Don't Forget South Central

Leaving Finland

noreply@blogger.com (avalonsensei) — Tue, 19 Jun 2018 06:27:00 +0000

Lake Jyvasjarvi

I have never lived anywhere for 5 months other than Jyvaskyla, Finland. As my Fulbright journey concludes, there is so much to still digest. It will take months, if not years, to truly assimilate all the learning.

Before I left Southern California, I wrote about the what I would miss the most from home and what I looked forward to experiencing in Finland. It is safe to say I met my goals.

Top 7 Goals

1. Discussing Education

Helsinki Workshop

Through professional development programs, Fulbright Finland connected teachers with scholars and researchers, for the purpose of putting inquisitive minds together. The Making Democracies Resilient to Modern Threats seminar provided participants with fascinating research and presentations.

2. Nordic Model

Bus station in Espoo

What does an efficient and earnest country look like? It looks like Finland. Yes, people pay higher taxes, but get so much in return. I for one appreciated the well-maintained roads, clean and timely public transportation, and the work-life balance.

3. Nature

Enjoying Lake Jyvasjarvi with fellow Fulbrighter Kerry Piggot

Jyvaskyla was a winter wonderland, and while I will not miss the short days, I will never forget the pristine snow and frozen lakes during my winter there.

4. School System

A glimpse of what is possible when a country invests in its schools at an appropriate level.

5. Break Time

Not just at school, but the coffee break is real. Why are we such workaholics? And the teachers' lounges were truly a place to gather, relax, and chat.

6. Sauna

Of course.

7. Aurora Borealis

This is a video I shared with my students about my encounter with the Auroras:

But now I must admit I left a piece of my heart in Finland.

These are the top 7 things I will miss about Suomi:

1. The airport

Helsinki airport

Having visited the airport over a dozen times during my stay, I came to appreciate the design and layout. Little touches like the sounds of nature playing in the restroom were endearing. I loved being able to scan my boarding pass and not having to talk to a human while completing the boarding process.

2. R Kioski

Need a metro card? They've got 'em. Bus passes? Check. Pulla rolls and ciders? Everyday. R-Kioski was my faithful friend everywhere I traveled in Finland and I will miss this great shop.

3. Cheap WiFi

When I first arrived in Finland, a 30 day unlimited WiFi package was 20 euros. I was able to use my US cell phone as a WiFi device and connect my laptop to it as well. The price did go up however, to about 23 euros in May. It was so convenient to have internet access everywhere, even though it was available in many public places for free.

4. The trams in Helsinki

They are timely, pretty, and easy to use. And they take you just about everywhere.

5. Savulohikeitto

This delicious smoked salmon soup was my favorite dish in Finland. Mind you, a bowl of soup was 8.5 euros, or almost $10. Expensive but so worth it.

6. The hooks for your jacket

Hooks on trains, hooks in schools, hooks or coat racks are everywhere. And in winter, they are heavily used. I came to appreciate not having to hang my jacket on the back of my chair.

7. The people

Hanna and Juha-Matti

I hope throughout my blog that my deep appreciation for the Finnish people has been conveyed. While not effusive and overly involved, great care was being provided by the Fulbright network of Finnish advisors and colleagues. Countless times I was helped by strangers when lost or needing guidance. The humility of the Finnish people was prevalent and heartwarming. While I wish I could have stayed longer, there is much work to be done back home in Los Angeles.

There is no place like home, but Finland is comes pretty darn close.

The People who Make Fulbright Happen

noreply@blogger.com (avalonsensei) — Sun, 10 Jun 2018 23:08:00 +0000

Jyvaskyla Fulbright Teachers (missing Kerry and Linda)

As I conclude my Fulbright project, it goes without saying that I could not have done this alone. The help I’ve received along the way has been heartwarming and supportive. I am so proud to have been able to represent teachers and my community in Finland.

Jose Govea

This unceasing advocate for teachers is my area union rep. When he heard I was awarded my Fulbright grant, he went into action to make sure I received some type of compensation from the hard to navigate district I work in. We realized the deadline had passed for the correct leave of absence to make this happen, but he said, “I’m willing to do battle for a Fulbrighter.” Thanks to Jose, I was able to receive financial support from my district while away on leave.

The IIE

Angelica Serna

The International Institute for Education manages the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching program which sent me to Finland. This first-class organization supported me each step of the way, from the orientation in August to departure in January. While in Finland, they fielded any and all questions and helped me feel comfortable while living in a foreign country. Thank you Angelica Serna for all of your assistance!

Fulbright Finland

Mirka introducing Finnish education experts at the orientation

IIE hands off the baton to Fulbright Finland in January and from the very first meeting, I knew I was dealing with deeply committed thinkers who embody everything the Fulbright program represents. From the visionary leadership of Terhi Molsa to the gentle and knowledgeable Mirka McIntyre who is the program director for the teachers, I received all of the guidance necessary to make my stay in Finland successful. The entire staff was a joy to get to know and work with.

Leasa Weimer

To get acquainted with the local culture, we are assigned a Fulbright buddy, one that can take you grocery shopping or recommend a local workout place. Leasa hosted a group of teachers, students, and scholars our first month in Jyvaskyla and helped me get through the gloom and cold of January and February. Our get togethers helped me feel like I had connections and wasn’t doing this solo. Leasa inspired me to do the same for Fulbrighters in California, and I will be hosting incoming students in the fall!! I am so excited to pay it forward.

Anniina Tourunen and Tamas Szabo

Anniina Tourunen

Anniina was my Survival Finnish instructor at the University of Jyvaskyla. In the early months, when my calendar was not as filled with school visits, these language classes really helped me get acclimated to Finnish culture. It was so much fun to be surrounded by foreign exchange students from all over the world as we adjusted to life in Finland.

Tamas Szabo

Professor Szabo helped set the tone for my inquiry project with the Learning Environments class he taught at the University. His research background gave me an early understanding of trends in Finnish school construction and environments.

Hanna Poylio

The brilliant Hanna Poylio

Last, but certainly not least was the help I received from my faculty advisor Hanna. She is one of those special individuals who has the knack of navigating between cultures. How else has she been able to understand these frenetic Fulbright teachers who drop everything they have going in their lives to move halfway across the world? Hanna provided realistic expectations for the work I was trying to do, gave me multiple opportunities to attend social events (Antti Tuisku pop concert was unforgettable), and explained what I was seeing in Finnish schools.

I call Hanna a Finnish American because deep in her heart, she is one of us. Forthright, assertive, and opinionated. These are great qualities, but not all Finnish ones. But the beauty of that is that she helped me and many others get an inside view of a culture that can upon first glance seem hard to crack. Her husband Antti’s color commentary on all things Finnish was priceless as well. And who doesn’t need an adorable baby to warm their heart (Noaa).

There are countless others who helped along the way, from Juha-Matti the Executive Director of Niilo Maki Institute where I was based to Oli-Pekka from EduCluster, both who provided contacts and made us feel welcome in a new town. Professor Bob Foster at UCLA who so kindly met with me even before his trip to share his contacts with me in Finland. The Fulbright teachers in Jyvaskyla who were my family away from home. The random Finns who dropped knowledge about their culture in saunas or bars. I could go on.

This teacher’s Fulbright did not happen alone, and I will forever be grateful to those who helped make it happen.

When Typical Means Outstanding

noreply@blogger.com (avalonsensei) — Sat, 02 Jun 2018 19:55:00 +0000

Lunch room

With only a few weeks left on my Finnish Fulbright learning experience, I was eager to set a date to visit the other 2018 Finnish Fulbrighter's school near Tampere, FI. Sanna Leinonen is a well-known educational leader with over 20 years of experience teaching at Ylojarven Lukio, and a Fulbright teacher.

Every minute of every school visit is a learning experience.

Location

Motorbikes rule

Tractors get you there

Ylojarven is a town west of Tampere, and as such, it is the only local high school (Lukio) in the area. Students commute from rather long distances to get to the school. I was always tickled to see tractors in the parking lot belonging to those from a more rural background, but more often than not, I saw motor bikes and bicycles in the parking lot.

