Quicklinks: Home | Scholarships | Resources | Blog
NOTE: Program complete
Course: Aug 14-Dec 8, 2017
Travel: Nov 4-13, 2017
SPC College of Education students will volunteer in the public schools in Negril, Jamaica, for approximately 35 hours in a one-week period, through an organization called Great Shape!, Inc., that was established in 1988.
One of Great Shape’s programs is called SuperKids, an initiative to help improve literacy with Jamaican children. In addition, volunteers work with children in the areas of art, computers, music, and physical education. In the schools, College of Education preservice teachers will teach small and large group lessons, work side by side with Jamaican teachers and interact with children in a variety of activities throughout the school day. The experience would count towards part of the required practicum hours (up to 25) for EDE 4942.
Think you can’t afford to study abroad? Scholarships and other ways to fund your study abroad program are available. Explore scholarship options now.
Available courses – Students must enroll in the course listed below during the fall 2017 semester in order to be able to participate.
Note: Students must confirm with an academic advisor that they meet all college enrollment requirements AND course prerequisites to be eligible to enroll in the course listed. Students receiving financial aid must confirm with a financial aid advisor whether their study abroad course will be covered by financial aid.
Professor: Cher Gauweiler
EDE 4942 Integrated Language Arts, Children’s Literature and Social Science Practicum 1 credit
Lead faculty contacts
After you submit the application online, we will review your application and e-mail you with details of scheduling your interview with the Jamaica program lead faculty, Melissa McAllister , 727-712-5205.
Student Travel Blog – For a taste of what it’s like to study abroad in Jamaica, or to follow our students as they travel, read posts from the Jamaica blog below.
Even though my time in Jamaica has come to an end, my heart takes me back to my favorite moment at the Mt. Airy All Age School. The day hadn’t gone as planned for me because I was overwhelmed by the 47+ students in the one class I was teaching. Things quickly went out of … Continue reading Every Little Thing, is Gonna Be Alright! by KEESHA Graham
So when I first found out that I was going on this trip, I was definitely super excited knowing that I would get to add to my teaching skills by teaching children in another country. It wasn’t until day four (Thursday) that I realized that yes, this is a great experience for my future career, … Continue reading Study Abroad: Life Changing by Sara Brueckner
The definition of a diva while here in Jamaica is a person who is late to a meeting or some other type of scheduled event. It is now Sunday and I was suppose to blog on Thursday, so I now hold the title of Diva for blogging. 🙂 What can I say about my experience … Continue reading Diva! and One Love! by Stephanie Bondaryk
This has been such an incredible experience. It is hard to put into words all the different emotions I felt this week. I had the honor of spending a week at Mt. Airy All Age School. From the moment we entered, we were treated as though we were family and had been a part of their school for … Continue reading Jamaica- Incredible, Amazing, Extraordinary… by Nicole Lewis
I have been learning this week to stop and ‘experience the moment’ and really take in that I am here, in Jamaica, with other amazing teachers, professors, and pre-service teachers teaching the incredible Jamaican children. Jamaica is a beautiful country and is made more beautiful by its kind and generous people. Today was an especially … Continue reading Stop and 'experience the moment' by ASHLEY Allen
Eyebombing is something that I have decided to carry with me to Jamaica and in a way I can definitely see a parallel to the students in the classroom. When I see an opportunity to eyebomb I jump at it without second thoughts or even give myself time to over-think it. It is in this exact … Continue reading Use every moment to teach or make an impact on a child's life… by Leanna Harvin
This experience has been absolutely amazing. Today was the third day the awesome teachers and students have welcomed me to Kendal Primary. Working with first and second grade, I definitely feel like I’m in my comfort zone. The other Great Shape! volunteers working in the same class with me have been incredible and have taught me … Continue reading The less you have materially and the more you have relationally, the happier you'll be! by Alyssa Anderson
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