Posts Tagged ‘teaching’
An ordinary day at Finnish daycare center
I am an early education teacher, working in Kalkunvuori daycare center. I work in an integrated group where half of the children have special needs, and that is why the group size is smaller (12 children) and the staff resource is bigger than the average (4 adults, of which 2 are teachers), but our daily…
Read MoreNewspaper week in Finnish schools
What is news? What is the difference between journalism and a blog post? What kind of information can be trusted? These type of questions are discussed in Finnish schools this week. Today starts Newspaper theme week that is celebrated in schools around Finland. The local media supports this theme week strongly: for instance, here in…
Read MoreTeachers going online
I’ve been teaching in a Finnish high school for about 25 years and I have seen a lot. Never before has the change in pedagogy been this fast. Different online materials and programs have changed the everyday life of a teacher a lot. First, I’d like to mention Wilma, a web service for the teachers…
Read MoreAn ordinary day at Finnish school
I have been teaching almost 20 years, most of the time at the same school, the Atala school. It is a primary school in a suburb with a lot of forests around. I have been teaching all grades (1-6) and all subjects. I love the fact I have a possibility to teach the same kids…
Read MoreTrue Equity: Finnish Commitment to Responsive Policy
This past January I had the joy of visiting Finland to learn more about equity in Finnish schools as part of my undergraduate thesis research. I was lucky enough to be hosted by Johanna of Learning Scoop, and spend a day touring a school and speaking with students and teachers to round out my experience.…
Read MoreFlexible basic education – the Finnish way of regaining the lost school motivation
Each year in April, I spend one week interviewing teenagers (and their guardians) who want to apply for a class of flexible basic education. Only 12 of them will be qualified although every applicant would need and deserve to get in. Who are these kids and what is this class about? It’s yet another success…
Read MoreNine years of teaching and learning in the heart of Europe
Cherry trees and tulips blossom in all colors now in Brussels. I miss this international and bohemian city. I also miss the location, it was so easy and fast to travel to other European cities at weekends. I worked nine years as a class teacher in the European School in Brussels, seconded by the Finnish…
Read MoreOutdoor schooling for better learning results
Children who grow up with greener surroundings have up to 55 percent less risk of developing various mental disorders later in life. This is shown by a new study from Aarhus University, Denmark, emphasizing the need for designing green and healthy environments for the future. There is increasing evidence that the natural environment plays a larger role for mental health than previously thought. About…
Read MoreTeaching is not just transferring knowledge – Experiences as a teacher trainer in foreign countries
I have had possibility to train some groups of teachers and principals for instance in Brazil, China, Dominican Republic and many other foreign principals and teachers in their own countries during last years. The significant feeling for me has been engagement. They have been so ready to work as change agents in different educational situations…
Read MoreVerso – a peer mediation program for children
“Mom, I’ve requested a Verso meeting!” My 10 year old daughter’s announcement surprised me. I knew she had suffered from a complicated situation with a couple of her classmates, but didn’t know she had decided to find a solution to it through peer mediation program Verso. Verso is a peer mediation program, where trained, a…
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