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Month: June 2015

Japan US Exchange Day 7

Today was another great day experiencing the culture of Japan. It is great to be traveling with Fulbright Japan because we get to have so many experiences that would not be possibile without their organization. Everyday, I am amazed at the amount of staff and volunteers organized for our visits. From bus drivers, to professors, to school personnel, to community leaders – there are so many people working to make our visit special.

We are still in Omuta City and we started the day at Omuta City hall to meet with the mayor of Omuta and the local Board of Education.
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Then we spent the afternoon at a community center in Omuta where we cooked a Japanese meal, practiced Origami, and participated in a traditional tea ceremony. I want to express deep gratitude for the dozens of volunteers that helped make this afternoon special and were extremely patient with us as we learned.

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The iron chef whipping up lunch.

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All fresh ingredients for our lunch.

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My lunch Japanese style lunch.

After lunch we took a quick class on the Japanese art of origami.

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My origami creations (with a lot of help)

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Our amazing origami teacher.

After origami we learned the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Our teachers were a group of veteran tea masters that go to schools and around the community teaching the ceremony in order to preserve this important Japanese tradition.

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Our group with our tea masters.

After leaving the community center in Omuta we traveled to the Omuta City Ecosanc. I was floored by the massive fields of solar panels that generate energy for more than 1/3 of this city. In total there are 70,000 solar panels in the array. It is incredible to see a town that was dependant on coal and devastated when the mines closed show new life with renewable energy.

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A panoramic view of the 70,000 solar panels in Omuta City.

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Aerial view of the solar array.

This evening we took a train to Fukuoka, Japan’s sixth largest city on the northern shore of Kyushu Island. This city is famous for it’s Ramen and although we were only there a couple of hours it was impressive. Fukuoka is a very vibrant city.

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On the train headed to Fukuoka.

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Delicious ramen spots right along the city street in Fukuoka.

Japan US Exchange Day 6

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Today was a very special day as we visited two different schools here in Omuta City. The first school we went to was Yoshino Elementary School where my the host for my home stay Mr. Nakamura teaches. Then we visited Takuma Junior High School. This area has seen and will continue to see significant growth and development due to the opening of a Shinkansen station (Shinkansen is the Japanese bullet train) in the local community.

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When we arrived at Yoshino Elementary we were greeted warmly but the principal and staff.

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We began the day at Yoshino learning about Education for Sustainable Development initiatives in Japan and specifically at the school.

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Here we are meeting the staff of Yoshino elementary in the teacher’s office.

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I have been very impressed since we have been in Japan that the teachers desks and offices are all located together. Teacher’s work side by side on their plan time in this large open office. This is common throughout the country,

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The students gave us tour through the school and showed us some of the amazing things they are doing with education for sustainable development such as the Biotope you see above.

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Also, the students have a garden they tend. The students are working with the local community to plant Sakura (cherry) trees around the school. At one time there were more than 80 cherry trees and the students have a goal to replenish them.

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The staff of Yoshino was extremely generous as we were able to visit classrooms in every grade level throughout the day. The above pictures are my friend and host Mr. Nakamura giving a lesson to his 5th graders.

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It is very impressive that nearly all schools, including elementary schools in Japan have a swimming pool. Students do swimming 3 days a week as part of the PE curriculum during the summer months.

Students in the school also take English. Below you can see their book for English that they use. The students asked us their interview question for the day and had an opportunity to practice with us.

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Here are the rules when speaking English.

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I continue to be impressed with the writing. Writing in the symbols of Kanji and Katakana is most definitely an art. Students practice the symbols daily. Today they were learning the Kanji symbol for growth. There is a very specific path to creating each of the more than 2000 characters that these students are exposed to in school.

We also had a special treat today as we got to eat lunch with the students. In Japan students eat in the classroom with the teacher. The lunch is prepared in the school kitchen and then brought to the classroom by students. I was most impressed by the efficiency of the students.

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Here they are consolidating their milk cartons down for recycling.

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In the kitchen, after lunch, this is apparently what was not eaten by the more than 500 students at the school. As you can see students ate nearly everything that was served to them.

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Later in the afternoon the entire school takes 15 minutes and cleans the hallways and their learning spaces. Students sweep and mop the floors of the classrooms, hallways, and stairs. I was impressed by this as the students did this enthusiastically. The classroom is their learning space and they seemed to have a genuine desire to care for it.

Later in the afternoon we went to Takuma Junior High School. In Japan elementary school is 1st grade – 6th grade and junior high is 7th through 9th.

