June 4 from my desk top computer in the "man cave"

School's out for summer!  Completed year 31 of teaching.  Enough!  On to more important things.

Leaving for the airport in Detroit in 31 hours.  I think I have mostly everything in order.

Passport and visa--check
Rupees and a few Euros--check
Lesson copied and ready to teach--check
Suitcase packed--pretty much
Umbrella--check
Cricket bat--where is that thing?

So I wonder what it is like to go to school in another country?  Though I have traveled extensively in the last 6 years, I am not sure I can answer that question.  The only time I spent time in a school was at the Center for Humanistic Education in Israel which was very, very interesting.  I am going to learn much more about the Indian education system.  In addition to my intensive experience at Kendriya Vidyalaya in Malapurram (can you tell I cut and pasted that?) I will be visiting several schools in Bangalore and Delhi.

In what ways will these schools be similar and different?

How important are the arts and what structure is in place to promote and teach them?
How important is student voice and is there meaningful student government?
How important are sports and other extra curricular activities?
Is physical education and health taught?
How about special needs students?
What do Indian students learn about American history?
What does diversity look like in these schools?
Is there prom, dances and other school sponsored social activities?
What is the relationship between teacher and student?
What does career prep mean?
Who goes to school?  Who does not?

Do they have standardized testing that wastes large portions of instructional time (whoops, a little too political).

While I am not sure if I will be an expert, I am quite sure I will gain insights into this system.  It's going to be really interesting.

I invited several of the English as a Second Language students to help me clean my classroom today. Most can speak better English than I can.  Currently, we have a large number of Pakistani students who had no hesitation supporting me in this endeavor.  Of course, they had no problem expressing their opinions too. They are a great group from which I have learned so much.  One of the student's mother made me lunch one day.  Whoa, spicy!  I cannot wait to have this experience and to return back to school and share with all students, but especially the international students.

Here is a couple of pictures of my international students, or ESL or ELL or whatever.

They're some of my favs!

Why is it that students all over the world are compelled to give the peace sign when the camera is on? Check out my guy in South Korea in 2013.  I don't get it?  What are they learning about Richard Nixon in these schools?

I am going to find the answer to this!  I am on a mission!

June 1 from my dining room table

Sitting at the table.  Sara getting annoyed with my lack of technological skill.  Trying to figure out an easy way for people to follow my musings.  Presto!  Learned what an rss feed is and how to attach one to this blog.  Success.

Many, many thoughts as I finish my last week of school and begin the final preparations for my adventure.  Among my first thoughts is this word; monsoon!  Don't have those here in the Midwest. It is Monsoon season is southern India.  Note the 90 degree weather and high probability of rain in the forecast in Bangalore this week.  Of course, I am sure it will clear up by the time I get there.

My many athletic experiences have taught me that "those who fail to prepare, truly prepare to fail." Operating under that premise, I have been doing some pre-monsoon training.  See below...

Our group did receive an e-mail today from our group leader outlining the first week of activity.  It includes visiting several schools in Bangalore, some presentations on the education system in India and some cultural touring.  These are all things that are very appealing to me.  Following that week, Erik Remsen who is a social studies teacher in Vermont and I will be headed for our host school in Malapurram.  I will pass that itinerary along later.  

I don't know if you are familiar with the documentary film Two Million Minutes?  This film features high school students in Indiana, China and India and compares and contrasts their lives offering an interesting commentary on the educational systems in each country.  My research question is to take what I learned in the movie and understand this in real terms.  

I am linking the trailer here if you are interested.  Enjoy.  More later.  The countdown continues!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eZi-eXDw54

May 31 From my dining room table

Yikes!  6 days to go and with that timing comes a commitment on my part to post to this blog regularly.

What I know so far.  All travel has been booked.  The highlight will likely be a 1 hour prop plane ride a local airline to go from Bangalore to Malapurram  where I will meet my host teacher Mr. Thomas P.V.   Thomas taught for 6 months at a high school near Kent, Ohio as a part of the ILEP program.  He mentioned in one of his e-mails that he wanted to go to Detroit to visit but was advised against it...uhmmmm...  Perhaps someone in the Buckeye State was showing their anti-Michigan bias?

I am excited and a little nervous to be in the school in Malapurram.  There is a packed schedule of meetings with teachers and students.  I will also be teaching the same lesson on American Culture a few times as well as a lesson on the Holocaust.  What an opportunity!  I am going to modify and use the lesson I am working on for the Museum Teacher Fellow Program at the United States Holocaust Museum.  Ha!  When I go to my follow-up meeting at the Museum in July, I am sure I am going to be the only one to say I taught our group's lesson in India!

