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I bought some super cheap souvenirs in Tanzania.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
School trip to school
Today for a school project I went to an elementary school. We began by observing a 4th grade classroom. Then afterwards interviewed the teacher. Here are some of my observations.
I noticed right away that most of the students were not wearing shoes. I can only assume that their shoes were in the coat room with all their other winter clothes. Swedes generally take there shoes inside their houses but I have never taken my shoes of at school. Some of the students had slippers to wear indoors. In the teachers lounge they had shelves for the teachers to leave their shoes.
Students were allowed to eat during class when they were writing or listening. Parents are only allowed to pack healthy snacks for their kids. No chips, candy or soda.
The first part of the class surprised me a lot. The teacher started by calling on all the students who had be absent to talk about why they were gone. I thought that was kind of invasive. Then she called on other students who had experienced family problems or had other medical problems over the weekend. The class discussed these things together. The teacher said that she talks to most of the parents at least once a week. I was very surprised by the amount of communication between everyone.
The students study all the basic subjects with an addition of English. The main teacher teaches all the subjects except for music and math.
The students are also learning how to play chess. They are going to a competition to play chess with other students in Stockholm in March.
When we asked the teacher what the hardest part of teaching was she immediately said that it was personalizing the lesson plans for each of her 25 students. She also added that she likes having the time to really grow with the students. In Sweden students have the same teacher throughout elementary school.
I noticed right away that most of the students were not wearing shoes. I can only assume that their shoes were in the coat room with all their other winter clothes. Swedes generally take there shoes inside their houses but I have never taken my shoes of at school. Some of the students had slippers to wear indoors. In the teachers lounge they had shelves for the teachers to leave their shoes.
Students were allowed to eat during class when they were writing or listening. Parents are only allowed to pack healthy snacks for their kids. No chips, candy or soda.
The first part of the class surprised me a lot. The teacher started by calling on all the students who had be absent to talk about why they were gone. I thought that was kind of invasive. Then she called on other students who had experienced family problems or had other medical problems over the weekend. The class discussed these things together. The teacher said that she talks to most of the parents at least once a week. I was very surprised by the amount of communication between everyone.
The students study all the basic subjects with an addition of English. The main teacher teaches all the subjects except for music and math.
The students are also learning how to play chess. They are going to a competition to play chess with other students in Stockholm in March.
When we asked the teacher what the hardest part of teaching was she immediately said that it was personalizing the lesson plans for each of her 25 students. She also added that she likes having the time to really grow with the students. In Sweden students have the same teacher throughout elementary school.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Semla
Today school assignment was to go around Centrum and interview people, specifically people who were working. The first stop my group made was the library. It wasn’t my idea I swear! Librarians are generally very helpful so it was a good place to test the waters. It was morning so daycares and classes were pouring in therefore we couldn’t talk for long. I learned that you need 5 years of college to become a librarian here, not surprising. None of the interviews unleashed any astonishing information. Though we still had some fun.
After school we went to Alex’s mom’s apartment for some semla. It is a Swedish dessert that is eaten once a year.
After school we went to Alex’s mom’s apartment for some semla. It is a Swedish dessert that is eaten once a year.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
The test went very well I think.
I was very happy to get my study table at the library today. I am always afraid of being forced to sit at the table with the chess board painted on. People actually go to the library to play chess here and I don't want to get yelled at by a couple of old men.
I joined twitter today. I have a widget on the side of my blog so you can read all my updates.
I was very happy to get my study table at the library today. I am always afraid of being forced to sit at the table with the chess board painted on. People actually go to the library to play chess here and I don't want to get yelled at by a couple of old men.
I joined twitter today. I have a widget on the side of my blog so you can read all my updates.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
. . . .
It seems like this blog has fallen from it's place in my technological life. In my massive damage blog I post my happy thoughts of the day and topical information for my Swedish crew. The wayward blog gets all my cool photos. So what is left for this blog?
Well I should really write for my audience members, Russell and my mom. For you Russell I will write a little blurb about my adventures in the library. A subject that would surely kill our wayward blog since only you can really understand. Then for my mom: What I learned in school. You have always wanted to know. Also as an aside to my happy thoughts of the day, random facts of the day.
My random fact for today: I didn't go to the library. I stayed home because it's ice cream truck day. Once every other week the ice cream truck comes and parks outside our apartment. Alex is out today so I had to stand guard. Ice cream trucks in Sweden don't sell individual ice cream cones they sell boxes of ice cream goodness. No mom, I don't always get ice cream. Although today I was going to because it was my turn to pick the flavor and I have been wanting ice cream boats.
Anyways I did a pre ice cream workout and then took a quick shower. Of coarse I was in the shower when I heard the sweet music play outside. So I missed the ice cream man. What do emotional eaters eat when they are depressed about missing the ice cream truck? All I really have to snack on in carrots. I know it's not true but it does feel like my mom has something to do with this.
Today in school we continued to focus on Swedish verbs that don't follow any of the rules. Test tomorrow! Specifically I learned the verb busar = be up to mischief.
Miss you guys!
Well I should really write for my audience members, Russell and my mom. For you Russell I will write a little blurb about my adventures in the library. A subject that would surely kill our wayward blog since only you can really understand. Then for my mom: What I learned in school. You have always wanted to know. Also as an aside to my happy thoughts of the day, random facts of the day.
My random fact for today: I didn't go to the library. I stayed home because it's ice cream truck day. Once every other week the ice cream truck comes and parks outside our apartment. Alex is out today so I had to stand guard. Ice cream trucks in Sweden don't sell individual ice cream cones they sell boxes of ice cream goodness. No mom, I don't always get ice cream. Although today I was going to because it was my turn to pick the flavor and I have been wanting ice cream boats.
Anyways I did a pre ice cream workout and then took a quick shower. Of coarse I was in the shower when I heard the sweet music play outside. So I missed the ice cream man. What do emotional eaters eat when they are depressed about missing the ice cream truck? All I really have to snack on in carrots. I know it's not true but it does feel like my mom has something to do with this.
Today in school we continued to focus on Swedish verbs that don't follow any of the rules. Test tomorrow! Specifically I learned the verb busar = be up to mischief.
Miss you guys!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Just Like the Book Said
I happen to be a huge American Girl fan. So naturally I was very excited to celebrate St. Lucia today. For those of you who have not read the series, one of the girls celebrates this Swedish tradition in the book Kirsten’s Surprise. It was just what I expected. They vote on a girl to be Lucia. She stands up front wearing a crown of candles. A choir of kids sing behind her while holding candles. Ravina said that sometimes the kids hold the candles to close to their faces and faint while singing. I noticed that the little ones had fake candles=)
Meanwhile Jonas was playing his new DS.
I guess he is more of a star wars fan.
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