It feels like it has only been a month or two since I got off the plane both excited and nervous to begin this Fulbright adventure, and yet, Friday marked the end of it all.  I and my four remaining cohort members gave our final presentations at Victoria University. So, how did it all turn … Continue reading Improving Collaboration Through School Culture and QLCs →

Hello readers! Apologies for a longer-than-usual absence from this blog.  Since I last wrote, my Fulbright cohort completed our midpoint presentations, Elijah and I took a two-week trip around the North Island, I continued conducting interviews at schools, and my cohort member, Susy, gave her final presentation.  She’ll go home next week, and soon after … Continue reading Let’s Hear It For the Principals →

Back at the beginning of February, I arrived at the Fulbright New Zealand Office bright-eyed, eager, and a bit nervous to begin this grant.  Orientation was exciting and energizing.  We were immersed in New Zealand culture and spent two days conversing with other passionate Fulbrighters and Axford Fellows.  Leaving orientation, I felt overwhelmed, but ready … Continue reading Busy With Business →

Life has been busy over here on the other side of the world.  I’ve been visiting schools and meeting with educators, we’ve had visitors from the States, and we’ve been to Queenstown and back.  As usual, I’ve enjoyed every second of it. A school I visited. Visits During my time here, I’ve had the opportunity … Continue reading Visits, Visitors, Visiting →

Over the last month and a half, I’ve had the opportunity to converse with New Zealand educators, read reports compiled by the Education Review Office (ERO), and learn about the New Zealand Education System.  I have begun to develop a clearer understanding of what special education looks like and how it functions in New Zealand.  … Continue reading A Tale of Two Systems →

Here we are in March and I am still awaiting that mythical thing called ethics approval.  What is this phenomenon I keep alluding to?  I guess after a month, it’s time I explain. What do I mean when I say I need “ethics approval?” As a Fulbrighter, I am hosted by Victoria University of Wellington.  … Continue reading The Waiting Continues →

It occurred to me that, since the fall, I haven’t explained what I’m doing in New Zealand.  I’m sure some of you have not read that post, and even if you did, my project has morphed since then. In short, I am here on a Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching grant.  To read more about … Continue reading The Plan →

It’s amazing the number of differences you can identify when travelling in another westernized, English-speaking country.  There are so many similarities that sometimes the differences can be jarring.  At first this left me on edge—going through daily life unsure of when I’d encounter a difference, or discover I was doing something wrong.  Even simple things, … Continue reading Observations of a Kiwi Culture →

Most of the Fulbright teachers to New Zealand. My Fulbright grant officially kicked off on February 1.  This first week included an orientation led by the Fulbright New Zealand office and an orientation at Victoria University of Wellington.  Both orientations gave the Fulbright grantees opportunities to learn about New Zealand culture, particularly the Maori culture.  … Continue reading A Welcoming Culture →

Wow- life has already gotten busy.  Since I last wrote, we finished our travels on the South Island, attended orientation, and moved into our apartment in Wellington.  I’ll write an update about orientation and the move in later.  For now, I’ll write about our time in Queenstown, Wanaka, and Franz Josef.  Mostly, I’ll let the … Continue reading The End of Vacation →