We are back...but changing

Hello everyone,

Sorry that the site has been a little neglected this term, but to put it bluntly its been hard to find the time. But we are back and we are looking to change the site so it is more interactive, more interesting and more helpful for you. Hopefully Ingrid and myself (Paul) can setup a more user friendly page soon. So watch this space for more updates on the coming changes.

Cheers

Paul

Comics in the Classroom

This article is interesting. It's about teachers using comic books to teach children how to read. What do you think of this idea?

Comics in Class

Picture this: You are sitting in class and your teacher turns into Superman! What are comic book characters doing in class?

In some places, they are the lesson. Schools around the U.S. are using comic books to teach reading.

Critics say comics are too simple for school. But many teachers like comics.

Third-grade teachers in Maryland are using Disney comics. The Department of Education created lesson plans for the comics.

Maryland tested the program in eight classrooms. "The teachers love it," says Nancy Grasmick, superintendent of Maryland schools. She said that they believe the comics have helped improve reading skills.

Another program, the "Comic Book Project", is being used in 850 schools in the U.S. Students write and draw their own comics.

Katie Van Els, 11 years old, from Hawaii, says the project has made her a better writer. "You need to use the right words and punctuation."

The Alphabet.

Hello everyone.
こんにちは、みなさん。

I wanted to know your thoughts about the benefit of teaching the
alphabet in primary school.
私は小学校でアルファベットを教える利点について、みなさんがどのような考えをもっているのか知りたいです。

Maybe we can discuss this at the next English Cafe too.
たぶん、次回のイングリッシュ・カフェでもこのことについて話しましょうか。

Cheers
Paul
じゃあね、ポールより

I thought this was cute...

Ask Questions! :D

Thank you very much for answering my mother's questions! She loved the answers and was very happy you took the time to reply.

If you have any questions about American elementary schools, please feel free to ask - Japanese is ok!!

KB

Some Questions

Hey everyone!
みなさん、こんにちは！

My mother is an elementary school teacher in Burlington, Vermont. She has some questions for the elementary teachers here in Ehime. Here are the questions in both English and Japanese. If you could please answer her, she will be very happy. Thank you! :)

私の母はバーモント州のバーリントンで小学校の先生をしています。彼女から愛媛の小学校の先生達に質問があります。質問は英語と日本語です。もしよろしければ、質問に答えて下さい。母も喜びます。よろしくお願いします。

KB


1) Who decides what the students should learn for each grade?

　　誰がそれぞれの学年で何を学習させるかを決めているのですか？


2) What is the best part about being a teacher? What is the most difficult?
　　
　　教える中で、一番のやりがいは何ですか？もっとも難しいことは何ですか？


3) How do you work with students with disabilities?
　　
　　障害のある生徒とどのように活動していますか？

Mr Who?

I have had a lot of teachers recently ask me whether calling me 'Mr Paul' was correct or not.

In western culture the title 'Mr' is placed before the family name (similar to Hara-san in Japan).

My full name being Paul Dyball would mean that 'Mr' would be placed before 'Dyball' thus becoming Mr Dyball.

Personally I prefer being called Paul. :-)