The amazingness of Elementary School. (February 5th 2015)
Today, my elementary school had their marching band performance. The day started out with me forgetting my lesson plan at home (-_-`) then finding out as I got to class that parents are allowed to come and watch today, (so I had an audience of parents standing quietly at the back, one class was able to get them to be included), and then I was told that my last class was cancelled because of the marching band performance. Cool I thought! I had seen some of my grade 5 and 6s practing at lunch times in the music room a few weeks ago. I knew they had brass instruments, drums, and even students spinning flags around! And their practices were awesome! So I was looking forward to it!
After playing Onigoku (tag) with the 3rd graders at lunch, (in the library? I wasn`t sure about it, but the students were throwing balls and paper planes in there too. One of the planes got stuck on a light on the roof and one even went to get the teacher who got it down and they continued playing) I grabbed my coat and off we went to the gym. And there were more parents arriving to watch! The grade 5s were sitting on the floor along the wall of the gym, and the parents and other students were going up to the second floor to watch from the balcony. I joined my grade 3 and 2 students up there. Then the show began! The grade 6 students marched in with their instruments and flags, being led by their leader. Everyone was dressed amazingly in costume , the girl leader had a red skirt and shirt on with the big red top hat and the conducting thingy, and the musicians had on white shorts and blue shirts and light brown hats, and the flag barers had white pants and red shirts and red hats with white trimming. They all looked so amazing in the outfits. I didn`t realise, but the whole of grade 6 made up the marching band. They performed a few songs, marching into formations, twirling flags and the conductor stick, and then they even had the conductor standing on the flags, holding her up into the air at one point! Amazing!
Then, they stood in 3 lines and the grade 5s went to join them, standing opposite another grade 5 student. There were words from the grade 6 conductor, the grade 5 conductor (who ended up crying in her speech so I was a bit confused at that point as to what was going on), then the principal, then the grade 6s handed over their instruments and hats. The grade 6s then sat down along the other end of the gym and the grade 5s performed a song. It was really good!
At the end the grade 6s walked through a tunnel of the flags and the grade 5s kept playing as they walked out and then the parents walked out then the rest of the students walked out.
It was an amazing experience, and I wish I`d had my camera to take photos. Hopefully I get to see next year`s too!
Wednesday, 4 February 2015
Wednesday, 17 December 2014
Snow
Welome to the land of snow. Really. You can`t see anything but snow. There`s snow on buildings, on the ground, in the air, on the trees, on you, on the cars, basically, theres snow on everything.
So, as you can probably tell, it has started snowing here. A lot. It started about 2 weeks ago, (or was it three?) Early December was the first snow fall. I remember it clearly. Friday the 5th. I got up, and saw it was snowing lightly outside. It was really nice! When it touched the floor it stayed a little then melted not long after. I was excited and got up to dance around outside in the cold and in my pyjamas. Then, I had to go to work, so off I went and the snow was gone. BUT later that day, around 11:30 or 12ish it started snowing again. Really snowing. As in, staying on the ground. Everything gradually became white. And it didn`t stop. No really, it didnt stop for the rest of the weekend. That snow kept coming. I ended up having the office lady and specialist teacher help me brush off the foot of snow that was on my car so I could go home. I was supposed to go to Sanjo on the Saturday and they kept telling me no, it would be too dangerous to go. They were right. The 15 minute drive home from school that day turned into a 30 minute drive going 20k and trying to stick to the tracks the cars had made before me, and that was a difficult task in itself, let alone trying to see through the windscreen. But, that didn`t deter me from going to the ALT Christmas Party in the city that night. Ended up being an hour late (it took an hour to get there rather than the half an hour it would normally take) and I missed most of the delicious dinner (and there was no dessert!) but did enjoy the White Elephant game. I ended up coming home with two Japanese style cups (one with a P and one with an S for some reason, but they are not really salt and pepper cups), a small bottle of Bailey`s, and some sachets of hot chocolate. Pretty good for 10 bucks I thought.
