Showing posts with label Osaka. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Osaka. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Day 8: Osaka Sister City, Boat Tour and Osaka Castle

The sister city then took us on a boat tour of their river front and to Osaka Castle. I won't lie, it was very hot and humid. It was the first da we really used our "sweat rags" - we felt like we sweat so much because we were melting!!

River front and boat tour, look familiar?

Orderly waiting in line - always

The boats roof raised up and down to pass under bridges.
Osaka castle from the river cruise 
Rail station advertising 

Osaka Castle


Of course I took pictures of insects. 
After the castle the Osaka City secretary was going to take us to yet another area, but we were so hot and uncomfortable, we just wanted to shower and change clothes. She wanted to make sure we "weren't bored and we were taken care of."

Happy travels !!

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Day 9: Osaka Elementary School

Osaka

More power to principals
For school management, making changes for BOE review.

Community activities are decoded by school district. 

All local governments hav same system. Local property tax and salary tax. National gov stipend. . Don't count per student spending. And public information in US not in Japan. 

Do not hav insurance to cover 2week stay students 

Teacher evaluations
Makes clear management policy, the he asks all the teacher to make their own target and based on own students studying skills and personality, how organized, how you are org member

Evaluate all teachers at end of term make a report for all teachers. Reported to board. 

Informal eval? W coaching?

Informal as well and goes to class to Checkin as well. 

Support the teacher? 
Yes. Could be possible. 

How long are teachers here? 
7-8 years. That's a long time to be at the same school. Start initial teacher starts skills at 4 years in a school. 

Same grade level and subject?
They switch. Grades and subjects. Every school year all teachers change classes, new teacher new students. Shuffle all classes ever year.

Does he favor a methodology for teachers? 
HaS has many good teacher. He's a first year principal at this school. Encourages all teachers to spend more Time with the kids while kids are in school. Physical School levels should be more stronger to be on par with other schools. He tells the teachers to play with the kids and make more exercise. The playground is not enough space for more then 300 kids. There's a temple but no parks. 

Schools encourage child's movement, for movements sake. I as a parent said regularly it helps get te kids excited energy out and they can focus better.

Parents are very supportive, they keep an eye on the children when en route to school, and they helped with the library. School children all walk to school.  

American school suburbs- kids are bussed and parents drive them to school. Walk and ride bikes is frequent. HS can also drive. HS has 500 parking spots. 

Attendance rates in us are 96% goal, is that a concern here?
100% in Japan. So times it easily comes and kids confront challenges and teacher can pick up symptoms and cooperate with parents and teachers to encourage the children to attend class and not drop out. 

December and January kids take exams to get into private junior high. 

Do the keep track of statistics where kids go? Percentage to private, public or elite schools. 
Yes, 1/3 private junior high. Former school 90% goes to public.  

BOE principal selection process. I pass years we selected asst principal to promote. We selected from a pool who wanted to be. Sometimes they don't have any teacher experience. 9 known teachers experience. 1 just quit. Usually promote from vice principals. Non teacher experience don't know school system culture. 

Do you have career switch?

Prefecture made a change last year. Bringing in news management can help change hands in the system, for improvement. Public can apply even and non teachers to be principals.

Japan career is usually for life. People do not switch careers. A system for changing careers is coming to Japan. You need a license to be an elementary school teacher. Ou can go to 2nd chance

GED equivalent or a 2nd Janice school does exist. 

W out high school degree you can take a test to then enter to college. Almost "test out" of high school and then go to college. 

Junior HS, age doesn't matter, adults can take classes, even beyond 25 YO. 

Brother in law has andifferent view point which helps. Some people might say negative things, but he likes it. US has career changers, sometimes the other teachers criticize this method, but not its assimilated. Discussion...

Junior college classes for anyone

Seminars for parents teachers bring in experts to talk about their subject or expertise
There's a education for parents conducted by pTA. Junior
College had a lot of schools, but its not a community college like US. Japan's are more Career driven, police or other. School college tuition is low In Japan.


