And we’re hungry, too! The school day is over between 12 noon and 2 pm, depending on the day and group. Finland’s 75–25 Rule for Educators and Teaching! The rest depend on what ages the children are. Strömberg Lower Comprehensive School in Pitäjänmäki, a suburb of Helsinki, is located in the middle of an old industrial estate that has recently been filled with new blocks of flats. May: Vappu (May Day) 6. Finnish students spend 25% or more of their school day enjoying enrichment activities. The knees of the children’s trousers are dirty and their gloves are damp; they’ve done and seen a lot. Educational experts respond to these claims, to explain if there is any truth in them. Sports action keeps going in Pyeongchang, South Korea from March 9 to 18 at the Winter Paralympics. Since school started in mid-August, I’ve been asked by many of my American colleagues to make generalizations about Finnish classrooms. The International School of Helsinki Language: English Close to Helsinki centre and founded in 1963, ISH is a private coeducational IB World School divided into two sections: Lower School (Pre-K-5) and Upper School (6-12). It’s time for a break after all that studying. The school also arranges a low-cost snack and free afternoon clubs and hobby groups for students in the upper grades. The themes rotate from year to year: water, earth, air and fire. The school is also open to the local community. On with your rucksacks and wave to the attendants – see you tomorrow! School year starts in the middle of August and ends in May. They’ve played hard and a fun time has been had by all. No extra funds above the average school construction budget were spent in building or maintaining Strömberg School. The modular school is described by Manninen as a smart building. Each year the school has a special theme for all pupils; it is discussed from interdisciplinary and artistic viewpoints. Schools are merging/closing down all … The children eat at cosy tables with tablecloths and flowers in vases throughout the year. But I'm pretty sure student numbers are FALLING outside HEV. This year they are studying Japanese, learning to play in a band and doing arts and crafts. Today it’s meatballs and mashed potatoes, a favourite with generations of children, served with salad, bread and milk. Learning by carrying out “chores” is a key element in the school’s curriculum. In typical Nordic architectural style, the premises are light and spacious, the materials durable and the colours warm. Post by Rosamunda » Thu Feb 10, 2011 4:30 pm No foreigners outside the Helsinki region. In such groups, differences between the children are taken for granted and less comparison results. For instance, each group regularly spends time in the magazine workshop, working on their own publication. The school follows the pedagogical principles of the Frenchman Célestin Freinet, who underlines learning by doing and community orientation. The school itself is a City of Helsinki comprehensive school, drawing pupils from homes in the neighbourhood. Meet the Finnish team. They’re really curious. January: Loppiainen (Epiphany) 1. The school day can begin. This is the schedule type we use in my high school. As you can see, there are weekdays from Monday to Friday, and every day has a different set of numbers. For most school classes in Finland, the %age of foreigners will be closer to 0 than 50. The class has 25 lessons a week. Re: Research :A Typical School Day. typical school day in finland provides a comprehensive and comprehensive pathway for students to see progress after the end of each module. They use the sports field for football in the summer and skating in the winter. The school is similar to other schools in Finland, but it is associated with the University of Helsinki’s teacher education program and student teachers are placed there. Hellos are shouted along the corridors as pupils, teachers and the rest of the school staff greet each other. Imagine giving students 25% of their instructional day to whatever fascinates them personally; will they build a passion for learning and success? The classes go on a lot of excursions. This also means that the school has age-group–integrated classes, so that each group has children of two different ages. Top. Produced by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Department for Communications © 1995 - 2020, With free, high-quality education for all, Make a move and experience life in Finland for three months, Finnish medal chances continue in Pyeongchang with Paralympics, Produced by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Department for Communications © 1995 - 2020. They help in the kitchen and the Beaver classroom and care for the environmental workshop’s pet tortoise Pertsa. 7. Taking turns in groups, they see to the school’s houseplants, library, wastepaper collection, recycling, compost, yard and aquarium. Catch a glimpse of the Finnish education system at the progressive Strömberg School in suburban Helsinki. Published by the Finland Promotion Board Back to the classrooms: some of the groups are being taught in their own home classrooms. June: Itsenäisyyspäivä (Independence Day) 24. Learning is in … Mrs Ristolainen-Husu points out that both the Finnish national core curriculum and the Helsinki city curriculum comply with Freinet’s ideas, but Strömberg School takes the model one step further. The Finnish school system forms the basis of the country’s excellent scores in the PISA study. Students at the Strömberg School take turns taking care of the pet tortoise, Pertsa.Photo: Anna Dammert. Pyhäinpäivä (All Saints' Day, Saturday between 31 October and 6 November) 1. Artistic viewpoints also form part of the school day.Photo: Anna Dammert.