My friend stayed at my house that night, which was lucky because she was able to take me to the station in the morning so I could get to Sanjo. Driving that night made me realise I would not be able to drive to Sanjo the next day. And so I couldn`t. In fact, even taking a train was a dilema and exhausting. When we woke up the next day, there was a mound in front of my driveway that was a hip high depth, and hard too. It was all the snow that had fallen from the roof, once we climbed over that to get to her car, the snow there, although soft, was still over our knees. Basically, even once we had started to dig out her car, we realised there would be no going anywhere for a while. Luckily, soon the snow plow came and cleared a path so we only had to get her car out. It took about an hour to get to the station, and we saw lots of accidents along the way, but we got there, and I got there just in time to take the train, which ended up being delayed and sitting at the station for an extra ten minutes anyway. But, I was on my way, feeling tired and cold and warming up in the train. I was very overwhelmed though. If it werent for her I probably would have never left my house that day, just digging her car out was a shock at how much snow there was in not even 24 hours. I was beginning to feel like I couldn`t do this. Was this normal? Wasn`t it supposed to snow a little, melt, snow a little again, slowly melt, then eventually build up to this? Well, I don`t know if thats what`s supposed to happen anymore, but it`s definately what didn`t happen. Instead we got about half a meter in one night.
I`m glad I went to Sanjo though and didn`t cancel my plans. I was able to catch up with friends and although stuck at a random train station for over an hour on the way to get there, I did get there, and enjoyed the company. Also, the snow wasn`t as much in Sanjo. The next day too, the roads were clear there. I began to think, yes, I can do this, I can live in this snow. It`s managable. When I got back to Joetsu, however, my beautiful and wonderful neighbour picked me up and whilst I had been away, she even dug out my driveway. Shes so awesome. And I am so thankful for that, because I was exhausted and still overwhelmed from that weekend of snow.
However it didn`t end there. The next morning I got up and went to work, no digging neccessary, but still the driving was a bit slippery in some parts. It wasn`t too bad though. Just as I thought it was ok, the guy in front of me swerved on a bit of ice and crashed into the barriers on the side. I stopped, shocked, and got out to see if he was ok. He too got out of his car and had blood pouring out of his head. I asked if he was ok, but was still on the other side of the road. The lady in the car behind me had stopped to so I signaled to her and asked her to get out and help the man too, as my limited Japanese probably wasn`t the best thing to deal with. She did get out, but as she did, he went back into his car, and promptly drove off. Still standing there shocked, I didn`t know what to do. What an idiot! What if he had lost conciousness just a bit furthur up the road and crashed into another car or worse, hit one of my students walking to school? I don`t know what happened to him, but I got to school safely, only to probably scare my teachers as I burst into tears about my happenings that morning and just every emotion from the weekend came pouring out. But, everyone was really nice about it and supported me.
Anyway, after that, I started to learn how to deal with the snow that was there. It didn`t snow for a week after that, giving it a bit of time to settle and melt a tiny bit (honestly it`d take a summer`s day to melt what was left behind) but the roads no longer had ice and snow, and all that was left was the boarders around the roads and the fields of snow.
The next weekend though, it snowed again. A lot. Well, probably the same amount as last weekend. I was in Kariwa for Musical Rehearsal and the roads there were not very well maintained and the gym at the school we were at was suuuper cold, but it was a good weekend. The company was what took your mind off the imiment drive back home in the snow. It ended up not being too bad on the way home luckily, until we got to Takada back in Joetsu. Obviously it had snowed a lot there, and no plows had been through so it was pretty bad. But again, I got home and my wonderful neighbour had done not only mine, but our other two neighbour`s drive ways also as we had all been away that weekend. He`s a legend.
On the Monday, I was late to school. 40 minutes late. The snow had kept coming on Sunday night and I had to dig out then drive the hour to school. But I got there eventually. However, Wednesday was the worst. It snowed all night Tuesday, leaving a bit to dig in the morning which I had decided to do before my shower, but after, as I was ready to leave, was as if I hadn`t done any. -_-` It`s a never ending cycle. Anyway, only being 10 minutes late for school this time, it was a very long drive there. And it kept snowing all day. Really. When it was time for me to go home, I couldn`t see any of the cars except for the windscreen wipers which they keep up. I don`t know the real reason why they do this, but I can think of a few good ones now, one of which is so that you can see that there is a car under that pile of snow. Anyway, the Principal was out there and helped get cars uncovered and off I went. I was supposed to go to a party that night in Arai, close to Nakago, but it had been canceled because of weather, but I asked my friend if I could stay at her`s anyway because I really didn`t fancy driving in the current weather of snow (which I`m glad I decided because apparently the traffic was really bad), to then have to dig out my drive way to get my car in, to then dig my car out to get to school, and then to drive another hour to get to the same area (which I`m not usually in two days in a row anyway), and I`m glad I did decide to stay because the road I would have to take in the morning to get to school was apparently closed. Let`s just hope I can get home on that road tonight otherwise it`s going to be another long drive home. The snow isn`t as bad today, it`s mainly wind gusts that spit the snow up into the air, however, there is still snow coming down now. Sigh...
