pool is in the rain forest and fed by a 40 foot water fall. Then we completed the overland crossing from the West Coast to the East Coast.

Our next stop was at a craft market in the territory of the Kalinago people. Baskets and seed necklaces were the nicest crafts. The. We stopped for lunch at a scenic lookout. Then off to Coconut Beach for a dip in the sea. Then back home. While it is a s
A island travel over the mountains is not fast. There is a lot of road construction which is great to see.

Kicking back

After week one of the two week project we were off to the Fort Young Hotel for happy hour. We were so tired we were home by 8:00. Just like a regular teaching Friday.

Loving Dominica

Another day another radio talk show in Dominica. Yes the workshop was featured on "The Hang" on Caribi Radio at 7:00 am today. Yes radio celeb comes with the role of being a team lead here on the "Natural Island"

Then back to the Convent High School to teach. I visited the other classrooms and met with the Course Director before returning to watch my co tutor finish a gallery walk. Then she told me that she had done a Think-Pair-Share yesterday at another afternoon workshop. Three days and we have signs of having an impact.

Then she reminded me I had was to do the clinical supervision section next. I used the 12 step lesson plan method, took 12 steps to the centre of the room while figuring out what I was going to do. I asked my star student to help and we role played a complete cycle less the observation. Worked out really well.

Then we did "Two truths and a lie", using the fist to five decide which was the lie. They thought I was married for 31 years and had climbed Mount Logan. They thought the 120 km ride on my bicycle was the lie. Then they were to try it, didn't work very well.

Then we did a graffiti activity after reading a passage on school culture. After class it was off to meet with the Chief Education Officer. We were frank and bad a good discussion, I asked for a letter of support for CTF from the government, no free lunch I told him.

This had us out looking for lunch at 4:30 in a town that closes at 4:00. Hard to imagine a city closing down at 4 but everyone goes back to them country then. There are blocks of buses lined up for the run.

The Evergreen Hotel

After a very warm day we went to the Evergreen Hotel

Made my radio debut today. Was able to respond to the Minister of Educations challenge at the opening ceremonies. So commented on the million word deficit. No Hollywood did not call yet.

DAy tow of the program. Started the day off with a Jigsaw on Learning Styles. Several of the members who had attended the session last year knew what to do, the others followed. The activity turned out very well. They were engaged and participating. During the debrief they pointed out that everyone was participating in the activity. Then we did a consensus building activity to see what they thought the responsibilities o the principal included. We used the dotmocracy where the brainstormed items are listed on post it notes. They are then posted on a wall and grouped. Then the participants are given the opportunity to place five dots on the items to indicate what they think is most important. Generally we use dot stickers but since they will not have them we just put pen dots on the post it notes. Then I introduced the 21 responsibilities as discussed in Marzano's book Leadership That Works. Then we did a Think-Pair-Share activity on the second item on Marzano's list, Change Agent. Rather than share with a presentation we had them do a poster as evidence of their learning.

Day 2 of teaching over and a walk around town.

Returned to the house to find the water off again. Hard to do laundry with out water.

Day One of the Dominica Teaching Project.

So day one of the program here in Dominica is over. We arrived at the Convent School and prepared for the opening Ceremonies. The minister of Education arrived and spoke about the value of the program. His Chief Educational Officer spoke and challenged the teachers to teach in innovative ways and to meet the learning needs of all the students.

Then I did my opening speech, responding to the ministers challenge. I introduced the team. We received a warm welcome. The Dominica Association of Teachers President Mrs. Nicholas gave a very passionate speech and offered her own challenges to the Minister of Education.

Then it was off to teach our opening class. In the Administration group we had 40 students in a room designed for 30. We had to remove the desks, so there was enough room for the participants.

First we did Headbands, a game where you are given a card face down and then you place it on your forehead. The goal is to sort by order and suit with out speaking. The goal is to show that asa a team you can do things that individuals can not do on their own.

Then we found a person in the group that we did not know and learned enough about them to introduce them to the rest of the group.

Then it was time to get to work. We used an Learning Style Inventory to establish the learning styles of the participants. We graphed this on a pie chart to give a visual representation of their learning style. We then sorted into "like groups" and did a little practice activity to use the predominant learning styles to teach three things about a school. It was wonderful, we had news casts, blackboard full of graphs, a song, posters, role playing, discussions, and the naturalistic group (new intelligence from Gardner) that used recycled materials to beautify the room. All we had time to do after that was debrief. I tried to convince the logical group (the graphs) to sing the song ....... yea it didn't work. Then there was some discussion about why do this when they still have to write high stakes tests. I assured them that they would get better results if the students learned the material with activities designed to suit their learning style than if learning style was ignored. Then it was time to issue the exit tickets and have them describe what they hoped to learn over the course of the two weeks.

Then it was time to meet with my co-tutor and plan for tomorrow.

Barbados is nice,

We really didn't get to the beach, and are only overnighting here. The hotel pool was just what we needed this afternoon after a long flight. Went to supper in Oistins and the fresh seafood was great.

First Mistake

Hope this not a sign of things to come, but messed up the customs form for Barbados.

Landed and got to the hotel. Quick team meeting and everyone agreed a swim was in order.

Sent from my iPhone

Ottawa streets July 1

This is party central on July 1. Especially with Kate and William here. Didn't see them.

Check out my video: Ottawa

I created this video for you using SonicPics!

Ottawa or bust

I have never been so ready for Project Overseas. That is a good thing as knead diagnosed with strep throat on Wed. But I made the flight and landing was a little uncomfortable with plugged ears. Had to beg to get to the hotel as the streets are blocked for the Canada Day celebrations. Nice weather for Kate and William to be here. My room has a view of the flag on top of the Parliment buildings.

The Count Down is Almost Over

It has been a long time since November when I submitted my application to the ATA for Project Overseas 2011. I heard in early January that I had been selected to be team leader in Dominica for 2011.

This was followed by a trip to an orientation in Ottawa during February.

Once I arrived back home there was contacts to be made and teleconferences to host. It all seemed so far away and things that seemed more important were given priority. With just a few days until I leave to meet my team in Ottawa and then head to Dominica, not much is more important now.

Now thing s keep running through my mind , how many of this do I need, where is my passport ..... so many questions. Life will be busy from now on. So much learning to do.

I am a very nervous traveler, when I am going to a new location. I like to know the "who and where" about my travels. This will be my fourth time to a new location, I either should get comfortable with it or stop going....... I better get comfortable.

I hope to post again before I leave for Ottawa, stay tuned.