Today was my second day at Kendal Primary School and the experience so far has been absolutely amazing.  It is hard to find words to describe what it is like to teach these students.  Today we taught them from the book Very Loud Lilly.  While reading this story we were able to include many different … Continue reading The world is so different… by Jason Garcia →

Today was the second day I had the pleasure of being welcomed to Kendal Primary School. So far it has been an incredible experience that words cannot even describe. I had the opportunity today to give shoes to the students with another Great Shape Volunteer named Lisa all thanks to the foundation Great Shape Incorporated. … Continue reading Not only will I remember this experience for the rest of my life, this one day will stand out above all else. by Stephanie Stefos →

Courteous is not a word that is commonly used in the United States to describe a person. While there are many adjectives that Americans may employ to describe the kind deeds, gestures, and moments that they may come across with another, I do not believe they hold the pureness of what the definite denotation of … Continue reading Jamaica: who is teaching who? by Ian Beckett →

What a magical experience today was. On so many levels! There was so much excitement and anticipation in the air this morning as all of the Great Shape volunteers gathered for breakfast and prepared for our first day in the schools. We boarded the buses and headed for the schools, many of us having never … Continue reading Wow, this is going to be incredible! by Sara Caldwell →

That’s what we call them…”love notes.” Those little notes that students furtively slip into your hand on a wrinkled piece of scrap notebook paper. This one from a fourth grader touched my heart and made me laugh out loud at the same time…I just have to share. (Note: I wrote exactly as this student did to keep it … Continue reading Teaching in Jamaica: I have to share my "love note…" by Cher Gauweiler →

I have finished teaching my second day in beautiful Jamaica – and what a day! After lunch, I work with a smaller group of students who need extra help. So, there I am outside with about 10 fourth graders, a preservice teacher from Oregon, and an assistant from Mississippi. We were getting started to “make … Continue reading Amazing moment in Jamaica… by Cher Gauweiler →

The bags are packed and the 2013 Jamaica: Education Practicum Study Abroad students are ready for their journey to start! The program begins on November 9th, 2013. Below is a video from Great Shape! Inc. on their Book in a Bag program, which started in 2006 to promote reading comprehension, library skills and reading at … Continue reading The Jamaica Study Abroad journey begins! by Anna Faiola →

I had so much fun on Friday at the farewell dinner with all of the preservice teachers headed towards Jamaica. November is right around the corner…I know that they are in for an experience they will cherish forever. In the meantime, please see the video from some Jamaican children a few years ago. Georgene Crowe, one … Continue reading Getting ready for Jamaica… by Cher Gauweiler →