I woke up and got ready for my first day of school at a German kindergarten. My host family and I had breakfast together in the dining room before the day officially started. I was excited and also a little nervous because I had no idea what to expect. Didi (my host father), Carla (my host sister), and I walked to the train station where we purchased a ticket to ride the train for the day; I got a train/bus pass for the month of April to use, but I couldn't use it for another day. Didi wanted to show me how to get to the kindergarten by train just in case I had to go to kindergarten alone, which actually came in handy at the end of the week because Carla had a doctor appointment and didn't go to school.
We arrived at the International Kindergarten after a short train ride and walk. There are two gates that keep the children safe while they are at kindergarten. We entered the building where I met Erhard, the kindergarten director, and he and Carla gave me a quick tour of the school and introduced me to the teachers, staff, and students as we went from room to room. Carla held my hand as she showed me what each room was used for, but never spoke any words in English, German, or Turkish.
After my tour was over, I went to the play room to join my cooperating teacher, Diana, and the "minis" for circle time at 9:30. Diana introduced me to the children before they began singing their songs about who is here today, spring, weather, and the wheels on the bus. Diana held up an orange piece of paper with a picture and asked the children what it meant; all the children responded, "count the children!" Diana chose a child to go around and count the children in the class while everyone counted out loud with Diana. Next the children were asked to pick certain color bear manipulatives from a bin, and after they matched their bears to scarves. The children know the colors red, blue, green, and yellow.
Once circle time was over, the children had a few minutes of free time before they went to their first "offering" of the week. On Mondays, children have music class with a teacher who comes into the kindergarten. I was given permission to watch her instruction and it was quite a treat. I was very impressed how the children listened and followed directions so well, granted they are the youngest children in the building.
Music class wrapped up and the children began diaper changes and hand washing for lunch. The minis are the first group of children who get lunch. Nicole is the woman who prepares breakfast, lunch, and snacks for 50 children and the teachers. We took the children to the room where meals are served and each child was greeted with a smile. Teachers serve the children water or tea and their first serving of food, but after that children are able to serve themselves if they are still hungry. Children clean up after themselves by taking their dirty dishes, silverware, and glasses to a cart and then go wash their hands again.
There are still 4-5 children who still take naps and the rest of the children are dressed to go outside with the older children. I watched the children play outside and tried resolving altercations, but sometimes I couldn't because of the language barrier since some of the children don't speak/understand English. I was outside from noon until 4 when my host father came to pick me and Carla up. Recess takes up most of the day, which is very different to what I'm used to.
German kindergarten is very different than American kindergarten in many ways such as the age range (2-6 years), how behavior and discipline are managed, and letting the children do things that we would consider risky or dangerous (climb trees, jump from the top of the tree house, etc.). It's a lot to take in, but I'm learning a lot of cultural differences between the way Americans and Germans approach education and childcare.
We arrived at the International Kindergarten after a short train ride and walk. There are two gates that keep the children safe while they are at kindergarten. We entered the building where I met Erhard, the kindergarten director, and he and Carla gave me a quick tour of the school and introduced me to the teachers, staff, and students as we went from room to room. Carla held my hand as she showed me what each room was used for, but never spoke any words in English, German, or Turkish.
After my tour was over, I went to the play room to join my cooperating teacher, Diana, and the "minis" for circle time at 9:30. Diana introduced me to the children before they began singing their songs about who is here today, spring, weather, and the wheels on the bus. Diana held up an orange piece of paper with a picture and asked the children what it meant; all the children responded, "count the children!" Diana chose a child to go around and count the children in the class while everyone counted out loud with Diana. Next the children were asked to pick certain color bear manipulatives from a bin, and after they matched their bears to scarves. The children know the colors red, blue, green, and yellow.
Once circle time was over, the children had a few minutes of free time before they went to their first "offering" of the week. On Mondays, children have music class with a teacher who comes into the kindergarten. I was given permission to watch her instruction and it was quite a treat. I was very impressed how the children listened and followed directions so well, granted they are the youngest children in the building.
Music class wrapped up and the children began diaper changes and hand washing for lunch. The minis are the first group of children who get lunch. Nicole is the woman who prepares breakfast, lunch, and snacks for 50 children and the teachers. We took the children to the room where meals are served and each child was greeted with a smile. Teachers serve the children water or tea and their first serving of food, but after that children are able to serve themselves if they are still hungry. Children clean up after themselves by taking their dirty dishes, silverware, and glasses to a cart and then go wash their hands again.
There are still 4-5 children who still take naps and the rest of the children are dressed to go outside with the older children. I watched the children play outside and tried resolving altercations, but sometimes I couldn't because of the language barrier since some of the children don't speak/understand English. I was outside from noon until 4 when my host father came to pick me and Carla up. Recess takes up most of the day, which is very different to what I'm used to.
German kindergarten is very different than American kindergarten in many ways such as the age range (2-6 years), how behavior and discipline are managed, and letting the children do things that we would consider risky or dangerous (climb trees, jump from the top of the tree house, etc.). It's a lot to take in, but I'm learning a lot of cultural differences between the way Americans and Germans approach education and childcare.