learning through partnership a visit to shanhu experiment kindergarten, chongqing november 2012
TRANSCRIPT
Learning through partnership
A visit to Shanhu Experiment Kindergarten, Chongqing
November 2012
Some contextual information
O Local Authority-maintained nursery schoolO St HelensO Population predominantly white BritishO Very small but regular cohort of children with
English as an additional language – particularly Chinese
O Self-evaluation suggested greater need to raise children’s awareness of diversity, in a meaningful way
O In 2012, invited by a colleague to participate in the establishment of a partnership with schools in Chongqing – to be supported by The British Council.
Questions O How old are children when they start
school?O Are there any nurseries? If so, what
are they like?O What is regarded as the early years
curriculum?O What does the school day look like?O What do the classrooms have in them?O What training do teachers get?
Our visitO Six headteachers from schools in St
HelensO Organised by ourselves, with funding
from The British CouncilO Travel – from Manchester to Beijing via
AmsterdamO Two days’ stay in Beijing – cultural visit
to The Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City (and some shopping…)
O Five days in Chongqing
Visit scheduleO Daily visit to one or both of two
kindergartensO Observation of teaching in a primary
schoolO Performance of dance and drumming O Cultural visits to historic buildings,
museum, and marketO Celebration dinner and formal
agreement signing ceremony
Our linked kindergartens
O Headteacher of two kindergartens – Miss Zhu Zhongmei – similar to executive head
O Children attend from 8.00am to 5.30pmO Children admitted at 3 years old until 7
years old (before transferring to primary school)
O Children stay all day – all sleep for a time in the afternoon
O These kindergartens are ‘experiment’ kindergarten – leading innovative practice
What did our new friends want to know about early education
in St Helens?O See slide 4!
In particular…O Interest in English early years pedagogyO Focus on classroom and learning
environmentO Perception of English pedagogy as
having ‘love for the child’ – (child at its heart)
O More play, and more independence for children…the ‘experiment’ kindergartens have been given permission to develop this
What we found out about early years teacher training in China
O All graduatesO All have to be able to play a musical
instrument, sing and danceO All trainee teachers learn English –
ability to speak English is greatly valuedO New teachers are aged around 22 when
they start workO Young teachers earn the equivalent of
around £5000 per annum
All teachers are expected to be able to perform through
song, dance and music
A welcome display on arrival for the English guest
Martial arts dance…
Children’s daily experiencesO Early start – 8.00amO whole-school
dance/movement sessions
O Differentiated for age O familiar, patriotic songsO Wider community hears
– public address systemO All teachers know the
regular pattern of dance movements and can lead the session
O Around 150 children at a time
Classroom provisionO Tables, arranged
formally – six to eight seats
O Shelving around perimeter
O Baskets containing resources
O Children provided with materials for set activity
O Stylised images
Routines O Children all sleep after
lunch – bunk bedsO teachers work during
this time, eg, on computer
O Teachers serve children with lunch – very organised and orderly
O Children respond to instructions – high standard of behaviour
Relationships with parents
O Contrast with England – emphasis is upon promoting children’s respect for their parents
O Assumption that parents are already engaged in sharing their children’s learning
O Parents have only one child – teachers believe this results in strong sense of ‘protectiveness’ – all cuts queried, no matter how small!
The move towards a more ‘English’
approachO Teachers at kindergarten wish to develop an approach closer to that in England
O ‘love for the child’ O More play;
activities designed to promote learning through play
Valued skills….O CountingO Writing O Drawing - detailedO Learning by roteO Physical
movementO MusicO Good behaviour!
Display of children’s work
O Tends to be ordered – in lines, to show off pieces of work
O Drawings very detailed
O Classroom displays are often of stylised images rather than photographs or objects
Particular points of interest
O No children in class who had Special Educational Needs
O No real differentiation – teaching is same for whole class
O Much teaching delivered as whole class lesson
O Teachers’ own professional development seen as very important
O Teachers’ own well-being seen as important, eg, provision of Tai Chi classes
Our ongoing partnership
O Visit to St Helens in 2013 – further visit to St Helens in June 2014
O Visit to Chongqing planned – October 2014
O Formal agreement between each partner school, and between local Government/Education officials in Chongqing and in St Helens – St Helens LA fully committed at Council level
O Focus to be on mathematics teaching and learning