Time with the children - Day 2

My morning began spending time with the kindergarten and reception children. Some of these children arrive before 7am and travel long distances. Some of the staff take three hours to get to work due to the traffic and distance. Each year level has a shared area, similar to our gallery, which is set up for free play. Here there are opportunities for dramatic play, drawing, painting and construction. All classes are out here together from 7.30 until 8.30, some playing outside. The very high ratio of staff means plenty of relaxed interaction with the children and time for organisational tasks such as returning readers and preparation of portfolios and self assessment tasks. The atmosphere was calm and quiet, yet busy and engaging. The kindergarten children had swimming this morning, as they got changed I could hear them saying: "I am independent", as they put goggles and bathers on. In the reception class the teacher also used the PYP terminology: "You are a risk taker having a go at writing and I can see you are gaining confidence."
In preparation for the student led conferences, I was a parent for one of the kindergarten children to practise, who showed me around the room, expressing an understanding of the unit of inquiry and other displays in the room and shared area. Each family can book in for one hour, with 4 students there at the same time. This gives them plenty of time in the different areas.
I enjoyed a traditional lunch at a roadside cafe (warung) served in brown paper. It cost 80 cents and was great! (Some say I was a risk taker!)
I am currently in the year 4 class, they are discussing; research process six steps, lots of questions from the children and all in Bahasa Indonesia.
- Liz Bawden-Nixon