Staggered Arrivals and Flexible Schedules for Teachers

An American teacher's dream come true

Because each student's schedule is so customized, some students did not arrive to school until 10:00 am, or sometimes they had to leave class 20-30 minutes early. This always happened quietly and unobtrusively. In fact, when Sanna and I arrived to her classroom at 8:15 am, all the students were already there, sitting quietly, minding their own business.

The independence and responsibility of Finnish students is palpable.

Here's another difference from U.S. schools: if a teacher is done teaching for the day, they can go home. Or, if there are less students in the last quarter of the school year due to early completion of graduation requirements, the teacher may not have any classes scheduled on a given day. They can work from home on those days. Imaging giving teachers that much trust and leeway. It is no wonder they are the happiest nation on Earth.

This school had the shortest amount of break times for students, mostly due to the bus schedule that is fixed and does not allow for a longer school day. I wish I had the data on the variability of break time in Finland.

Foreign Exchange Students

Shiori and the crew invite me to lunch

During my California presentation, I mentioned that manga and anime were very popular among my South L.A. students, and that they are fascinated with Japanese culture. Immediately a student sat up and her face was beaming. Later on Shiori introduced herself to me as a foreign exchange student from Northern Japan. This was intriguing, because from my perspective, Finland and Japan share many similar characteristics: reserved people, efficient governmental systems, and excellent schools. This sweet student welcomed me into her friend group at lunch and all of them shared stories of what it is like to live in Finland.

On my second visit to Ylojarven, I also met students from the Dominican Republic and a Mexican-Finnish immigrant. So not only do students benefit from a high quality education, they are able to meet students from around the world as well.

Ran into Shiori again!

"I heard there were Latinos on campus"-Mauricio

Languages

To enhance learning, multiple foreign languages are offered such as English (required), Swedish (required), Spanish (optional), and Russian (optional). I visited a Spanish classroom and was impressed with the students' willingness to learn a fourth language and their talent in holding a conversation with me en espanol.

The smart quadrilingual students of Ylojarven Lukio, Alana, and Anri the fantastic Spanish teacher

Vocational School

As if highly qualified teachers, diverse programs, and responsible students weren't enough, Ylojarven Lukio offers a parallel education for vocational students. The facilities for this program were breathtaking. As with all things Finnish, there is a practical purpose to every aspect of schooling. Two key programs in the vocational school were mechanics and nursing. Each of these were taught by teachers that have previous real world experience in these fields. Local professionals are interviewed to see what skills they are seeking in workers, and then the programs are designed to meet those needs.

The beauty of the Finnish school system is that there is no tracking. Students can choose either an academic or vocational path, but at any time they can switch to the other. So a vocational school student can graduate high school and attend an academic university. And vice-versa.

On my second visit, I was fortunate to be able to bring my daughter Alana with me to share her perspective as a college student. What a treat for her to see the work I've been doing this semester! She had a strong connection with the students.

Sanna's students

GREAT questions, not enough time

Trust runs rampant in Finland

WESTSIDE in the house

Mother-daughter presentation

The kids were excited to meet someone from the actual Westside

Conclusion

None of my school visits would have been possible without the help of my Fulbright advisor Hanna Poylio of Niilo Maki Institute and the University of Jyvaskyla. This Finnish dynamo has an extreme depth of knowledge to how and why schools perform so well, and what the ups and downs of the system are. Her energy is contagious, and it is only thanks to her that I made it through the cold, dark winter months.

Sanna Leinonen gave me a glimpse as to what my own counterpart looks like in Finland. We both have similar years of experience, and we both traveled halfway across the world to immerse ourselves in another culture. I have found so many similarities between teachers in Finland and teachers in the U.S. Sometimes I heard them speaking Finnish in particular situations and it was like I knew what they were saying from the tone and the circumstances. I think it freaked the students out.

Sanna Leinonen

And yet as she drove me to and from the train station, we both spoke of what we most valued in the visits to each other's countries. I know for me, the greatest difference was the amount of respect that teachers receive in Finland. And how this translates into great faith in each and every public school. The concept of competition between schools is anathema to a successful school system and is truly baffling for Finnish teachers to understand.

It will be a great part of the last stage of my career to share Finnish wisdom and practicality with school leaders in the U.S.

Goals accomplished

A Castle, a Fulbrighter, and Funny Questions

noreply@blogger.com (avalonsensei) — Sat, 26 May 2018 16:46:00 +0000

Part of being a Fulbrighter is that you get to join a network of scholars, teachers, professionals, students, and artists. Fortunately for me, I met two dynamic Finnish teachers in Washington DC, the summer before my trip. This allowed me the possibility to visit their schools, much in the same way they did when they were in the United States.

The world traveler, Emilia

My visit to Ahveniston Koulu in Hameenlinna, was truly a treat. Emilia is an English teacher and travel blogger, and has maintained her own blog about her Fulbright experience at Emilia-ontheroad.com. In many school visits, I do a general presentation about California, and then have a Q and A period afterwards. Many Finnish students are shy, and at first, I thought I was bombing my presentations. Teachers assured me that if the students were quiet it meant they were engaged.

Presentation

Visit https://www.dropbox.com/s/8cfsq4xhl81gnx5/california.pdf?dl=0 for the presentation.

Nonetheless, I gave students many ways they could ask questions:

· Verbally-this was the least popular option
· In writing
· Through text
· Through social media
· Through email

The students of Nummen Yhtenäiskoulu were frank, direct, and humorous. They wanted to know my favorite Finnish food, had I tried Salmiakkikossu (a licorice liqueur), why America has so many shootings, and if I owned a gun. Emilia looked mortified, but they really reminded me of my own middle school students in South Central L.A. For this reason, I complied when they asked me to dab. Truly enjoyable.

With my buddies, the honest kids of Nummen Ytenäiskoulu.

Emilia shared with me that the school was moving locations because the current location was had air quality problems. This situation and other issues such as mold are a problem, I heard on frequently in Finland, and not just in school buildings. The combination of construction design, insulation, and lack of ventilation in the winter are all contributing factors. Unfortunately for students and teachers, this often means a forced relocation to a new facility. All instructional materials and resources must be left in the old building.

This gets costly.

Students at this school were somewhat reluctant to go outside for break time. This can be attributed to a change in policy, where previously going outdoors during break was optional. With the mold problem, the school made outdoor breaks mandatory.

For school visits, sometimes the hosting teacher is able to pick you up from the train station. This was the case in Hameenlina. However, before my departure, I just had to visit the medieval castle in town. As a history teacher, it is important for me to make connections with my curriculum, and Finnish castles are a rarity. Luckily I was able to sightsee, visit a school, and even join teachers socially after a local conference.

My takeaway was this: middle schoolers are curious and hilarious in both the U.S. and Finland. Teachers deal with struggles no matter where they work. And instituting a new schedule with outdoor time is something that will need to be done in stages in order for it to be successful.

Link to mold article: https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/slow_torture_finlands_mould-ridden_schools_causing_breathing_difficulties_for_kids/6959621

Nature Training for Teachers

noreply@blogger.com (avalonsensei) — Sun, 06 May 2018 17:37:00 +0000

On the afternoon of my second day shadowing Sara Kall, nature school teacher from Kokkola, I was prepared to sit in the back of a room, taking notes on my laptop, while Sara trained 7 early education teachers at Triselvran Pre-School.

The two-hour training was a service that nature schools provide to traditional schools. Because of the vast autonomy of schools and teachers in the educational system of Finland, some schools may not sign up for the sponsor program that sends children for monthly full day field trips to nature. Instead, they may choose to sign up for four days a year of this. Or they may choose to request Sara’s services to train teachers to do the nature activities themselves.

