9
Dec
We had two of the advanced students present the class in the morning, while we visited a local school. Â
Aux Alizés, a school in Petion Ville, is run by Raymonde Rocourt and her daughter Patricia Rocourt.  This school opened in 1997 and operates using the Subordination of Teaching to Learning in all subjects.
Gattegno’s materials can be seen everywhere, in multiple languages, charts, rods and teaching approach.  The school was started by the three Rocourt sisters who came from a family of teachers, and had a longtime dream of opening a school.  After meeting Caleb Gattegno in Switzerland, Gladys Rocourt became a proficient teacher and trainer using his materials and worked at the International School in Geneva before returning to Haiti. Prior to starting Aux Alizés, Gladys travelled rural Haiti doing teacher training in French and Creole literacy, and mathematics.Â
During this time, Gladys Rocourt collaborated extensively with Dr. Gattegno to develop a full blown Words in Color curriculum for Creole called Lekti an Koule Kreyol. Â These materials are still in use at the school, which goes from Grade 1-6. Â Gladys Rocourt also successfully translated Gattegno’s math curriculum into Creole, and aligned it with the official Haitian curriculum.Â
Mme. Raymonde Rocourt spoke about the initial resistance her school encountered in the early years, with these colorful materials, and non-traditional teaching styles. Â In 2009 the school’s reputation is one of the best in the community and standardized test scores of 100% pass for the past 9 years demonstrate their success, and needless to say acceptance as a leader in educational innovation. Â Mme. Rocourt is even considering expanding the program to grade 9 in the future.
J’ai lu avec intérêt les nouvelles que vous donnez de votre sejour en Haiti. J’espère que le travail de formation que vous entreprenez rencontrera une écoute positive des enseignants que vous approchez. Haiti a tant besoin d’approches pédagogiques puissantes accélérant l’apprentissage conscient. Et les démarches du Dr Gattegno selon mon expérience peuvent être d’un grand apport dans ce domaine.
J’espère avoir l’occasion de suivre de temps à autre la progression de votre travail à travers vos publications.
Une remarque concernant ce que vous avez publié dans le chapitre Aux Alizés. Gladys Rocourt has not “translated” Gattegno’s math curriculum in creole. Gladys Rocourt “created”, in french, in the spirit of the Subordination of Teaching to Learning, maths exercices books for grade 1 t0 6 that can be used with any francophone programme.
Avec mes meilleurs voeux pour la suite de votre visite et peut-être de collaborer avec vous un jour.
Gladys Doebeli Rocourt
English Translation:
I have read with interest the news that you have provided about your stay in Haiti. I hope that the training work you are undertaking will meet a positive audience of teachers. Haiti is in great need of powerful pedagogical approaches accelerating conscious learning. And the steps of Dr. Gattegno, according to my experience, can be of a great contribution in this domain.
I hope to be able to follow from time to time the progression of your work through your publications.
A comment in regards to what you have published in the chapter Aux Alizés: Gladys Rocourt has not “translated” Gattegno’s math curriculum, in creole. Gladys Rocourt “created”, in french, in the spirit of the Subordination of Teaching to Learning, maths exercise books for grades 1 to 6 that can be used with any francophone program.
With my best wishes for the rest of your visit and to maybe collaborate with you one day,
Gladys Doebeli Rocourt