This past weekend I had the opportunity to travel to Sendai for a regional conference with the other US and JP teacher participants. It took 5 hours on the train and 3 different trains to finally arrive. While there we shared our experiences. I noticed many similiar themes in the experiences of the US participants. Overall, it appears that we are all learning a lot and having some very exciting experiences. It was exciting to see the US participants.

I also had the opportunity to try beef tongue on Friday night. It is the speciality of Sendai. It was actually delicious, but a little too chewy. I knew I was eating tongue!

Today (Monday) I observed the sixth grade class using computer assisted instruction to practice adding and subtracting fractions. The math for sixth grade in Japan is the same math I taught to my fifth grade students last year. Students had some fun at the end when they were able to create their own math problem, post it to a bulletin board system for other students in the class to try and solve. I would love to be able to use this bulletin board system with my own students to share ideas.

Later in the morning, I began the class flag project with the fifth grade class. This is a joint exchange I will do with my class and the 5th grade here at Shiojirinishi ES. Basically, students draw a picture of themselves on sandpaper, color very hard with crayons, and then I iron on the picture to a piece of fabric. Students then create a border with markers. The JP students will make a flag for me to take home and my class with make a flag which I will mail to Shiojirinishi ES. It is just another way (on top of videoconferencing) of trying to create a relationship between the two classes.

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Great idea with the flag project. Is this the first attempt, or have you done it before? If you have done it before, any tips for the beginners? Jim, East High

My partner asked me if I liked beef tongue and I said no. Later at dinner he ordered for the two of us. I tried everything on the table and told him it was delicious. Guess what, one of the dishes was beef tongue! Have a great final two weeks.

Tim, Callisburg High School

CAssidy,

I love the flag idea....I:m also interested in learning more. (Perhaps you could email the directions to us all!!!!) I:ve never seen anything done on sandpaper and then ironed on.

Tongue....I had it several years ago in Italy and remember thinking the same thing - a little chewy; I can tell it:s tongue!

Hope all is well. SEe you pretty soon.
Annika