We were at one of these such trainings, and Sara had her box of tricks with her. Upon arrival at 4:00 pm, we set up the box…in the snow, on the playground. Of course, we would be outside…in 10 degrees….it’s a nature training! I was sheepish.

For the next two hours, Sara trained teachers on a variety of ways to conduct educational games in nature. There were language, art, play, and mathematics games.

But what stunned me completely was the participation of the Finnish teachers. Despite the late hour and the increasing darkness, the teachers were fully engaged, in good spirits, and enthusiastic. They chased each other, laid themselves down on the snow to make shapes and symbols, and constructed objects from twigs, rocks, and snow.

Lining up in teams. Each races to collect letters sprinkled on the ground.

Now let's make words!

Kind of like Scrabble, but in the snow, and in multiple languages.

Roll the die and see what shape your team must make!

Cold? What cold?

The teachers ranged from early career to veteran teachers, but this did not mean there was any less participation from any of them.

Now you may wonder why this surprised me. In the U.S., teacher training on school sites tends to be top down and irrelevant in the eyes of many teachers. For example, in Los Angeles, teachers are regularly forced to sit through faculty meetings after a long day of teaching, perhaps to watch an instructional video on how to avoid getting contaminated with blood-borne pathogens or on how to conduct the yearly standardized tests.. I have been trained, once a year, for at least the last 22 years in these topics. The information hasn’t changed. The procedures are still relatively the same. But whether you are an experienced teacher or a novice, you receive the same training. It is demoralizing.

Well, demoralized these Finnish teachers were not.

I think it has taken me so long to write about this because there is a deep meaning to what I saw and heard. Teachers who are respected, trusted, taken care of, and viewed as instructional experts are very satisfied people.

Now there is a lot to digest here. How do regular Finns even become teachers? Well, it’s not easy. A Master’s degree is required and both undergraduate and graduate courses are research oriented. Teacher candidates are monitored and interviewed, and in the end, only about 7% are even accepted into teacher education programs. It is harder to become a teacher than a doctor or lawyer.

What does this mean for the U.S.? I would suggest we not look at the national scene; let’s look at state education. It is much easier to have quality control, state by state. In states like mine, I would reduce it even further into regions: North, Central and South.

I think many times we are reluctant to give teachers autonomy because we may not trust in their preparation. Never mind that entering the field of education in the US usually means teachers are partial towards helping, guiding, and caring for pupils. It is true of virtually all teachers I’ve worked with. We need to tackle teacher preparation quality while we discuss solutions to the teacher shortage.

The teacher strikes and protests rising up across the land cannot send a more loud and clear message that the system is broke and needs to be fixed. Money is definitely part of the solution in states where teachers must work two or three jobs to make ends meet, but respect would be just as welcomed, in some cases even more than money. It would be nice to have both.

It is hard to compare income between Finnish and American teachers, because even though the average salary in Finland is in the $40-$50 thousand range, teachers have smaller class sizes, free health insurance, free undergrad and grad school education, subsidized child care, ample parental leave, shorter school days, and a break every hour (and by free, yes it is paid with the high taxes Finns are comfortable paying.) One school I visited even has a nap room for teachers. And the respect…it is so nice to travel through Finland and introduce myself as a teacher.

Have you ever seen teachers look this happy at 5:00 pm after a teacher training and full day of work?

At the end of the training, I took a picture of the happy teachers and realized that all over Finland, teachers were doing this. Triselvran Pre-School was not an anomaly. This is why there is no such thing as a “better school” in a “better neighborhood” with “better teachers.” When you make education a value, and truly fund it, all schools are better. And the society wins.

Supporting Nature in Schools, Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (avalonsensei) — Sun, 22 Apr 2018 12:00:00 +0000

In Kokkola, Finland

When I first signed up to visit Villa Elba Youth Center and Nature School, I was under the impression that this was a school that incorporated outdoor education as a part of their theme. However, the nature school network operates outside of the traditional school system but in support of it. Nature education is expressly addressed in the National Core Curriculum.

For example, at age 7-16 the goal is “…to raise environmentally conscious citizens who are committed to a sustainable way of life. The schools must teach future-oriented thinking and building the future on ecologically, economically, socially, and culturally sustainable premises.” (NCC, 2004, 39)

For older students, the theme is Sustainable Development. Students are encouraged to pursue a sustainable lifestyle, to take action for sustainable development, and to examine the challenges of SD (NCC, 2003, 28–29).

There are several major nature schools in Finland and it is customary for many students, to attend Camp School, which is a residential program in a nature setting that can range from 3-5 days. Parents pay out of pocket for this experience but it is a strong tradition in the country.

Walking to the forest, about a 20 minute walk

On day two of my visit with Sara Kall, we took a group of kindergarten students into the forest to study animal tracks in the snow. Sara drives to local communities all over Kokkola to provide this service, but has no students of her own.

It was a chilly day, in the low teens, and I don’t think I was mentally prepared for an extended period in the cold (2 hours), but that was part of the challenge!

The students were playing in the yard when we arrived and were super excited to see Sara. I greeted them with a “moika,” but they looked blankly at me and I realized they were Swedish speakers, so I switched to a “hej!” Swedish is the predominant language in western parts of Finland, as the country is officially bilingual.

As we walked to the forest, I held a little girl’s hand and she looked at me confused, wondering who I was. Her teacher told her I was an American teacher. The 4 year old with bright pink cheeks looked up at me and said “Donald Trump?” That is a blog post for another day.

At the forest, Sara brought out her detective kit and immediately captured the students' attention. The two hours were meticulously planned and no detail escaped her attention. There were even little motion breaks incorporated into the lesson to get the blood flowing. As in the lake, the teachers also brought warm juice and carrots for break time. BEST SNACK EVER.

The kit comes out!

Passing around a specimen

Bird calling

Kokkola has massive boulders all over town

Studying different types of tracks

Let's do art in the forest; warm water with food coloring. Each student draws a different type of track.

Not bad for being 4 years old and wearing a thick glove

If the video doesn't load, you can find it at https://youtu.be/RIFyK4v6fvw
The video shows students pretending to be stomping squirrels, throwing their tails over their heads, and rushing for shelter under the "tree" that is the closest adult. It's a fun way to incorporate much needed movement into the outdoor lesson.

In a society, when you value something, you invest in it. The symbiosis between the Finnish people and nature reminds me of the very deep connection indigenous people have with their lands. In fact, access to nature is considered an entitlement described as "Everyman's Right" where:

96% of the land can be used by anyone, including land and water areas
one can use certain natural products even if you are not the owner of the property such as dry twigs, branches, cones, nuts, mushrooms
free access to waterways for boating, anchoring and swimming
free access to land to orienteer, short-term camp, run, walk, cross-country ski, pick berries
the user of the right must not damage or disturb nature (Source: Suomen Latu)

When children spend so much time outdoors with access to nature, it becomes a part of your upbringing, lifestyle, and spirit when you become an adult.

I have marveled at the amount of people congregating on Lake Jyvasjarvi, adjacent to my apartment, in the middle of winter. Ice-skating, skiing, walking, and even cycling. Oh yeah, and there were also motorized paragliders and hot air balloons. The frozen lake became the seasonal playground that folks looked forward to enjoying. It is quite possible that the love of nature, in all of its extremes was fostered in schools and by dynamic individuals like Sara Kall and Maria Svens.

Next: Part 3 When Sara Trains Teachers

Supporting Nature in Schools, Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (avalonsensei) — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 10:17:00 +0000

Sara Kall, Nature School Teacher, Villa Elba Youth Center

One of the goals of my Fulbright project was not only to examine how Finnish schools incorporate break time into their schedules, but how much of that time is spent outdoors.

How do kids know what to do outdoors?

Do the teachers follow them around?

Do kids have to be strictly supervised?

Is there a difference between the activities of boys vs. girls?

To that end, my goal here in Finland has been not only to observe schools, but also nature organizations that might support outdoor learning and experiences.