What do you want to be when you grow up in Williams class
Sen Sai
Restaurant
Scientist
Biologist
Astronaut
Cartoonist
Writers/ publishers 3-4

Happy Travels!!

Day 9: Osaka Super Science High School

Today we see another High School I Osaka. We have a quick power point overview and off to view some clubs in action. Then a question and answer session in the Principals BIG office.

Osaka Super Science HS

Teachers meeting 2x a month
Australia visit 16 xs
95% attend after school activities
119 yo founded school.
Many students attend oska university
Kyoto university
Many club Activities.

Super science education ministry wants to prote scientific education.
200 HS japan wide are designated at Super Sci HS. Two courses as global leaders HS. Honors course an regular course. 

920 students attend here.

Almost all students graduate - 1-2 do not.

They go to prestigious universities, Kyoto or Osaka university. 

Continue studies In science.

For honors classes we have 3x students we cannot accept. 

Selection process is taking examination test, English, math, science and social studies. 

Honors is 3 tests. 

Excursions are science Museum how to operate small computer. Students went to the sea, for 2 different kinds of programs. Study Australia marine biology and science programs. Soccer club went to Korean student competition. 

Famous alumni- a sculpture, astronaut, Osaka city mayor. 

Classroom activities to proficiency in the classroom. Emphasis on translation. It's not working as well as its supposed to be. Example: last yr students 2nd year sit for toefl test, which is the only one business Japan has. Some obstacles are similar to toefl tests. 

Vice principal visit class and gives advice. When were free we visit other teachers classes. 

Global leaders HS today, first priority is to global climate principal promoted communication with teachers - top priority to push local talent. 

Happy Travels

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Day 9: "Real Osaka" Walk and Dinner, Tako Tako King Japan

Can I just say Japan after 5: pm is so fun and NOT in the Japan Guide. Our guides friends tool us to "Real Osaka," a famous restaurant for grilled food on a stick. ¥140 per stick. And beer is ¥200. 

We walked along the river. Advertising is bright lights and signs. HuGE brand signs. 

The "Hit On" bridge is packed

Then we went walking through an outdoor mall area. Stores are bright and expensive. Some are designer stores so they ask you not to take pictures. other market stalls might have something cute set up and also ask you not to taks pictures. 

We went to Tako Tako King for more beer. We enjoyed American 50's music, a little Elvis, we requested Micheal Jackson. We ate octopus balls, edamame & we sang, and sang, and sang!! Sharon discovered vodka with Japanese sweetened tea, and Katy's husband Dave called us on her iPad--- that was cool, for us AND the waiter. They really liked our enthusiasm and rowdy

Really fun night. Great beer, Great Friends, Great Night! 










Monday, July 8, 2013

Day 8: Osaka Arrival, Cufflink Hunt & Pokemon Center

We arrived at Osaka today and its so Hot and Humid!!

Husband has a nice French cuff shirt, less the cuff links. So we went on a hunt.

Osaka Granvia Shinkansen Station & Ferris Wheel - northern part of Osaka


Hotel Granvia Checkin Onaguyshemas 


Our gorgeous Hotel Room view of Osaka river.


The bathroom and bidet

Daimaru (the Macy's of Japan) is connected to the Station, as is our hotel. We exited to the 8th floor men's accessories and clothing. Cuff links throughout the brand sections range from ¥31,850-7,750 (that's about $310-77 US). 
 
Husbands selection matches his new wedding band.

Pokemon Center - 13th floor!! Our kids would be in heaven here!!

Notice the adult man playing a Pokemon game.

Notice the Adult Man watching Pokemon cartoons :-)

Pokemon for girls, sooo pink

Pokemon chopsticks ha-shee

Pokemon free hats

Wife's turn at the Pokemon Vedic machine

Lunch and dinner options are typically displayed in this manner throughout Japan. It's so great having all these yummy choices.

We ended up with Margharita Pizza and 
a spaghetti pasta. Perfectly al dente every time!!

Restaurants all have these great bins for your bags, so you don't put things on the floor!

Happy Travels!