Writing this now, it doesn`feel like I`ve only been in snow for two weeks. (Is that the kids I can see skiing on the baseball field outside the staffroom window now?????) (Yes it is.) All I can say is, it`s going to be a long winter if I`m driving in this weather all the time. The rest of the snow situation isn`t that bad, digging, whist tiring, is kind of relaxing too, and (I am really tempted to go out there and watch them, but it`s snowing and cold and I`d rather join them, but I don`t have skis) sorry for the distraction. Snow can be pretty too, the icicles on the trees, the buildings with snow on the roofs, and sitting in the hot onsen as it snows is the best feeling. I think I can get used to it, and I think I`ll be fine now. I just don`t like driving in snow. And how cold my house is. I`m afriad of my power bill this month lol.
Annnnd the Nurse just came to tell me there was more snow where I live than here yesterday. Yikes. Please, stop snowing so I can go home, dig, and then not worry about it for a few days.
Welome to the land of snow. Really. You can`t see anything but snow. There`s snow on buildings, on the ground, in the air, on the trees, on you, on the cars, basically, theres snow on everything.
So, as you can probably tell, it has started snowing here. A lot. It started about 2 weeks ago, (or was it three?) Early December was the first snow fall. I remember it clearly. Friday the 5th. I got up, and saw it was snowing lightly outside. It was really nice! When it touched the floor it stayed a little then melted not long after. I was excited and got up to dance around outside in the cold and in my pyjamas. Then, I had to go to work, so off I went and the snow was gone. BUT later that day, around 11:30 or 12ish it started snowing again. Really snowing. As in, staying on the ground. Everything gradually became white. And it didn`t stop. No really, it didnt stop for the rest of the weekend. That snow kept coming. I ended up having the office lady and specialist teacher help me brush off the foot of snow that was on my car so I could go home. I was supposed to go to Sanjo on the Saturday and they kept telling me no, it would be too dangerous to go. They were right. The 15 minute drive home from school that day turned into a 30 minute drive going 20k and trying to stick to the tracks the cars had made before me, and that was a difficult task in itself, let alone trying to see through the windscreen. But, that didn`t deter me from going to the ALT Christmas Party in the city that night. Ended up being an hour late (it took an hour to get there rather than the half an hour it would normally take) and I missed most of the delicious dinner (and there was no dessert!) but did enjoy the White Elephant game. I ended up coming home with two Japanese style cups (one with a P and one with an S for some reason, but they are not really salt and pepper cups), a small bottle of Bailey`s, and some sachets of hot chocolate. Pretty good for 10 bucks I thought.
My friend stayed at my house that night, which was lucky because she was able to take me to the station in the morning so I could get to Sanjo. Driving that night made me realise I would not be able to drive to Sanjo the next day. And so I couldn`t. In fact, even taking a train was a dilema and exhausting. When we woke up the next day, there was a mound in front of my driveway that was a hip high depth, and hard too. It was all the snow that had fallen from the roof, once we climbed over that to get to her car, the snow there, although soft, was still over our knees. Basically, even once we had started to dig out her car, we realised there would be no going anywhere for a while. Luckily, soon the snow plow came and cleared a path so we only had to get her car out. It took about an hour to get to the station, and we saw lots of accidents along the way, but we got there, and I got there just in time to take the train, which ended up being delayed and sitting at the station for an extra ten minutes anyway. But, I was on my way, feeling tired and cold and warming up in the train. I was very overwhelmed though. If it werent for her I probably would have never left my house that day, just digging her car out was a shock at how much snow there was in not even 24 hours. I was beginning to feel like I couldn`t do this. Was this normal? Wasn`t it supposed to snow a little, melt, snow a little again, slowly melt, then eventually build up to this? Well, I don`t know if thats what`s supposed to happen anymore, but it`s definately what didn`t happen. Instead we got about half a meter in one night.
