Class Newsletter Series (Extra) - Day 62
Town Exploration II - A Tug-of-War Between Rain Clouds and Excitement
The weather forecast said "sunny." However, by the afternoon, the sky had turned gloomy.
The anxiety of "Is it really okay to go out for our town exploration like this?" crossed my mind.
I had just gotten my shoes soaked a few days ago. If I got caught in the rain again, I wouldn't be able to laugh it off.
But in times like these, there's no point in hesitating.
Right, let's do this! Let's go!
The moment I made up my mind and set off, a light drizzle began...
I decided, "If the rain gets stronger, we'll turn back," and pressed on. Fortunately, the weather cleared up, and the rain stopped. What a relief.
Our destination this time was near the home of one of the children in the class. Since several of them said they had never been there, it was the perfect opportunity.
A small challenge: walking in a single file
The usual rule for town exploration is "walk in a single file."
They have finally started to follow this recently, but there are still a few who wander off.
This kind of skill relies on "accumulated experience." After walking a few more times, I'm sure they'll get the hang of it.
When we entered the residential area, one child wanted to go home, but since they didn't have their bag, I had to ask them to bear with it.
Such emotional fluctuations are also a part of growing up.
Dogs, children, and a minor incident
The residential area is a paradise for dog-loving children.
In particular, the miniature dachshund at the house we visited was a huge hit, and it caused quite a commotion.
In the middle of all that, one child was running around, bumped into me, fell, and scraped their knee. It was the first time I saw them cry, so it must have been quite painful.
As I was telling them, "We'll disinfect it at the nurse's office when we get back to school," the homeowner put a Band-Aid on it for them.
After that, another child held the hand of the one who had lost their spirit and kept encouraging them. They held hands all the way back to school.
The kindness of children really touches the heart.
Girls' ability to line up vs. boys' laid-back style
On the way back, the girls were in the lead, and the boys were in the back.
The girls, as expected, stayed in a neat line. The boys were... laid-back.
One child was swinging their water bottle around, and it ended up being a walk home while spilling tea everywhere.
With that, this town exploration is over. All that's left is the task of summarizing the route we walked today onto a map.
The moment the teacher was "taught" something in math
This happened during a lesson on telling time.
When I asked, "Is 12:00 midnight AM or PM?" one child raised their hand and said this:
"Teacher, 12 o'clock isn't 'night,' it's 'morning.'"
I thought, 'Huh?' and asked them about it,
"2:00 in the middle of the night is also 'morning.'
Daytime is from 12:00 to 6:00, and 6:00 to 12:00 is night. I saw it somewhere."
...Yes, teacher, I have learned something new.
Children sometimes offer unexpected knowledge out of the blue.
There are days when I learn more than I teach, even though I am the one supposed to be teaching.
Advice for young teachers
1. When you are unsure whether to go or stop
In situations where you can decide either way, such as judging the weather, setting a single standard will keep you from wavering.
The trick is to set a clear line, such as "cancel if the rain looks like it will get heavy" or "continue if it is just a light drizzle."
2. Always pick up on children's "casual kindness"
By praising them in words, kindness spreads throughout the class.
Actions like "holding hands to encourage someone," as seen this time, have a particularly positive influence on the whole group.
3. Failures are also "learning materials"
Falling down, getting out of line, or getting too distracted by a dog...
It is all part of the "experience." If you don't just scold them but always provide a hint for next time, the children will grow significantly.