A Visit to the Uni

Diakonissen-Speyer- College of Social Affairs
The Location
This place is closer to the US version of higher ed for education.  The buildings are modern and have a full gym facility and an art room.  The classes are of 10-12 students.  They are being trained for grades PK-8.  The campus has a handful of buildings but the total student body consists of 300 students.  This is a school designed to ONLY teach preservice teachers.  The facility is clean and the campus is well landscaped and has an elementary school on site.  There is also something to be said for a university completely enrolled with education majors only.  There is a very warm, welcoming atmosphere.  They even made an announcement that there were muffins is the library.  Nothing against business or science majors, but it is a very comfortable, friendly, family vibe that I have not experienced when other majors are intermingled with education.

A Partnership with the Elementary School
The pre-service teachers have to plan lessons and teach them in groups of 3 to children.  The children are brought over from the elementary school.  It is a partnership that is very well received.  They bring over 8 children who they can teach lessons to in different topics.  Today I observed the movement (PE) course.  This is designed for generalist teachers, not for PE teacher so it was impressive that they get to teach 4 times for two semesters in a row. 

Observations on Another Level
While they teach, their classmates observe and critique their teaching. The professor said that it is usual for them to start by being to “nice” in their critiques by saying, “That was GREAT!” and not lending any valuable advice. She also said, as they learn more, they become more critical (in a good way) of themselves and others and then know how to give advice.  The difference is really about experience- “You don’t know what you don’t know” is the best way to explain it. 
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What brings it to another level is that the lessons are video recorded, but then directly after they teach the whole class goes to another room to REVIEW THE RECORDING! Yes, that is right, it is like Madden, play-by-play discussing what went right and what needs work.  So when a pre-service teacher says, “Oh all the students were engaged and learned.”  Then the professor can refer to the video and say, “Really? What about this child who is frustrated and off by himself?”  DANG!!! You cannot argue with that!  The whole class is part of it.  But the amazing thing is that, it is not hurtful, it is truly constructive criticism where not only the pre-service teachers who taught the lesson learn, the others learn as well. 

In-House” 3-5K Blew my Mind
I was invited to visit this kindergarten. It was a regular kindergarten in that it was housed within a building.  However, it was not at all what I was expecting.  In the US kindergarten typically has one room that is sectioned off into spaces, like the arts and crafts space, the school work area with tables or desks, the morning meeting carpet, a reading nook, etc.  This is what I thought I would see… Boy, oh boy, was I wrong!  There were SIX separate rooms that the children could decide where they wanted to go. These rooms have 1-2 teachers with planned lessons and an option for free exploration.  This is a concept that, as it was explained to me, has been replacing the old concept of a kindergarten (like ours) for the past 10 years. Let me explain.

Freedom to Choose
Similar to the Reggio Approach to learning, the idea is to let the children’s curiosities lead their educational journey.  First, the children get to choose where they want to go.  They are not to sit down and complete the same worksheet at the same time in the same way, so let’s just say, it is instant engagement.  The children take a magnet with their face on it and place it in the area they want to go.  There are only 10-12 spaces, so if there is not room in the space then they have to choose another area.  I asked, how do you keep children from only choosing one area, they said they track the children’s choices and after some time they explain other children would like to go to that area so they should try something else.  -A side bar here- I think it is great that they frame it in a way of being compassionate to others rather than putting it on the child saying, “You have been here too long, go someplace else.”  I realize the difference appears minor, but I think it changes the whole atmosphere and how a child will approach life issues in the future, by being empathetic.  How great is that?

The Movement Room
I didn’t understand the concept of a "movement room" when the professor described it as a gymnasium only for the kindergarten. This is what prompted the invitation to the school. I thought I must have misunderstood, because I could not imagine a school that would give up a whole gym to the kindergarten, but alas, I was wrong.  Not only did they have their own gym (more like a mini gym) but it was fully loaded with everything one would need to teach several physical education, movement and health activities.

​The (Essen) Eating Room
In this room, the children have their lunch, but it is also where the they learn nutrition and learn to cook, clean plates, cut vegetables and realize themselves as people who need to care for themselves as others.  One thing I need to point out is that the perspective of German society is that the children have rights and are independent beings capable of making choices.

The Atelier (Art) Room
The art room was a magnificent space that house a painting area, desks and a lot of supplies.  The art teach plans lessons where children learn techniques and then allow the children to create works of art using their new skill. The children are also encouraged to expand on ideas that they may have and create a completely unique artwork on their own. This room helps children learn to control their small motor skills.

The Theatre Room
The theatre room was very impressive.  There was a stage complete with curtains. There was a changing room that contained several costumes. In another area the is a couch with books and puppets.  In another area there is a kitchen for role play.   This room assists in the imagination and understanding the world they live in and how to maneuver through life socially.
 

​The Construction Room
The construction room is where children can experiment with concepts like marble runs and cause and effect. They also have building blocks and boxes and boxes of legos. One of the great concepts is if the children are in the middle of a build or experiment, they put a place card by their work and everyone knows not to touch it because they plan to continue it the next day.  Everyone understands that common respect.  On Fridays no matter what it gets cleaned up, but I was told they turn up music and have a fun time with their clean up.  This room allows children to expand the possibilities through problem solving and realize their ideas matter.  Also, this room teaches children that making mistakes is an opportunity to learn, there is no pressure to be correct the first time. Notice in the middle photo, Otto is still working on his lego design, so he has marked it for no one to move.

The Birthday Room
When a child has a birthday, he/she may choose some friends to join in on a special time together.  This room is also used when a child wants to be alone or read or just have some quiet time away from their peers.

​The Academic Room
These kindergarten classes are for ages  3 to 5.  It is encouraged for all children to experience all areas, however there is another room just for the 5 year old kindergarteners.  This room is to help them prepare for the regular classrooms in grade 1.  They learn how to sit at desks. The Alphabet, writing, and reading are introduced, as well as arithmetic. The activities in this room prepare children for success in the more structured classrooms in the higher grades.

​Beyond the Kindergarten
This school also has space for 6months – 2 year old children.  The spaces for these children is amazing. There are discovery areas, and play structures.  The sleeping spaces are imaginative and very far from a sterile environment.  There are spaces where the children can climb and get a different perspective of their world.  All of these spaces open up to the outside playground where there is sand for the children to play in, and dig.

Expedition over the Mountains
In the afternoon the movement class created an expedition through the mountains and through a cave.  They were given a story and created an obstacle course where they had to explore the elements on their own.  They were to be aware of their senses.  After they finished they were blindfolded and had to complete the same task without sight.  The pre-service teachers were apprehensive at first, but then really enjoyed the experience.  The session wrapped up with a discussion on the differences and how children would experience it.  The photo below is of me exploring the "cave"

​ALSO- I spoke with someone who has a Waldkindergarden that is called integrated… this means that from 7-12 they are outside 12-2 they eat and do academics and 2-4 they are outside again.  The integration is that the academics are thrown in as well as the school is 2-4 hours longer than other kindergarten classes.

Below are just some bratwurst... just because.  You are welcome!