Special School in Denmark,2010

First,we met the headmaster of the school who was very kind and like a normal teacher in his casual clothes not in suits.We looked around and saw some classes each of special and normal.

If somebody has pyhsical disability, they are intagreted to normal classes.In normal classes,two teacher are ready to help them.One of them is especially for the special one.That's why they have enough time to be individual and find out the personal way goes solution.Population in the classes can not be more than 25.If I compare this situation to Turkey,we have classes which contains more than 25 pupils as normal. And again in normally we have one teacher each class. 

If somebody has learning disability,they have special classes to be integrated to society.They do not have to learn mathematics,physics,chemistry at all.Teachers try to teach them social skills.In this point,you can realize that the common question is in Denmark 'what can you do for society' and then just do it! You do not have to spend your time to things that you cant do anytie.They know your abilities and learning capasity. Individual system really works!Students in Turkey have to learn all knowledge about all lessons even it wont be useful in the future for their career or job.In speacial classes,curriculum is different than normal schools'..In our public schools,not only pupils who have disabiltiy but also brilliant pupils have not got any useful chance to get educaiton individual way.

There was also another method to take the child who has a problem spesific subject to other special class for intensive courses to overcome the problem.

Materials,paintings,classes without doors,art classes,computers are other interesting things for me.

To sum up,It was my first experience about special needs education.But it really affected me to search some disabilities about my branch such as dyscalculia.

Danish Schools in overall, 2010, Erasmus

Most important part of Erasmus from my point has started. Even we went school for just 4 days,I was influenced by school,teachers and children.They always sing in the morning for 15 minutes in a big holl.There were 4-5-6 classes together and they were in great harmony when they were singing!Teachers could keep the silence easily.I learned from our mentor teacher that it is not the same implementation with the other schools.It depends on the association that includes parents and teachers who are responsible for decisions about the pupils.Now they have an idea that watching the news before lessons and try to make comments and talk about solutions about some events.In my opinion,it would be so much useful for them in daily life.Great idea;) More,Book commercial was so effective.Teacher explained what they are and, as far as I can understand ,talked about the summaries.They were new books in their library...

Teacher always starts lessons by writing  plan shortly on the board.Their books which have chosen by the teacher have lots of stories about daily math.It means not only division and multiplication mechanicly are important to be good at math but also adapting and relating to daily life are important,more important actually...They think that you can find a calculator to find the result of examples in everywhere but unless you know where you use this result or why you solved the problem, it wont work anymore.That is true!

Sometimes they were being tested while they supposed that they were in a competition with lots of fun.It was the other side of Danish educational system.Colourfull classes,as much as possible qualified materials,Games about subjects,Stories about Math,Combining with related subjects(for example math and science) and etc...You are being educated when you are learning how can learn to learn ;)

I met a girl who is really clever and able to speak English,as well.She just started to draw her hands by the real sculpture--)her hands! Spontaneous cue explained that right lobe of brain is more active than left one.Thus creativeness,skills on painting,drawing,sculpture,writing,reading are more improved than the other subjects as I could realize in Denmark.

Biology time!It is usual to relate two subjects and put together to combine with previous known knowledge and will be learned new one.Microscopes are more less 10 out of the cabinet for 2 by 2 group working.Communication and exchange of information are in every lesson!It is not related being social or numeric lesson.

How can I guess that I gather from spaghetti to division,multiplication about decimal!Afterwards instead of eating spaghetti,How can I expect that I will create a new design of spaghetti castle or whatever you imagine.Still it is continuing with presentation.It was my best experience about this school! I got the point to put into practice!

One of my opinions about Danish educational system is not only from memories even they have to find the result of 7*8.I asked two pupils the question,they started to write all numbers goes the result!7-14-21-28-35-42-49-56! The way of multiplication is also different then we do in Turkey.We dont need to write all numbers,it makes us slow to solve all examples that are compulsory to pass exams.

Teacher is excellent!She knows their learning way and when they start to be bored.Patience,trust,responsibility between pupils and teacher and parents!She cooked a cake with bonbons to serve all class beacuse they have 4 lessons together and it is a bit intensive for them.Great way to relax!

