connecting classrooms

What are we doing?

We have both worked in international schools in South America for the last five years.  Matt is a physical education teacher and Chris is an elementary and English as a second language teacher.

This is our year off to collect and trade information with other teachers, volunteer where we are invited, and involve schools in some of our ongoing projects.  The basic idea is to get to know a place from within the walls of a school.  Our project goals are to connect urban and rural classrooms within a country and with classrooms internationally.

If you are an educator and are interested in getting involved or have ideas to share, please contact us...

Chris       chris@isabm.com

Matt         matt@isabm.com

Two elementary classrooms in different schools, preferably one urban and one rural or from two different countries, exchange stuffed animals for a few months.  The "pals" are accompanied by a notebook with information about its home community.  Students adopt the visiting pal for a night and write about what the pal is doing in their community.  We plan to transport pals, at least one way, to visit other classrooms.  

Students exchange letters as pen pals with another classroom.  Letters, at least one way, will be carried by motorcycle from one school to the next.  Unlike our predecessors, the pony express, letters can be traced on route to the next school by checking our website.  Contact information for schools we visit will be posted here.

In Barranquilla, Colombia, Marimondas appear dancing in the streets like maniacs.  One has decided to come with us and find out how other people dance and celebrate.  He'll be reporting on what he finds out at schools along our route.