Centro de Ensino Especial

It was amazing to visit, Centro de Ensino Especial, a special needs schools that works with infants to adults.  The school has two different programs, 0-4 years of age, then 5 to adult, all with a variety of needs and disabilities. Just as in our special education programs, the student is assessed and the school determines what the needs are and how to address them.  The goal of the school is to transition students into the general education setting.  Janaina stated the teachers and staff do meet with the parents, but I was unable to determine if there is a document such as our IEP.  Unfortunately, public schools like this are only in the Federal District.  Special needs schools in other states would be ran by non-profit organizations and other NGO's.  It does seem as if many students could slip through the cracks.  I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to see this school.  The dedication and passion of the teachers and staff came through 100%.

Janaina (Isabel's sister), Isabel and myself.  Janaina is a coordinator & teacher at the school and gave us the tour.

The younger students come one to three times a week depending on the need.  The staff uses what I can best describe (due to the language barrier) as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and even psychology/counseling to assist the students and the parents.  The parents are involved in the education of the student.  The parents must provide transportation for the students.  These youngsters use play to help them learn, and to build thier motor skills.  It appears their is one teacher/staff to two youngsters.  

Doll house for students (to play inside) and move around independently.

Pool just for the 0-4 students.

The older student program (5+) has many rooms for staff to work one on one (or two) with students.  They have computer, art, and music rooms.  There is even a place where students grow plants.  These students also continue to receive the physical therapy, occupational therapy and counseling services as needed.  Some students attend for the full day and others only part of the time if the student's cannot handle being on campus the entire school session. I was informed the largest class was 16 students, but would have one teacher and several staff (para-educators) members assisting.  The teachers and staff make so many tactile teaching instruments for all of the children.  Students are taught reading and math, and those that can transition to the public school system, which is the same goal as we have in the US.  They have many students that remain at their school due to the student's level of need. Student's seem to be separated by their level of need and disability.  The adults have different classes, but at the break/snack time everyone can be seen together, with many staff members present.

Art project made out of leaves.

The adult classes will make items to sell to help fundraise for the school, then as a reward those who helped the school will give something to them (example a pair of shoes) at the end of the school year.  Their does not seem to be a strong transition program into adulthood to assist them in being fully or partially independent.  (This may be due to terminology as well as the language barrier that I was unable to find out or fully comprehend the adult program.)

School common area

 Janaina holding the TJMS Bears shirt.

Presentations and generosity

In the past several days I have had so many opportunities to meet wonderful teachers and students in Taguatinga.  I have been in classrooms listening to student presentations on Brazil as well as holidays celebrated in the United States. I have also presented to groups of students on California culture and history, as well as tips for students who are planning on attending a university.  The students and staff at CIL Taguatinga have been incredible generous and helpful.  I received cards from students I had not even met welcoming to the school! Students have given me a CD of Brazilian music, DVD of their Brazilian culture presentation, and even made me brigadeiro, a common dessert here, which is made from chocolate and condensed milk.  It is very good, but incredible sweet.  Brazilians love their sweets!

The students who I have been in contact with are currently taking English as a foreign language.  Just like our students they are shy at first, but then begin talking and asking lots of questions about the United States.     

Students who presented about the Brazilian culture.  They brought in food & sweets that are common to Brazil.

Isabel's classroom decorated for the presentation.  Each teacher has a laptop, and then has the television to use as the projector.

The vice principal, Francisco presenting me with a mug from their club that invites native speakers from the foreign languages (English, Spanish, French and Japanese) they teach.  It was an honor to speak to them about California and interact with the students.

One of the groups of students. 

Students who wanted a picture with me.  The students almost make you feel like a celebrity.  

The teacher lounge/work area.  

Amazingly all of these students came out to hear a presentation about tips for attending a university at 7:30 at night.

This student was the only one who was on time, so gave him a TJMS shirt.  He proudly held it up!

Students are holding up the UC Berkley wristbands and California postcards.  Students seemed to enjoy the almonds and Jelly Belly's as well.  All of the students would not fit in the picture.  They had so many questions about attending universities and the United States in general, it was a pleasure meeting them.

