We were ready and on the bus by 6:50 a.m. Today was the first day of school visits. Everyone
was very excited. We came to explore Japan, but we had really come to visit schools. It took 40 minutes to travel to the elementary school. Upon our arrival the Principal, Vice Principal, and School Board Member were there to greet us. They seemed as excited as we were.
The students were to arrive any minute, so we went to the front gate to wait. The Principal and a crossing guard helped the students cross the street to the school gate. The crossing guard was an 80 year old man who volunteered to help the children get to school safely. The children were very funny when they walked through the gate. They looked at us shyly and then took off running toward the school. I am sure it was a little intimidating to see 16 teachers from the United States greeting them.
After all the children arrived, we went to the Home Ec. Room for an orientation to the school. We were told to walk in and out of classrooms freely to observe any program we were interested in. Then we were off to explore the classrooms. It was amazing; they looked just like classrooms in the United States. The only difference was that instruction was in Japanese. Students were excited to see us and snuck a smile with a quick wave. The teachers appeared nervous. I couldn’t blame them, having teachers from another country sitting in the back of my room would make me a little nervous.
The students all wore uniforms of blue shorts, white t-shirt, slip on tennis shoes, and a matching blue jacket. This was very casual, but everyone still looked the same. The only form of personal expression was the color of the students’ socks.
The elementary was divided into levels 1-6. The levels would match our grades 1-6. Kindergarten is not compulsory and is not part of the elementary program. The lower levels were more casual while the older students had more structured classrooms. The students appeared to be taught similar subjects as in U.S.
One class that was different was Calligraphy Class taught to the level 6
students. At the end of the day we were each given a sample of the students’ work. The Principal taught the class. He has studied calligraphy for many years and is considered a master calligrapher. He made us each a card that said “love” and “friends” in kanji characters. There are two forms of writing in Japan, the Japanese alphabet and kanji characters.
I observed level 1 and 2 students working in a vegetable garden as part
of their science curriculum. The students would serve the vegetables 
for lunch when they are ready to harvest. There was also a building with rabbits in the back of the school yard. I was told they were part of the science curriculum in the school. The students enjoyed the garden work. A couple of boys slipped out of view of the teacher to throw dirt at each other. “Boys will be boys”, even in Japan!
Teachers taught all classes, even music and P.E. This did not give the teachers a break from the students all day because they ate lunch with the students too. I ate lunch with level 6 students. The boys at my table were very funny. We were going around the circle introducing ourselves. The sensei (teacher) started then the boy next to him introduced himself as the sensei and the next boy did the same thing with a giggle. The teacher laughed and had to introduce them because they would not give their real names. It was very funny and reminded me of the humor of our 6th grade boys.
Students served lunch from the front of the classroom. The lunch was prepared at another location and brought to the school by delivery truck. Lunch conversation was simple; what sports teams did I like, did I play sports, did I have children. The students did not know very much English and neither did the teacher. The students tried very hard by looking up phrases they had written down in a notebook.
After lunch the students went to recess for a short time. Then they came in and started cleaning the school. Some students were sweeping while others cleaned with clothes. It was amazing. The students worked along, singing with the songs playing over the PA, without any arguments about cleaning. How would that go over at our schools?
In the afternoon the younger students went back to their classrooms
and the older students went to the gym to practice playing a traditional flute as a large group. Some men from the community made the flutes for the students and taught the students how to play. It was so enjoyable to listen to them and the students were working so hard.
The younger students left school around 2 p.m. the older students stayed to finish classes. They were released from classes at 3 p.m. to participate in club activities until 5 p.m. Then they would leave for the day. The teachers told us they would stay and work sometimes until 8 p.m. I am sure they had papers to grade and lesson plans to write. They were working over a 12 hour day. That would never be accepted in the United States.
We left at 5 p.m. with many smiles and waves. It had been an interesting day with many more similarities than differences.
was very excited. We came to explore Japan, but we had really come to visit schools. It took 40 minutes to travel to the elementary school. Upon our arrival the Principal, Vice Principal, and School Board Member were there to greet us. They seemed as excited as we were.The students were to arrive any minute, so we went to the front gate to wait. The Principal and a crossing guard helped the students cross the street to the school gate. The crossing guard was an 80 year old man who volunteered to help the children get to school safely. The children were very funny when they walked through the gate. They looked at us shyly and then took off running toward the school. I am sure it was a little intimidating to see 16 teachers from the United States greeting them.
After all the children arrived, we went to the Home Ec. Room for an orientation to the school. We were told to walk in and out of classrooms freely to observe any program we were interested in. Then we were off to explore the classrooms. It was amazing; they looked just like classrooms in the United States. The only difference was that instruction was in Japanese. Students were excited to see us and snuck a smile with a quick wave. The teachers appeared nervous. I couldn’t blame them, having teachers from another country sitting in the back of my room would make me a little nervous.
The students all wore uniforms of blue shorts, white t-shirt, slip on tennis shoes, and a matching blue jacket. This was very casual, but everyone still looked the same. The only form of personal expression was the color of the students’ socks.The elementary was divided into levels 1-6. The levels would match our grades 1-6. Kindergarten is not compulsory and is not part of the elementary program. The lower levels were more casual while the older students had more structured classrooms. The students appeared to be taught similar subjects as in U.S.
One class that was different was Calligraphy Class taught to the level 6
students. At the end of the day we were each given a sample of the students’ work. The Principal taught the class. He has studied calligraphy for many years and is considered a master calligrapher. He made us each a card that said “love” and “friends” in kanji characters. There are two forms of writing in Japan, the Japanese alphabet and kanji characters.I observed level 1 and 2 students working in a vegetable garden as part
of their science curriculum. The students would serve the vegetables 
for lunch when they are ready to harvest. There was also a building with rabbits in the back of the school yard. I was told they were part of the science curriculum in the school. The students enjoyed the garden work. A couple of boys slipped out of view of the teacher to throw dirt at each other. “Boys will be boys”, even in Japan!Teachers taught all classes, even music and P.E. This did not give the teachers a break from the students all day because they ate lunch with the students too. I ate lunch with level 6 students. The boys at my table were very funny. We were going around the circle introducing ourselves. The sensei (teacher) started then the boy next to him introduced himself as the sensei and the next boy did the same thing with a giggle. The teacher laughed and had to introduce them because they would not give their real names. It was very funny and reminded me of the humor of our 6th grade boys.
Students served lunch from the front of the classroom. The lunch was prepared at another location and brought to the school by delivery truck. Lunch conversation was simple; what sports teams did I like, did I play sports, did I have children. The students did not know very much English and neither did the teacher. The students tried very hard by looking up phrases they had written down in a notebook.
After lunch the students went to recess for a short time. Then they came in and started cleaning the school. Some students were sweeping while others cleaned with clothes. It was amazing. The students worked along, singing with the songs playing over the PA, without any arguments about cleaning. How would that go over at our schools?
In the afternoon the younger students went back to their classrooms
and the older students went to the gym to practice playing a traditional flute as a large group. Some men from the community made the flutes for the students and taught the students how to play. It was so enjoyable to listen to them and the students were working so hard.The younger students left school around 2 p.m. the older students stayed to finish classes. They were released from classes at 3 p.m. to participate in club activities until 5 p.m. Then they would leave for the day. The teachers told us they would stay and work sometimes until 8 p.m. I am sure they had papers to grade and lesson plans to write. They were working over a 12 hour day. That would never be accepted in the United States.
We left at 5 p.m. with many smiles and waves. It had been an interesting day with many more similarities than differences.
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