Date: 2008-01-04

The project meeting in Russe seen through the Estonian parents' eyes

The Estonian team arrived in Bucharest the capital of Romania on a shiny day, April 17^th 2008.  Together with the Wales team we started our 180 km journey to the Bulgarian town of Russe (Ruse) on the Danube. We stayed in a hotel near the Danube. The building reminded us of Viru hotel, a landmark of Western Europe in Tallinn from Soviet times.

The work started in Vasil Aprilov school next morning. All the delegations were able to see lessons, the school and the schoolyard. It was about +25 C outside.

In a first grade lesson we saw how the parents can be involved. Two mothers and two grandmothers participated. Children were working in four groups: painting, gluing, writing and reading. In every group one adult was mentoring. Especially fascinating were grandmothers listening to children’s reading and telling stories. By the end of the lesson the Easter posters were ready and stories and sentences about Easter created. One child with special needs is enrolled in the class. He participated in poster making together with a support teacher.

After a short coffee break we visited a third grade natural sciences lesson. Participative methods of teaching were used. Children wrote down what they already know about the topic, what they wanted to know and how to find it out. Four children worked in groups on all parts of the text.

We went to the lunch after lessons. We got acquainted with Russe town and sightseeings, including the Museum of the Citizen.

We had dinner in a restaurant in the Roman style which had an artificial Coliseum in the background.

All countries presented their work next day. Estonia had prepared leaflet on Physical games, Wales on Healthy eating where we remembered „Feed your brain with what it needs” and „Eat 5 portions of fruit and veg a day”.

 The Romanian leaflet contained tips for parents on how to help their child in learning.

 The Bulgarian leaflet was about playing brain- and thinking games.

The highlights of the day were:

Teach your child to eat healthy and feed the brain

Play moving-, ball- and brain-games together with your child.

The interest of the parent in the child’s school and learning is the bases of a child’s success at school and of preventing problems.

We had the boat trip on the Danube later on this day together with children, teachers and parents from a school we had visited.

 The Danube starts in Germany and goes to the Black Sea. It is a border between Bulgaria and Romania at Russe.

We spent the evening in a traditional Bulgarian restaurant where we learned and danced some national dances together.

On the third day we started in the same school with a group-work session for parents guided by the first grade teacher. We played a game „Grandma, grandpa, grandchild, donkey and coachman”. All „grandmas”, „grandpas” formed a group to work on a topic: free things to teach a child.

All groups did well and together the following was stressed:

Child will learn by modeling

Child will learn through games

There is a certain time for learning every new skill

It is important to teach caringness and empathy. Being selfish does not work.

It was interesting to work in groups where there was a representative from each country.

We played a relaxing game in between where we had to draw a story told by the teacher on the back of person standing in front of us in the ring. We expressed our thoughts and feelings also on the real drawing.

Later in the day we visited the cave monasteries in the country side and wondered at the roof and wall paintings. Impressive nature, beautiful weather and fleetly lizards were the highlights.

The last morning was warm and sunny. We were grateful to the Bulgarian team for all arrangements and hospitality. Unfortunately we had to start our journey home.

We are looking for meeting in Cardiff Wales in the autumn.

Katrin Lääne

parent

Estonian Reading Association