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After being greeted by the principal and his staff we were invited to see one of the grade levels presenting speeches to their classmates. Notice that all of the students are wearing uniforms. All junior high students wear uniforms in Japan. One of the things that stood out to me was the straight and neat rows as all students listened to their classmates.

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After touring this school we were invited to stay around for their extra-curricular activities. Approximately 70% of the students stay after school for these club activities which include music, art, soccer, baseball and as you see above Kendo or Japanese fencing.

It is great to visit various sites in the country but I definitely have the most fun being in the schools. The kids are so excited to meet you and talk to you. It is very interesting and engaging to be in the schools here. In one instance they are so familiar and in the next instance they are completely different from everything you know about school practices. There is so much to learn. Stay tuned.

Japan US Exchange Day 5

Today was yet another amazing day here in Japan. There is so much so explore in this area of Kyushu, the southern island of Japan. I had a wonderful breakfast with my host and his family this morning before we headed out to spend the day in Yanagawa, the city of water.

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About to head out for a day of adventure.

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We began by taking a boat ride “Donko-Bune” through the city. The boat ride was 70 minutes and wound through waterways and past the historic site of Yanagawa castle.

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Next we made a visit to “Ohana” The western style villa built by Sadayoshi Tachibana.

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The “Shoto-en” is the garden at Ohana. The pond symbolizes the sea and the rocks depict islands. This was a truly beautiful Japanese garden.

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We also visited the home and museum of Hakushu Kitahara. A famous and beloved Japanese poet and children’s songwriter.

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One of my favorite parts of the day was visiting the Tachibanake Museum and viewing the incredible displays of Samurai armour and weapons.

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We had an amazing lunch at a very famous place in Yanagawa that features fresh seafood direct from the Ariake Sea.

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This afternoon we climbed into the mountains above Miyama to visit a 1300 year old shrine and look out over the city below.

I cannot thank my host family enough. They welcomed me into their home and family and gave me an experience of Japanese culture that I will not forget. I am excited to visit Mr. Nakamura’s school while we are here in Omuta and to work with him at our joint conference in Tokyo later this week.

Japan – US Exchange Day 4

Today was another incredible day on my journey in Japan. This was our first full day in Omuta and it was full of excitement. We explored Omuta’s historic sites and this afternoon we were all picked up at our hotel by our host families.

Miyanohara Pit, Miike Coal Mine
Today began with a trip to the Miyanohara Pit of the Miike Coal Mine. The mine was instrumental in fueling industry and growth in Japan. Our visit here even made the local news in Japan.

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Miike Harbor
Next we visited Miike harbor. For centuries Japan had a policy of isolation toward the rest of the world. Miike harbor was instrumental in changing that. Our tour guide told us today that when Miike harbor was opened in 1901 it was instrumental in opening Japan up to the world.

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Host Family Stay
Today we also began our host family stay and I am honored and humbled by the generosity shown by my hosts. My hosts are Mr. Toshiaki Nakamura and his family. Mr. Nakamura and his wife are both elementary school teachers in Omuta and they have three daughters.

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Mr. Nakamura is one of the Japanese teachers participating in Japan US Teacher Exchange this year. We met in May in San Francisco when he was on his journey in the Untied States. We will also be participating the final joint conference together back in Tokyo later next week. Mr. Nakamura picked me up from the hotel this afternoon and we went to his home in Miyama. After meeting Mrs. Nakamura and his daughter they took me to Chikugo to make Washii – Japanese paper. This evening I was invited to his parents home for special dinner featuring fresh seafood direct from the Ariake Sea. It was incredible. Once again pictures speak louder than words but I can say this was one of the more amazing afternoons and evenings that I have in a long time.

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Miyama and Chikugo in relation to Omuta City

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I was so honored to be welcomed into the home of Mr. Nakamura and his family.

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They took me to make Washii – Japanese paper – this is such a neat process and I am thrilled to have experienced it.

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Mr. Nakamura and me making paper.

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Picking the flowers for our paper.

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My nearly finished product

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After papermaking we were invited to his father’s home for dinner. The home was amazing as it was a traditional Japanese home – Tatami floors and all.

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They prepared an amazing meal of seafood from the nearby Ariake sea.

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It was a great honor for me to be invited into the home of my hosts father. I very much appreciate his warmth and hospitality.

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There was even a little time for a game of badminton after dinner.

I am not sure what all is ahead for tomorrow but I have come to expect it to be amazing. Stay tuned.

