Future of The World

The theme for last week's English topics in my preschool class were occupations and When I Grow Up. Miss. Yuki and I introduced a range of occupations to them with flash cards we made, and explained what jobs are and how most adults go to work. We had the class sit in a half circle, and as we went around from child to child, each student was given a turn to share with the rest of the class, what they wanted to be when they grew up. The children were allowed to choose from the flash cards if they didn't have an immediate idea of their own, because we didn't want them to feel pressure from being put on the spot. We explained that it was their decision in what they wanted to be and the choices were limitless. We didn't want to restrict their dreams or goals in anyway, and no answer was too silly or too fantastical. We allowed children to answer superhero or Spiderman, because being three years old,  they don't need to think seriously about future careers. What we were really looking to see is what they found interesting, or who their heros were. We were curious to know who they would like to imitate, and what reality they imagined for themselves at this age. It was also just an activity to reinforce some of the occupations vocabulary that we had introduced, as well as allow them to add to the list of vocabulary words with their own career choices. 

 When asked what I wanted to be when I was in preschool, I responded the owner of a pet shop. For as long as I can remember, I have always loved animals, and I guess at four years old, I figured that owning my own pet shop would be the best way to always be around them. Over the years I have bought a dog of my own, as well as adopted countless other animals that have needed homes.  At twenty-five years old, I can say with certainty that becoming a pet shop owner is a career choice I no longer desire, but there will always be a soft spot in my heart for all animals.

After the children shared with the class their dreams for the future, they were given a piece of paper with their occupation on it, and they drew pictures of their future selves. Among some of my favorites were the children who said that when they grew up they wanted to be like their mothers and fathers. It was sweet to see how much they loved and idolized their parents. While we change our minds throughout life when asked the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?", as of right now, Aurora is a classroom full of future astronauts, fire fighters, dancers, superheroes, photographers and even a mermaid.

One of the occupations that we introduced was a doctor, and on Friday we had a physician come to the school to give the children a quick checkup. It was the perfect way to wrap up a week of talking about career choices, plus one of our children aspires to be a doctor when she grows up. The children were beyond curious of everything the physician did, and they were so well behaved. Miss. Yuki and I are so proud of our little Aurora professionals.

Spring Blossoms

The first day I arrived in Matsumoto, there was fresh snow on the ground from a light dusting the night before. Coming from Thailand, where it was the hottest month of the year, I was shocked at how cold it was here. For the first week of school I was wearing leggings under my jeans and layering my shirts underneath a borrowed coat. It hadn't occurred to me how much colder Japan would be than Thailand, or sunny San Diego, California, where I am originally from. However, the weather has continued to improve, and in honor of the most beautiful week of blue skies since I have arrived in Japan, Miss. Yuki and I decided to focus on the theme of Spring.

Every morning we sing a song about the weather, and at the end it asks the students, "what's the weather like today?" Every day they were able to answer with excitement, "today is sunny!"

On Monday we went to the park and at the end of our free play time we had the children collect leaves and put them in a bag I was holding. We gave instructions on what size leaves they could collect, and although we asked they only pick one, some of the kids found a few and couldn't make up their minds, so I let them bring them all.

Back at the classroom, we did an art project where the students placed the leaves under a piece of paper, and using a crayon they rubbed the color over them. When done correctly this creates a nice print on the top side of the paper. While it was a little difficult for some of the students, its primary focus was to improve their motor-skills as well as work on following directions.

They also practiced cleaning up after themselves, which is something we are working on everyday.

The second art project we did this week was a picture of a cherry blossom tree. Each student was given an unique tree trunk that they were able to color anyway they wanted to. When they finished coloring in the trunk with pastels, they finger painted the cherry blossoms onto the bare branches. Aurora loves any activity that involves paint and getting their hands wet, and although I instructed that they use only one finger to paint with, somehow we all still ended up with completely pink hands. Although we got messy, they had a lot of fun, and the trees turned out beautiful.