To sum up,whereever you are,experiences make you more than you are!During the week I found myself in my chaotic thoughts while comparing all details about educational system.Perfect decision for me to become a Mathematic teacher !

Unce upon a time in Legoland! 2010

http://www.flickr.com//photos/47248254@N08/sets/72157623807127963/show/

Everything was planned before,tickets for enterance and bus were ready and also erasmus students having easter break were ready as well! We tried nearly every game and enjoyed the legoland.The weather let us to have a nice time,too.I prepared a bread like Indians!Laser game,splasing canoes,toys,planes for mainly children(but we were like children :)),snack time and etc etc! Being together and having an amazing time ! good memories from my first and maybe the last easter break in Europe :)-I could not imagine  that I will go Finland even for a longer time. So it was not the last time!
Ps:Actually my easter break was full of first experiences.It is a tradition in Europe to prepare some colurful eggs and buying some egg chocolates.The reason why they use eggs to celebrate this day is to show the meaning of new life.These are the general knowledge about this day buuuutttt Czech people has a different tradition!:) In the early morning they came our home to through some water on us to make us fresh with their handmade natural stick!It is unforgetable...

Ask how to behave instead of what to wear.

Turkish Class

Schools in different countries have particular rules about clothing which may have some meanings or cause troubles for some. The vital thing which Finnish education system or life itself give me here is peaceful freedom which is gotten rid of any stereotypes and allows you to be yourself without any restrictions. If the man can not be hisself, nothing creative will show up in educational area.

Finnish class

Another essential thing for us to teach our students not to care about the appearence but to focus on the thoughts, ideas and work. We have to create an environment so that everybody does not waste any time to think about the best brand, the fanciest clothes or comparing the best and the worst.  We need great deal of time to increase in success of education. The starting point should not be the appearance, it has to be very fundamental problems such as their mentality, their understanding of school and education, their awareness of being all together and create something not to consume because of competing. Unless those steps are followed in that process, we just stuck to make uneffective developments(!) all the time.

When to go shopping within your pyjamas will be just ok than insanity, then it means something has changed:)

Travelling is a thing that...

The longest trip ever! One week and 3 countries!

I do believe that when a person travels alone and long enough, the roads are not taking him far, exactly the other way around to himself more. Travelling is a thing to find ourselves. Maybe because of this impact of my life, I can not think about living without it. This is a passion, this is the life itself.

Travelling is a thing which full of roads,clouds and seas at the mean time now. This is such a thing that every single person of my belongings are waiting in the end for this time. Travelling is a thing that it teaches you the value, importance and again life itself.

Travelling is sometimes enlarging the time and sometimes it helps it to fly over in a second. Can not wait to smell Bosphorus with a deep breath!

And of course travelling is a thing that can not be thought without melodies: here you are:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHKSqUtrNfw

Kiva Project!
'Kuparivuori on Kiva Koulun'
What is Kiva koulu?
'KiVa is a research-based antibullying program that has been developed in the University of Turku, Finland, with funding from the Ministry of Education and Culture.' And here is more information about it: http://www.kivakoulu.fi/there-is-no-bullying-in-kiva-school

What I can tell about this nationwide project is that it reflects how Finnish education system focuses on behaviours from any angles and co-operation in the school. It is very effective to let students to think about their attitudes and friendship;even about love! So It can easily be said that Finnish schools are not just emphasise the importance of Science,Math but to live together which is the vital thing in real life.
Here are my students' Kiva flowers! They noted  positive things about their classes down to each leaf of flower and then put them together to make a whole proper flower. It is the way they usually do :) From pieces to whole...

Comenius Assistant in Finland!

It has been 3 months since I came Naantali as a Comenius Assistant Teacher. Till now I am going to write my experiences about school and the life itself here.
First of all, What is the programme called Comenius Assistant? For those who would like to know, here is the link: http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/llp/guide/fiches/comenius4_en.html
Secondly, why I decided to come Finland? Am I still satisfied with my choice? Well, living in another country always brings pros and crons. However, I am still happy to decide Finland as my top country to experience their education system which is pointed as the best ever. Desire to comprehend their very equal, democratic and succesfull system takes me here. Still I am proceeding :)

                                                        Tervetuola Suomi!