University

University of Brasilia is the areas public university. The public university system is very competitive, as these are considered the best universities. An added bonus for student is that the public universitites are free of charge, where the private ones can be expensive. Students must pass the Vestibular exam, in a way similar to our SAT or ACT, but much more high stake.  This exam alone determines if a student will be accepted into the university system. The exam has a foreign language,either English or Spanish.  Students take this test very seriously.

The private high schools are considered better than the public high schools, so much of the public universities population traditionally comes from the private high schools.

While sitting in a class on Applied Linguistics, in Portuguese,  I gained a better understanding for my students who are new to the US and are in the process of learning English.  Isabel would translate some things and I could catch onto some main ideas, but overall there were conversations and presentations in the classroom that I had no clue about.  It was very interesting though, as I did meet other teachers who teach English as a foreign language.

 

Most students attend the university that is closest to their family and high school.  It is not very common for students to attend universities in other cities or states.  At the university there were only two dormitories, and there is no Greek life, or university sports teams.  Unlike the US universities, students were not displaying clothing from the university.  I did get to see the common eating area that is at a reduced cost for students, and each major/school has a small room as a common area for students to relax or study.  There is not one large student union.

School logo

Library

These are the steps leading into the library.  Thought this looked very clever!

One of the dorms (there is construction being done)

The campus has one large building with the general classes, then smaller buildings for specific majors.  This is the larger building. The building has an open area in the middle, but the sides where the classrooms are located have a roof.  There is lots of greenery and shrubs in the middle lower area.  The building is 2 levels, plus a basement.

Snack and coffee shops in the main building. (Yes this is where you can get some coffee to go!  But there is only one size of coffee!)

In the basement there is a great vegetarian restaurant!  (Have not seen many of them on this trip!) This is soy with cassava (a native root plant used in many Brazilian meals), brown rice, beans and veggies.  They also have a banana pie, that was incredible - whole banana, whole wheat, brown sugar and some cinnamon.  I want to try and find the recipe.

The window of specific colleges student approach if they need something.  Professors do have offices as well.

Grateful!

In the short time I have been here, I have begun to realize the numerous things I take for granted in the US as well as the things I am so grateful for currently!  I realize some of these may sound silly, but these are things I am thinking of regularly : 

- This experience - I am so grateful to be having this experience with TGC and all of the people I

          am meeting.

- Family & friends - I am thinking of of you daily.

- Water - being able to drink water out of the tap, and not purchasing bottled water daily and at 

          restaurants.

- To go cups - I realize this sounds silly, but living in a rushed society, I want to bring my caffeine 

          with me.  I did find mini to go cups today at the university. (See picture below)

  - Understanding the cultural rules of society & and of the roads (glad I am not driving here)

- Bikram Yoga - this may sound silly, but I attended a Hatha yoga class in Portuguese. In Bikram, 

          students know which posture is next, in the class I took students had to rely on the instructor, 

          which was difficult not knowing the language.  Also, I decided I do like the heated room (yoga 

          friends you may need to remind me of this from time to time).

- Running outdoors - In my current hotel, if I am going to run when it is dark, I need to do so on 

          the treadmill for safety reasons.  The great outdoors (dirt or pavement) is much nicer, but safety 

          is first.

- Washer & dryer - I can send some laundry out at my hotel, but I'm unsure how they will wash

            items - so I am hand washing some clothes and hanging them dry.

- Technology - for someone who has fought using technology, besides for the internet, e-mail & 

          basic cell phone, until about the last year, I have decided it is now my friend.  Skype, e-mail, and 

          even Facebook (I do hate to say it), has helped me stay connected to friends and family in the

           states.

- Animals - the longer I am here, the more stray or street animals I am seeing.  This makes me so 

          sad!  I want to help them, if at home some would've been picked up and brought to somewhere

          safe if at all possible.  The only thing that makes me feel better is that many of the animals, do

           not appear under nourished.  

- Safety - as I am in an unfamiliar city, and walking to the school on my own during the daylight 

          ours, I am on hyper alert.  Trying to make eye contact with people, and pay attention to my 

          surroundings more than I would back home.  I was informed by individuals at the American\

          Embassy to not venture outside at dark on foot, so some activities are limited.