I hit the lottery with the help of nature school teacher Maria Svens, who I reached out to before I even arrived in the country. Her article about the Finnish Outdoor Classroom gave me an overview of how organizations can support schools in teaching students about nature. Maria then connected me with Sara Kall from the Villa Elba Youth Center in Kokkola, Finland where I was fortunate to be able to spend two days shadowing this incredible nature school teacher.

The enthusiasm with which Sara showed for my visit was endearing. She provided me a long list of dates and activities that I might wish to observe.

6.3 5 yr olds, tracks in the snow - program kept in the forest close to the kindergarten in Nykarleby (around 60 km from Elba)

6.3 Outdoor education workshop for kindergarten teachers, 1 hr

7.3 Icefishing and opening fish in the lab, fourth graders

8.3 Icefishing and opening fish in the lab, third graders

8.3 5 yr olds, spiders - program kept in the forest close to the kindergarten in Edsevö (around 30 km from Elba)

9.3 Icefishing and opening fish in the lab, fourth graders

12.3 Icefishing and opening fish in the lab, third graders

13.3 Icefishing and opening fish in the lab, 2-6th graders

14.3 Icefishing and opening fish in the lab, third graders + one special education group

15.3 Icefishing, finnish group with Erasmus+-guests from Spain and Poland

16.3 Icefishing and opening fish in the lab, fifth graders

19.3 Icefishing and opening fish in the lab, third graders

20.3 Icefishing and opening fish in the lab, third graders

Of course I would want to see the Ice Fishing and the Outdoor Education Workshop for kindergarten teachers!

When I arrived, my arrival was listed on the calendar and Sara proceeded to give me a tour of the facilities.

Resource after resource, all dedicated to outdoor education was available to the staff at the center, where many schools schedule monthly daylong visits. Each school can choose whether to invest in this monthly outdoor educational experience with students, or a modified version of the service.

The Science Detective Kit

Tools for finding insects and animals, collecting specimens, and measuring tracks

Templates for identifying tracks

Snow shoes and extra clothing for the very cold elements

Nordic ski poles for the ice and snow

Galoshes for the snow and rain

The preparation for school visits requires a team of specialists, which the team in Villa Elba truly were. For ice fishing day, students walk from their schools to the Villa Elba dressed warmly and comfortably.

The staff conducts safety lessons before going out into the ice in Kokkola Bay, and then the class proceeds to travel on their ski chairs to the designated location. Sara demonstrated how to use one.

Mind you, the temperature was around 10 degrees F and there was a slight wind blowing over the bay. One of the teachers encouraged me to zipper my jacket up because it was going to be chilly.

Pre-lesson and safety demo

And they're off!

Appropriately dressed for the elements with safety picks hanging from their necks

Break time, even on the ice

I can tell you that warm juice in the middle of the frozen lake is the best thing you have tasted

Waiting for the fish, dressed like little rock stars!

Students are taught to catch and either release, eat, or donate to science lab

Finnish student gear for the cold

Outdoor education, outdoor chairs

Moomin gear

While talking to Vasa, the teacher on the ice that day, he looked around the bay and asked if I felt a sense of calm amidst the nature. He rejoiced in the quiet and beauty of the scene. We observed other locals ice fishing and he remarked that they had an uncanny ability to tell how safe the ice was, until even the day before it became unstable.

While I was freezing on the lake, the students and teachers were unperturbed. Becoming intimately involved with nature is an expectation that is written into the national Finnish curriculum. The degree to which each school implements the resources available is a local choice.

Implications for teachers in the US:

Not every lesson has to be created from scratch. There are databases, workshops, and conferences that we can explore to get ideas for outdoor education and break time. In fact, the whole idea of nature schools originated in the U.S. in the 1960's.

What does nature look like in your school? My school is in sunny Southern California, but in a very industrial area. Our yards have palm trees and shrubbery but not very much. And the UV index is often so high, it may not make sense to spend too much time in direct sunlight.

The Urban Garden

But finding areas of the school that can be enhanced through plants, plant walls, and small trees would be a start. Classrooms can benefit from the installation of these as well.

What makes these Finnish schools special is not what makes your particular school special. The students in South Central L.A. are not likely to go ice fishing as part of their school day. But they can take trips to our mountains, beaches, and deserts. What access to nature does your school have?

The promise of Fulbright

noreply@blogger.com (avalonsensei) — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 18:04:00 +0000

The morning after the conclusion of the Fulbright Forum in Helsinki, three Fulbrighters boarded a plane to Berlin to continue our learning. What greeted us were no less than 550 Fulbrighters based in Germany!

Now to recap, Fulbrights are merit-based grants managed by the U.S. State Department, whose funds often come from our taxes. However, budget cuts have recently become a recurring issue and many countries have binational commissions that also supplement or fully pay for the cost of Fulbrighters to come to their country.

The German and American Fulbrighters bonding

Fulbrighters are scholars, students, teachers, scientists, artists, and mid-career professionals that want to embark on a cross-cultural exchange that will lead to increased cooperation and mutual understanding between nations. This may seem like a lofty goal, but it has been happening for over 70 years.

I still can’t believe I am a part of this inspiring group of people.

The Berlin Seminar was different than the one in Helsinki, each with its own flavor. The German organizers were loose and witty, with no problem bantering during welcome speeches and interviews. An impressive array of speakers and panels were presented, and I couldn’t get enough of the learning.

Fulbright Germany Alumni Association encouraging folks to join

I was a little disappointed to see no participants from my alma mater, UCLA. I wondered why.

Most participants were in their early 20’s, with just a few years of college under their belt, but with a fierce focus on their area of interest. The German Fulbrighters were eager and excited for their upcoming trip to the states, and asked key and relevant questions to us teachers.

Three student presentations I really enjoyed were:

Researching the idea of bidding on solar energy

Studying air flow

Incorporating Incan maxims into cross-cultural exchange

Elizabeth Gamarra presenting It Takes Two to Tango: Bridging the Gap Between Us vs Them Rhetoric

Sawsan Chebli made an electrifying speech to the Fulbrighters and deftly and astutely answered audience questions. She is a Muslim-German woman serving as a political leader in Berlin. From her twitter account I can see she takes a lot of heat but all I saw was a fierce, brilliant mind that was proud to be the face of Germany.

Sawsan Chebli, left, photo credit Sam Northern

The evenings were filled with receptions and dinners that gave us all a chance to mingle and chat. The last evening was pretty special because I met a fellow who had spent time in South Central L.A. as a visitor and we bonded over our love of Mexican Food. I was also interviewed for my impressions of the program and of course I had nothing but great things to say.

On our way to our final presentation on the last morning, we released balloons into the sky with our wishes for Fulbright written on them. Some of us were hesitant to release them in consideration of the environment but followed the lead of the organizers. To my amusement and pride, many students had no reservations about protesting and popped the balloons when ordered to release them. Then they collected the trash. As I get closer to retirement I am always looking to see who is going to take the lead in this charge to leave the world a little better than how we entered it. If Fulbrighters are any indication of our future, it is certainly bright!

My new friend who knew about South Central L.A.

For the Love of Learning

noreply@blogger.com (avalonsensei) — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 20:08:00 +0000

The new "Olds" at Schildt Upper Secondary School, Jyvaskyla

Being wrapped up in the cozy cocoon of Finnish schools (wearing socks instead of shoes, eating a daily hot lunch, and hearing the happy buzz of children), it is easy to forget that Fulbright is more than just teachers working on inquiry projects.

Schildt has merged and will be known as Gradia next year

These last two weeks swiftly reminded me that Senator Fulbright left the world an incredible legacy, and that almost half a million people have participated in cross-cultural exchanges since the program’s inception.

Fulbright Finland’s Spring Forum

The Fulbright grantees in Finland are located in a number of cities. For the first time, students, teachers, and scholars from the U.S. gathered for three days of learning from each other.

For those of us fortunate to attend the separate workshop “Making Democracies Resilient to Modern Threats,” we enjoyed the added bonus of hearing an impressive panel of speakers from the U.S. and Finland.