Free Spirits

Twice a week the Aurora class takes a day trip to a nearby playground. The hour we spend at the playground is for free play, an activity crucial to their development as children. I've always known that free play time is good for kids, as it allows them to be creative and use their imaginations, but after doing some research on childhood development and psychology, I learned just how important times like these are for my students. Free play is so important to a child's development that the United Nations recognized it as a global specific right. As we all know, the world can be a very confusing place, and as children engage in free play they are able to make sense of their environment.

(on our way)

At first glance, it would appear that the children are simply running around a play ground, climbing up ropes, swinging on swings, and piling down a slide. What is actually taking place is that the children are building their own worlds, in which they learn through play. In one child's mind the playground becomes a jungle, the children are monkeys and the ropes are their vines. For another child, the playground is a giant ship and they are the pirates, making people walk the plank (go down the slide). In the next child's mind, she is an astronaut and is on her way to the moon. The higher her swing goes, the smaller earth becomes behind her. My group of three year olds are using their imaginations to create more fantastical worlds than the one you and I live in. In theirs, anything is impossible. They are whoever they chose to be, and it can change in a heartbeat. They are free.

When we are children our imaginations are the greatest tool we have. They can create friends out of stuffed animals, castles from forts built of sheets, race cars from cardboard boxes, and family portraits from some red and blue scribbles on a table top. Our imaginations are incredibly powerful at a young age, and many of us forget how to use them as we grow older.  I've always liked working with kids, because it reminds me of that beautiful gift we have been given as people. I am lucky to have a job that allows me to be creative and use my imagination everyday. Many of us get stuck in jobs that don't allow for creativity or that have routines that must be followed, day after day. It is important that a child learns that there are daily routines, but they also must have time where structure doesn't exist. A time where they are able to feel a sense of control over their own lives; a time when they make the rules.

During playtime I watch students interact with one another, and I see how important it is to their social development. I watch them help one another, whether they are building a sand castle together or playing house and cooking an ice cream chocolate pizza in the microwave, with un-meltable ice cream (as a student informed me this morning). They are building self confidence through interactions with different children and this is helping them to mature emotionally. Building self confidence is something I would like children to learn as early as possible, because it helps in all aspects of life. Self confident people are more adventurous, they adapt easier to their environment, familiar or foreign, they are better students, they are more prone to behavior that will exhibit leadership, and they will build stronger relationships throughout life.

I am a very happy young adult, and while I take responsibility for the way I feel each day I wake up, I also have to thank my parents for the way I was raised.

From as young as I can remember,  I was always surrounded by many children, and although I was involved with sports, hobbies, and clubs, my parents always gave me tons of free time to play and just act like a child.

They encouraged any outlet that allowed me to be creative, and were always my biggest fans.

They allowed me to have tons of time to spend as I would like, whether it was in my room, creating a whole new world within my dollhouse, or at the neighborhood park, where I would spend the afternoon with my brother, pretending to be indians.  The thing I value most about myself, is my self confidence. I am able to interact with most people, even in situations that would normally be uncomfortable, I have always made friends with ease, and I am able to pick up and move from country to country, traveling alone, and adapting to whatever comes my way.

The person I am today began to take shape at a very young age, and I try and keep that in mind with my students. One day they will be my age, and the habits and behavior they form today will follow them throughout life.

According to evidence from neuroscience research, it is during the ages of birth to six years old that children build the basics for behavior, learning and health. The year that I spend with my three year-olds might just be one calendar year, but for them it is a portion from a very important time in their lives. The things they are learning with me, I would like to believe, will have a significant impact on their development, and so I want to provide them with many opportunities that allow for positive growth.

Through free play they learn others' boundaries, as well as their own, and this is necessary for understanding  interaction with people in any stage of life. They learn to play in a cooperative manner and they learn to share the toys and space involved. They help one another, whether it's holding out a hand when climbing up the slide, or giving their friend a push on the bicycle. During free play they learn teamwork and most importantly, they are able to join their world of imagination with their friend's.

The free play time we give the students at The World should never be viewed as time taken away from the classroom. During free play students are building new knowledge, adventures and friendships through previous experiences. Free play has also been proven to influence their development through thinking, exploring, problem solving and most importantly at an international school, through language expression.