CAG

CAG is Collegio Americano de Guatemala, or the American School of Guatemala. Ya'll can check out the link on the right to find out more. The majority of the students are Guatemalan and wealthy. A minority population of Korean students (families in clothing businesses) also attends. In the elementary school, classes are around 24 students per class. Every class has a full time English speaking teacher for language arts, math, science and social studies. Two classes share a Spanish speaking teacher for Spanish language and Guatemalan social studies. Each elementary grade also has a roving bilingual support teacher and an assistant to do photocopying, filing, etc. Every week, students enjoy classes in computers, art, music, P.E., swimming, and library. They get 30 minutes for lunch and 25 min for recess every day. What this means for me is an amazing amount of planning time. The school day lasts from 7:30 to 2:00. On my busiest day I have five 45 min periods (total of 3.75 hours) of actual teaching. I also have two light days of three 45 min periods (grand total of 2.25 hours of teaching). Built in to my "planning time," however, are required meetings with my fourth grade teaching team (including counselors, special education teachers, and tech coordinator), my fourth grade English teaching team, the social studies instruction committee (horizontal and vertical curricular mapping online!), and a block reserved for parent conferences. Whoa! It takes a lot to have all the pieces fit together. Though I don't believe all the face to face time is absolutely necessary, I am learning how a staff can and does work together to provide students with a comprehensive education. After teaching on an island for three years, the sense of being part of something larger is quite inspiring. The pics are of the "montenita" (the elementary playground), the library in the center of campus, and one of the machete wielding groundskeepers. So far so good. I am definitely growing as a teacher and seeing what it takes to run a school well. The unique situation CAG is in presents it with many challenges other schools do not face (K-12 vertical curriculum coordination, high teacher turnover). At the same time, other conditions such as cheap labor and private funding afford it luxuries not possible in the public schools. Much to be learned... - Michael