Current Project:


First Step is currently looking for two volunteers to teach English in Ziquítaro Michoacán for the Winter semester (February – June 2010), the Fall semester (August – December 2010) or both. Volunteers will be teaching English classes to community members of all ages. Classes will take place both in the local public schools as well as in the town center. Volunteers are not required to have a teaching degree, although experience teaching is preferable. Basic Spanish proficiency is required. If you are interested in teaching these semesters or any semester in the future please email Rachel Miers at rachelmiers@gmail.com for more information and/or an application.





Current Fundraiser: Cookbook

Obtaining non-profit status is a slow process so in the meantime we are heading a few fundraising efforts in order to provide the volunteers with a living stipend as well as buy needed classroom materials. As part of a school project, some of English students worked together with Katherine Ferry and Rachel Wickland to compile a bilingual cookbook with some of their favorite recipes (about 15 in total). We are selling the book (which can be sent via email in PDF form) for $12 or I send you a hard copy for $16. All of the proceeds will go directly to the project in Mexico. If you would like to buy a cookbook you can email me your request at rachelmiers@gmail.com (note whether you would like the PDF or hard copy version). I will then give you the address to which you can send a check. Any extra donations are greatly appreciated! Thanks for your help and staying posted with the blog!

Town Profile

Location:
Ziquítaro is located in the central state of Michoacán, Mexico and is roughly one hour and a half driving distance from Michoacán’s capital - Morelia. Ziquítaro is considered a “rancheria” or ranch town as it is a small community which originally developed around a ranch. There is no official sign or paved off ramp for Ziquítaro just a dirt road turnoff on the side of the highway. Ziquítaro is located about 5 kilometers (three miles) away from the highway.

Commerce & Population:
With the exception of small family run convenience stores operated out of houses, Ziquítaro boasts no established commerce as employment opportunities are minimal. A majority of the town is dedicated to sustenance agricultural production. While many town members work in  the neighboring town six kilometers away, the majority choose to immigrate to the United States, their primary destinations being California and Texas. It is estimated that 2000- 3000 of the town's 4000 members are living and working in the US. Consequently, a large portion of family income is derived from remittances - the money sent from those working in the US. Due to this out-migration o Ziquítaro is inhabited primarily by women, children and the elderly.

Educational Opportunities:
Ziquítaro offers public schooling from kindergarten to junior high. The nearest high school is located a short bus ride away in a neighboring town. The junior high is a “tele-secundaria” literally translating to “TV junior high”.  This educational program, which began in 1968, was enacted as an attempt to bring enhanced educational opportunities to impoverished rural communities. The telesecundaria program uses minimal resources as lessons are imparted through televised lesson plans which are sent to the schools via satellite and shown to students with the guidance of a Procter. Junior high, and in many cases elementary school, is often the last formal education the town’s children receive as immigration becomes a viable and attractive possibility once a student turns 14.

Religion:
The majority of the town members are catholic thus allowing for the church to assume a central role in the community. The town’s priest, Manuel Vazquez Rubio, has been working in the community for two years and has enlivened the town with his religious sermons as well as his work and supportive presence in the community. Much activity and energy revolves around the town’s religious festivities which span from December to January. The importance of the festivities are reflected by the significant increase in town population; on average over 1000-1500 town members return from the US to visit family members and take part in the communal religious celebrations, causing the town’s population to nearly double.



Thursday, February 7, 2008

Students of the Week

I have designed a student of the week competition as a mode of sharing the work of my students. The competition is as follows: every week or two I give an academic yet creative homework assignment. While the academic aspect is quite black and white - I expect little to no errors- the students have the opportunity to tap into their imaginative side by embellishing the assignment with art and their imagination. The student with the most creative assignment and little to no errors wins. Every time a creative assignment is given I will upload a picture of the 1st place student and their work as well as a short profile about the student. My goal with this competition is to provide an incentive for students to excel as well as a connection point between the students of Ziquitaro’s Jr. High and the readers of this blog.

This week’s assignment is entitled “My Family Tree”. The academic part of the assignment consisted of writing a series of sentences describing the makeup of the students’ families. The sentences allowed for the students to practice forming the possessive tense, making nouns plural, family member vocabulary and numbers. The imaginative aspect of the assignment was their creation of a family tree. In addition to drawing a creative tree students wrote the title of the family member in English with their family members’ name bellow. Students then presented both the written portion of the assignment as well as the family tree to the class in an oral presentation. Erick Daniel Ojeda Vargas won the assignment for the third year students and Berenice Alvarez Linarez won the assignment for the second year students. The second year teacher – Rocio – is also taking the class. Her tree and presentation were stellar yet I decided to give her an “honorable mention” as to not discourage the kids in her class. The first year students are a few classes behind and have not yet finished the assignment.


Erick Daniel Ojeda is a third year student at Ziquitaro’s Jr. High. He is very interested in cars and especially stereo systems. His dream for the future is to work in Forth Worth, Texas fixing cars and installing stereos.

Erick Daniel Ojeda es estudiante de tercer año de secundaria en la Telesecundaria de Ziquítaro. Le gustan los coches y tiene un interés particular por los sistemas de sonido que se pueden instalar en estos. Su sueño es trabajar instalando estéreos de coche en Forth Worth, Texas.



Berenice Alvarez Linarez is a second year student at Ziquitaro’s Junior High. She really enjoys school and learning and is especially interested in the English classes. She enjoys basketball and her dream for the future is to become a Psychologist.

Berenice Alvarez Linarez es estudiante de Segundo año de secundaria en la Telesecundaria de Ziquítaro. Le fascina la escuela en general y las clases de inglés en particular. Le gusta jugar básquetbol y su sueño es convertirse en Psicóloga.


Rocio's family tree. Rocio teaches second year students at the junior high. She is taking the class to improve her English as well as assist her students with the homework and assignments.

El árbol genealógico de Rocio. Rocio es maestra de segundo año de secundaria. Ella está tomando las clases para mejorara su Inglés y poder asistir a sus alumnos con las tareas.

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