Hertsikan Ala-Aste was the first school we have visited in the Helsinki region, all the schools we have previously visited were based in Espoo. The school had grades 1-6 (ages 7 to 12). We arrived at the school at around 7:45 (5:45 Wales time) and school began at 8:00. We were shown to an English lesson, the classroom was very different to the classrooms we had previously seen on our visit. The classroom was all in rows with the pupils facing the front. The children were doing a quiz in order to learn vocabulary linked to recycling. Elfed (one of the teachers on the trip) attempted to teach the children some simple welsh vocabulary such as Bore da and Nos da, they were very eager to learn welsh. The next classroom we visited organised forty children from three different grades in the same classroom, the class had two teachers and one support staff, the children were set different tasks at the start of the week and would review them with the teacher on Friday. Once they had completed the activities they were able to have free choice, this could include drawing, reading or extra research using a laptop. A regular weeks activities would include around eight to ten pages in their maths book along with other tasks such as a place locator using online maps, the one child we spoke to had to find different areas of Australia. Each pupil had to score over 80% in their quiz or they would have to resit it until they reached 80%. The pupils were able to sit where they liked and the three different age groups worked side by side with older pupils from the sixth grade often helping pupils from the forth grade. We then visited another English class where the pupils were researching the differences and similarities between Finland and the USA. In the fifth grade this is very common as in most schools we have been to they have had the same textbooks. Then it was time for lunch. I looked  at the clock at it was 10:15. I was amazed. How would class three like lunch at 10:15?

After lunch we had meetings with the teachers and discussed the differences and similarities between education in Finland and Britain. It was then time to leave and head back to the apartment so I could write my report as part of the trip. After a couple hours of work it was then time to travel to the outskirts of Helsinki to the Hartwall Arena to watch Russia vs Finland in Ice Hockey. We had an amazing time. Last school tomorrow and then home on Saturday!

Mr Allen