Die Schule

In General, the school system is very different here. Kindergarten is not part of the public school system, and is non-academic. What they call kindergarten, we'd think of as day care, and then preschool. It starts in some places with babies as young as 6 wks. old and goes until the parents decide their children are ready for first grade, which they can begin at age 5, 6, or 7. (This makes for a wide range developmentally in one grade, especially around jr. high age). The youngest kids at Macy's kindergarten are 2. She enjoys playing with them and helping them.

This has been a perfect set-up for Macy who can still learn the language through dramatic play, etc, giving her one more year to read/write at home in English before learning it in German. (She'll start first grade next fall at age 6). She also gets to be in a German class for non-native German speakers during the first hour of kindergarten. Her vocabulary is already surpassing ours! Her teachers can't believe how much she can speak and understand already.

Then, the kids go to Grundschule (Elementary school) from 1st-4th grade. They keep the same kids together in the same class each year, so they really get to know each other well. Some people say that when 1st grade begins, childhood ends. It really is a drastic contrast from all play to all school.

The kids have a different schedule everyday. It kind of drives me nuts, but gives me a bit of one-on-one time with each one. The school day is a few hours shorter for a first grader here compared to The States. They are expected to do more work at home. Every year a child goes to school, their school day gets longer.

By the end of 4th grade, the academic path of a child is pretty much determined. Starting in 5th grade, based on test scores, they will enter gymnasium, a pre-req. for college, or a haupschule or realschule, which are more hands-on vocational tracks. I think beginning next year, parents will be able to choose if they want their kids to try the gymnasium track. (Previously, it was more limited because college was paid for by the gov.).

In some ways, school is a lot stricter here. In other ways, it's much more relaxed.

For example, children may not ride bicycles to school without passing a test and earning a bike license in third grade, but they are allowed to run around on stilts during recess, and one teacher brings her dog to school with her every day. They must be on time (five minutes early), but are allowed into their classrooms before their teachers show up. When the teacher arrives, she always greets the children with, "guten Morgen liebe Kinder," and they stand and answer with, "guten Morgen Frau..."

When the weather's nice, the teacher may choose to walk her class to a local park at anytime to play or to read. Carly said you don't have to be quiet in the hallways.

One day, Robyn came home early. She said one of her teachers didn't show up, so class was cancelled. Once in awhile teachers will cover for each other if they can, but there are no outside substitutes. When Carly's teacher was sick, the PE teacher covered for her the first day, and a fellow student's mother (with her 2 year-old brother) covered for her the next few days.

There are no desks, only tables. Children carry and take care of all their own books, folders, and supplies (markers, glue, scissors, etc.) This requires a special backpack all the kids have (another post for that).

Kids bring "Frustuck," which means breakfast, but is also like a snack. They usually eat this during recess. School gets out in time for kids to eat a late, warm lunch at home. This is the biggest meal of the day. I still haven't quite figured this out yet, because I'd like to cook this when Myles is home, not at work. Not having to take time out for a lunch hour at school means kids get to be home earlier.

Sport (PE) is important here. It's held at least 3 times a week, and the kids get to try all sorts of things like swinging on ropes, gymnastics, field hockey, etc. This is Carly's favorite so far. All the kids must change into their Sport clothes/shoes, even in kindergarten. Up to age 6, they all change in one room together. After that, all the girls change together in one room and boys in another. (This public changing was something new for the girls to get used to). Especially in kindergarten, the kids may just wear their undershirts/underwear for Sport. In Carly's class, one girl just wears her tights and undershirt.

Starting in elementary school, classes get to take turns going to a swimming pool for Sport, then later also ice skating, rock climbing, etc.

The Flute (recorder) is big here. Carly has started playing. They also have orchestra. It's funny to watch such little kids carrying such big instruments, along with their crazy-big backpacks.

Macy brings a snack to kindergarten, which she eats on real dishes. They guys at Myles' work who bring their lunch do this, as well as the teachers, etc. Even at community, church, or school-wide events, everyone eats on real dishes.

For roll call, one of the kindergarten groups stands on their chairs in a circle. When the teacher calls their name, they hop down and sit down.

In the States, my kids got in trouble if they did their work in pen. Here, they must use a fountain pen. They learn cursive with a fountain pen in first grade. So Carly is catching up on her own time with cursive and learning German at the same time.

Although homework is tiring at times, overall, school has been a positive experience. The kids have met nice friends with nice parents. They are keeping up so far, which really is amazing. Now that it's Christmas time, they're having fun crafts, field trips, and singing. They also have friendly, patient teachers.