Research Project!

Over the first half of the school year we learned marketing and economics. The Costa Rica class learned a lot about Costa Rica, and now we're going to learn about certain things that interest us about Costa Rica. For example, my research project is going to be a little different from the others but still have the same idea. For my other classmates there project is about a comparison between NH and Costa Rica. My project is progressive education vs traditional, and the idea that it's the whole reason that this class was even possible.

Without Bryan's knowledge of progressive education the Costa Rica class would most likely not exist. My project will have to do a lot with this class in general. I want to video tape all the hands on things we do and the independence we get from this class. I want to show people what a helpful way of learning progressive education is. John Dewey is the founder of progressive education. One of his famous slogans is " Learn by Doing." For so many of us at Robert J Lister Academy, learning by doing has helped a great deal.





Costa Rica here we come, full force and ready to research. The end result for my project will hopefully look a lot like Bryan's when he went to Costa Rica. It's the video that sold all of us to join the class. To have a video of all of the class, and so everyone that's followed us and supported us can see and follow us in Costa Rica. Check out Bryan's YOUTUBE page so you can see all the videos.

MONEYS!

Chapter 10 of "Walking with Wolf," talks alot about the different species of animals. In the Costa Rica Class theres kind of a joke with the monkeys and me. I tell everyone that once we get there I'm going on a hunt to find the cutest monkey and have it as a pet! Bryan especially tells me that , that will not happen. My class mates just let me dream.

There are four different species of monkeys in Costa Rica. The White Faced Capuchin, Howler, the Squirrel Monkey, and the Spider monkey. The monkey in this picture is a White Faced Capuchin or the (mono carablanca.) All the monkeys co- exsist with each other, and rely heavily on fruit.

The Spider monkeys are very active thoughout the day. They jump from tree to tree, and are scattered throughout the rain forrest. The Howler monkey loves to lay up in the trees and soak up the sun, they eat leaves, and all types of fruit. Howlers are called "howlers" because of the sounds that the adult males make.They howl when the troops postison is changing. White Faced Capuchin monkeys rely on fruit but heavily on insects. Some of there favorites are frogs, birds, and lizards.

Im so excited to go to Costa Rica I probably sound like a broken record. I want to climb the trees with the monkeys and live freely, Costa Rica seems like the perfect place to do that. We have made it to $11,650 and still have a few thousand to go. If you'd like to help you can check out our websites. Youtube , Blogger , and Paypal .

Thank You! =]

I really love Robert J Lister Academy. Without my school I don't think I'd be as good off as I am. In Walking with Wolf, the book consistently talks about how Wolf and the group of people he went to Costa Rica with stayed a group. Meaning they stuck together, they didn't separate and could always lean on one another when they needed help. They were a family pretty much. And as crazy or weird as this might sound, my class, in fact my entire school is a family. As much as we fight, and yell, we always are there for each other.
I know that my classmates in the Costa Rica class are definitely my group;my family. We are a team, through anything and everything. But one thing that really made me know for sure that my entire student body supported the class and had faith in the Costa Rica students was when we had a raffle for a laptop held at the Harlem Wizards game. A few of the teachers actually were playing and most students showed up to the game to support us. It touched me sincerely to feel that I had my entire school behind me, to know that the Costa Rica class just wasn't doing it by ourselves. Our classmates are happy for us and are showing spirit in their school. That was a very gratifying moment in this process.
6 months ago I did not have much school spirit at all. I was at a really big public school, in which I hated! (I have never been a fan of school, I am frustrated easily with work and give up) When I came to RJLA I wanted to change and they were just the people that were willing to help. The kids, teachers, and the principal. I had a lot of support and a lot of new spirit I never thought I had! Ha I thought I was being taken over by body snatchers! I literally had felt and had a totally different opinion about school. In Walking with Wolf, every time there was a road bump and Wolf, Kay, Lucky or anyone of them fell off the horse they were always there to pick one another up. I was finally at a point in my life where that was okay for me. I was allowing people in to help me, and to help pick me up when I fall.

To have supports in my life is a great thing and I believe it will make me so successful. It helps me have self confidence in myself and it's good to know others have confidence in me as well. I just want my peers and supporters to know how much they mean to me. Thank you so much for everything, even just reading this blog. If you'd life to support our Costa Rica class in more than one way our Facebook page account is up and running. Our PayPal account is accepting online donations. Our article will be in the Portsmouth Herald/ Seacoast Online over the weekend. My class is hiring out for our leaf raking on October 23rd - November 7th.

Check us out at http://sites.google.com/site/listeracademycostaricaclass , thanks so much and have an awesome weekend!

Chapter 5 "Walking with Wolf"

Something that jumped out at me in this chapter (in Walking with Wolf) is when it came to cutting down the trees. Wolf was sick and tired of chopping trees down with axes - he wanted a faster way of doing things. Back in the states they of course have chainsaws. The tico's became very curious about the loud machine. When Wolf showed the tico's it was almost like they laughed at him because they have been cutting down trees for years with axes. They've always done things their way and Wolf has done things his way. I liked that Wolf thought he could finally teach the people that had taught him so much something about his culture and his technology. But at the end of the day Wolf still ended up learning from the ticos.




The message I receive from the book is that there is always something to be learned out of every situation, even when you think you have the upper hand. This is something that has taken me a while to understand. Being the teenager that I am I think I know everything. I'm learning so much from my class and from my class mates. This experience has helped me be much less conceded and listen to others. Costa Rica class has taught me to be considerate of others. I know I have to pull my weight in this class along with everyone else , so our dreams can come true- whatever that means for other people.





In the past I've had a lot of trouble asking for help, leading me down a bumpy road. So like they say, "it's better late than never". Please help my class get a chance of a life time, and see, and learn things we never thought we would. If you would like to help please send a check, payable to Robert J. Lister Academy-Costa Rica Class. Mail to 35 Sherburne Rd Portsmouth NH 03801, to the attention of Kristine Tirone. Please leave a return address so I can personally thank you. =] Also keep an eye out for our fundraising at Texas Road House and dates that RJLA Costa Rica Class will be lawn raking.