What I Value in 'Classroom Building' Discussed with a Finnish Teacher
It is the second day of my school visit.
Today, I observed a music class for 4th graders.
The class mainly consisted of time spent singing together.
The lesson progressed as everyone chose songs they liked—songs from textbooks that I enjoy, songs the teacher likes, and songs the children enjoy.
By the way, my favorite song is "minun ystäväni" (My Friend).
Also, at the end of the class, I asked what they value most in their teaching.
“In class, I value creating a good atmosphere. A good atmosphere is one where the whole class can learn together. I prioritize building a classroom where children enjoy learning during lessons and feel that this class is a good group of friends.”
That is what they said.
In Finnish, this is called "yhteisöllisyys" (sense of community).
*A sense of community is something born from the sense of connection (belonging) and interaction between people, as well as from doing things together, and it creates a sense of security and happiness.
In fact, the homeroom teacher I met mentioned that they do not start teaching lessons immediately when the new semester begins.
First, they prioritize going outside to play soccer or do activities to get to know each other. Only after the foundation for proceeding with lessons is built do they say, “It's time to teach.”
Of course, there is the idea of getting to know each other during lessons, but they explained that there are relationships that can only be nurtured through play and activities.
The actual atmosphere of the classroom also conveyed that they value fostering a sense of security within the class.
Also, after school, I heard from someone who was interviewing the principal about the purpose of the school.
The principal reportedly said the following.
“School exists so that students can learn to build a safe environment for themselves later on.”
And they explained that there are two important perspectives for building a safe environment on one's own.
① Being able to communicate appropriately
② Being able to belong to an appropriate community
I think this 'appropriate community' is the concept of "yhteisöllisyys" (sense of community) that the elementary school teacher I mentioned earlier values in building their lessons.
And I felt that belonging to an appropriate community is not so much about the feeling of choosing a good community, but rather about fostering the sense of being one of the people who nurture a better community together within that collective.
To achieve that, it is important to understand what kind of person you are. Furthermore, communicating with others also leads to learning more about yourself.
Classes exist to learn such things.
That was the gist of the conversation.
A keyword I hear often on this trip is 'Safety.' When I asked about the purpose of school, the answer that came back from parents, homeroom teachers, and faculty alike was simple.
I wonder if the simplest things are the most important, and if it is difficult to continue them until they take root as a culture.
I intend to learn something with my five senses during the remaining two days of school visits and share my insights.
Thank you for always reading!
moimoi!!!