California Educator

October / November 2018

Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1035650

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"For the past four years, I have chap- eroned eighth-graders on three-day trips to Sacramento and San Francisco. A most generous community helps with fundrais- ing throughout the fall and winter." T h e m a t h a n d s c i e n c e t e a c h e r a t Big Valley Junior/Senior High School – which has about 80 students – says the school-sponsored trip is a way to "show students there's a world outside of Big Valley." It allows them to experience, often for the first time, automobile traffic, pub- lic transportation, a boat ride when they visit Alcatraz and a professional baseball game. She does not use a tour agency. In Sacramento, students visit their local representative and Assembly Repub- lican Leader Brian Dahle, who takes them on a tour of the Capitol and takes them onto the floor when legislators are voting. "I love that they see government in action," says the Big Valley Teachers Asso- ciation member. Karen Latham is super excited about chaperoning students on a trip to Italy this spring break with colleagues who teach Italian. They will stay in private homes along the way and visit Rome, Florence and Tuscany. Th e gui d ance counselor at Burlingame High School has previously chaperoned trips spon- s o re d by S o j o u r n t o th e Pa st , w h e re students explore the Civil Rights move- ment in the South . But she has never taken students abroad. "I am moving toward the end of my career, so when I was approached with this offer, I jumped at it," says the Burl- ingame Teachers Association member. "A few days later I got an email with the itinerar y and it hit me that I 'm really going. I 'm not ner vous: I know how to ke e p stud ents safe, settl e squabbl e s, talk to kids who are lonely, keep every- one engaged and take care of other kids th e w ay I w o u l d w a n t my o w n c h i l d taken care of." L a t h a m e x p e c t s i t w i l l b e a h i g h - light of her career, which has spanned nearly 35 years. "I firmly believe in learning about the world through travel and learning about life through living it. Taking kids to see history and a different way of life helps them understand the world. I encourage educators to start early in the school year, and consider chaperoning a trip in prog- ress or plan one yourself. I feel very lucky to have been given this opportunity." " Chaperoning is a great way for teachers to 'reset.' It can give you the energy to start the next year with a fresh mind and attitude." — Kristy Jimenez, Palos Verde Faculty Association Above, Kristy Jimenez's students help a girl take a portrait of her sister in Trinidad, Cuba. 23 O C T O B E R / N O V E M B E R 2 018 Larry Hooper's students at Stonehenge in 2016. Los Alamitos High School students traveled with Larry Hooper to Hallstatt, Austria, this year.

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