Yesterday we had the opportunity to visit Taavinkyla School. It has around 330 pupils on roll and is set in a community with a small woodland. We spoke to the head teacher of the school who shared some information about the school with us including the roles and responsibilities of children and some of their school council presented information as well. They spoke very good English and this is one of four languages they have lessons for in school (Finnish, English, German and Swedish). It was really good to see the children’s attitudes toward school and learning, the average lesson is around 45 minutes here and school starts and finishes at different linked to their Grade (year group). In most classes there was an emphasis on independent learning and the children working together. When the teachers set the work children moved about and worked in different areas in and outside the class this included working underneath tables, in seated areas and on the floor. When it came to lunchtime the children served themselves and teachers ate with the children. There was very little mess and the noise level was much quieter than our lunch break. Each class take it in turns to have the responsibility of cleaning the lunch tables and floor! For lunch you could have a variety of salad items, salmon pasta, cheese pasta or a potato gratin, it tasted delicious. We then visited more classes before leaving the school.

After school we travelled to the other side of Helsinki to the village of Porvoo, they had some picturesque buildings of a variety of colours. We looked around and stopped in a cafe  before travelling back to Lepavaara where we went to the local shopping centre for food. On the way back to the apartment we passed a karaoke bar, we might visit this another night. What songs shall we sing? All in all a good day.

Mr Allen