An Introduction

I am in my final year of the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Elementary Education Program. Ever since I was a child, I have always wanted to become a teacher. After four and half years of college, I am finally getting the opportunity to be in a classroom full-time. I cannot wait to gain more responsibility in the classroom and truly understand what it means to be a full-time teacher.

As a part of my student teaching experience I will be spending 9 weeks in Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico from January 9th until March 15th. Sayulita is a village of about 4,000 people and is located about 25 miles north of Puerto Vallarta. 

During my time in Sayulita I will be working with 5th and 6th grade students at the Costa Verde International School (CVIS). According to the school website (http://www.colegiocostaverde.com) CVIS is "an elementary school with grades from preschool through 9th, [the school's] aim is to produce healthy, happy and well-adjusted life-long learners. [The school's] target is that each child acquires fluency in a second language and a profound understanding of the necessity for a "green" approach to living. To achieve this, Costa Verde International School is dedicated to a small student to teacher ratio and has focused on the whole child in an environment designed to develop the talents and the skills particular to each individual. School curriculum centers on ecology and respect for the environment. Students learn to analyze and solve problems rather than simply memorizing facts." 

Everything I have heard and read about the school sounds amazing and aligns with my own educational philosophy. I cannot wait to begin this wonderful experience for countless reasons. I have always loved learning about other cultures and travel is a great way to do that. Today's classrooms are growingly diverse. As a teacher, I think it is extremely important to have an understanding of other cultures because it allows teachers to better understand and meet the needs of their students. Getting the chance to student teach in Mexico is especially relevant for me because next year I will be teaching in the Cartwright Elementary School District in Phoenix, Arizona. The student body in the district is 90% Hispanic and Latino, with many students who are either from Mexico or of Mexican descent. I am also a Spanish speaker, as I am Cuban-American and have a minor in Spanish. Although I am relatively fluent in Spanish, I am always excited to travel to a Spanish-speaking place because it allows me to practice and improve my Spanish-speaking skills. Finally, being from the midwest I have to be honest--I am EXTREMELY excited to escape the cold wintery months. Today is -20 degrees fahrenheit outside, but it feels like -50 degrees. I think these last few days might be the coldest temperatures I have experienced in my life-time. Sayulita on the other hand is 80 degrees today. So naturally, I am extremely eager to leave for Mexico on January 9th!

During my time in Mexico this blog will be a place for me to record my thoughts, reflections, and observations of both my experiences as a teacher and my general experiences in Mexico. I plan on posting new entries at least once every week, so feel free to check back often!