She had to do a "test", the "schuleingangsuntersuchung". What a pile of rubbish that was. Main aim: to find a reason why your child is not good enough for school. We survived it though. Then from April onwards, life was a waiting game to just start school as she became bored of kindergarten, ( I think this is normal) and there is such a build up and preparation to start school, which is such a big deal here, that in some ways we couldn't wait for September.
Starting school is a really big deal. First we have to fork out a fortune on the Schulranzen (glitzed up box/school bag). This is a must and actually has a proper back system which makes it really easy for a small 6 year old to carry. We went shopping at a specialist shop where it was fitted properly. So, even though it's glitzy pink and massive, it's good and kinda worth the money.
Then there is the schultüte which is a big cone shaped thing which is filled with goodies to take on their first day of school and then sits on top of the wardrobe collecting dust. We made this together at kindergarten and then I filled it. They carry it to school and have photos with it.
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| First day of school |
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| Massive schulranzen on her back |
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| Waling on the first day with the neighbours |
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| First seat - next to Charlotte who she didn't know |
The first day of school is not really a proper school day. All the family go (including extended family if you have them around), and we all went into the classroom where the children sat down and we all stood at the back. As a teacher this would have been my worst nightmare! There was a bit of blah blah and then the parents all left the room and went outside to drink prosecco and orange juice for an hour and chat while the kids did who knows what in the classroom. Then they all troop outside and sit on benches in a circle and there is chat by the head and songs sung by the second class. And that's about it and we are home before midday! Katie opened her schultüte, Matt went to work and we met friends at the beer garden. A funny old day really.
And then after the first "week" the real school starts. We get the timetable (which of course changes after a few days) at the first Parents Evening which is when we organise all the school supplies for our children. We have to buy everything and were given a list of the exact stuff we needed. It looks a scary list but you just hand it in at the stationary shop and they get it all for you. We sit at parents evening and put all the right covers on the exercise books.
So, my thoughts so far on the German system? Well, I am actually pleasantly surprised - so far. I know it is quite an old fashioned system and not so hands on and involved as I am used to so my benchmark was low.
The school itself is old and not unlike my primary school (except they do have indoor toilets!). It is very traditional with the children sitting facing the front in twos or four. There are still blackboards and the teacher's desk is at the front facing the class.
The school day is short. 11:15 is the usual finish, one day is 12:15 and one day is 1pm. No school lunches, you come home or go to "mittagsbetreung" (after school care) until 2pm, or the "hort" (homework and activiites) until 3:30 earliest. Good and bad points to that. Good points being that we can do stuff in the afternoon. Bad points being I don't have much time to do anything in the morning, and thank goodness I don't work in a proper job!
They get homework every day and it is pretty easy really. Always some reading, writing and maths. This is not the same throughout the three First Classes. Each teacher does there own thing it seems like. Katie has a strict but well structured teacher and all the class seem to like her. I actually like the German and Maths workbooks they use. Quite nice. There is strong emphasis on writing and speaking most correctly. And apparently, I found out today, the two halves of your brain only work together properly when you are sitting properly with your legs together. When your legs are sprawled apart or wrapped around your chair, your brain doesn't work well enough! Good teaching Frau Ernst!
So a system I am not used to but there are parts which I really like. The best bit is the fact they go to school and come back by themselves. One of the smartest things that the school does is split the classes up depending on where the children live. This is smart because it means that the children can all go to school and more importantly come home together. How obvious when you think about it and so sensible! As the classes do not all finish at the same time, they need to be able to come home with others in their class. I like it as we are on the pick up route, so in the morning two girls come and pick Katie up to go to school. One of us mums goes with them, but I would be happy for them to go alone. She then comes home with up to five other children. I hear them as they all have scooters that rattle noisily along the path. I love the fact that they have this independence, and they love it too. It's less then 1km to school and along one road (it's busy but there is a wide path). They have to cross one road but there are automatic lights. Also, there must be about 30 children all scooting along between 7:30 and 7:40 in the morning! It's really nice. It's also handy when we need help with homework as there are at least 5 people very close by which I could ask. (We haven't needed it yet!)
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| Doing homework with Charlotte |
What I also like which is connected to this, is that they have worked on road safety at school. So, how to cross a road, riding a bike, colours to wear in the dark, and road signs which are relevant to them. They have also all been given a high vis safety vest, which is a jolly sensible idea don't you think? They are not allowed to ride a bike to and from school unless they are with an adult or are 10 and have done the bike safety test. So they all have scooters which are pretty fast.
We have a ten minute parents evening on Tuesday for the teacher to tell us everything about Katie. Probably everything where she "struggles" as this is the way, but she is not struggling and manages quite ok.
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| I tried to take a picture of them scooting to school but they were so fast and I was on my bike! |
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| Parking scooters at school |
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| 7:30 in the morning with her new high vis jacket |
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| A page from her book on road safety. I particularly like the picture of herself on her scooter with her massive bag! |