Terhi Molsa, Executive Director

Panelists from Harvard, MIT and Columbia

Speaker after speaker addressed the issues causing the rise of misinformation, political polarity, and problematic populism. It truly made me realize that teachers now, more than ever, have such an important duty to increase the teaching of critical thinking and digital literacy.

Distinguished audience as well

Frustration builds within me when I remember that back home, most teachers do not have the freedom to deviate from the tested curriculum. Testing really needs to be reduced and/or fully removed from schools. Teachers already assess on a daily basis, and parent conferences are more authentic and meaningful than any standardized test score.

Did you know that standardized tests were never designed to measure teacher effectiveness? Yet some states use them to determine a teacher’s pay and assign schools a ranking or a label. I wrote about that experience here. We are adding gratuitous stress to both students and teachers, and real education is missing the opportunity to grow in our unique American way.

The accomplished Kerry Piggot was my partner in the presentation

The next two days involved sharing our preliminary findings of the work we are doing in Finland, and in short, it was just FASCINATING to hear what others are doing. From solar energy, to quirks in physics, to sustainability, and to education, the Fulbrighters really went deep into their fields of expertise and did an excellent job making their presentations comprehensible to each other.

As a bonus, all our meetings were held in some breathtaking locations.

Tiffany Viggiano presenting her project

Fulbrighters doing a STEM experiment

Sustainability Presentation

A commander from the Coast Guard also on a Fulbright!

Upon completing my presentation, I received immediate feedback from both my colleagues and members of the audience. I made the acquaintance of Dr. Juha Valtonen who is aSenior Lecturer in Didactics of Physical Education at the University of Helsinki. “Your hunches about break time improving student performance are correct! There is a lot of research that backs this up. I would love to share some with you. Also, you should look into the work of Texas, they are one of the first states to make a return to recess.” This sharing of knowledge and insight is what these forums are all about.

Terhi Molsa, leader of the fabulous Fulbright Finland team that brings it all together

Workshops that start on time, are masterfully facilitated, and whose logistics are planned to the T give this sensei deep satisfaction. What a once in a lifetime experience to live in this wonderful country and see Finnish excellence in action.

Fulbright Finland 2017-2018

"There Are No Emergencies"

noreply@blogger.com (avalonsensei) — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 17:51:00 +0000

February marked a number of school visits ranging from elementary (primary) to middle school (lower secondary) and high school (upper secondary.) As the Fulbrighters get their feet wet, mastering public transportation, integrating in schools, and networking in the education world, the question that keeps arising in lunch rooms and private conversations is why do we have so much violence in schools?

History Department, Jyvaskyla Normal School (Lower and Upper Secondary)

I was trying to explain my school environment both to the History department at the University of Jyvaskyla Teacher Training School (the Finnish version of a lab school) and to seniors at Schildt school, both mature audiences who can handle a nuanced discussion. It never occurred to me just how much I’ve internalized and to an extent, normalized the violence in our society.

The new high school seniors asked if gun control might be feasible after Stoneman

How does one explain the dramatic rise in poverty we have experienced over the last few years, and the vast wealth inequality that has existed for much longer? How do I explain that our society values the protection of gun owners’ rights over the innocent lives of children? Mercifully, my Finnish audiences were kind enough to not push the matter as they must have seen how painful these questions were to answer.

Why are there so many school shootings?-Sean, 5th Grade

Trying to make a connection with the high school seniors, I asked about the type of emergencies that they might experience in the area, such as natural disasters or social problems. Floods? They shook their heads. Fires? No, they responded. Hunger, poverty, and violence? I already knew the answer to that question. “There are no emergencies,” the teacher said kindly. Now I am sure Finland has its share of internal problems and the bitter winter is not for the weak. But overall, its students are well taken care of and have a bright future that includes health care and higher education for all citizens.

My little buddies with great questions at Pupuhuhdan School

Teachers know from basic university methodology courses that students whose brains are stressed cannot learn. The degree to which they experience stress varies from school to school, but in our toxic political environment, I think it would be safe to say that no student in our society can honestly say they are carefree, without worry, and unconcerned about “emergencies.” Even in the most stable of schools (by all accounts, Stoneman Douglas is as stable as they get), students still have to worry about whether their peers will turn to violence when it comes to dealing with the very American phenomenon of school shootings.

Of course they can concentrate when there is a break every hour

When we compare PISA scores and debate how to increase student achievement, we should do ourselves a favor and understand that the USA cannot compare itself to any other country. We have created a unique society that for better or for worse is unduplicated anywhere on this planet. My musings about the school violence question lead me to a very simple conclusion, and recommendation: if our schools are saturated with stress from all facets of society, to reduce stress within our school buildings let us remove any gratuitous burdens heaped on us by politicians. Namely, school scores and rankings.

Well-clothed, fed, in a warm school to protect children from the elements

Imagine if teachers did not have to worry about teaching to a test, or trying to raise their evaluation scores through test scores.

Imagine if we eliminated faculty meetings and professional developments and trusted teachers to acquire these learnings on their own time.

Imagine if we reduced our content standards to emphasize depth vs breadth, to achieve greater mastery.

Imagine if we gave students and teachers brain breaks throughout the day because we already know the kids are overloaded.

Common sense solutions are what the Finnish education system is based on, many solutions which are free or low cost. I for one plan to actively pursue exploring common sense solutions back in California when I return.

Respect, Freedom, and Trust

noreply@blogger.com (avalonsensei) — Sun, 11 Feb 2018 08:36:00 +0000

The joyous children of Haapalan school

What happens in a school system that treats its teachers so well that there is a competition to enter teacher education programs? A competition that in some places is more challenging than being accepted into medical school? What happens is a stable and healthy school system.

In the month I have been in Finland I have spoken to teachers, students, education officials, professors, and non-profit organization leaders. I am only scratching the surface. But it seems to me that the foundation of this very successful school system is to trust the human capital to do what they have been trained to do.

Preparation

You have to earn a master’s degree to be a teacher in Finland. Teacher training involves conducting research and you are required to produce a Bachelor’s thesis as well as a Master’s one. So not only do you enter the university system as a well-prepared tri-lingual student (Finns speak three languages: Finnish, Swedish, and English), but you do not have to stress about paying for your schooling, because college is free.

Work

As a teacher, there is no uniform schedule of teaching. School days can last anywhere from 4-6 hours. Kindergarten is still kindergarten and unstructured play time for students begins before they ever step foot into elementary schools.

Music, arts, and crafts are required in the curriculum

The National Curriculum is a guide, not a rope that will be used to strangle creativity from you. Every school can implement the curriculum in a way that meets local needs. And within the school, each teacher can further tailor it to meet the needs of students. There will never be a test score that is used to judge your performance as a teacher, because Finland knows that that is not what standardized tests were designed to do in the first place. And it violates the trust that is placed in educators to be the experts in their content and in their profession.

Sometimes teachers meet in department rooms during the break. They do not stay in their rooms, isolated.

Pay

You will not be rich as a teacher in Finland, but the stratification of social classes is not a goal that is pursued here. The principal is just as respected as a teacher. They are considered partners in education along with teachers. When you factor in the cost of free health care and not having college tuition, a decent salary with generous parental leave is more than enough for many teachers.

You will not spend money on sending your own children to private schools because there are very few private schools in Finland. The vast a majority of Finns send their children to the local public school. There are no magnet schools or charter schools. It behooves the entire populace to make sure schools get the funding they need.

Student break area, designed with student input

Breaks

Not only do students benefit from a 15 minute break for every hour of schooling (or some variation thereof,) but teachers do as well. Break rooms have generous amounts of coffee and tea, and faculty members bring snacks to share with each other. The break room is a place you want to go, and work is not usually discussed there. In other words, it resembles…a break. Now in elementary schools, some teachers each lunch in the cafeteria with the younger children, to teach them manners and healthy eating habits. A warm lunch is provided, and it is well-balanced. And it is free for students and teachers.

