Classroom environment

What happens when we start to enrich the classroom environment? The ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, has put child friendly schools into focus. So now all teachers and student teachers are going to learn about how to make the schools more child friendly.
Here at TTC we have started a process of making the classrooms more learner friendly. We want them to look nice, have boards for things the student makes, keep teaching material in the classrooms, use learner centred methodology witch means we sometimes must organize the tables in a different way.
Last week when we had a pedagogy meeting with teacher trainers. Before the meeting we organized the classroom differently with pictures and teaching material. It took us half an our to make the changes we wanted.

We did a project work on how we want our classrooms to look and all teachers made some really nice classrooms that was related to the learner centred methodology they want to use in teaching.It is interesting to see how classroom environment can have a motivating impact on our learning.

My golden moments

Last Sunday, one week ago, I had my happiest day here in Cambodia. We were just staying home. During the day, more and more children came into our garden to play football and making kite. After a while they came into our living room too, one by one. I found my children smiling and laughing, playing with the Khmer children. This was all I was hoping for, to see my children make friends and become a part of the neighbourhood.

One of my other golden moments is when we hang out on the corner. The corner is a local shop where people meet and talk. Rikke spend ours together with Sotita. Sotita is the daughter of the owners. She is 15 years old, but the age difference doesn’t matter. We taste each others food, tell jokes, learned language, and most important, make new friends.

My third golden moment is when I feel included in staff at work. I’m not comfortable with just doing workshops or give lessons. I want to be a part of the small talks, get to know my colleges and been asked questions. When we ask each other questions and share ideas about different things, I feel we have a relationship of equality. Coming to that point is a challenge.

First step of child friendly classroom

Last weekend the student teachers did their best of cleaning the classrooms. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of them in action. The second step of the process will be that the caretaker put up wooden lists on the wall for sticking pictures on.
The technical groups (teacher trainers) are responsible for making teaching material. They will make two kinds of material, one to be used in TTC and one to be used in primary school.

We have three challenges related to the teaching material:

1. They don't know how to use material in teaching
2. Find equipment to make the materiel of (we don't have any money)
3. Find the time to get started (The trainers are always busy)

Next to TTC we have a laboratory school that also needs some improvements. What they need is actually a new building. Not all students have a desk or chair. They sit on the floor or stand by the desk. The school is waiting for a renovation, but it takes time. Meanwhile the children and teachers try to do their best.

Child Friendly Classroom (CFC)

This week we started to something I really like. We will try to turn old boring traditional classrooms to be more learner friendly. I write learner friendly because this is for student teachers.

Hopefully the student teachers will take part in the process. The teacher trainers have had workshops on child friendly classrooms, LCM (learner centered methodology), classroom-management and teaching material. So now it's time for action!

We want to train the student teachers to make CFC and teaching material without spending any money. If anyone have any good ideas, documents, pictures an so on, please let me know.

The EMPOWERED teacher

Romjula ble tilbragt på workshop sammen med landets rektorer fra de ulike lærerskolene. Vi lærte om lærerutdanningen på Phillipinene. Som rektoren min sa, så har de mange "short cuts" på Phillipinene. Her er en for spesielt interesserte som beskriver kort hva lærerkompetansen er:

The EMPOWERED teacher -
Exercises effective communication
Manifests professional competence
Processes adequate knowledge of discipline
Observe professional ethics
Welcomes progressive innovation and change
Exhibits a deep sense of nationalism
Radiates a caring attitude for others
Engages in problem solving and decision making
Demonstrate personal integrity