In the next month

The second semester starts today!
In the next month, a school play will be held. And all teachers at my school will watch my arithmetic class. There will be a school band festival, too. In October, I'm going to be busy with those preparations. I make every effort for each one of them.

A half coming-of-age ceremony

Our class performed "a half coming-of-age ceremony" for the school open day yesterday.
All of my students made every effort to make a speech about their own life in front of their parents, so the students were shining with smiles and tears.
Last night, with my coworkers, I enjoyed beer and karaoke at Susukino.

Make plans and goals to realize visions and wishes

I distributed the first-term report cards to my students today.
Now, I'm very impressed by them very much when I look back on the growth of 36 students.
I want to keep making more efforts and grow up together with them, being careful not to stop their growth.
By the way, they set their visions and wishes of themselves in the future, and made their plans and goals to realize them.
Then, they reflected how they had lived for ten years and wrote letters of thanks to their parents.
Tomorrow they are going to make speeches about their thoughts on their lives and are going to show their gratitude to their parents who will be visiting for the classroom visitation.

The way to motivate my students from their inside to achieve their goal

I clearly wrote and told all of the following to my students.
A philosophy of my life and a vision of my future,
my aims to accomplish the purpose above,
my plans to achieve the aims above,
my daily practices.
They also thought about the above matters themselves.
I facilitated the way to motivate them from their inside to achieve their goal.

My daughter's first appearance on stage

My daughter played as a shaker, the percussion, and danced at today's concert for her first time. My band's students coached her very kindly. They, including her, made a nice performance. Getting along with them, she looks happy. She is now interested in the band and came to enjoy music with the members!

Tomorrow's concert

"Harmony Brass" which I direct, is going to play three pieces at a concert tomorrow.
The first piece is "A Western Suite" which we played at the competitions.
The second one is "Hikouki gumo" by Yumi Arai.　It's one of my favorite songs. I used to sing this one at a karaoke.
The third one is "Takarajima."　My daughter is supposed to play a shaker. This is her first appearance on stage.

Wine-tasting

Today, my former colleague and my daughter and I went to a wine-tasting after brass band. I enjoyed a bit of several kinds of wine from all over the world. My daughter enjoyed a cheese tasting. It was also nice to chat with her. We had a wonderful time.

English composition

When I write an English composition, I can make my own thoughts clear.
When I have the subject "I", I can definitely express that it is my own thoughts and actions.
And the words are accompanied with my responsibility.
Then it helps me to review my thoughts and actions.

Good news by my daughter

My daughter told me good news at her school.
Her teacher said,
"Everyone had motivation first, but many people are gradually losing it .
Some people keep motivation and continue doing their best.
It's you! "
Her name was called first, so she was so happy.
I want to accept and encourage her and my students more from now on .

How to manage my time

I had a bad habit of starting my work before the very limit of the deadline.
It put me under stress and caused many mistakes.
So I came to learn how to manage my time.
Now, I always clarify my wishes.
I make a list of all the things I need to fulfill them.
Then, I give them priority and put them into practice one by one.

My daily plan

I want to get a habit of regular life, so I made a daily plan.
I want to live long like grandparents. Because I want to do as possible as I can do for my daughter and my students.
And because I want to value my life that parents and ancestors gave.
But I'm generous with oneself, therefore I think it's easy to achieve by declaring an aim to an important person.

My daily plan
4:30 a.m. Get up, clean the house, and study English and other subjects
5:30 a.m. Cook breakfast
6:00 a.m. Eat breakfast with my daughter
6:30 a.m. Go to work
(by bicycle on Monday and Friday, by car on Tuesday and Thursday, running on Wednesday)
7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Work
6:20 p.m. Pick up my daughter from the afterschool childcare centre
6:30 p.m. Cook dinner
6:50 p.m. Have dinner with my daughter
7:30 p.m. Do the dishes and do the laundry
7:50 p.m. Help my daughter with her study
8:30 p.m. Take a bath
9:00 p.m. Put my daughter  to bed
9:30 p.m. Finish the rest of the housework, write a diary, and make tomorrow's plan
10:00p.m.Go to bed

Historical village of Hokkaido

My students in the fourth grade and I went to observe "Historical village of Hokkaido" and ''Historical Museum of Hokkaido''. I used to go there in my childhood. My students seemed interested in the history of Hokkaido. I want to go to the Nopporo Forest Park including the museum and village with my daughter.