 I think I have purchased everything I need so the packing routine is next.  Got to make that decision to go small!  May need some support!

Today's goal while I am in India is to learn and play some CRICKET!  Yeah!  I may need some lessons from the kids at school so I can dominate from the start!

Lastly, IREX sent me a beautiful small but excellent Sony camera to document my travels.  I put in the battery and plugged it in and it was dead.  I frantically e-mailed Emily who is my IREX group leader.  I need a camera!  She went out of her way to get me replacement info.  I thought, "maybe I should to to Geek Squad and see if its just a dead battery."  I went in there and I apparently had put the battery in upside down.  Sorry Emily.

I hope that is not an omen for the trip!

20 Days to Go!

Working with Jennica to learn the ins and outs of blogging on Blogger!  Posted to facebook to see who wants to receive my blogs.

It is hard to focus on so many things at the same time; the end of school and this adventure. However, shortly I won't have a choice.

On Thursday of last week, I spent an hour in the English as a Second Language classroom getting advice.  There are quite a few students from Pakistan and India and they were helpful and supportive but all wanted to know if I would be going to their town.  Of course, I replied, "I'll try!"

I like to say that my language skills don't extend much beyond the Midwestern English that I have spoken nearly my entire life.  Forays into learning Latin, French and Russian were educational but didn't take at all.  I think about my international students and their challenge in adapting to their new language and culture and wonder how I will do on my very, very limited trip.

Lot's to think about!

Malapurram, Karala, India

minus 26 days!

The countdown continues!  I am feeling very excited but very, very overwhelmed with it all.

26 days until departure to explore the world and apply my Global Education work as part of the International Field Experience.

24 days until the last day of school.  I will be completing my 31st year as a public school teacher. Somehow, despite all of my experience, the end of the year is still overwhelming for me.  Every year at this time, I look at the work I have to do to finish the year and the time I have left to do it and wonder if it is possible--but every year I get it done.

I am excited for my itinerary.  Meeting my traveling colleagues in February was a treat.  The Global Education Symposium was a unique and inspiring experience.  Increasingly, I feel less and less respect for myself and my colleagues as a teachers.  In stark and welcoming contrast, I was treated as a true professional in Washington by the IREX staff and the guest presenters; I even appreciated the treatment by the Mandarin Oriental hotel staff!  At any rate, what a great experience!

In April, I joined our IREX trip leader, Emily Lester, and my colleagues, in our pre-departure webinar.  Lots of questions answered, lots of questions still remain.  Flying to Washington to join my colleagues and then continuing on the Bangalore via Frankfurt.  Will leave home in Lansing at about 7:30 a.m. on Saturday June 8.  Will arrive in India on Monday June 10 at 1:15 a.m.  Those skies better be friendly!

Will spend June 10 to June 12 in Bangalore.  From there I will be traveling with Erik Remsen, a social studies teacher from Vermont, to our host city and school.  Our city is Malappuram in Kerala State and our school is Kendriya Vidyalaya (notice the cut and paste) and our host teacher is Thomas Varghese who teaches economics to 11th and 12th graders. Thomas is part of the IREX prograom and ILEP and taught at Roosevelt High School in Mantua, Ohio for 6 months.  

So, there is much to think about and do and write.  But I am ready!  I want to learn a few phrases in the native language which is Malayalam.  There are some logistical concerns which I need to tie up and I have to find a little more tolerance for Indian food and extreme heat!

So what am I most looking forward to?  Well, the students, of course.  I want ot see and hear them.  I want to find out about their experience as students in India and what their hopes and dreams are.  

Naturally.

26 more days!

Post #1 Washington, D.C.

I am thrilled to be in Washington, D.C. for the Global Education Symposium.  Here I will begin my face-to-face preparation for my adventure to teach and learn in India in June, meet Team India and the Teachers for Global Classrooms staff and prepare to do the work to help provide more global education experiences for students at Waverly High School!

I am also thrilled to be sharing this learning opportunity with my principal, Chris Huff.  Before his entry into administration, Chris was also a social studies teacher.  So glad that this program recognizes the importance of involving administrators in this process.  In too many cases, training specific teachers guarantees only that the learning is applied in that teacher's classroom; having Chris here insures that this program's reach will extend well beyond my classroom.  Very happy about that!

I am looking forward to meeting the other 12 members of Team India!