I`m glad I went to Sanjo though and didn`t cancel my plans. I was able to catch up with friends and although stuck at a random train station for over an hour on the way to get there, I did get there, and enjoyed the company. Also, the snow wasn`t as much in Sanjo. The next day too, the roads were clear there. I began to think, yes, I can do this, I can live in this snow. It`s managable. When I got back to Joetsu, however, my beautiful and wonderful neighbour picked me up and whilst I had been away, she even dug out my driveway. Shes so awesome. And I am so thankful for that, because I was exhausted and still overwhelmed from that weekend of snow.
However it didn`t end there. The next morning I got up and went to work, no digging neccessary, but still the driving was a bit slippery in some parts. It wasn`t too bad though. Just as I thought it was ok, the guy in front of me swerved on a bit of ice and crashed into the barriers on the side. I stopped, shocked, and got out to see if he was ok. He too got out of his car and had blood pouring out of his head. I asked if he was ok, but was still on the other side of the road. The lady in the car behind me had stopped to so I signaled to her and asked her to get out and help the man too, as my limited Japanese probably wasn`t the best thing to deal with. She did get out, but as she did, he went back into his car, and promptly drove off. Still standing there shocked, I didn`t know what to do. What an idiot! What if he had lost conciousness just a bit furthur up the road and crashed into another car or worse, hit one of my students walking to school? I don`t know what happened to him, but I got to school safely, only to probably scare my teachers as I burst into tears about my happenings that morning and just every emotion from the weekend came pouring out. But, everyone was really nice about it and supported me.
Anyway, after that, I started to learn how to deal with the snow that was there. It didn`t snow for a week after that, giving it a bit of time to settle and melt a tiny bit (honestly it`d take a summer`s day to melt what was left behind) but the roads no longer had ice and snow, and all that was left was the boarders around the roads and the fields of snow.
The next weekend though, it snowed again. A lot. Well, probably the same amount as last weekend. I was in Kariwa for Musical Rehearsal and the roads there were not very well maintained and the gym at the school we were at was suuuper cold, but it was a good weekend. The company was what took your mind off the imiment drive back home in the snow. It ended up not being too bad on the way home luckily, until we got to Takada back in Joetsu. Obviously it had snowed a lot there, and no plows had been through so it was pretty bad. But again, I got home and my wonderful neighbour had done not only mine, but our other two neighbour`s drive ways also as we had all been away that weekend. He`s a legend.
On the Monday, I was late to school. 40 minutes late. The snow had kept coming on Sunday night and I had to dig out then drive the hour to school. But I got there eventually. However, Wednesday was the worst. It snowed all night Tuesday, leaving a bit to dig in the morning which I had decided to do before my shower, but after, as I was ready to leave, was as if I hadn`t done any. -_-` It`s a never ending cycle. Anyway, only being 10 minutes late for school this time, it was a very long drive there. And it kept snowing all day. Really. When it was time for me to go home, I couldn`t see any of the cars except for the windscreen wipers which they keep up. I don`t know the real reason why they do this, but I can think of a few good ones now, one of which is so that you can see that there is a car under that pile of snow. Anyway, the Principal was out there and helped get cars uncovered and off I went. I was supposed to go to a party that night in Arai, close to Nakago, but it had been canceled because of weather, but I asked my friend if I could stay at her`s anyway because I really didn`t fancy driving in the current weather of snow (which I`m glad I decided because apparently the traffic was really bad), to then have to dig out my drive way to get my car in, to then dig my car out to get to school, and then to drive another hour to get to the same area (which I`m not usually in two days in a row anyway), and I`m glad I did decide to stay because the road I would have to take in the morning to get to school was apparently closed. Let`s just hope I can get home on that road tonight otherwise it`s going to be another long drive home. The snow isn`t as bad today, it`s mainly wind gusts that spit the snow up into the air, however, there is still snow coming down now. Sigh...
Writing this now, it doesn`feel like I`ve only been in snow for two weeks. (Is that the kids I can see skiing on the baseball field outside the staffroom window now?????) (Yes it is.) All I can say is, it`s going to be a long winter if I`m driving in this weather all the time. The rest of the snow situation isn`t that bad, digging, whist tiring, is kind of relaxing too, and (I am really tempted to go out there and watch them, but it`s snowing and cold and I`d rather join them, but I don`t have skis) sorry for the distraction. Snow can be pretty too, the icicles on the trees, the buildings with snow on the roofs, and sitting in the hot onsen as it snows is the best feeling. I think I can get used to it, and I think I`ll be fine now. I just don`t like driving in snow. And how cold my house is. I`m afriad of my power bill this month lol.
