Short-term Volunteer Teacher
(Antigua, Guatemala)

Spanish speaking teachers are needed to volunteer in a pilot program to train school teachers in the schools where Common Hope sponsors children. The training program, run by Let’s be Ready, aims to improve teachers’ classroom skills using simple techniques. These local teachers only have high school diplomas, so they have very limited training. Many teachers start with a classroom when they are only 17 or 18 years old.

From May 1st to Oct 15th, eight experienced preschool and primary teachers with proficiency in Spanish are being sought go into the classrooms to work with the teachers to demonstrate techniques and coach the teachers. After being trained, volunteers will go daily to nearby village schools and day care centers with local teacher trainers to reinforce the techniques. (Please note, we can only have 4 volunteers at one time).

The program started last year and was enthusiastically supported by the local Board of Education and many of the teachers. Common Hope is using this program as a pilot to influence the quality of education in the pre-primary and primary grades in public schools this year. Preferably, volunteers would commit to a period of six to three months, with one month as the minimum.

This year we are concentrating on dynamic reading skills and techniques to promote brain development with physical activities. (For more information go to http://www.letsbeready.org/)
Teachers with materials and abilities to train in these areas are most needed but other interests (such as dramatic arts, crafts, music and puppetry) can be accommodated as well.

Application deadline: August 31st 2008

Please contact Louise Lundgren, Outreach Manager if you are interested at: Louisel@mn.commonhope.org or (651) 917-0250

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