School Visits

Today we visited two schools. In the morning we went an experimental kindergarten in Guiyang. It is actually a preschool with kids from age 0-3 in one group and 3-6 in the other. We first met with the owner, the director and some teachers from the school. They gave us some basic information about the school and the curriculum. This one is actually very much like some of the preschools at home.



Next, we visited a class of three year olds and their parents or caregivers who were with them to experience the class as well. They did lots of hands on things like shaking bottles with things in them to the beat, playing with a parachute and some gross motor climbing. The teachers did a great job and the kids knew the routine. The first class finished and then another with younger students came in. They did similar activities but ones more appropriate to their age and level. The kids were really cute and not very shy.



After observing these two classes, we went back and met some more with the teachers. We had a nice discussion about how we teach and how they teach. Again, it was nice to see that our teaching is not that different at all. They are doing the kinds of developmentally appropriate things that we teach our teachers to do.

After an exchange of gifts, we headed outside to watch the kids during play time. What a chaotic and fun scene. The kids could have free play and they had lots of equipment and materials to play with. in the summer months, they even have a pool! Many of the children came up to us and said "hello" and asked how we were. That was the extent of their English which is about like my Chinese! They were very eager and wanted to talk with us and shake our hands.


We participated in some of their outdoor activities and then went to lunch with the teachers from the school and a couple of professors from the university. After lunch, we visited a primary school that housed grades 1-5. They greeted us at the door of the school. The 5th graders came and practiced their English with us. They actually did pretty well but only knew a few phrases. We then had a brief introduction from the principal.

Our group then watched a teacher and some first graders do a lesson on traditional values and then calligraphy. Some of the kids were advanced enought to use the traditional ink and brushes to do their writing. Others traced the shapes with a pencil.
Some of the kids were very good at the calligraphy and we got to keep some of what they made. It was awesome. I am going to fram mine if I can. It will look good in my office.

We ended the visit with another educational discussion between the Chinese teachers and the American teachers. I believe it was a good exchange and we all learned some about each other's culture.

What a fantastic day! We had the evening on our own tonight but I was too tired to do anything but blog and rest. We have another school visit tomorrow that I hope will be as good as today.