Posts Tagged ‘children’
From Finland to USA – reflections of Early Childhood Education and Care Study Tour
Hello from USA, I want to take a moment to thank all of the Learning Scoop staff and teachers in the schools for a phenomenal Early Childhood Education and Care Study Tour week in Tampere, Finland! Most schools in the USA are trying to push children to learn earlier and faster, in a timetable that…
Read MoreTeachers are teachers no matter where you go
I have been a class teacher for 18 years, worked with teachers in Finland and abroad and for last five years I have also trained both Finnish and foreign teachers. This was my first time in Malta, where we had workshops on Finnish Education. A new country is always a new one. You can never…
Read MoreHobbyland
”Finland is a Hobbyland. Everyone has a hobby”, said one of our foreign friends recently. Yes, hobbies are valued by the Ministry of Education, by employers, homes and friends. Also, adults have hobbies. Having hobbies is normal. The Ministry of Education set last year a workgroup to investigate the hobbies and possibilities how every child…
Read MoreWhat is pedagogical leadership?
Finnish schools are led and managed exceptionally well. It is the principals and headmasters who lay the foundation for equality and trust in Finnish schools. It is those people who make sure that teachers and students can perform at their best and achieve outstanding results. This article describes the Finnish idea of pedagogical leadership and…
Read MoreLearning goes forest
Sometimes we are asked “how many forest do you have?” Well, one. A bit exaggerated the whole Finland is actually one big forest with lakes and some houses here and there. Even in cities, forest and nature are normally not that far away. So, it is no wonder that our schools and day-care centres have…
Read MoreTake care of the parents, too
Before our new national core curriculum was put into practice, it took two years from municipalities and schools to get familiar with it, plan and get ready. One part of the work was to share the ideas of the new curriculum with parents and have their ideas as well. Our core curriculum is being given…
Read MoreIt has to be Utopia…
When me and my colleague Elina were interviewed by Sunday Times of Malta – believe me, that isn’t the most typical work assignment for us… 😉 the interviewer told us that she had heard comments from the participants of our workshop saying “The Finnish Education sounds so good, it has to be Utopia…”. Same kind of feedback…
Read MoreGender equality in basic education in Finland
Educational equality is a key premise of Finnish basic education. But what about gender equality in schools? Are girls and boys equal? Are they treated in the same way? Is there room for gender diversity? How gender equality is seen in textbooks and other materials? The Finnish National Board of Education has published a…
Read MoreLess is more – a point of view from USA
This summer, one Study Tour participant decided to take a field trip to a faraway place to learn about the most successful and efficient school system in the world. Mr. Rickbeil from Maryland, USA wanted to see how a different culture educates their kids. He wanted to learn from Finnish successes and see what aspects…
Read MoreFinnish preschool children learn through play and joy
My 6-year-old son started preschool this fall. In fact, he would have preferred to skip the summer vacation, because he had so much fun at the preschool orientation evening in May. In Finland pre-primary education became compulsory in August 2015. However, about 96 % of six-year-olds attended already when pre-primary education was voluntary. In Finland…
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