*We had a parent welcome evening for the entire 5th grade - it was very layed back and the structure was, that the parents of each class sat together and had dinner at a table, and the teachers came around to each of the tables and chatted with the parents. I loved the idea that it was so informal. The funniest thing too is that, as always in Bavaria, they had beer for sale at the school function. Not many people had any - but it is still so funny to see!
*5th grade is the big "step up" year in Germany. I think we would compare it to going into High School (9th grade). The responsibility increases and they are, at this point, considered young adults. I really like the fact that they are treated with such respect, but in return they must really step up as well. So Mia came home yesterday and announced that she and some of her classmates are planning a trip to the Movies. With public transportation here, everyone can get there by themselves, so they can actually make plans to do stuff on their own. I love that she is in this little group that is so capable in 5th grade!
*Mia told me that they have the usage of a copy maschine at her school. You just put in 10 cents (just like you would at a public library or something) and you can copy whatever you want. Again, at least in the American school here in Germany - the kids would never be trusted not to break the mashine - so they would not be able to access it alone - especially in 5th grade!
*After 1 month of school, she finally broke down (just this week) and told her English teacher that she speaks fluent English (I think her teacher had probably assumed that she spoke fluent Chinese). She had been sitting in the class this entire time and the teacher had no idea. When Mia speaks in English Class, she speaks like a German trying to speak English with a British Accent (so the teacher had no idea) - it is really quite comical. She has already learned a few rules of English though (stuff that we for the most part don't learn anymore in school, because we already know it just from speaking fluent English) For ex. when to say "these" opposed to "those" or "that" opposed to "this". Simple stuff - but important when learning a language. We always joke that our German friends seem to know the English grammar rules better than we do.
*We are one month in to school now and Mia just had her first pop quiz in Math (the only grade on the books for any of her classes so far). They only have a couple of tests each Semester and a few pop quizzes. Homework does not count as a grade, It definitely adds a bit of stress - the seriousness of a 5th grade test!
*Her class has a group "Whats ap" chat. It doesn't involve the teachers at all - but just the kids. It was funny too, when they realized that they had extended an invitation to the group to some stranger in Hamburg (5 hours North West of here) - as they should, they were smart and created a new group and dropped the old one with the stranger. It is hilarious because her phone goes off all of the time (it is just a cheap little pay as you go thing). She will come home to 95 messages - all from her little classmates - so funny!
*Even though the German schools typically have very little to do with the latest technology (ex. no smart boards, no computers in each classroom etc), they have a cool online lunch order form. Mia logs on from home each day and can order what she wants for lunch. She then swipes her card and it is delivered to her. Lunch isn't part of the school (kids usually leave before lunch), but if they stay after school or have a day with late classes, they can either go to the cafeteria (hence the pre-ordering online) or they can go to a take out restaurant. So different!
