What is it That You're Doing Again?

So I realized that I never actually posted what I will be DOING in Uganda.... I keep getting this question when I tell people I'm MOVING TO UGANDA IN NOVEMBER (not that I'm excited), so here it is!

"The primary literacy project focuses on three goals; improving teaching, increasing pupils' success, and improving the school community. Thus, as part of the primary literacy project, volunteers choose to serve as either a teacher trainer or a literacy specialist. While both roles utilize approaches to capacity building that include model and co-teaching, assessment, and engagement in national literacy initiatives, such as National Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) Day, the my language spelling bee, or literacy month, there are distinct differences int he day to day job activities. Children with learning disabilities are often undiagnosed, and learners with physical challenges, visual impairments, and who are deaf or hard of hearing, are typically main streamed. While we support the inclusion model for these learners, they are often included in the general classroom without modifications and accommodations that help them access learning.

"Teacher Trainers are placed at Primary Teachers' Colleges (PTCs). They deliver conten based instruction in math, science, English, and/or ICT [I don't know what this is right now.] to pre-service teachers, in addition to training future teachers on the best practices for teaching literacy, instructional approaches, innovative instructional materials, engagement strategies, resource room or library development, positive behavior systems, and alternative discipline. [Caning is still very common in Uganda.] Teacher Trainers also provide instructional coaching for pre-service trainers during their school practice, small group remedial classes, and collaborate departmentally with faculty.

"Literacy Specialist are placed at Primary schools. They work with in-service teachers to build their capacity for literacy instruction by leading professional development on teaching phonemic awareness, alphabetic principle, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Additionally, they collaborate with head teachers to create positive school culture and staff climate, implement resource room or library development, and design positive behavior systems and alternative discipline. Literacy Specialists also implement school-based reading intervention programs for early readers. Literacy specialists serving in primary schools implement reading intervention programs to help support pupils who are reading below grade level through various approaches including multiple modalities and small group or one-to-one instruction that support struggling readers.

"There are many opportunities for collaboration across the PTCs and the primary schools. The education programming staff will also provide support and guidance for Trainees as they determine which role is the best fit.

"One of the exciting parts of your professional work is to participate in the Peace Corps monitoring, reporting, and evaluation (MRE) process. [Oh I'm sure it's thrilling....] All Volunteers receive training on the MRE tracking and reporting system. Each Volunteer regularly reports MRE information, and this information is summarized to describe overall progress of the project. This important MRE system helps Peace Corps improve its programming and report its accomplishments. The opportunity to learn and practice professional monitoring and evaluation skills are some of the many valued benefits of Peace Corps service."

So there you have it. My official job description. Basically, I'll be working with the education system in Uganda, whether teaching future teachers or working with kids. From what I've read on other volunteers' blogs, I should get to choose between these two positions, though I have become nice and comfortable with the idea of being a Teacher Trainer like my invitation stated. Either way, I'll be working in Uganda!!

Glossary

Here is a quick guide (*ahem* work in progress) to some of the Peace Corps terms used in this blog (adapted from this PC blog):


Assignment: The location and job the volunteer is placed in
APCD: Associate Peace Corps Director. A host-country national in charge of that region's program
CD: Country Director. The one in charge of the volunteers in that country
CDO: Country Desk Officer. A liaison in Washington D.C. between Peace Corps headquarters and country.
COS: Close of Service. The end of a volunteer's service
Country Desk: The department representing regional countries, at Peace Corps headquarters in Washington D.C.
ET: Early Termination. Leaving, for whatever reason, before COS
Homestay: Part of training where the volunteer lives with a member of the community (the owners of the house are often referred to as "family," i.e. mother, brother, etc.)
HCN: Host Country National. A person from the Host Country.
Host Country: The country where the volunteer is serving
Invitation: A formal summons to serve in a specific job/country after receiving medical/legal clearance
IOS: Interruption of Service. When local political or environmental conditions require the entire program to be pulled from an area
IST: In-Service Training. A secondary training event that happens mid-service
LCF: Language and Cross-Cultural Facilitator. Trainers responsible for language and culture sections during PST
MAP: Medical Application Portal. The website used to complete medical clearances
Medevac: Medically Evacuate. To return a volunteer to the States for medical treatment, usually because they have an injury/illness that is untreatable in-country
Medsep: Medical Separation. When a volunteer cannot complete service due to a medical problem
OMS: Office of Medical Services
PC: Peace Corps
PCMO: Peace Corps Medical Officer. The nurse or doctor in charge of all that country's volunteers
PCT: Peace Corps Trainee. Volunteer's title during training and before becoming an official volunteer
PCV: Peace Corps Volunteer
PO: Placement Officer. Person in charge of officially placing each volunteer in an assignment worldwide. Based in the Peace Corps D.C. Headquarters
PST: Pre-Service Training. The training program, usually 3 months long, that teaches volunteers language, cross-cultural sensitivity, and job skills before they begin their official service
Recruiter: Locally-based representative in charge of providing information on Peace Corps to potential applicants and screening applicants during the initial stages. The "voice" of the PC
RPCV: Returned Peace Corps Volunteer
Site: The location where the volunteer lives and works for 2 years
Staging: The first day(s) of training, held in the U.S., before flying out to the host country, basically an orientation
Swearing-In: The ceremony that accompanies transition from PCT to PCV
Under Consideration: The status pertaining to an application being put "in the pile" of a particular country. The first step toward becoming a PCV.
VAD: Volunteer Assignment Description. The lengthy document given to applicants describing an assignment in detail. Part of the official Invitation