Cobblestone roads and waterfalls

Over the weekend traveled to Pirenopolis, Goias (a nearby state) with Emily, Isabel and two of her friends.  The town is over 300 years old with cobblestone streets, small town feel, lots of boutique hotels, little restaurants and shops.  The bonus is the numerous nearby waterfalls!  It was so nice to leave the larger city and see the nature Brazil has to offer.  The Brazilians we were with were so kind, and wanted to ensure we had an amazing experience!

Araras Waterfall, we did swim up to the waterfall on the right and were able to hold onto the rock!  The force of the water is incredible.  It was swimming up stream!

This is a place where families come and enjoy the water, it ended up being rather crowded.

The small bridge we had to cross to get to the waterfall area.

The church in the middle of town, Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Rosario.  It was founded in 1728 and was the largest and oldest building in Goias.  In 2002 the church burned down, it has been restored and opened again in 2006, to look almost as it had, except for the interior decorations.  This is still a working church.  

They have a Festa do Divino, where people dress up in costumes similar to this statute.

View outside the hotel

Dinner in Pirenopolis.  Restaurants put tables out on the street which is closed off in the evening.  There are lots of souvenir shops, with many items typically from Brazil.

Traditional Brazilian breakfast at the hotel.  Lots of fresh fruit (papaya & watermelon), bread, cheese bread (made from tapioca flour), fresh juices, cookies & yes, coffee!

Views from valley while taking the long walk to another set of waterfalls.  The swinging bridge we need to cross to get to the waterfall.

Local plants

Smaller waterfall we encountered on the longer route.

The larger swinging bridge.  Incredible views!

We ended up going behind this waterfall which is 22 meters (or 72 feet) high!  Amazing experience!  The water was rather cold!  

Many people came to this small beach area to enjoy the water and the wonderful waterfall!

More waterfalls, Salto Corumba, we encountered on our way back to Taguatinga!  

First school visits in Taguatinga

Visiting my host, Isabel's school, Centro Interescolar de Linguas de Taguatinga, made me feel almost like a celebrity.  There are posters up throughout the school advertising various presentations to both students and teachers.  I am presenting about California culture, sports in the US, reading strategies to teachers, and a workshop for students on how to be successful at the university.  Tomorrow I present on California Culture, in the 2nd session they are expecting about 70 students.  

One of the flyers I saw posted.

Isabel's two advanced English classes presented about Brazil.  They speak English wonderfully, and did a wonderful job on their presentations.  They discussed music, sports, food, cultural sights/activities, and even on Carnival.  The room was decorated, and students brought in Brazilian snacks and sweets.  (Really lots of sweets!)  The sweets in Brazil are very sweet, they use lots of condensed milk it seems.  They are tasty, but you cannot eat much of them!

The first class that presented.  See all the food! 

The second class - more food, could not enjoy as much of this as we were full from previous classes!

Also visited a high school that was next door to CIL, Centro de Ensino Medio  Industrial de Taguatinga (EIT).  This school opened in 1959 and was originally a technical school, it is the oldest school in Taguatinga.  It has 2.500 students with 20 classrooms and 130 teachers, with an average class size of 40.  The high school students attend either a morning or afternoon session, then their is night class for adults or students who previously did not graduate.  They have a police officer on campus.  The principal stated the schools biggest issue is not violence (no fights or guns), gut drugs.  Others will come on campus (or try) and sell drugs to students.  Social media has become an issue as well with bullying.  We are not alone in the US. 

The school has implemented a program of "Kindness Produces Kindness", it would be similar to character education.  They have workshops for students to attend (they fill up quickly) on graffiti art, poetry, music, visiting local farms, and parts of this address cyber bullying.  Every classroom has a projector, and teachers have laptops.  They do allow students to be on campus for extra help when they are not in session.  

Flowers planted by students.

Typical classroom.

Library

Computer lab, a teacher is trying to update and redo it.  Currently only 15 working computers.

PE classes

Emily, Edson the Principal, and myself.  He was very happy to receive a Toby Johnson shirt!