Snack time features yogurt and berries

Teacher break room, Jyvaskyla Lab School

Teachers having lunch with students, Haapalan School

Kids actually excited for a healthy lunch

At a time when enrollment in US teacher education programs, we are bending over backwards trying to figure out how to encourage teachers to enter the field. We have shot ourselves in the foot by making our profession unattractive to young professionals with college degrees, saddled with student loan debt. Working conditions in some US schools can be challenging, that no one in their right mind would commit to such an environment. Nor should they.

What if we incorporated some best practices from our colleagues in other countries, not just Finland? I have a few that might make a difference:

Redefine instruction in California-we have laws that dictate a minimum amount of instructional minutes, and school schedules are based on those. What if time spent outdoors, unstructured and free, would be included in that calculation? Spending time recharging your batteries has been proven to improve student performance and gives teachers much needed breaks as well. AND learning about our environment connects with so many academic standards; literature, geography, science, and art.

For teachers worried about mischief during breaks: you could actually teach lessons on appropriate behavior during break time, since many students entering K-12 have not had the benefit of pre-school to practice social skills.

Return play-time to kindergarten and the early grades. So much is learned in those years, such as sharing, negotiation, using your imagination, language, and physical activity. Have you noticed we have an obesity problem? Kids need to move around and learn how to entertain themselves. Cell phones as entertainment is frightening to watch in toddlers and later on with primary grade students.
Uplift the teaching profession. Do you work at a think tank? Are you an "education reformer?" Do you have concerns about the teachers' union? This negative reporting is making young college educated teaching candidates reluctant and unwilling to enter a profession that is so maligned.
Improve the physical school environment. The students’ learning environment is the teachers’ working environment. Involve teachers in decision making. LAUSD implemented Breakfast in the Classroom without teacher input. Any teacher could have told you that starting this program would bring a whole host of new problems to an already challenging environment. Our schools have suffered from the additional toll of grime and pests that is demoralizing.

I will stop there, because it is February and my opinions might change by June when my Fulbright is done. But these are definitely thoughts that are brewing in my mind and I travel through Finland, getting to know this fantastic country and it’s schools.

Getting in Rhythm with Finland

noreply@blogger.com (avalonsensei) — Sat, 27 Jan 2018 18:56:00 +0000

It has been 18 days since I landed in Finland, but it feels like much longer.

Leaving Los Angeles, and leaving my public, urban middle school (what’s up Lions?) I was moving at the speed of 100 miles per hour. Here, I have had the incredible luxury of s l o w i n g d o w n , as I mentioned in my last post.

Cultural exchanges take time. Time to understand why people live their lives the way they do. Why certain practices exist. Why some values are more important than others. With 18 days under my belt, I am barely scratching the surface, but progress is being made. It comes with understanding phrases spoken to you. Or learning how to pronounce words correctly. Or walking in snow and ice and not biting the dust.

Humorous take on pronunciation of certain Finnish letters

I’m getting used to little to no direct sunlight and am surprised at how much it has affected my mood. In the darkness, you have to push yourself to be active, to make some kind of progress.

Fulbright Finland Alumni Association

Upon arrival in Helsinki this week for my Fulbright Finland Orientation, we were invited to an alumnus gathering at an ice skating rink. At first I was going to stand by the sidelines and just watch, but my wise program director gently encouraged me to give it a go. I did and was so grateful. In no time I felt like my gregarious old self. Exercise does wonders.

Elija Kauppinen, Salla Sissones, and Sanna Leoinonen representing education at the national, municipal, and school level

Suffice it to say that orientation was magnificent. We had expertly chosen speakers and panels that anticipated and addressed any questions both the Fulbright Teachers and Fulbright Scholars might have. We visited the US Embassy and spent an afternoon at the Design Museum of Helsinki. See my tweets from orientation here.

Today I was able to attend the Educa conference, the largest education conference in Finland. What a treat! Contacts were made with schools and organizations that may be able to shed light on my inquiry focus: outdoor education in schools.

Media Literacy Group

Professional Development for Teachers

Creativity Exhibitor

Cultural Exchange

Cub Scouts in Schools

Dropout Prevention

BUT the highlight of my day was meeting blogger and author Timothy Walker of Taught by Finland. We follow each other on Twitter and connected at the conference that way. What a small world. If you haven’t read his book yet, do yourself a favor, even if you are not a teacher. It gives you a different way to approach parenthood and education.

My heart hurts a little when I see the wonderful things happening in Finnish schools and I remember how my school struggles with so many societal issues. But there is no time for melancholy. I’m here to learn and bring back practices that can heal and strengthen the already brave foundation of my school.

Adelante! Sisu!

The Concept of Time

noreply@blogger.com (avalonsensei) — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 20:46:00 +0000

There are 48 hours in the day in Finland.

Not really.

But it is amazing how much time you have when you are not busy being a mother, teacher, daughter and wife.

As Fulbrighters, we are encouraged to take time to get to know our new environments, whether in Botswana or New Zealand or Singapore. There are many A-type personalities in the group, and many of us don’t know how to take it slow. But I heeded the advice and moved slowly.

I've been getting familiar with the transportation system. Venturi is the national train system with an app that helps you look at timetables and purchase tickets.

Electronics-Finding the right adapter to connect to European power supplies.

Currency-what is the value of a Euro in comparison to a dollar? It’s important to know. Do I really want to spend 99 euros on a blender? (About $125)

Setting up my apartment involves connecting to the WiFi (important!) and seeing what needs to be purchased for day to day needs.

I was fortunate to find my apartment through AirBnB, and the hosts have been so accommodating and have made me feel welcome.

These are just some areas of focus along with meeting with my dynamo faculty adviser, Hanna Poylio.

The illustrious Hanna Polio from Niilo Maki Institute

But back to time; due to my body’s fierce love of jet lag, I have been waking up every morning around 4:00 am. The sun doesn’t rise until 9:30 am. That leaves plenty of time to work around the apartment.

I’ve never had so much time to do my hair.

Time to read? Yes.

Make your bed? Done before 6:00 am.

Write and blog? A cinch.

And that’s all before the sun rises.

Knowing there’s only 6 hours of “sunlight” (it should be called graylight), means carefully planning your outdoor activities. So far, some include:

A city walk, to get the lay of the land.

Exercise spots for walks/hikes.

Comparing supermarkets and stores in the city center.

Finding the post office, museums, and coffee shops.

Or watching the President of Finland speak to local residents at the mall.

Reindeer art

President Sauli Niinistö

Harju walk

Gingerbread Jyvaskyla

Lake walk

Local church

Art everywhere

I could get used to this new concept of time, but I don’t want to worry about that yet. The three hours of commuting time in Los Angeles traffic is a bad nightmare that won’t return for another eight months.

In the meantime, I am embracing the time I’ve been given to be a Fulbright Teacher, and to go in-depth into my inquiry project.

Moving at 47

noreply@blogger.com (avalonsensei) — Sat, 13 Jan 2018 06:21:00 +0000

http://darkroom.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/AFP_Getty-476646709.jpg

It was the late ‘70’s and there was a televised show based on the Hardy Boys mysteries (who else has that collection?) that captured my attention. This particular episode was based in the city of New Orleans during Mardi Gras time. The visual images captured my imagination: people wearing masks, losing their identities and adopting new ones, dancing and parading on the streets, the music…well, I was hooked. I knew at age eight or nine that I would be visiting New Orleans and as many other places in the world where I could discover a different kind of mystery and magic than what I saw in my own neighborhood.

Almost 40 years later, some might say I took this to the extreme by moving to one of the colder climates in the world, the country of Finland, for 5 months to study the school system.

If you’ve been reading this blog, you will know there is a special urgency that underlies the reason for applying for this Fulbright. Other than educators who work in impacted communities, few people believe in the quest for the educationally excellent practices for students and teachers in communities such as South Central L.A. What is excellence?

