Jeff In Japan

Last batch of pictures of kids being cute… enjoy!

All visiting teachers were assigned a class for the day… we would have lunch with the class and spend time with them – answering questions (if possible), getting to know them, etc…

Here I am with my class:

Some of my students -

My “favorite student” –
The girl in yellow (I don’t know her name) was SO nice to me… she kept trying to talk to me and was extremely friendly. She was my lunch budy. I wish I could have spoken to the kids – I feel like the experience was only half as amazing as it could have been (which is still pretty darn amazing)…

Once again, lunch is served in the classroom and the teacher eats with the kids. Even in 2nd grade the students are responsible for helping with the preparation, serving and clean up. If there’s one theme that keeps popping up again & again – it’s responsibility. Japanese children do not appear to be coddled in any way. They are expected to do certain things and they do those things. I would imagine there are situations where a student simply can’t do something – but I have yet to encounter that, so I don’t know what their teachers and parents would do…

Anyone want to take a guess what this? It’s not an eggplant – in case that was your guess…

It’s a loofa! That’s right – the thing you use in the bath or shower. I have to admit I had no idea that it grew on trees. Like I said, you learn something new everyday.

SUCCESS! A couple of lucky kids with their potatoes…

Last Spring the Kindergarten kids planted potatoes. This fall (as first graders), they got to dig them up – and we were there! I think this was a great activity for the kids – it let them do some hands on work, get in the field and make a connection to the food they eat (and yes – they are going to eat the potatoes). The kids had a great time and I think schools in NYC should do more hands on learning – especially with nature and agriculture.

Some more pictures of little kids being cute (it comes so easy for them)…

And the winner is –
(Ok – technically this is cheating. This girl is not in elementary school, but stays at a day care center run at the school).

See… told you they take music. Not sure what the instrument that looks like a combo mini-piano and recorder/clarinet is – but it certainly is interesting. You can probably get one on ebay if you’re so inclined…

Of course it’s not all artwork and gym – students take a pretty full course load in elementary school – all the basics we take in America, plus Caligraphy and English (because of the action research in this school). Here you can see some young minds hard at work:

So much art in elementary school. It really is everywhere – and not just drawing & painting, but sculpting and music as well. It lines the halls and fills the classrooms. Such a difference from High School. The difference between what students do when they are young and when they are “old” (10th, 11th & 12th grade) is staggering. How can a culture/society value certain things so much, then abandon them so completely?