Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Homework time in Thailand.
I guess that I was a bit shocked at how much school work and homework the children have to do.
I would not have asked for so much homework from young children when I was teaching.
And don't forget that Jessica and John have longer school days than our children.
But, fear not - the homework is pretty well acepted and sometimes enjoyed.
But, like children everywhere Jessica and John do have to be nagged a bit to get started on it.
Sometimes homework was quite a social occasion when Mam's friend Poo came round with her three children.
Here they are - straight in from school to grab some food and drink and then get the homework out of the way.
Jessica and John are joined by Jacob.
Jessica had to do some quite easy tens and units sums. Each answer was to be filled in to the crossword type grid.
She was glad to get a bit of help from Nanny.
Jamie told me just today that her ability with numbers has come on really well.
She is doing hundreds tens and units - both addition and subtraction which require either "carrying" or "borrowing".
She is still only 7 years old - birthday later this month.
The table and chairs arrived during our second week.
Jamie and Mam went out one day and came back to say the heavy items would be delivered the next morning.
"Think, Jessica, where on the crossword grid must the answer be written in?"
Jessica has a desk in her bedroom and sometimes does her homework there.
I would not have asked for so much homework from young children when I was teaching.
And don't forget that Jessica and John have longer school days than our children.
But, fear not - the homework is pretty well acepted and sometimes enjoyed.
But, like children everywhere Jessica and John do have to be nagged a bit to get started on it.
Sometimes homework was quite a social occasion when Mam's friend Poo came round with her three children.
Here they are - straight in from school to grab some food and drink and then get the homework out of the way.
Jessica and John are joined by Jacob.
Jessica had to do some quite easy tens and units sums. Each answer was to be filled in to the crossword type grid.
She was glad to get a bit of help from Nanny.
Jamie told me just today that her ability with numbers has come on really well.
She is doing hundreds tens and units - both addition and subtraction which require either "carrying" or "borrowing".
She is still only 7 years old - birthday later this month.
The table and chairs arrived during our second week.
Jamie and Mam went out one day and came back to say the heavy items would be delivered the next morning.
"Think, Jessica, where on the crossword grid must the answer be written in?"
The children do have to learn fast - not just the material they have to deal with, but also the presentation.
Here is a page from Jacob's science homework. Jacob is 9 years old.
You will need to enlarge this picture with a click of the mouse to see the diagram and detailed vocabulary about the structure of cells.
You will need to enlarge this picture with a click of the mouse to see the diagram and detailed vocabulary about the structure of cells.
You will note that the previous science work has been checked by the teacher promptly.
Each child in John's class had a brief report about their day written by Teacher Gemma in their log books.
It is not just the children who work hard.
The children are encouraged to love books at home - and at school too of course. Remember the pictures of the library I put on the blog a while back.
John filled a small bag with his Ladybird books and delighted in getting them out to "read".
Here he sits on the house step.
Sandals are always scattered by the door - because Thai people do not wear shoes indoors.
Jessica has a desk in her bedroom and sometimes does her homework there.
The picture shows maturity - for a 4 year old.
Jamie saw it and realised just how much John had already improved skills after only 2 weeks in the new school.
Gone are the scribbles and now we have recognisable people.
And he can write his name with no help.
Jessica likes to draw girls of course and hearts and flowers and stars.
Jessica likes to draw girls of course and hearts and flowers and stars.
I have already mentioned Mam's friend Poo - difficult to know how to spell her name for the first consonant is a mixture of P and B, a unique Thai sound.
Bill had a great time indulging in a little flirting with her.
He would refer to her as his new Thai wife. She was so young and lovely I think he would have taken on baby Matthew as well!
Happy days Bill!
And here are an unfortunate couple with some sort of mental problems perhaps!
And here are an unfortunate couple with some sort of mental problems perhaps!
They look very happy together, so I don't think I need to worry about them, do you!
