Sine Saloum Scenic

Just some randoms pics we took.

The Mangroves

Our first day in Sine Saloum we took a pirogue guided mangrove/bird watching tour. The students observed bird behavior, ate some oysters, and walked on an island where they found sild dog foot prints and crabs.

A Village School

About a twenty five minute walk behind the resort were a few villages and local school. We had arranged for our students to meet students their age and interview them in french. It was great to see our kids working with other, less fortunate peers. I had an opportunity to observe a middle school class in session. There about sixty students to room, a chalk board, and teacher sitting at his desk. Our students seemed to have enjoyed the opportunity. Look at the a the attached video. Jad, student of mine, decided he did not want to walk anymore and negotiated a ride with a horse cart.

The Resort

These pictures are from the resort we stayed at during the field trip. It was nice because it is right on the water, there are hammocks everywhere, they provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner for about 45.00 per person, there are showers, a commons area, and good swimming and fishing. When someone visits us, I am going to take you there.

The Resort

R&R at Work?

For the last few days I have been on a field trip with my seventh graders in Sine Saloum. I had such a wonderful time. It was awesome spending time with our kids out in nature. We toured the mangroves, they ate oysters, observed birds, I taught some kids how to fish during free time, the list goes on and on. What was really cool was that I got to spend time with students that are a little distant in the classroom. One in particular said that I made her laugh so much that her stomach hurt. It reminded me that I love working with tweens. They are so funny and down to earth. I want to do a trip like this every year that I am at ISD, but next time focus more on team building. I am thinking next December would be perfect. Our kids need time out of the city, being kids, and getting to know their teachers.

I have a bunch of photos to share. The first segment is of us getting there which took a four hour car ride and forty minutes in a pirogue. On the road we hit a chicken and when I got to the scene, it was still alive. A man pulled the chicken from the grill and it flapped it's wing. I couldn't stand it so I picked it up and twirled it by the neck until it unlocked. The children were shrieking.

Sine Saloum

This week Gabbie and I are heading back to Sine Saloum for a three day field trip with the seventh grade. I am packing the rods and bug spray. It will be nice to get out of Dakar for a few days and spend some time with our students outside of the classroom. What's on the agenda: mangrove tour, fishing, folk tales, shell beach, and four hour car ride.

I will update the blog when I get back. The pictures are from our previous trip.