“We are set up for two classes in each year”, the Finnish primary teacher told me, “an ‘A’ class and a ‘B’ class.”
“How are they organised?”, I asked, “Is it by age, ability, or just a good mix of children as we would do in the UK?”.
“Oh no, none of those”, she replied, in a manner that implied that none of those suggestions would ever enter her head.
“We group them based on where they live so that they can learn with the children who live nearest them, travel to school with these friends, and play with them in school and out of school.”
Learning is social and community is central, to this school that is the main thing.
Leave a Reply