Ein Monat in der Schule

If you are wondering what the title says, then you are in the same boat as Clark and MJ were on Aug. 8.  But now that they are one month into school, they would have no problems telling you that it is the underlined clause that I just wrote.  As previously noted, the kid’s schools are within walking distance of the house.  Well, in Germany they are in walking distance.  In the US they would definitely be on a bus, especially Clark at 3km.  However, we have found that they both do much better with their studies if they get some good exercise in before the day starts.  No better way, in my book, than to hoof it.  This is also great for Mom, as I walk MJ to school and on days that Dad doesn't need to be to the hospital until 8, well, he walks with Clark.  

So, what is school like here?  To hear the older German generation tell it they have gone to much lower standards and made it easier for the kids to feel like geniuses when they are just bright, capable kids.  To us, they are a breath of fresh air.  The schedule alone is a stay-at-home Mom’s dream.  MJ starts at 7:45 and ends at 11:45, while Clark begins at 8:00 and wraps-up at 13:00 (1pm).  MJ’s has German and math on a daily basis.  Three times a week she has sport (PE), twice a week she has religion, and then once per week is art, music, social responsibility and English (which she helps to teach as her English vocabulary and pronunciation is better than the teacher’s).  So, what is her favorite subject, teaching English – she thinks it is just marvelous to help her classmates pronounce the English words just as they are helping her to learn the German.  The friend making process is slow due to the language barrier; however, in just one month she has gone from knowing only “hallo” to actually expressing herself in simple sentences.  The school is fabulous at helping her, a teacher comes in daily and spends about an hour a day helping her with vocabulary.  We are also doing Rosetta Stone (this is a great program for learning a language), and have hired a private tutor to work with each of us, except Sean due to his schedule, on the areas that are giving us trouble. 

Clark is in the Gymnasium. The school system here is very different from the US as the elementary ends in 4^th grade and high school begins in 5^th.  After elementary students select which school they wish to attend upon entering 5^th grade based upon interests and academic achievement.  The Gymnasium is for students with high academic achievement and aspirations to attend college and get advanced degrees.  The curriculum here is not accelerated like in the US, it is taught in a very practical manner.  Every subject is tied back to real world usage.  Example, math is taught from the perspective and why, when and how it is used.  So, while he is reviewing concepts and techniques he has already learned, he is now learning why it was taught.  We are grateful that the material is all “old” because it means that he can concentrate on learning the language instead of trying to understand the actual material being presented.  We also know that mistakes he makes are more due to the language than a lack of understanding.  So, he will experience his first year with less than perfect scores and we are sort of glad he is being humbled at this stage rather than in college.  The courses include: Deutsch, Math, Geography, Science (natural), Religion, French, Music, Choir (he plays the recorder), Art and Sport (PE).  They have 2 - 45minute classes and then take a 15 minute break where they socialize, eat, and relax.  It is a great schedule.  Art is always a double period one time per week and science has a double period once per week, as does sport.  This is great for really getting into projects, experiments and playing games.  I still can’t believe how much they cover in such a short amount of time.  He is learning the language very quickly, but of course it is not fast enough for him. 

Now, Sean and I, we are a totally different story.  Sean has learned a few phrases so he can be polite and pay the check at the end of a great meal.  I am taking German lessons and realizing just how little I really learned in high school 25 years ago.  Of course the fact that I rarely had the opportunity to practice it doesn’t help either.  I do have to say that everyone here is incredibly gracious and compliments me on my efforts.  Reality is that by June the kids will be able to talk circles around me. 

So, what are the truly unique aspects to the school?  Well, they go on field trips for one.  They happen a lot!  The kids just go.  After three days of school MJ comes home to tell me she has gone on her first field trip to the local church.  Two weeks later they spent the day outside on the playing fields getting exercise.  Just recently they visited the local bank to learn about money.  Parents aren’t asked to chaperone, the kids are expected to behave themselves, and we aren’t asked for money or permission slips.  If you send your kid to school then the school takes care of them.  We are asked to buy all of their books, notebooks, paper, and pencils.  So, when they lose a book or write in it – that is fine, it belongs to them and the parents are responsible.  This works well for us as we are writing in books all the time to translate words.  Clark has also gone on field trips that included a track and field day, and a visit to the local castle.  We did get notice about Clark’s activities because he is not expected to bring his books on those days.  Unfortunately, Clark did not get to visit the castle with his class as he was suffering from pneumonia at the time.  We have been truly blessed by these remarkable schools, great teachers and a unique opportunity to immerse our children in this very warm and caring society.

Clark's 5th grade (5 klasse) schedule - added 10/17/2011

Here’s a chart of my subjects and times/ Studenplan

Time/Zeit	Mon. / Montag	Tues./ Dienstag	Wed. / Mittwoch	Thurs./ Donnerstag	Fri./ Freitag
8:00-8:45	Math	German	Class meeting	Music	French
8:45-9:30	PE	Math	German	Science	French
15 minute break 1
9:45-10:30	German	Science	Science	German	Math
10:30-11:15	Music	Science	Religion or Eth.	Geography	Religion or Eth.
15 minute break 2
11:30-12:15	French	French	Art	Math	PE
12:15-1:00	Choir optional	Geography	Art	French	PE
1:00-1:45	none	none	Instrument opt.	Ethics (or Rel.)	none
1:45-2:30	none	none	none	Ethics (or Rel.)	none