WHAT A DAY WE HAD!!
When we first arrived at the Beijing No. 5 Kindergarten, a public boarding school for children 2-6, one question racked every American brain: “How could loving and caring parents send their children away at age 3, 4, or 5?” While the Director of the this award winning kindergarten couldn’t explain it to us (cultural differences that are commonly thought to be lost in translation) she did show us a world where children are nurtured and challenged academically, while being fed and cared for logistically (they even had a “health” chart for each child to record their daily water in/out-take).
As we walked from class to class, it was apparent that advanced concepts were being taught: Students created their own balance scales, habitats, experiments, and snacks (there was a gracious 4 year old offering homemade cookies to each of us).
As a first grade teacher, blown away by 3 year olds creating closed circuits in the “Science Lab”, I should warn you not to be lulled into thinking that academics were the only thing on the menu at Beijing No. 5 Kindergarten. These students were involved in loads of other activities like piano lessons, dance troupes, and percussion bands. There was also a beautiful recess area where students were encouraged to play as hard as they worked.
Even the teachers were beyond expectations. They all seemed young, nurturing and energetic. And they had more than the average “sightseeing” visit in store for us Americans. On our visit we:
*Discussed how to use picture books for instruction (The Very Hungry Caterpillar)
* Had lessons on chinese jacks (“Bones”) and Chinese Jump rope,
*Sang traditional chants and songs,
*Danced,
*And, made toys from recyclables (see photo of “The Noodle Monster” above).From the students to the teachers... from recess to instruction -- Chinese Kindergarten has it all! Now, where do I sign up?
-Crystal