Annnnd the Nurse just came to tell me there was more snow where I live than here yesterday. Yikes. Please, stop snowing so I can go home, dig, and then not worry about it for a few days.
Thursday, 27 November 2014
School events
One of my Elementary Schools seems to always have something interesting and fun on in the afternoons.
Today, after Kyuushoku, all the students in the school were given a little peice of paper with some writing on it and space for 3 different stamps. After brushing their teeth, they rushed off to find the other people in their group. Using the whole school, each student knows which group they are in. One particular girl in grade 3 studies English at an English school, so she confidently told me what I needed to do and included me in her group.
There were two activities in the gym. The first one was using a hoola hoop. two groups together, had to stand in a circle holding hands, then, using the hoola hoop, they had the get the hoop around the circle without letting go of their hands. It was very fun. The second game was a kind of line janken game. Using balancing beams and two balls, the students had to balance on the beem holding the ball until they met in the middle, then they jankened then the loser left and gave the ball to their next team mate, and the winner continued on. The first person to the other end wins. The third game was in the lunch room. The students were put into 3 groups and in pairs they had to balance 2 balls using two sticks and walk around a cone and back. At the end of each activity they got a stamp on their paper. It was a fun time.
This particular school has also had other activities such as running practice every lunch time and recess for the whole school for a few weeks before their school marathon, a circus performance the students got to watch and invite the local kindergarten and people from the old people`s home to watch too. They have also had professional Sumo lessons for the grade 5 and 6s. One of my first weeks here was a school trip to climb the mountain behind the school. That was really fun. It took all day to get up and back. When I arrived in the morning they gave me a bell to put on my bag to ward off bears apparently. And all the students had bells too. But everyone packed a lunch and off we went, and it turned out to be a beautiful day! I have also seen once a library truck that came to the school where the students could borrow books.
There are so many good opportunities for the students at this school to learn and grow within the community. I am really enjoying it here.
Today, after Kyuushoku, all the students in the school were given a little peice of paper with some writing on it and space for 3 different stamps. After brushing their teeth, they rushed off to find the other people in their group. Using the whole school, each student knows which group they are in. One particular girl in grade 3 studies English at an English school, so she confidently told me what I needed to do and included me in her group.
There were two activities in the gym. The first one was using a hoola hoop. two groups together, had to stand in a circle holding hands, then, using the hoola hoop, they had the get the hoop around the circle without letting go of their hands. It was very fun. The second game was a kind of line janken game. Using balancing beams and two balls, the students had to balance on the beem holding the ball until they met in the middle, then they jankened then the loser left and gave the ball to their next team mate, and the winner continued on. The first person to the other end wins. The third game was in the lunch room. The students were put into 3 groups and in pairs they had to balance 2 balls using two sticks and walk around a cone and back. At the end of each activity they got a stamp on their paper. It was a fun time.
This particular school has also had other activities such as running practice every lunch time and recess for the whole school for a few weeks before their school marathon, a circus performance the students got to watch and invite the local kindergarten and people from the old people`s home to watch too. They have also had professional Sumo lessons for the grade 5 and 6s. One of my first weeks here was a school trip to climb the mountain behind the school. That was really fun. It took all day to get up and back. When I arrived in the morning they gave me a bell to put on my bag to ward off bears apparently. And all the students had bells too. But everyone packed a lunch and off we went, and it turned out to be a beautiful day! I have also seen once a library truck that came to the school where the students could borrow books.
There are so many good opportunities for the students at this school to learn and grow within the community. I am really enjoying it here.
Thursday, 2 October 2014
Friday the day before Ueda`s Birthday
Good Morning. It`s been a while. Getting busy these days.
I went to Tokyo on the weekend. Saw my friends and KAT-TUN. It was the best.
I`m understanding more these days. More Japanese. I just heard an announcement over the speakers at Elementary School saying that the grade 6s will be in the lunch room for their lesson with me today. (That`s all I picked up on because I stopped listening after that.) And I will start my Japanese lessons today with a private teacher. I`m going to take the JLPT N4 this year.
It`s funny, today, one of the teachers arrived just after me, and still sitting in my car, I could hear this loud thumping music. So unexpected of him.
It`s raining today. Misty and doom and gloom. But I am determined to not let it deter me from having a good day. Just let those kids show you their energy and if you can match it, it will be a good day.
Until next time.
I went to Tokyo on the weekend. Saw my friends and KAT-TUN. It was the best.
