My to-do-list is getting smaller and smaller! Who knew there would be so much to do. It is amazing all the little things you have to remember: plans for both places, sending grades, stop the paper & mail, pay bills in advance, get taxes done, pick up all odds and ends, find Gracie (cat) a place to stay--THANKS HOLLY--etc.
During the DC conference, we were told we needed an "essential question" that would guide our travels. I decided to work together with my students to develop one main question with many subquestions.
How does globalization and the structure of the Kazakhstan education system impact teaching and learning? · What impact is globalization having on Kazakhstan? · How does globalization affect young people and culture? · How are the lives of students around the world similar to or different from students in the United States? (sports, organizations-Boy Scouts, free time activities, levels of education-college-masters, gifted education, music, food, TV, clothing-dress code, societal views of gender, kid’s role in the family, parent expectations for school and behavior) ·How does academic performance of students in Kazakhstan compare to students in the USA? teacher centered?student centered? · What are the worldwide influences on local settings? · What role does technology play in the lives of teenagers in Kazakhstan? · How is instruction of learning languages and use of these languages different from the United States? · Is there any racial/cultural segregation? · Are there different laws in Kazakhstan? I have been trying to figure out what types of gifts to bring to everyone in Kazakhstan. For the students, I ordered a bunch of things that were red, white, and blue from Oriental Trading: pens, pins, pencils, stickers, and magnets. Then I ordered some books from Scholastic Book Club with my points, so I can donate new books to their library. I also went to the Virginia Beach Tourism office and they gave me pens, pins, and really nice stickers to bring as well. I am contacting the Richmond Tourism office on Monday to see if they have anything. I got some TCMS and CCPS items as well. Olga, a teacher from Kazakhstan, said to find something that is MADE IN THE USA. I think she figured out real quickly how hard that is to find. Any other ideas?
So now it is crunch time! It is less than one month before I leave, and there is so much to do! I just finished booking my hotel room and let me say, thank goodness for Google translate, since the hotel site was not in English. This was my confirmation information. I guess I did it correctly. Oh my! =)
Уведомление об оплате заказа Номер заказа: 32 Наименование получателя: ALTYNADAM.COM Адрес веб-сайта получателя: altynadam.com I just ordered plug adapters and just bought the ever-so-important dual voltage hair dryer! I found a cool travel purse that is a nice size to carry exactly what I need. I have scarves, mittens, tons of trial size things, and an extra adapter plug-thanks to Mom and Dad. Most importantly, my visa came today! This past weekend, I traveled to Washington, D.C. for a symposium on Global Education hosted by IREX and the U.S. State Department. I arrived on Valentine's Day after riding the Amtrak to DC. It was fun meeting everyone in person after working with them in the online course.
The first full day of the symposium included discussions of global education and a Global Education fair featuring more than twenty organizations that contribute to global education. I left with a pile of resources. I had my first meeting with the teachers with whom I'll travel to Kazahastan. There are ten of us in all. We were asked to write an "essential question" that will guide our in-country learning. Flag description--a gold sun with 32 rays above a soaring golden steppe eagle, both centered on a sky blue background; the hoist side displays a national ornamental pattern "koshkar-muiz" (the horns of the ram) in gold; the blue color is of religious significance to the Turkic peoples of the country, and so symbolizes cultural and ethnic unity; it also represents the endless sky as well as water; the sun, a source of life and energy, exemplifies wealth and plenitude; the sun's rays are shaped like grain, which is the basis of abundance and prosperity; the eagle has appeared on the flags of Kazakh tribes for centuries and represents freedom, power, and the flight to the future
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My Travel Blog-April 2013Cindy WoodwardOver the next few months, I'll use this blog to share my experiences as part of Archives
April 2013
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