I believe you cannot make significant changes in troubled schools unless you have highly competent, well-trained, and supported teachers. Unlike Finland, teachers in the U.S. are considered expendable workers who merit little respect. “Those who can’t do, teach.” Some schools and districts get it right, others, not so much. In my 20+ year career I have ridden the wave of different approaches to supporting teachers and have tried to make support as many new teachers as possible with the New Teacher Roundtable. But in the meantime, I have tried to advance my own excellence and blaze a path for those who might come after me. Excellence is recruiting and retaining talented teachers at all schools.

Excellence means getting out of your comfort zone and elevating the profession by sharing your own special skills with others. I know so many teachers with a gift, but who are too shy or humble, or don’t believe in themselves enough to share with others outside of their school. When was the last time you presented at a conference, or applied to be on a district committee? Or encouraged a talented teacher to share their gifts on a wider level?

http://www.charlescityschools.org/userfiles/133/my%20files/teach-lead.gif?id=3172&width=580

The students don’t know if a lesson you teach comes from Finland, Singapore, or Ms. Mickey from down the hall (although they crack me up when they come to report that a teacher stole your lesson). But you as a teacher know you’ve achieved excellence when you see that light of comprehension in a student’s eyes, or the look of deep understanding.

Moving at age 47 to this country called Finland on a program called Fulbright will allow the students at my school to know that if this daughter from a "shithole country" can represent the United States of America on a prestigious fellowship, then so can they. Excellence means leaving behind a recognizable legacy for the next generation. I hope I am at least partially successful.

FULBRIGHT: TODAY IS THE DAY

noreply@blogger.com (avalonsensei) — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 01:26:00 +0000

What I Want to Experience

Aurora Borealis

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2017/09/06/northern-lights-will-be-visible-across-much-continental-u-s.html

What I Will Miss

My Husband

My daughter, my old family, my new family, my dogs, my cats. But you only live once, and there is important work to do. Adelante!

FULBRIGHT: Countdown Day 2

noreply@blogger.com (avalonsensei) — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 00:45:00 +0000

What I Want to Learn

How to Live in The COLD

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/75/1c/cc/751cccb5ae26ead4d4caacc9770c935b.jpg

How do people deal with no sunlight? There were zero days of sunlight in December in Jyvaskyla, where I will be living for 5 months. Yet people take dips in the the icy lakes? And what is this sauna thing all about? How do students deal with the cold? Do they stay inside? Are there snow days?

What I Will Miss

Mexican Food

http://www.seriouseats.com/images/2013/04/20130427-tacos-al-pastor-new-39.jpg

No explanation needed.

FULBRIGHT: Countdown Day 3

noreply@blogger.com (avalonsensei) — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 03:34:00 +0000

What I Want to See

Student Break Time

https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/06/how-finland-keeps-kids-focused/373544/

For every hour of instruction, Finnish students receive 15 minutes of unstructured break time. What do they do during this time? How much is spent outdoors? Do teachers influence student choice? Are there gender differences in break activities? I want to know. Here is a great article by ex-pat Timothy Walker on this topic. He also writes a great blog called Taught by Finland. where the intrigue with Finland first began. I hope to meet him there!

What I Will Miss

Friends and Family

http://i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/014/159/bitmoji-tshirt.png

On the one hand, I have the best friends one could ever hope for. On the other hand, many of them will have a chance to come visit me in Finland! I will miss my family, and my husband's family, especially our children.

FULBRIGHT:: Countdown Day 4

noreply@blogger.com (avalonsensei) — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 01:50:00 +0000

What I Want to See

The Finnish Educational System

http://www.oamk.fi/extra/degree/artikkelit/14/educationsystem.jpg

How do schools in urban centers incorporate nature into the curriculum, as opposed to schools in the far north, Arctic Lapland?

What I Will Miss

My School

For all of its challenges, the value of the work we do with the students and parents of South Central L.A. is what keeps so many of us still working there.

FULBRIGHT: Countdown Day 5

noreply@blogger.com (avalonsensei) — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 02:50:00 +0000

What I Want to Experience

Finland's Natural beauty

From the raw beauty of Lapland to the National Parks, I want to see how much time students get to spend in nature, and study the effects on their schooling.

What I Will Miss

Woodland Hills

Just as I'm getting to know this neighborhood, and liking it, it is time to go. I never thought I'd be a Valley Girl.

FULBRIGHT: Countdown Day 6

noreply@blogger.com (avalonsensei) — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 00:10:00 +0000

What I Want to See

The Nordic Model

Universal healthcare, free schooling through college, generous work leaves, all paid by the state through high taxes. There's even an experiment with paid unemployment! How does that work? Read all about a the Finnish baby box that all newborns receive, that has reduced the infant mortality rate in Finland substantially.

What I Will Miss

Diversity

It's just a way of life in Southern California. It's not something you even think about. My husband is half Irish, half Indian. My daughter is half African-American. My best friends are the Rainbow Coalition. I will miss the diversity of food, traditions, people and thought while I am away.

FULBRIGHT: Countdown: Day 7

noreply@blogger.com (avalonsensei) — Mon, 01 Jan 2018 20:43:00 +0000

As my Fulbright journey becomes a reality, I am one part excitement and anticipation, another part forlorn about what I am leaving behind. So each day, leading up to my departure this time next week, I will post what I am most looking forward to learning and what I will seriously miss from my life in Los Angeles.

Looking Forward To

Discussing Education

In our August orientation, I met some of the world's most intelligent and passionate educators. It feeds the soul! These are people for whom teaching is not just a job, but a calling. In just the few days we spent together, I knew that the ideas produced could actually make a difference in improving educational practices in the U.S. Now, I will have the opportunity to have these same type of discussions with educators in Finland while visiting their schools.

Here is some more information about the Finnish education system, from the Fulbright Center in Finland.

Will Miss

Sunny California

The fruits. The vegetables. The concerts The gorgeous weather that allows for year-round hiking. Our regular trips to Mammoth. Not gonna lie, that will be missed. Here is a link to the National Parks located in California.

FULBRIGHT: It is NOT a vacation

noreply@blogger.com (avalonsensei) — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 19:11:00 +0000

Photo Credit https://bodybalance4you.files.wordpress.com

Friday the 15th of December marked the last day of the school semester for me at Los Angeles Academy Middle School in South Central L.A. It also meant that I would not be returning to work until August of 2018.

Goodbye, 8th grade students matriculating to high school.

Goodbye, parents with whom I have collaborated for many years.

Hasta luego, colleagues and friends who will remain on the front to keep pushing our school forward.

Mighty Lions Gala

It was not an easy farewell. But confoundingly, I was wished a happy vacation by various people. I smiled, and corrected them, but apparently this is a very common misconception encountered by Fulbrighters while on leave.

Imagine having a burning curiosity on a subject related to your work. Mine was the education system in Finland, and whether we could implement some of their best practices in the USA. You wish you had the time and the money to explore this esoteric topic, but everyone thinks you are crazy for even believing it could be possible. Except the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

A little Fulbright history

In September 1945, the freshman senator from Arkansas, J. William Fulbright, introduced a bill in the U.S. Congress that called for the use of proceeds from the sales of surplus war property to fund the “promotion of international good will through the exchange of students in the fields of education, culture and science.” One year later, President Harry S. Truman signed the Fulbright Act into law.

Today, Fulbright is the most widely recognized and prestigious international exchange program in the world, supported for more than half a century by the American people through an annual appropriation from the U.S. Congress and by the people of partner nations. The program—working with universities, schools, binational Fulbright commissions, government agencies, nongovernmental organizations and the private sector—actively seeks out individuals of achievement and potential who represent the full diversity of their respective societies and selects nominees through open, merit-based competitions.

From its inception, the Fulbright Program has fostered bilateral relationships in which other countries and governments work with the U.S. to set joint priorities and shape the program to meet shared needs. The world has been transformed in ensuing decades, but the fundamental principles of international partnership and mutual understanding remain at the core of the Fulbright Program’s mission.

