Everyone has questions as they prepare for a new experience, and it is difficult to predict what those questions will be. The staff of Live, Learn, and Teach is eager to answer your questions, and will happily do so at any time. The following information is provided to give you an overview of the LLT program, which we hope will make you feel more comfortable as you prepare for the summer. To see specific dates, view the calendar.
Wilderness Week
The first week of LLT takes place in the Franconia Notch area of the White Mountains of New Hampshire. We will leave UNH on Monday morning, and return on Friday evening. By spending a week "away from it all," we hope to accomplish the following results:
- begin to build a strong community of learners
- establish teaching teams
- introduce the components of the LLT Program
Each day of Wilderness Week is devoted to different activities designed to help us meet those goals. During the week we stay in a cabin owned by the New Hampshire Outing Club. The cabin has no indoor plumbing and no electricity; there are outhouses, propane lanterns and a stove in the cabin, and a stream nearby. Showers are available at the bottom of the trail, about a 20 minute hike from the cabin. There are (old and somewhat bedraggled) cot mattresses to sleep on. We cook all of our own food (no need to bring your own, we supply it) and eat "family style." Due to very limited cold storage space, menus are vegetarian; we serve tofu, eggs, cheese, and milk (powdered), as well as pasta and grains, and ensure that each meal provides adequate protein and calories for healthy, hungry eaters. An important piece of Wilderness Week is the selection of teaching sites. Click on the following links for additional information about what you should bring and how you can get ready for Wilderness Week.
Design Week
The second week of LLT is devoted to preparation for teaching. Although you will continue to plan for teaching once Summer Learning has begun, Design Week will give you a chance to develop a broad theme for your class, to plan long and short term results for your students, to get to know your advisor and team mates, and to explore the community within which you will teach. During Design Week (and for the rest of the summer) you will be expected to work from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. You may find that you need to put in hours before 8 or after 3 to finish all of your planning and other work.
Summer Learning
The third week of LLT marks the beginning of Summer Learning. During these five weeks your students will come to school Tuesday-Friday from 9-12. You will arrive at your site at 8 to prepare for their arrival, and stay until 3 to plan for the following day. On most Mondays (with the exception of the first week of Summer Learning) you will attend a workshop, run by LLT staff, on a topic related to your classroom practice. You will also complete Dewey Points 3 and 4 during this time, keep a daily teaching journal, and meet with your advisor (formally) once a week.
Final wrap up and reflection
A very important part of your work over the summer will be taking the time to reflect on what you are learning as a result of your work as a teacher. The LLT staff takes this reflection seriously, and we are committed to make time for meaningful discussion and thought. In order to accomplish this, we have scheduled the final session of the summer for the last Friday evening. This time will be devoted to reflecting on the summer experience.
