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On the Paleontology of Belize
No full textPaleontology can be considered an underrepresented and emerging area of science in Belize. A primary aim of this thesis is to provide a background of paleontology in Belize and present the first comprehensive study of Quaternary vertebrate fossils known from the country. Quaternary fossil sites across Belize include caves, rivers, and sinkholes. In addition to reviewing and assessing material from known sites, this thesis presents new information and discoveries that were made while investigating Belize’s Quaternary fossil record. This thesis also includes a geospatial model depicting ecoregions in Belize during the last glacial maximum. Overall, the results presented here demonstrate why fossils from Belize are an essential part of the country’s geoheritage. Furthermore, Belize’s fossil record provides reliable documentation of the ongoing natural changes in ecosystems and ecology in the country. This thesis concludes by discussing the universal value of protecting paleontological resources from a Belizean context
2026 January - Tennessee Monthly Climate Summary
No full textHi All, The main weather and climate story of January 2026 was the major winter storm that impacted the state from Saturday, January 24 through Monday, January 26 with rain, freezing rain, sleet, and snow, followed by extremely cold conditions. Winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories were in place across the state on Friday, January 23, as snow and sleet spread into Tennessee from the west in the overnight hours of Friday into Saturday. Most areas of the state saw an initial round of snow and sleet, before a layer of warm air aloft caused most locations to see some freezing rain later on Saturday and into Sunday. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency reported that over to 315,000 customers were without power across the state by Sunday afternoon, with the hardest hit areas for power outages where the heaviest freezing rain accumulated along a line from Hardeman County up through Nashville/Davidson County and into Sumner and Macon counties to the north and east of Nashville. Nashville Electric Service reported that this storm caused the largest power outage in the city’s history, with 230,000 customers without power (approximately half of their customers). By Wednesday February 4, the Tennessee Department of Health had confirmed 29 weather-related fatalities connected to this winter storm. A second winter storm impacted East Tennessee in the final days of January, with heavy snow starting in the afternoon hours of Friday, January 30 and continuing through Saturday, January 31 producing snow totals of 6-12-inches across the northeastern portions of the state. Due to a very cold atmospheric profile, this winter storm brought all snow and had a very high snow-to-liquid ratio producing light and fluffy snow that did not cause any major issues with power systems, but did cause issues with transportation in this region of the state. Check out the attached full report and snapshots for more info! Andrew & Wil Tennessee Climate Office East Tennessee State University Department of Geosciences 310 Ross Hall Johnson City, TN 3761
The Role of Pre-K Teachers in Fostering Academic Resilience in Their Students in Preparation for Elementary School
No full textThis qualitative study investigated Pre-K teachers’ perceptions and pedagogical practices in fostering academic resilience, defined as the ability to persevere through challenges in early learning. Eight Pre-K teachers in Tennessee participated through interviews, focus groups, and analysis of lesson plans aligned with the Tennessee Early Learning Developmental Standards (TNELDS) and the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework. The study aimed to address three research questions related to teachers’ conceptualization of resilience, instructional strategies, and documentation practices.
Findings revealed that teachers conceptualized academic resilience as a developable capacity rather than an innate trait, encompassing perseverance through challenges, emotional regulation, and the foundational role of Pre-K in preparing children for future academic success. Teachers employed a range of intentional, student-centered strategies, including scaffolding, modeling, encouragement of effort, autonomy-building, and supportive guidance.
Despite these deliberate practices, a notable gap existed between enacted strategies and formal documentation. While resilience-building was embedded in classroom interactions and lesson activities, it was rarely articulated in planning documents, suggesting that much of teachers’ expertise remains implicit. This gap highlights the importance of articulating resilience-related objectives within formal curriculum materials to enhance visibility, support professional development, and ensure alignment with state early learning standards.
The study underscores that Pre-K teachers possess substantial expertise in fostering academic resilience, and bridging the documentation divide offers opportunities to strengthen curriculum design, teacher support, and children’s socio-emotional and academic development
