Wednesday: My day started a little apprehensive due to the fact that I did not feel well yesterday. I slept in and did not get up an run. I met Mr. Li and his driver for breakfast at our usual restaurant across form the hotel. We had the same noodles and fried dumplings. They have been very nice to get me a couple of cups of coffee to start my day as well. (I look forward to having the coffee in my office very soon)! We arrived at school at 8:00 am to students sweeping up the playground, typical morning activities for the students, and a couple of students standing at the entrance of the school in their uniforms. As Mr. Li and I arrived at his office. There was a lady and a camera waiting for us. I quickly learned that she was from the Xiaogan newspaper and would be spending the entire day with us for a feature article in an upcoming edition. This meant we had two photographers taking pictures of every event of the day.
The first classroom I was invited into was a 2nd grade math class. There were 68 students sitting at their desks. Along with the 68 students there were 8 other teachers from the school observing the classroom teacher. This is a common practice and an effective form of professional development. Mr. Li let me know that it is common for many teachers to watch other teachers and it happens every lesson. The 2nd grade students were learning division. The teacher was instructing the students and they all sat quietly and listened. After she instructed the lesson the students were to get the workbooks out to practice division. She called on students to state their answers and they did. She had one student come up to the white board and show how to draw a picture to solve the problem. The lesson ended with the students being assigned homework for them to get started.
The second classroom I observed was a 3rd grade English class. There were only 48 students in this class. They told me that this was the smallest class they had in the school. This classroom had a LCD projector and the teacher was using the projector to put slides up with English dealing with fruits. The class recited the sentences and words together after the teacher. They were also working on the plural form of the fruits. Chinese words don't have plurals so it is a tough concept for them. The teacher had to students practice asking for fruit from other students in pairs. They just turned to the student next to them and asked “do you like watermelons”? Other student “Yes, I like watermelons”. “Would you like some watermelons”. After the questions between the students, the teacher asked the students to get out the fruit they brought for the lesson. They were very excited to get out the food. The students were to share the fruit by asking each other for a specific fruit. The teacher had some cut up apple and interacted with the students in the same exercise. I was very impressed with the creativity of the interaction part of the lesson. There were also about 10 teachers watching this lesson for professional development.
After the classes in the morning we went back to Mr. Li's office. The reporter who had been following us all day wanted to ask me some questions for the article she wanted to write. During the interview students kept sneaking by the office to see the American Principal. I invited each one of them in to talk to them and give them a little gift from America. Off to a farewell lunch at a very elegant restaurant in the city. We were accompanied by the key staff members and leaders of all departments of the school. They placed me at the most important spot at the table and treated by their impressions of western style food. (Steak, egg, noodle and french fries) It was a very nice gesture and I was truly honored to be with this staff.
The afternoon was filled with a tour of classrooms and the school. I was treated to the band performing a couple of songs for me in the courtyard followed by the P.E. Classes demonstrating their martial arts training. Next we moved to classrooms and observed many different classes: music, art, English, computer and many others. We ended the school student day with my visit to a 6th grade class to interact with them. The students began by singing traditional Chinese songs followed by three students playing a traditional string instrument. We then opened up the meeting to some question and answer with the students. They were all very nervous at first, but they warmed up and we had some great discussion about America and Prospect Elementary.
The school day ended with a staff meeting where Mr. Li presented a Power point to the staff the information he gathered while he was in Oberlin. After the presentation I had a chance to visit with the staff in a question and answer session. The staff was also curious about American education. I gave them many details about our class size and school day schedule as well much information about how much our teachers care about their students. Our small class sizes allows us to really know all of our students.
After the staff meeting we were off to Mr. Li's house for a final dinner in Xiaogan. We stopped at the tailor's shop where Mr. Li presented me with a handmade silk jacket in the Tang Dynasty style. It was stunning. I was flattered that the best tailor in Xiaogan made this for me in such short notice. She usually requires 2-3 weeks for her work and she made this for me in 4 days. Please look at the pictures to see the jacket.
Dinner at Mr. Li's house had a little larger crowd than usually. The journalist and her 4 year old daughter joined us as well as Mr. Li's 22 year old nephew who wanted to meet the American. He was so nice and stated that he was nervous just like the elementary kids. The Chinese admire Americans so much that it is hard for us to understand. More gifts from Mr. Li and I was taken back to the hotel for the evening. See you tomorrow and check out Photo bucket.
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