I`m understanding more these days. More Japanese. I just heard an announcement over the speakers at Elementary School saying that the grade 6s will be in the lunch room for their lesson with me today. (That`s all I picked up on because I stopped listening after that.) And I will start my Japanese lessons today with a private teacher. I`m going to take the JLPT N4 this year.
It`s funny, today, one of the teachers arrived just after me, and still sitting in my car, I could hear this loud thumping music. So unexpected of him.
It`s raining today. Misty and doom and gloom. But I am determined to not let it deter me from having a good day. Just let those kids show you their energy and if you can match it, it will be a good day.
Until next time.
Wednesday, 17 September 2014
ようこそ
Welcome to Joetsu!
At elementary school today. The kids are about to come get me for class XD Grade 1 now!!!
ーーーーーー3 hours later ---------
BACK!!! XD Had a great time teaching today! I had two grade 1 classes, then the two grade 2 classes together. At snack time (which is just play time really, they don`t eat anything then) I taught the grade 1 students to play Duck Duck Goose. They got the hang of it pretty quickly.
Then at lunch time a couple of the grade 1 girls took me outside to see the animals. This school has many pets. They have a cow, 2 pigs, and 2 goats. The grade 1s take care of the goats (the animals need a bit more food in my opinion, especially the goats) Whilst I think it`s a great idea to have pets at school, you need to make sure they are taking care of them properly. So, after that, they then took me inside and it was cleaning time! (そうじする）I usually just grab a broom (ほうき）and help with the sweeping. I`m getting used to their routines already.
Anyway, I just realised I haven`t actualy explained anything yet...
Intro time!
My name is Cat for short, and I am on the JET program, living in Joetsu. I decided to make this blog this morning because I seem to always be emailing my neighbour (HELLO! fellow Aussie XD) so to stop annoying her with my constant emails when I`ve nothing better to do, I will write a blog! (Also, those back home would be able to read this and see how I am) I am at work now, so FB is a no no. This is just an, `I finished my work, I dunno what to do` thing.
You must be thinking, oh, but Cat, you`re a teacher, surely you must be busy busy busy! Well, yes, I am, but at the moment, no. Slowly I`m starting to make lesson plans etc, but I have yet to teach all my classes. Many of the classes have been introduction to me classes, and most of the elementary school teachers already have a plan, they just want me to add to it or run the class. So, until I know their plan, I shall work on other plans for other classes etc.
I have 5 schools I go to, 2 Junior High and 3 Elementary. I have one base school, which is my main point to go to. In the summer holidays etc, I work there. So when I arrived in Japan, it was summer holidays, so for the first month I spent my time at my base school, making lessons, getting to know the other teachers, and also at the BOE (board of education) working with the other ALTs in Joetsu. It was fun, and really relaxing. Now that classes have started (only a few weeks ago!) I`ve done most of my introduction lessons, and am starting to make lesson plans for each class. Slowly I`m getting to know where the kids are at, and what kinds of things they do in class.
Japanese class and Australian class can be quite different. I have found, in Elementary school (which is the Aussie equivalent of Primary School), the school day is quite similar, and the teaching is quite similar too. The kids get to school, have 2 classes, then a 20 minute play break in elementary, no break for Junior!, then class 3 and 4. They then have lunch (at most schools there is a school lunch provided. This in itself is an adventure!) and then have a longer play time. They then have cleaning time. The students are split into groups (they have a timetable they seem to know) and they each have a job. Every room is cleaned by the students (even the staffroom and toilets!) and then after they finish, they have a mini meeting. From what I understand from attending these meetings, the leader (usually an older grade student) will say something like, `Cleaning is finished. What did you do?` then each student will say if they mopped etc, then, this one is different but sometimes they choose the person who did the best cleaning, and sometimes they say something else which I have no idea about... Then it`s the `good work` etc saying and a little bow.
And then after that it is another 2 classes, then home time! Or, for Junior school students, it`s after school activities time! So, that is the general timetable of a Japanese school.
I`m reallying enjoying my schools. All the teachers are lovely and get along really well, and everyone tries to have a small converstation with me, either in English or Japanese. Everyone is really helpful too.
Slowly I`m getting to know the students too. One student came up to me today and asked what her name was, and I`m thinking, eh? I dunno... Anyway, another student told me in the end. It`s hard to remember the teachers names and the students names... There are so many!!! But I`m trying!