Japan US Exchange Day 3

Tokyo to Omuta City
We left the hotel this morning at around 7:30AM bound for Omuta City in the Fukuoka Prefecture on the southern island of Japan. We will be in Omuta City and the surrounding area for the next several days visiting schools and world heritage sites. It is a little sad to leave Tokyo so soon because it is such an amazing and beautiful city that we haven’t begun to scratch the surface on. However, it is exciting to travel to Omuta City since it is a part of Japan that many visitors may not get to.

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Our path from Tokyo to Saga.

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Map showing Omuta City.

Omuta City
Omuta City has a population of about 120,000 people. This industrial area was once home to the Mitsui Miike Coal Mine. Mining in this area began in the Kyoho era in the early 1700’s. The mine was nationalised in 1872 and operated until its closure in 1997. The mine was a major factor in supplying the energy needed for the rapid growth of Japan in the 20th century. When the mine closed there were significant effects on the local economy. Having been here only one day so far it is easy to see many similarities between Omuta City and similar towns in the United States that have been hurt by large industries and corporations moving. Where I grew up in Kentucky there were several coal mines and I can remember the impact that the closure of our local coal mines had on the surrounding communities. It doesn’t just have to be coal mining, there are numerous examples of industries moving or shutting down that have decimated local areas. There is a reason we call it the “rust belt” in the United States.

The schools in Omuta City have embraced the idea of Education for Sustainable Development. The entire purpose of ESD is to not create a present world that endangers future generations. When an area is completely dependent for its prosperity on one industry – how are problems solved when that industry goes away? It appears that Omuta City is attempting to answer that question. All 34 of the schools in Omuta City are UNECSO schools (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). The board of education has embraced the idea of teaching students not to create a present that endangers the future. In Omuta City there are real life lessons to pull from to teach the students this important concept. I can’t wait to see how they are using education to combat the effects of departing industry.

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The Omuta Coal Industry Science Museum

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Inside the museum there are several exhibits detailing the history of the Miike Coal Mine.

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Not to be bound by the past. Solar panel farms dot the landscape around Omuta City.

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This evening the local board of education along with local educators and community members hosted a reception for us.

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Here I am with Masanori Yasuda the superintendent of Omuta City schools.

Tomorrow will be another exciting day as we will be visiting world heritage sites around Omuta City and begin our one night homestay experience with a local educator/community member. Stay tuned.

Japan US Exchange Day 2

Today was another amazing and inspiring day here in Tokyo. It was particularly special because today was spent at schools with students. One thing that was clear from today is that love of learning and watching students grow is universal among educators no matter where you are.

JIYU
Our first stop today was JIYU Gakuen. JIYU is a private school that offers Kindergarten through university on its 25 acre campus in the western suburbs of Tokyo. The name of the school JIYU means “freedom”. This was evident throughout the school. This is an learning environment that takes pride in putting the students in charge of more than just their learning. Students in junior high and high school live on campus. However, all students take part in the experience of community. Students at JIYU prepare and serve lunch, they manage the gardens and grounds, they also wash their own laundry by hand in the dormitories. However, most impressive is that the students live in the dormitories in junior high school and up with no adults. The students are in charge of managing the dormitory and each other. Students here spend approximately 6 hours a day on academics and 1-2 hours a day on preparing food, working in the gardens, or other chores. We were told that JIYU is a unique school. It attracts students from all over Japan and is quite different than public schools.

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Check your shoes at the door. In Japanese schools you do not wear your outdoor shoes into the buildings. You exchange your outdoor shoes for sandals.

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The first building of the school was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright after he met the founder of the school in 1921.

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One of my favorite parts of the day. Getting a calligraphy lesson from a JIYU high school student.

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At JIYU students prep, cook, and serve lunch. It was amazing!!!

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Farm to table. Students tend to the gardens at JIYU which include these green tea plants.
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The tea we were served when we arrived this morning was made by students from the very same plants.

Inagi Daini Elementary School
Going to JIYU was incredible and I wasn’t sure the day would get much better. That all changed when we spent the afternoon at Inagi Daini Elementary School. We were welcomed with a whole school assembly where the students sang the school song and presented us with gifts. Afterwards we spent time in the classrooms of several grade levels observing lessons. My major takeaway from being Inagi Daini was reaffirmation that the teacher is the single most important factor in a child’s learning. The rooms at the school were pretty sparse. There was a TV mounted in the corner of each room but other than that there was just a chalkboard, desks, bulletin boards, and students. However, in the short time I spent in the classrooms I saw incredibly high levels of engagement and creative problem solving in every classroom – all of this being led by the teacher.

It was also heartwarming to see that no matter where you are in the world kids are kids. When we were in one of the primary classrooms students got to ask us questions. One of the questions that a student asked was “How do you say dinosaur in English?” It was a very sweet moment as I realized that no matter where you put a 6 year old boy in the world there will always be a need to understand all that is and ever was about dinosaurs.

