A FUN START TO WEEK ONE

Its unbelievable that week one has zoom by so quickly, and I am loving every bit of my time in Stockholm... Well maybe not so much of the first three days, which were a little bumpy. xD

We arrived to Stockholm reaching late for our transit airport, but luckily since it was not our mistake for missing the flight, we got a free replacement flight. But unluckily... the flight arrived two hours later than expected... and by the time we reached Arlanda Airport Stockholm... we missed the opening hours to collect our keys to the accomodation, which also means we were frantically looking for an accomodation. Our Swedish Teaching Buddy, Petra, was kind enough to provide us shelter for the day we arrive, in which we were extremely thankful for. 

However as she has fallen ill and did not want to spread the flu bug to us the next day, we had to look for alternative accomodation... in the form of Generator Hostel! It was quite a neat experience, where we register for one bed each and each room had 6 beds, and we had to stay in the same room as another stranger, something unlike any form of accomodations we have in Singapore. The city is beautiful, weather is cool and great and we got to see CHERRY BLOSSOMS, it was unreal! Expenses are high in Sweden (eating out could easily cost us 20SGD) BUT the food... was worth it. 

Enough of my experience, lets talk about the school!

I was posted to Internationella Engelska Skolan Bromma, and my mentor is Mr Marten Englund, who teaches Mathematics to the Grade 5 and 6s. Classes here are mixed and allocated to the high ability learners (a group of approx 20), mid-ability learners (a group of approx 20), and smaller groups of learners (8pax) who could use more attention. Students walk from classroom to classrooms depending on lessons and each classroom is sort of the teacher's office. This is so that students can take 10 minutes breaks in between lessons to relax before the start of the next lesson. Students tend to be on time, it was very rare to see students late (albeit the students had a good reason why they were late). The classroom also doubles as a homeroom for the students when they have assembly or mentor classes. 

It is the last 5 weeks of school term and the school has completed most of their examinations. This also means that not much lesson is conducted but rather the time is devoted to applying what they have learned to their projects. It was really interesting how the Grade 5 students are currently working on their "Dream Room" Project, where they design their "Dream Room" model in a shoe box, using basic 2-D shapes and 3D figures, and applying the concept of area to allocate their furnitures in their dream room. This dream room is not only a Maths project, but also, a Science project, as students will also set up a circuit to place in light bulbs. 

For the grade 6, they have just completed one of their projects, called "News Project". Before the start of the projects, each pair of students has to come up with 3 questions, and all these questions (total 150) questions was being set into a google forms, where all the students will answer accordingly to the poll. From there, the pairs will look at the data of the 3 questions they asked and paste the data into a graph, be it a pie chart, bar graph, histogram, line graph or scatterplot diagram. They will then present to their classmates (in which is being video recorded) their findings, why the graphs behave in a certain way (eg a dip in this line graph on this day may be due to Student A taking a shorter route to school). They will also have to comment what these graph could be useful for (knowing that most students like to eat pie could mean that the cafeteria could prepare more meals that are pies). The students will be embarking on a new project soon, which is a research on the History of Numbers (more to come on this). 

It has been a short 2 day school week as Thursday and Friday was Ascension Day school holidays. Nonetheless there was a lot to be picked up for me about the system. There is still a tonne for me to learn and discover. Will post more when I can!

For now... I shall let the pictures do the talking! :)

Mr Englund's Classroom (Home Room of 6E)
My Personal Name Tag (yes teachers have to wear them) along with my keys to access the different rooms in school!
Student is measuring her walls based on the design draft she has come up with!
This student has designed a Football field in his Dream Room! :)

CHOW TIME!!! (and food is free. For both students AND teachers. SG PLS ADOPT THIS :D) 
Students have finished their presentations in this class, so Mr Englund has brought out games from the school for the students to play. This game is Tsuro and its the first time the students are learning to play this :)
One of the pairs presenting their graphs to the class while it is being recorded. The graphs were ALL drawn by hand as an experience to appreciate the data better (eg Pie charts require them to link concepts of % to Angles)
The route to school! :) its beautiful... and serene. 

Love this Bob Ross meme :)  Words to live by~


AND NOW FOR THE PICS OF OUR ADVENTURES IN STOCKHOLM!

If you don't know who are the members of Stockholm'18 Squad, meet Thomsy, Fishy, JQ and QTpie :)
They have these beautiful flower arrangements EVERYWHERE!
I don't have any other photos of the sakura trees... but this shall do! :)
One random alley on our way to Stockholm Palace but every alley way looks insta-worthy HAHAHA

The Royal Chapel 

Wooooo this is an interesting Medieval-themed restaurant (Sjätte Tunnan) in Gamla Stan. Recommended by our friends from SG, and they serve Elk meat. There is a hole in my wallet after the meal but...
WORTH IT!

The Legendary Minced Elk Meat served with Lettuce and Lingon Berry :P Its really really gooooood :D 



The church that houses the bodies of the Royal Family: Riddarholmen Church


Till next time!

- Yek Liang (130518)


  

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