After spending every morning with the "minis" until after lunch, Erhard thought it would be a good idea that I spent the day with the "elementaries." I joined them for their morning circle, which was led by Ika (the gym teacher). We began to form a circle and my host sister, Carla, chose to sit next to me. Another girl, Zoe, also sat beside me and gave me a picture that she drew just for me (she speaks English).
The whole meeting was in German so I didn't really understand what was going in. Ika played two songs on the guitar as most the children sang along with him. After they finished their songs, some of the children would go into the middle of the circle and share something with the group; for example, one girl showed us what she learned at ballet class. Next, Erhard said my name followed by a whole lot of German words to the group and then looked at me and translated that he wanted me to introduce myself.
I spoke in English, of course (Erhard said most the children understand English, but the just don't reply most the time or will reply in German). I told the children my name, where I was from (country and state), that I am studying to become a teacher, and I'm living with Carla's family. Erhard asked the group if they had any questions for me, which they didn't, so Ika asked how old I was. (In Germany, becoming a teacher takes a lot longer so everyone is surprised that I will be able to teach my own class after I graduate next month; most newly graduated teachers here are mid-to-late 20s.)
To end circle time, Ika suggested they play a game so I could learn everyone's names (again, this is all being said in German). Surprisingly, I knew a lot of their names already, but the game definitely helped. After I heard the tune, I couldn't help but think, "hey, I know this song!"
Speaking with Erhard later in the afternoon, I was right about knowing the song they sang to teach me their names. It was the infamous "Who took the cookie from the cookie jar?" that I know all too well after being in pre-k for 3 months. I thought it was really cool that the U.S. and Germany has that in common as a way to learn names.
After spending the morning with the elementaries, I'm still baffled that children this age do not engage in any math or literacy/language activities in German kindergartens. The only math-related aspect that I observed was the children helping Ika count how many elementaries were here, which is similar to what the minis do every morning. I'm so used to having everything being tied into math and/or literacy throughout the day, while also having science and social studies activities.
Erhard keeps repeating "play-based, play-based, play-based," and while that's a good way to approach learning for some topics and/or ideas, there needs to be a balance between structured/guided learning AND play-based.
The whole meeting was in German so I didn't really understand what was going in. Ika played two songs on the guitar as most the children sang along with him. After they finished their songs, some of the children would go into the middle of the circle and share something with the group; for example, one girl showed us what she learned at ballet class. Next, Erhard said my name followed by a whole lot of German words to the group and then looked at me and translated that he wanted me to introduce myself.
I spoke in English, of course (Erhard said most the children understand English, but the just don't reply most the time or will reply in German). I told the children my name, where I was from (country and state), that I am studying to become a teacher, and I'm living with Carla's family. Erhard asked the group if they had any questions for me, which they didn't, so Ika asked how old I was. (In Germany, becoming a teacher takes a lot longer so everyone is surprised that I will be able to teach my own class after I graduate next month; most newly graduated teachers here are mid-to-late 20s.)
To end circle time, Ika suggested they play a game so I could learn everyone's names (again, this is all being said in German). Surprisingly, I knew a lot of their names already, but the game definitely helped. After I heard the tune, I couldn't help but think, "hey, I know this song!"
Speaking with Erhard later in the afternoon, I was right about knowing the song they sang to teach me their names. It was the infamous "Who took the cookie from the cookie jar?" that I know all too well after being in pre-k for 3 months. I thought it was really cool that the U.S. and Germany has that in common as a way to learn names.
After spending the morning with the elementaries, I'm still baffled that children this age do not engage in any math or literacy/language activities in German kindergartens. The only math-related aspect that I observed was the children helping Ika count how many elementaries were here, which is similar to what the minis do every morning. I'm so used to having everything being tied into math and/or literacy throughout the day, while also having science and social studies activities.
Erhard keeps repeating "play-based, play-based, play-based," and while that's a good way to approach learning for some topics and/or ideas, there needs to be a balance between structured/guided learning AND play-based.