Quick Note...

For those of you just starting to look at the blog...

As you get to the bottom of the page you will notice that you are only seeing a day or so of pictures. At the bottom under archive choose February and you can see the list of posts. Enjoy...the pictures do not due the beauty of the country justice.

Saturday before leaving

Today we had a bus tour before flying out of Helsinki for our journey home.

Sibelius monument 

The Sibelius Monument by Eila Hiltunen is dedicated to the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius.

The sculpture is made of approx. 600 acid-proof stainless steel tubes of various diameters, welded together individually and hand-textured by Eila Hiltunen.

Temppeliaukio Church

Church of the Rock

The picture below is of the ceiling which is made of copper wire. 

Helsinki at night

By the time we arrives in Helsinki and made it to our rooms it was starting to get dark. We went out and about on foot to check out the city and find a bite to eat. Helsinki is beautiful at night with all the lights.

Friday 23rd- So What...Questions...

Today started off with the group coming together to discuss the week, what we saw, questions we still have, what we noticed and take aways. Here are my notes from that meeting:

Observations-

• Child centered/ child’s right
• Teachers are professionals
• Based on Equity
• More recess
• Smaller groups
• Teams of teachers with special educator
• Kids need to learn more about environment
• Learn through play- nothing new here!
• Free lunches for all- not allowed to bring lunch to school
• Length of school day
• Teachers and students have what they need- materials and such
• Who becomes a teacher and process/uniform teacher prep
• Flexible environment
• Respect of learners- time frame of learning and meeting goals/ based on individual

   Students

• Child are developed into little humans
• Problem solving
• Organizations
• Time management
• self-awareness

Takeaways-/breaks

• Recess
• Teaching kids to be more independent
• Student self assessment
• Having higher expectations for our students

My current thoughts are revolving around how I am going to incorporate some of what I have seen into my

teaching practices. The students here have seemed to so engaged and willing to work and learn.

Thursday, 22nd- School Visits and Farewell Dinner

Today we visited an English Language preschool/ kindergarten and a comprehensive school (elementary)- Ranravitikan peruskoulo .   

The preschool is located in a building that at first glance looks like other store fronts. We entered the building and immediately went up a set of stairs. The entrance at the top had color on the walls but was not to overwhelming. This preschool/kindergarten was for infants through 6yr olds.

There were various rooms for children to play/learn in. Some had tables others low shelves with various items to play with. A few rooms also had tall cabinets that when opened contained bunk beds. All the children here take naps or rest: Babies sleep 2 hr., 3-4 yr olds sleep 1 hr and the children that are 5 and up rest but do not sleep. This is to prepare them for school.

Here the kids spend two chunks of time outside, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The children go outside as long as it is -15 degrees C or above, that is 5 degrees F.  They may go out when colder if the wind is not too bad. This school had a small playground on site but uses the community playgrounds, ponds, parks and ice skating areas around them.

 As stated above this school focuses on teaching the children to speak english. Most instruction is give in english and english is spoken the most. When we arrived the children were having free play in many of the rooms. Shortly after we arrived the children cleaned up all the rooms and sat together in a center area that is all glass. Once all the children were ready they began to sing songs.

Ranravitikan peruskoulo- Comprehensive school grades 1-9

School Lunch- all the schools we visited had a buffet for the students to serve themselves. The schools use real plates, bowels and glasses.

Cafeteria seating- tables and chairs

Closets in teachers area- each teacher has their own area

Teacher space

3/4 classroom

Special education room

Student Artwork

 

Today I also had a chance to listen to presentations from some of my wonderful group members, they spoke at the teacher training school at the University of Lapland.  What a wonderful group of individuals, educators and speakers. 

            Dr. Jacek Polubiec, Ed. D. (Fordham University) Assistant Principal, New York City.

“The Role of School Leaders in Supporting Teacher Motivation”

Dr. Phala Chea, Ed. D. (University of Massachusetts) Coordinator of English Language Learner Program, Lowell Public Schools, MA.

“The Impact of Cultural Identity and Acculturation on Teaching and Learning in a

Culturally Responsive Classroom”

Dr. Danielle F. Lowe, Ed.D. (William Howard Taft University) Chairman and Founder, Baby S.T.E.P. Inc. and Middletown City School District, NY.

“The Importance of Reading in the Early Child Development”

Dr. Susan Gilheany, EdD. and Principals Tina King and Bill Kersing, Victoria, Australia.

“Curiosity and Powerful Learning-Improving learning and teaching through curiosity

and engagement”

Farewell Dinner:

Tonight we had dinner in a traditional Lappish hut - Restaurant Kota. It is located on a small island on the River Kemijoki. After driving a bit out of the city we arrived at a parking lot. From here we walked across a foot bridge- 5 at a time- to the island. Our evening started with a drink of warm cloudberry juice by a nice fire outside. From there we moved into the hut for a wonderful three course dinner.  The island has not only the restaurant but some cabins to rent.

Marja using her new toy- selfie stick 

Marja and I

Danielle and I

Starter: Chard serves on a small side of greens

Beef with barley and root veggies

Berry cake with vanilla sauce and cinnamon