Well, I won`t say too much today, leave some for another day ey! Tomorrow I am at another Elementary school, and everyone in the school is going on a long walk. And when I say long, I mean a 15 km hike over a mountain behind the school. Grade 1,2 is 7km, 3,4 is 10km, and 5,6 is 15km... Wish me luck! Hope I can keep up with the grade 5 and 6s.
Until then! Bye!
At elementary school today. The kids are about to come get me for class XD Grade 1 now!!!
ーーーーーー3 hours later ---------
BACK!!! XD Had a great time teaching today! I had two grade 1 classes, then the two grade 2 classes together. At snack time (which is just play time really, they don`t eat anything then) I taught the grade 1 students to play Duck Duck Goose. They got the hang of it pretty quickly.
Then at lunch time a couple of the grade 1 girls took me outside to see the animals. This school has many pets. They have a cow, 2 pigs, and 2 goats. The grade 1s take care of the goats (the animals need a bit more food in my opinion, especially the goats) Whilst I think it`s a great idea to have pets at school, you need to make sure they are taking care of them properly. So, after that, they then took me inside and it was cleaning time! (そうじする）I usually just grab a broom (ほうき）and help with the sweeping. I`m getting used to their routines already.
Anyway, I just realised I haven`t actualy explained anything yet...
Intro time!
My name is Cat for short, and I am on the JET program, living in Joetsu. I decided to make this blog this morning because I seem to always be emailing my neighbour (HELLO! fellow Aussie XD) so to stop annoying her with my constant emails when I`ve nothing better to do, I will write a blog! (Also, those back home would be able to read this and see how I am) I am at work now, so FB is a no no. This is just an, `I finished my work, I dunno what to do` thing.
You must be thinking, oh, but Cat, you`re a teacher, surely you must be busy busy busy! Well, yes, I am, but at the moment, no. Slowly I`m starting to make lesson plans etc, but I have yet to teach all my classes. Many of the classes have been introduction to me classes, and most of the elementary school teachers already have a plan, they just want me to add to it or run the class. So, until I know their plan, I shall work on other plans for other classes etc.
I have 5 schools I go to, 2 Junior High and 3 Elementary. I have one base school, which is my main point to go to. In the summer holidays etc, I work there. So when I arrived in Japan, it was summer holidays, so for the first month I spent my time at my base school, making lessons, getting to know the other teachers, and also at the BOE (board of education) working with the other ALTs in Joetsu. It was fun, and really relaxing. Now that classes have started (only a few weeks ago!) I`ve done most of my introduction lessons, and am starting to make lesson plans for each class. Slowly I`m getting to know where the kids are at, and what kinds of things they do in class.
Japanese class and Australian class can be quite different. I have found, in Elementary school (which is the Aussie equivalent of Primary School), the school day is quite similar, and the teaching is quite similar too. The kids get to school, have 2 classes, then a 20 minute play break in elementary, no break for Junior!, then class 3 and 4. They then have lunch (at most schools there is a school lunch provided. This in itself is an adventure!) and then have a longer play time. They then have cleaning time. The students are split into groups (they have a timetable they seem to know) and they each have a job. Every room is cleaned by the students (even the staffroom and toilets!) and then after they finish, they have a mini meeting. From what I understand from attending these meetings, the leader (usually an older grade student) will say something like, `Cleaning is finished. What did you do?` then each student will say if they mopped etc, then, this one is different but sometimes they choose the person who did the best cleaning, and sometimes they say something else which I have no idea about... Then it`s the `good work` etc saying and a little bow.
And then after that it is another 2 classes, then home time! Or, for Junior school students, it`s after school activities time! So, that is the general timetable of a Japanese school.
I`m reallying enjoying my schools. All the teachers are lovely and get along really well, and everyone tries to have a small converstation with me, either in English or Japanese. Everyone is really helpful too.
Slowly I`m getting to know the students too. One student came up to me today and asked what her name was, and I`m thinking, eh? I dunno... Anyway, another student told me in the end. It`s hard to remember the teachers names and the students names... There are so many!!! But I`m trying!
Well, I won`t say too much today, leave some for another day ey! Tomorrow I am at another Elementary school, and everyone in the school is going on a long walk. And when I say long, I mean a 15 km hike over a mountain behind the school. Grade 1,2 is 7km, 3,4 is 10km, and 5,6 is 15km... Wish me luck! Hope I can keep up with the grade 5 and 6s.
Until then! Bye!
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