Practical information, tips, and advice on how to tap into the creative energies of learners and promote cultural competence and cross-cultural understanding
The World of Work As mentioned in my previous post, during the first month of the school year I took my students on a voyage of self-discovery. With it, I implicitly communicate the importance of learning taking place beyond the boundaries of the classroom and the school building. In our attempt to let students take … Continue reading How Covid-19 fast forwarded us into the future
As teachers we need to continually work on our creative skills and constantly strive towards introducing kids to things that surprise, amaze, inspire, or tickle their curiosity. But how do we know what grabs children's attention and teases their imagination? The effect of some things is quite predictable - such as the construction of a … Continue reading Pop-up, pull-out, peak-in, stand-up picture books
Design thinking activities are a powerful tool for engaging students and developing their creativity and communication skills. The real value lies in the interactivity and authenticity of the experience. The content of the learning is genuinely supplied by the students in the room in the form of their impressions, memories, experiences, ideas, opinions and feelings. … Continue reading Design Thinking, Language Learning and the Power of Giving
Christmas Puzzle Our year culminated with a garland of fun Christmas activities. Even in Japan, Christmas is filled with excitement and anticipation of the time spent with one's family and friends. Building upon this sense of community, for the most part, we worked collaboratively while celebrating our individual strengths and tightening our bonds the way … Continue reading Our Nice, Nice Christmas
“A child can teach an adult three things: to be happy for no reason, to always be busy with something, and to know how to demand with all his might that which he desires.” Yesterday, as part of my professional development, I had the privilege of visiting the kindergarten associated with Tohoku Bunkyo University - … Continue reading The Japanese Way of Educating Children
When hunting for a suitable school for your child or for yourself as a teacher, you need to study hard as if you were to sit for an exam. Because not all schools are created equal, making sure a school is the right fit might be a stressful experience. It can also be an exciting … Continue reading Choosing the “right fit” school
Keep it simple and have fun The end of the first semester is just around the corner. Parents are expecting to get a snapshot of the dynamic first months of the academic year. As a teacher, you might be tempted to choose a great song with a deep lyrics and an intricate choreography in a … Continue reading The Kindergarten Recital – put the needs of children at its core
The book "Japan: A Guide to Traditions, Customs, and Etiquette" reveals what makes the Japanese Japanese and what sets them apart. The revelation about the distinctiveness of Japanese culture literally threw me into a deep contemplation. I ventured on a deliberate interrogation of my teaching practices and my role as a home-room teacher of 16 Japanese kids. … Continue reading Is English Language Immersion Right for your Child?
Reading as a Prerequisite to Writing One of the classroom resources I prepared as soon as the kids began to connect visual letter symbols with letter names and sounds were a few sets of magnetic uppercase and lowercase letters. On their own, kids enjoyed matching the letters to a picture that has the same initial … Continue reading Building Pre-Writing Skills
When it was about time to start preparing for our end-of-year performance, I went on the Internet in a desperate need to find some tips on how to teach 3 year old kids their lines in an age-appropriate manner. Yet, I couldn't find any easy to assimilate, step-by-step guide. Eventually, I had no other alternative … Continue reading How to teach drama in the Kindergarten classroom?
