“But if we measured kids by their spark and their light, their curiosity, their passions, the ways they excite…they’d realize soon that a test, mark and grade can’t define a young mind, no matter the age…Your mind – it is brilliant – and the world needs your light. So spread those wings and get ready for flight!” @raisingwellkids
Here are some things you will see in the school system in Finland. Might any of these be attributed to their success at continuously ranking near the top in the world in education….?
** Start school at age 7.
** No standardized testing until one at the age of 16, and no school or student rankings, removing the teachers’ pressure to teach to a test/standard and allows them to cultivate a love of learning and teach to a student’s specific learning style and pace.
** Less competition and more cooperation, worrying less about arbitrary merit-based systems to foster an intrinsic motivation for learning.
** Least amount of homework than any other country in the world.
** For every 45 minutes of learning in schools, they get to spend every 15 minutes playing or doing leisure activities.
** First and second graders attend school for a maximum of 4-5 hours a day.
** Most of the time teachers have the same students for 4-6 years, getting to create true and deep relationships with them so they can better understand how to cater to each individual child.
** At 16, the students can move on to high school, or they can choose vocational training to prepare themselves to work in a specific industry (only 9 years of schooling is required).
Do you ever wonder what might happen if elementary education was based on a child’s “spark and their light, their curiosity, their passions, the ways they excite?” Sometimes I think we might just be surprised how much THRIVING we would see when restrictions are removed and potentials get to be sky high.
Do you think our kids deserve for a better education system than what is currently offered?
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