3. *
About 34% of the population is of
mixed Maya and European descent
(Mestizo), 25% are Kriols, 15%
are Spanish about 10.6% are
Mayan, and about 6.1% are Afro-
Amerindian (Garifuna).The remaining
population includes European, East
Indian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, and
North American groups. In the case of
Europeans, most are descendants of
Spanish, and British colonial settlers.
4. *
*Large student/teacher ratio
*Girls participate more than boys
*Lack of behavior systems
*Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.9%
male: 76.7%
female: 77.1% (2000 census)
5. *
*I traveled to Belize, for three
weeks, as a part of a literacy team.
My team’s goal was to become
community partners with four
different schools in Dangriga, and
supply those schools with the
resources they needed to be
successful.
6. *
*I participated in several of the team
projects while teaching abroad.
*These project included:
*Literacy Tutoring
*Teaching Creative Writing
*Painting Murals
*Story time at the Public Library
*Providing a School Library
7. *
I was one of three project leaders on the
literacy tutoring project. During Literacy
tutoring I met with a small group of Infant 1
students (Kindergartners) and worked on areas in
which I saw a need. Beforehand an assessment
was given to each student individually in order
for me to better understand the areas in which
my students required growth.
9. *
*During my time in Belize I taught creative
writing whole group to Standard 2 students
(Third Graders). These lessons often consisted
of reading a book or other material to the
students and asking them to respond to what
was read. Poetry was used during the lessons as
well as children’s books. I implemented the
Gradual Release Model along with other
strategies such as Think, Pair, Share, circle
maps, RAFTS etc…
11. *
*In addition to teaching, many of the
schools asked us to paint educational
murals. These murals included a sight word
mural, a times table mural, and a Dr.
Seuss mural.
13. *
*Twice a week I would take part in story-
time at the public library in Dangria .
During this time my team and I would read
one-on-one with children who came to the
library and then at the end of our time we
had a read aloud.
15. *
*One of the schools we taught at asked for
us to turn an extra classroom into a school
library. Before traveling to Belize we asked
for book donations. We brought these
books to Belize with us to stock the library.
We made book shelves and painted.
17. *
*On my last day in Belize we participated in
community day. The literacy team set up a
booth where students played sight word bingo
and other educational games. There was music
and several other booths set up by other
teams. We provided a lot of school supplies and
teacher resource packets that were handed out
during this time. Every resource, book, and
game we brought was left in Belize for the
schools to use.
19. *
*Expanded my knowledge of diversity
*Allowed me to work collaboratively with others
*Developed my communication skills
*Made me appreciate home
*Changed my perspective of the world I live in