Senator Fulbright had the foresight to imagine that freeing people from their everyday duties to learn and interact with global citizens, far and wide, might....just might bring home some new and fresh ideas for schools, companies, and even individuals. I, for one, am thankful of the existence of this program.

Schedule in Finland

There is no schedule. I will have 5 months to plan my days according to my own priorities. As I type this, I am still in disbelief that such professional respect and courtesy would be afforded to me. No one will be looking over my shoulder. There will be minimal check-ins with the International Institute for Education, which manage the Fulbright DAT Program. I will be left alone to study at my own pace, design my school visits, conduct interviews, and sometimes just think.

Inquiry Project

Each Fulbright Teacher selects a topic they would like to pursue, in keeping with the special focus of the U.S. Department of State:

One of the main components of the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program is the design and completion of an inquiry project that is directly relevant and applicable to classroom practice. The U.S. Department of State is particularly interested in supporting projects that reach students in traditionally underserved groups including girls, racial and ethnic minorities, children with disabilities, and students in underresourced communities and schools.

My topic is How Does Outdoor Education Foster Equality in Girls? If Finnish students are provided with an abundance of break time, most of which is spent outdoors, how does this unstructured break time contribute to the great equality between the sexes that Finland has achieved?

Esoteric? Indeed. And I will get 5 months to pursue this line of inquiry.

Goal

What if schools in Los Angeles (...CA...USA...) increased their outdoor time? Recess breaks have been declining substantially in the last decade. Kindergarten is no longer fun. We are killing our students by forcing them to study non-stop inside four walls, with little to no breaks. According to brain research, we are doing it all wrong.

What if break time was classified as instructional time? Then we would not have to keep students in school longer in order to meet minimum instructional minutes required by the Department of Education. As I get closer to retirement, I think about the legacy I'd like to leave behind. Giving students a chance to learn in a different environment, closer to nature (even if it is just sunlight), and strengthening underserved populations is something I believe is worth pursuing.

FULBRIGHT: I'm Moving to Finland

noreply@blogger.com (avalonsensei) — Sun, 05 Nov 2017 18:21:00 +0000

When I tell people that come January, I will be living in Finland for 5 months, the reactions are shock, wonder, and admiration. "I wish I could get away for 5 months like that!" is a common reaction.

The truth is it is not so easy.

Your Job

Most teachers who apply for a Fulbright tend to be intricately involved in the management of their schools. They are department chairs, coaches, coordinators, and many times all of the above. Aside from that, we have our own rolls of students we are committed to.

I had the opportunity to leave the classroom this year for the first time in 22 years. My Fulbright award definitely swayed me into the direction of taking on a full time Magnet Program Coordinator role. If I wasn't personally in charge of 150 students, it would make my departure easier to bear.

But no matter your role, knowing you will be leaving your school is a tough decision. As January approaches, the decision is still a tough one to deal with.

Your Pay

Although Fulbright covers your costs while living abroad, you have your own expenses to deal with at home. It turns out there is a wide variety of support that teachers receive from their school districts.

Most Fulbrighters receive some level of salary and benefits. But there are some districts that completely cut teachers off and assign them an unpaid leave. At our orientation, one teacher shared that her school gave away her position during her leave and when she returned, she had to cobble together three minimum wage jobs until she was able to obtain another teaching position.

My school district, in spite of months of questions, has not told me what I can expect for compensation next year. So I have to plan for zero. This means renting out my home, and moving in with loved ones in order to save money for 2018. This was really hard to do, but I am willing to make sacrifices to get to Finland.

It will mean living like a college student again in order to pay my bills while conducting my inquiry project in Finland.

Many leaders in my district have written congratulatory letters to me and are thorough supporters of my endeavor. But the must frustrating part is those who respond with "what is a Fulbright?" when I try to get answers about my leave. Those are the tough days.

Your Family

There is nothing easy about leaving friends and family behind. But I take this as an opportunity to encourage them all to visit you while abroad. My daughter Alana plans to visit and keep me warm.

Your Housing

Many worry warts have asked me if I am stressed about the move or finding housing or the food or the language. No! I am excited! That is all part of the adventure. When will I ever have the opportunity to find a cool new apartment and be cosmopolitan? When will I ever get to challenge myself by being immersed in a completely foreign culture? Your grow or you die.

The apartment I am looking at is in the city center, a short walk from everything. However, a short walk might seem like torture when it is below zero, but I hope my acclimation will be quick.

As the holidays approach, I continue to gather artifacts and ideas that I will share with the Finnish people. Los Angelenos represent the intersection of race, class, gender, and all that makes America already great. I embark on my Fulbright hoping to share with the Finns as much as they may share with me.

Want to learn about the awesome program that is sending me to Finland? Check it out here.

Dino-Mite

noreply@blogger.com (avalonsensei) — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 05:40:00 +0000

FULBRIGHT: The Application; Am I Worthy?

noreply@blogger.com (avalonsensei) — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 18:32:00 +0000

As a classroom teacher, milestones that determine your accomplishments are quite different than in other professions. Managing an unruly department can be an accomplishment. Applying for and earning a school grant is laudable. National Board Certification? Props.

But would these be enough to qualify me for a Fulbright?

The application itself was formidable. You can peruse it here.

The main focus of the application was previous travel experience and qualifications. Moving to a foreign country for 6 months is no joke, and I saw the questions as a way to gauge your sturdiness in adapting to foreign cultures. While Finland is not dramatically different than the U.S., the climate is. Going from the land of eternal sunshine to 5 hours of daylight upon arrival will take some adjustment.

For my letters of recommendation, all those commissions in which I participated came in handy. I did not hesitate to ask leaders in education for a letter. They not only obliged, but cheered me on.

For my professional accomplishments, I thought about what I had tried to accomplish during my 20+ years as a teacher:

becoming a model for my students
acquiring top-notch training
joining professional networks
stemming the loss of teachers at my high-needs school
elevating the profession

And yet I was intimidated by the Fulbright. Who did I think I was thinking I could represent the United States of America in such a prestigious manner? Although friends and colleagues assured me I was a strong candidate, I always have a crisis when it comes to high profile opportunities. Teacher stage fright.

I reflected over the study tours I had taken around the world on teacher delegations.

I though of the commissions I worked on at the CA Department of Education.

I thought of the awards I had been fortunate to received.

And then I received a message from a long lost student on Facebook (posted with her permission):

Hello Ms. Infante,

You may not remember me but I'm a former student of yours. I graduated from Bethune MS back in 2005 (12 years ago, WOW!). Just wanted to express my gratitude for encouraging me along with many others, to go to college and succeed in life.

I had a few behavioral issues but with no hesitations, and no questions asked, you enrolled me into the Honors program in Bethune. With the guidance of caring individuals like yourself, I had the support needed to succeed. I'm currently a Graduate Student at CSULB School of Social Work.

Aside from education goals, I also owe to you my aspirations to travel. During our history class you would ALWAYS encourage us to consider traveling. You gave us a sneak peak of the world through pictures of trips you had taken. I remember thinking, God... when I grow up, I'd like to do that! At that age I knew nothing but the streets of South LA. And now, I've visited 9 countries, and counting

The work you do, TRULY changes lives! You instill dreams to students, and you give us the support needed to ensure those dreams come true. You've planted so many seeds throughout the years in areas where there was nothing but dirt....and now, thanks to you, there is a garden Thanks to individuals like you, generations of educated Latinos are rising. We are no longer a statistic, but are becoming constructive members of society. Thank you for looking past behavioral issues, challenges, and other things, and for valuing each student beyond their flaws, and seeing their true potential

Best Regards,
Ariana Z

Become a role model for your students. How could I look my students in the eye, exhort them to work hard, dream big, and fly if I wasn't willing to do this myself? After wiping the tears and reflecting on how many students are watching what we say and do, I began the Fulbright application process. After an agonizing 5 month wait, I learned that I too, would be a Fulbrighter. And now the work begins.