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!
