ICE-1 2022 Session 4 by STOSKIENE RITA

Rita

rita100 — 2019-04-23 21:12:06 UTC

Link to my Christmas Trolls.

Jane - This is how we troll!

2022-04-14 14:00:13 UTC

Today has been incredibly beneficial. Seeing the school and recognising both the similarities and differences between our school’s organisation and that of Iceland will always give us food for thought of what we can bring back to the UK. The culture of Iceland isn’t something that is a tradition of the older generation; it permeates the curriculum alongside the religion and the stories of nature (as we’ve seen over the last few days). It has now given me time to reflect on how the culture of our local area can be brought in to our school and curriculum.

As far as the felting workshop goes, what an activity to promote mindfulness! Seeing fourteen teachers working in silence is quite a rarity!

A trolly remarkable day!

2022-04-14 14:34:37 UTC

Today I learnt a lot about how the natural world is a large part of the curriculum in Iceland: becoming inspiration for themes of learning, being used in the classroom for crafting, and facilitating outdoor learning. This shows how Icelandic culture and its ties to nature are passed down to each new generation of Icelanders.

Dawn

2022-04-14 17:58:42 UTC

Joy! That's my reflection of today summed up in my photo choice! Thanks to Kelly and Winston! Trampolines to bounce on in class is a genius idea for so many reasons and one I will consider in my own class in the future. I know I would have found that beneficial in my own school days.
What a wonderful school environment, opportunities and ways of working that the children experience each day. Lucky staff and pupils.
The troll stories and felting workshop were so engaging and enjoyable. Nobody wanted to stop, even when lunch was announced. A rare teacher moment I'm sure!
Thank you for another inspiring day where personal and work related considerations for the future were begun.

Christoph

2022-04-14 18:00:28 UTC

This school made me quite envious, like it did probably many of us. Still, love the fact that many things that they did there might also be possible at my school with a little creativity and courage. Definitely something I will be working on once I get back to my school. Can't reproduce Icelandic nature though, unfortunately, which seems to be as closely related to school life here as to everything else.

Russ

2022-04-14 18:18:08 UTC

Like much we have seen over the last few days, today has been inspirational. This was actually the first time I have seen a school from a different county and there was much to admire. The layout of the school was open and airy, encouraging learning that is free-flowing, both physically and cognitively. Students are respected and trusted, and the needs of each are clearly well met. I particularly liked the attitude taken by the school towards outdoor learning: it happens, come rain, shine or snow! I am conscious that the school we saw today wasn't typical of schools in Iceland, and it would be interesting to visit one to compare, but I was hugely impressed and took much away from our visit.

Additionally, we were allowed to unleash our creativity. Physically creative activities such as felting don't come easily to me, but I was encouraged by my peers and our hosts and ended up with something I am really quite proud of. A lovely (and educational) way to spend a morning!

Ulrike

2022-04-14 19:50:13 UTC

Was nice to see everybody working hard!
I've learnt today that teachers of different countries and different schools are much alike in having fun doing something they've never done before. Teachers' minds seem to function very much the same.

Who is who?

2022-04-14 21:31:57 UTC

Today I ' ve been near to nature in many ways. Walking through the streets the wind was blowing and playing with my hair. Looking at my troll I got the idea of something I know very well...
Working together and handling quite an unknown material I liked the situation very much. To make new experiences every day is what school should be able to stand for. Then nobody wants to leave but works further and further.

Anja

2022-04-14 21:33:58 UTC

Today we had the great opportunity to visit an Icelandic school. I was very impressed by the warm and very personal atmosphere. The design of the rooms was very creative and inspiring. I got a lot of new ideas and suggestions. During the workshop (felting a troll) I realized again how important and beautiful learning with head, heart and hand is.

Wojtek: A troll is born

2022-04-14 22:43:49 UTC

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Sjálandsskóli visit lived up to all expectations. Modern infrastructure, open glass-walled spaces and views that might well make a teacher want to spend more time at work than at home. All that in the service of a holistic, learner-centred and task-based approach to teaching and learning. The pupils have the benefit of modern workshops in which to give free rein to their imagination and creative talents and bring into existence creatures of legend made out of wool, wood and stone. Today we were given the chance to do just that. The creations by my colleagues, fashioned in a short space of time, were downright spectacular. Many a creature was born today that will spread Icelandic lore across Europe. And more importantly, many a child has their imagination fired up, creative skills honed and ecological mindset strengthened every day, thus laying the groundwork for a better future. And making a world of legend live on.

Mireia: My dreamed school

2022-04-14 23:55:44 UTC

Today we had the opportunity of visiting an Icelader school. I've never been in a school like this or even similar.
Find that comfortable atmosphere, with that infraestructure, open spaces, gym, swimming pool, a explosion of light even being a cloudy day, feeling like at home,or even better in a public school is something unbelievable in my country.
Having the chance of spending a morning at school, and then, listening Silja, explaining ways of working, of how they organize the school... To finish with the creation of a wooden troll is just marvellous.
My heart is about to explote of the emotions lived the last days. It's being an energy shoy to keep on working hard trying to show our best version to our kids.

Kelly

2022-04-15 00:07:00 UTC

Today was our Icelandic school experience, throughout which we were given the opportunity to explore an Icelandic school and enjoy our craft workshop by making trolls. I admired the school for a number of reasons and considered that much of this admiration was based on the fact that the students appeared to have more freedom and trust than I am used to in schools in the UK. The setting was far more connected to nature, with the sea in particular being visible through most windows but also the openness of the space and the flow of the classrooms had a very natural feel. This made me consider my classroom and structure - whilst there are many reasons for the structures of my day it was interesting to hear the Icelandic teacher talk about the freedoms and trust she gives to her students.

Will

2022-04-15 00:12:41 UTC

Today’s tour and troll felting was an eye opening and enjoyable experience. The school seems set up to engage and encourage it’s pupils in every aspect of daily school life; from kayaking to textiles and private work booths to snooker tables. Also what was shown off today was evidence that the teaching staff feel that their wellbeing is held in high regard.

Lots of tid-bits to take back home, share and impliment into daily school life back in the UK.

Isabel - A new educational perspective that joins our. Why not?

2022-04-15 00:12:43 UTC

Today's reflection is logically focused on the Icelandic education system, its differences and similarities with the current Spanish system, and the fusion of both, which has already generated good ideas for me.
I was looking forward to seeing first-hand an innovative school like Sjálandsskóli. I have been impressed by its functionality, its facilities and its architectural design, its enviable surroundings and Silja's vocation (a proud colleague of her school and of the people who work or are educated there).
I have enjoyed the talk that Mireia and I have had with Silja after lunch among trolls. She kindly answered the questions we asked her about different aspects of her unique school (schedules, subjects, evaluations, attention to children with special educational needs, rubrics, homework, systems of other Icelandic schools... We wanted to know much more.
Of course, we have enjoyed as children (and jumped on the fun trampoline in the classroom facing the sea) while, relaxed and with a lot of imagination, we have launched to create our trolls after discovering secrets of wool and while listening to one more story of trolls with the sea almost at our feet.
Thanks to Silja for her dedication and for her desire to share our educational world in this.