Getting to know some students during the summer of 2007 while volunteering at a school in Kati, Mali (West Africa)
Tomorrow is our first day back at Innovation Academy Charter School. I always have some first day jitters, but I’m really excited to meet my new classes. It makes me wonder — is it the start of the year in other schools around the world? In my mind, September always brings a fresh start, but in South Africa, the winter is just ending now. In China, it’s still the Year of the Dragon until February. I wish I could see for myself… what’s happening tomorrow at schools around the world?
Students in Sikkim, India during one of my first experiences volunteer teaching in another country (2001).
I came across an interesting article today… and I think it comes pretty close to answering my question. It’s called 20 Classrooms Around the World and I saw it thanks to one of my colleagues from the Teachers for Global Classrooms program, the talented David Burton of Oklahoma). The photographs are amazing, showing beautiful diversity — from Argentina to Yemen… from the faces of the children to the desks and chairs they occupy. I feel very lucky to have captured some of my own photographs of schools around the world during my travels. I feel equally lucky to be home, starting a school year in the one school where I want to be teaching right now. It’s good to be here, but I also feel just a little bit closer to some friends far away.
Our beautiful building in Tyngsboro, MA
A public school that I visited in May in Istanbul, Turkey
- My classroom, ready to be filled with students tomorrow!
Students at the School for Migrant Children in the Fangshan district of Beijing, China
A glimpse of our new track and field off in the distance! The workers are finishing up.
Sport facilities at School 57 in Kyiv, Ukraine
Peaches from trees in the IACS garden that I picked last Friday. They are now jam!
Last summer, I toured the garden of a school in Inhambane, Mozambique (and picked some eggplant)
Our majestic school library
A classroom library at a private school in Istanbul, Turkey
Student work is now hung up on walls (Homebase Gandhi made this for their Global Citizenship Project).
Student work on display at the Zaporizhya Classical Lyceum (Ukraine)
Looking forward to seeing these silly friends tomorrow…
And already missing these friends in China, wishing them a fabulous first day of school, whenever it comes!
Wherever you are, I wish you a fresh start on your journey ahead. There’s a lot to learn this year.
Categories: China, Global Citizenship, Turkey, Ukraine, USA
Innovation on Earth 
😀
i was hoping to get some of those peaches but when I was there they weren’t ready. Are students aloud to pick the apples (and what look like pears) after school?
And Oh my gosh I can’t Believe I’m going into high school next year!
:O
Hi Edith — I think there are plenty of peaches to pick, if you went over there with a parent after school and made sure to be gentle on the trees. They are delicious and won’t last too much longer. Yum!
Wow!! I recognize those students from my before-class!!
Now that I think about it, I miss them. 😦
I miss you too, Ms. Krakauer!! But at least I can still come on this website. 🙂
Well, how are you, Ms. Krakauer? Is your jet-lag better? I thought those peaches looked really good! Were they from the trees that are near Mr. Maier’s house?
How was the first day of school for you? How were the new and returning students?
The new track and field is taking awhile to finish, when’s it going to be done?
Were the eggplants good? Did they reorganize the library?
The projects from both Ukraine and our school are both really good!! 😀
Best Wishes!!
😉 ~ Anna
Anna — let’s catch up at school! I haven’t bumped into you! I’ll try to find you sometime soon, maybe in the morning 🙂 I miss all the seventh graders who moved up… it’s weird without you downstairs. The new 5th graders are very nice though. We’ve had a good start so far! Talk soon!
It’s weird without you in my classes too!!
Great talk today!! 😀