The students also gave incredible presentations about their school and community. I have to say that the students at Inagi Diani seemed so happy at the school. They were the incredibly kind and fun – I couldn’t imagine spending the afternoon with more kind students or caring educators.

I am posting several pictures below that have been altered to keep students we visited today anonymous.

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The students welcoming us to their school.

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I captured this picture of some student artwork. This was one of several Godzilla creations on the window ledge.

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In many of the classrooms students were working hands on with the teacher. In almost all cases they were making observations, collecting data, and asking/answering questions.

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As part of the 5th grade curriculum students plant rice and compare how the rice grows in a bucket compared to how it grows in the patty. Students measure the rice plants and compare and contrast the differences all while integrating learning about the cultural significance of rice to the Japanese people.

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As part of the 6th grade history curriculum students integrate culture by learning how to do a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Today we were lucky enough to be part of a traditional tea ceremony with the students.

Tomorrow we are flying to Omuta City on the southern island of japan for more school and cultural site visits. Each day gets better so stay tuned.

Japan US Exchange Day 1

What an amazing trip it has been so far. After a long flight and a two hour delay I finally made it Tokyo at around 10 PM last night. I was exhausted which was good because I was able to go to sleep. I had been worried about that since bedtime in Tokyo is waking time in Chicago. It was great meeting back up today with the other 13 educators from all around the United States joining me in this adventure and the staff from Fulbright Japan. There are some excellent educators here that are doing powerful work in their schools and districts. It is education enough just being around them.

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Tokyo Orientation
This morning was our first full day in Tokyo and we began at the offices of Fulbright Japan. This morning began with a welcome from Matthew Sussman, the executive director of Fulbright Japan. His welcome was excellent as he reminded us that the strong relationship between our two countries is a direct result of activities like this that foster mutual understanding and learning between our two societies. The Fulbright organization and Fulbright Japan have done great work to support the mission of peace and understanding by providing opportunities for thousands of individuals from both the United States and Japan to learn and research abroad since its inception shortly after WWII.

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Our first lecture of the day was from Dr. Laurence MacDonald from Soka University in Tokyo that presented about the cultural background of education reform in Japan. This was very interesting as it became clear that while there are similarities between our two countries, Japan operates an entirely different educational system than the United States. For instance, high school in Japan is not compulsory. However, approximately 98% of students attend high school and there is a very low drop out rate. In addition to this cultural attitudes on the collective culture of the students and school stands in stark contrast to our emphasis on individual achievement.

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Here are some major takeaways from his lecture about Japanese education:
-Larger class sizes benefit students by reducing direct instruction and encouraging students to be independent. Smaller class sizes are teacher directed and reduce problem solving by students.
-High emphasis on routines in schools to minimize lost time in class.
-Teachers travel to student classrooms – students stay in the same homeroom
-Population decline is of serious concern to Japanese society. The number of school age children has dropped rapidly in the past 20 years.
-Elementary school 6 years – Junior High School 3 years
-Japanese education heavily emphasizes Shudan Seikatsu (group life) a collectivist approach to learning.
-Cultural role of teachers is to be seen as a friend not a foe. Teachers may be highly involved in student lives.
-Japanese students attend school 220 days a year as opposed to 180 days for the United States. Japanese students only relatively recently stopped attending school on Saturdays.
-The national government plays a central role in education. For instance, the national government will approve textbooks for school usage. The prefecture can then choose the 1 textbook from the government’s approved list of maybe 6 or 7 in that subject area. Also, the curriculum for the schools is delivered from the national government and reviewed every 10 years.

Our second presentation was from Mr. Katsuhide Kushara professor emeritus from Takushoku University. This was another fascinating presentation on World Heritage and Education for Sustainable Development. World heritage focuses on preserving and protecting world cultural and natural sites. The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization otherwise known as UNESCO designates schools as UNESCO schools that carry out education programs with a focus on world heritage. Currently Japan has over 900 UNESCO schools while the United States has less than 30.

Tokyo City Tour
To round out the day we were given a tour of the city in the afternoon. We began by going to the Imperial Palace, the residence of the emperor of Japan. The most amazing thing about the imperial palace to me is that you have an area approximately half the size of central park in New York City right in the center of Tokyo, the largest city in the world, and no one is allowed to enter. We then proceeded to the Meiji Shrine. This was an exceptional part of the tour as we visited important cultural sites of the Japanese people. Pictures are far better than words for this part of the journey.

