Randersgade Skole

Hi! Janelle & Hoong Yan here :)

Both of us were attached to two 4th grade classes, 4V and 4U. We were given the opportunity to teach in areas that we did not specialize in such as art!

Class photo with 4U

Class photo with 4V

It has been fulfilling and enriching in terms of professional and personal development. At first sight, the school is structurally different from those of Singapore due to its small physical size and cohort number. After interacting with the students and teachers, we were gained more insight on the workings of the school. Here are some of the key takeaways we’ve had throughout our 5 week stint in Randersgade Skole. 

      1. Trust is key

In Singapore, we tend to implement rules and regulations to prevent students from abusing a system due to the limited resources we have. However, sometimes, trust is a key factor in building rapport and a strong relationship and it can encourage students to behave appropriately. For example, Randersgade Skole has a printer that is freely used by the students. The teachers do not regulate the system at all and yet the students respond by using the printer responsibly. Maybe before administering any rules, teachers can try to give students the space to manage their own behaviour and earn the trust that they deserve. In addition, trust is reciprocal. By giving students trust, they would be more willing to open up and accept your teachings. 

2. Celebrate the little things

In Randersgade Skole, we had the opportunity to witness a school birthday celebration for the school janitor, who was turning 70 that year. The students gathered at the courtyard and sang a birthday song for her while waving the Danish flags. Little celebrations like this made the school feel like family and everyone felt a strong sense of belonging. Perhaps this highlights the importance of paying attention to the little details in the classroom as it might be the key factor in making it an inclusive environment, encouraging students to contribute to it. 


School janitor's birthday celebration

Of course, we also had time to explore the beautiful city of Copenhagen! One of the places we went to was the Rosenborg Palace.

Rosenborg Palace

We are very thankful for this opportunity and it is definitely something that has widened our perspective of education as a whole. Thank you for reading...

That's all for now! :)

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