In the week long experience, I got to observe 2 Grade 1 classes and 2 Grade 3 classes. 

Their class size is half that of ours and to my surprise, despite coming from affluent families, most if not all of the kids I've met are very polite and helpful - I must admit, I imagined them to be cocky! Knowing that I'm new to the school, they volunteer to 'pick' me up from the canteen and walk me to their class. They never fail to say their thanks, apologise and use kind words. Definitely an eye-opener as the kids I've taught and seen in SV are certainly very different~! 

Timetables/subjects they take - Language Arts (EL), Math, Languages (like 3rd lang.), Programmes of Inquiry (something like IPW but MORE intensive & meaningful >.<" - there's 6 topics/yr)

1 hour - lunch break - for games/interclass sports & lunch (but ave. $ per meal is >$5)

20 min - snack 

"Self-directedness" -  an ideology we seek to cultivate in our kids; but often fail to achieve

I see self-directedness and independence in the kids in OFS. They are learning. Learning for themselves. Learning and seeking information on their own.  ----- AMAZING. 

Reflecting back at my teaching, I feel that what we've been seeking to achieve, is a daily affair in OFS. Teachers are really just facilitators NOT teaching by spoon-feeding the kids. The kids take the active role in their learning. 

Common misconception - angmoh kids are fluent in their English so there's no problem with them reading and the learning of the language. WRONG! many of the kids speak little or no English coz they come from all over the world. Spain, Italy, France, Sweden, Hawaii, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Korea etc... So there's a good group of kids who come in with little or no knowledge of English. 

but they READ A LOT. They read and read and read for every lesson. Even in Maths. The resources that they have are seriously amazing. SO MANY MANY MANY manipulatives and books. They do portfolios too! SERIOUS portfolios - not like the ones we say we do. haha..

They draft, write, edit and publish their works. paste it over nice coloured papers and publish. 

Portfolio pieces are both teacher-chosen and pupil chosen. Comparing it with how it's done in OFS, the ones done in my class are seriously, can only be considered as filing. haha.. >.<"

How is this possible?? 

My thoughts: - 

1) There are NO EXAMS. Promotion based on teacher's recommendation. 

NO stress about being unable to complete the syllabus in time for the exams. They do have diagnostic tests and YES, they have a syllabus to cover - follow SOW. 

Resources are created by teachers & shared across the level. 

Only Math have workbooks but they don't have to finish ALL the pages in the book. Don't do oso can, but must supplement with some worksheets - up to teacher's discretion. 

Another thing - homework is given only on Mondays and they are only due on Friday. And they only do like 5-6 pages a week. This is completely impossible in a local school classroom. 

Teachers tell me that many parents do not agree with giving homework and as they have a big say in how the school runs, they usually give minimal homework, if any. UNBELIEVABLE. 

2) Very good home support. Many parents volunteer time in school to help the teacher with reading, penmanship practice or just to help out with classroom mgt. 

3) The teachers practice POSITIVE reinforcement. There's lots of group work, individual work in a group and after that, they have class discussions. Positive comments and opinions are said. No negative comments. So the kids work to achieve the positive and their best. 

Every class is equipped with 5-6 MacBooks!

Grade 3 Math lesson on Division