New Zealand Classrooms In Action

Naomi Butler, Coordinator

Links:

Are you interested in visiting New Zealand for a classroom experience in the processes of their literacy programs? Come with us to Auckland, NZ - leaving Los Angeles (LAX) on July 18, 2008 - or a time of your choice.

You may be placed in a school with the age level of your choice and under a teacher mentor for a week (or more if you choose.) You will also homestay with that mentor teacher or another educator. We will place you in the school and home, based upon the information that you provide on your Homestay Sheet. Administrators and supervisors can also be placed with like persons in those positions.

There are also opportunities during this week to attend meetings and other educational activities. You will want to visit a Teacher Education Center where New Zealand teacher authors as well as other writers will have books and materials on display and for sale. A visit to one of the publishers who does the reading books used in the schools is a very interesting experience. You can purchase books there and have them sent home.

The homestay educators may provide other opportunities and tours around the city. There are things not to be missed, such as the aquarium, the museum, the wonderful little shops in Parnell, the busy activities of down-town Auckland and the local eateries. Bus schedules are easy to connect with for exploring on your own. Don't forget to look at local potters' works; all of us have a favorite potter and continue to add to our collections. Also not to be missed are Maori arts and crafts.

For those of you who wish to explore the North and South Islands the second week - get ready for an adventure into a land of incredible beauty. You will first visit the culture of the Maori area and the thermal springs on North Island. The Hangi feast and dancing will be a memory that lasts forever.

The Southern Alps bring a scenic world to you - travel from Queenstown in the South Island to Milford Sound for a cruise among the waterfalls and dolphins. Queenstown is a real shopping and restaurant Mecca - don't miss anything there. It's also a real "fun town" where you can go jet-boating, parasailing, parachuting, skiing and many other wild things. Christchurch is a beautiful Victorian city on the Avon River. The art shows and markets have something for everyone. There's lots of shopping in department stores. Restaurants are great too! A farmstay is another great experience.

Have I convinced you that these South Pacific Islands are worth traveling twelve hours from LA? I can also arrange flights from your city. Check out the links to the Homestay Form, In-Service Credit information and Trip Itinerary page. Check out the links to the Junior Class Learning Educator group with whom I work, Taranaki Ecological Experiences, and the West Auckland Teacher Center websites.

Please contact me about prices and other information at Naomi, letting me know exactly what you would like to do - how long in the classrooms, trip to South Island, New Zealand and/or Australia.