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Tomorrow we will be visiting two schools in Tokyo to see the education system and education for sustainable development firsthand. Stay Tuned.

What Do Principals Do in The Summer???

Today as I was talking to a student about his plans for summer he very kindly asked me “What do principals do in the summer?” I thought that was a great question as I have found many students, particularly our youngest ones, assume that I live at the school. So naturally, I was very excited to share.

Just as summer break presents an opportunity to engage in growth and learning for our students, whether that be at camp, vacation, or even just doing some leisure reading it also presents a great opportunity for educators to explore learning that will make us better come August as well.

During the school year our attention is fully focused on the students in the building. However, when the doors open and the last bell rings educators have an opportunity for reflection and exploration that exists in few other industries. Summer for us is a time to reflect on the past school year and engage in new learning that will benefit our students and community when the first bell rings in August.

So what are we up to this summer:

All Kipling Staff
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Right after school is out the entire Kipling staff is going to engage in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Signature Training Program. This two day workshop that will take place on June 15th and 16th is one of the first steps in implementing the Leader in Me at Kipling next year. Part of being able to teach the 7 habits to students next year has to do with how well we are living them ourselves. That is what makes this training different from other experiences. It begins with an investment in learning the habits for the staff. The 7 habits signature training for the Kipling staff is the same that any organization would get regardless of the industry. On Wednesday of next week the staff will engage in our Launching Leadership training. This is a full day training focused on how to launch a leadership culture among students and staff at the school. We are grateful to our PTO for supporting this training and this initiative for our school and I am grateful to our Kipling staff for volunteering their first three days of summer in order to serve our students even better next year.

Mr. McConnell and Mrs. Sutic
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Mr. McConnell
This summer from June 22nd – July 5th I have the privilege to study with 14 other educators from around the United States for two weeks in Japan as part of the Japan-US Teacher Exchange Program. The program is funded by Fulbright, the Institute for International Education, and the US Dept. of Education.

We will begin our visit in Tokyo where we will learn about the Japanese educational system from educational leaders in Japan. We will also visit several elementary schools and middle schools in Tokyo where we will have the opportunity to talk with students, teachers, and administrators. After three days in Tokyo we will fly to Omuta City in the Fukuoka prefecture on the southern island of Japan. There we will visit several more schools, meet with the local board of education, and have an opportunity to engage in a homestay experience for a day. I am very excited as I recently learned that the family that is hosting me for the day are two elementary school teachers. On July 2nd we will return to Tokyo where we will meet once again with our Japanese counterparts for three days of learning and planning. This entire trip is centered around education for sustainable development and fostering cultural understanding between our two countries. It is my hope and goal to cooperatively develop a couple of joint projects for Kipling and a counterpart school in Japan to engage in together this upcoming school year.

In an interesting turn of events I will also be in Los Angeles at the same time I am in Tokyo as I will be co-presenting with Scott Schwartz of Walden Elementary School at the National Association of Elementary School Principals annual conference on July 3rd. Mr. Schwartz will be at the conference in person while I will join him via video from Tokyo. It is perfect as we are presenting about one to one learning and the possibilities of educational technology. What better way than to demonstrate how technology can be employed for learning than presenting simultaneously on two different continents.

Mrs. Sutic
From June 21st – June 27th, at the same time I head to Japan, Mrs. Sutic will be headed to Harvard University in Cambridge MA for a weeklong workshop entitled Improving Schools: The Art of Leadership. And I thought Fulbright was a big deal :) Ms. Sutic was selected for this experience through a rigorous application process. I am extremely proud of her and cannot wait to hear what she learns. I have included the program overview of Improving Schools: The Art of Leadership below.

Program Overview – Improving Schools: The Art of Leadership
Today’s school leaders struggle to balance their roles as instructional leaders with the many other demands of the job. Through Improving Schools: The Art of Leadership, participants will develop their leadership skills, efficacy and ability to support teacher development and student achievement. Participants will also expand their understanding of leadership and explore multiple approaches for addressing leadership challenges. The program will help you identify areas of school improvement, establish priorities, develop strategies and build a base of support around a change initiative. You will explore successful models for school improvement, learn how to lead and manage change, and understand how to implement curriculum innovation. Through a research-based curriculum, you will focus on effective supervision and evaluation, approaches to solving leadership challenges with an emphasis on U.S. settings, and proven strategies that support teaching and learning. Upon completion of the program, you will have examined your own leadership challenges in the context of instructional improvement and learned how to lead and manage your school more effectively.

Stay tuned to the blog this summer as I will be blogging about all of our journeys and learning!

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