The composer's very kind reply

The next day, the composer sent me very kind reply, so I read with great pleasure!

His advice was  so helpful and inspirational I could clearly picture the scene of each movement and imagine the feelings expressed in it. My students were very pleased, too.

Then, my students did their best at Hokkaido Band Competition yesterday. We received a silver prize. I could see they’ve grown a lot through working hard as one to play the piece beautifully. I deeply appreciate his messages, which are warm and encouraging.
 We're going to play the piece in a few local concerts this autumn. We will keep practicing the piece to become better. We want to work together to polish our harmony with gratitude to local people and everything.
 

My brass band

This past April I transferred to an elementary school in Sapporo.
Also, I started to direct of a brass band of the school. I've become devoted to the brass band.
Last month, we performed a peace in a local competition in Sapporo area and won the first place. Now we are preparing for another competition in Hokkaido that takes place next Sunday.
This time we are aspiring to play the peace more fluently.
Therefore I wrote a letter in English to a composer regarding the peace last month. I wanted to get an advice on how to express the music from him.

In my parents' house

I have been working a new school since this April, so I was very busy.
Therefore I didn't do enough of my hobbies such as writing a diary in English. For the past several days, I've relaxed in my parents' house, done climbing and jogging, and studied English, so I'm very happy.
I also wrote a letter in English to a composer regarding the musical piece which I worked on for a contest with my brass band. I made use of English which I have learned.
By the way,  I have been healed by the very beautiful trees and plants in the garden of my parents' house. I was refreshed very much being here. I'm going back to Sapporo tomorrow. I'm going to work energetically for the new school term with the memory of fun summer.

On the Tottori Sand Dunes

Good evening, everyone! I hope that you're doing fine in these days of hot summer!
I've come to my parents' house in Tottori. I'm writing a diary in English for the first time in four months.
Today I went to the theme park for children ca...lled Tottori Sakyu Kodomonokuni with my daughter, niece and nephew. They got in the pool and enjoyed playing in the water to their heart's content.
At 5 p.m., my father came to pick them up. And I started to run on the Tottori Sand Dunes. Sand is so hot that it is usually difficult to stand barefoot on it in the daytime. When it comes to this time in the evening, you can run barefoot on the sand. So, it felt very good to run on the sand with my shoes off, and made me feel physically fit. Then, wearing shoes, I enjoyed running for about 7 km from Tottori dune to my parents' house.

Leaving my current duty school

I'm going to leave my current duty school where I have taught for six years to work at a different one.
My days here were filled with children's impressive growth.
I'm grateful for the support by their parents and local people.
This week I have quite a bit of work to transfer my duties to a new teacher, and also have a farewell party.
From April, I am supposed to work at a large-scale elementary school which is in the city I was born and grew up.
Based on my experience which I have developed last 12 years over three different schools including the 6 years of this current one, I'll work hard at the new place.

My students' graduation and completion ceremony

This week my students' graduation and completion ceremony was over as planned.
My students grew up.
They and their parents looked glad.
Last night I participated in  the farewell party of our school.
The party gave me a chance to feel how happy I am to be able to work with the teachers of our school and help the students to grow up.
Well then,  I will make my effort as this week is the last working of this school year.
Have a good week!

Studying willingly

Last week,  I took a few hours off from work and went to parents' day at my daughter's school.
She seemed to be learning happily and I felt relieved.
At home she has become to study what she needs voluntarily, such as reading texts aloud, Kanji and math drills, as well as homework.
I and her teacher have been encouraging her in the same way, now she works on studying willingly.
I am grateful to her teacher.
I will keep encouraging not only her but also my students so that they may keep having the will that they learn by themselves.
Well then, I will make my best effort as the last two weeks of this school year.

Writing my students’ report cards

I’ve finished writing my students’ report cards for the third semester. I described  what effort they made and how much they could achieve the aim of each subject. In each term, I write the report cards and review my style of teaching and my level of support to the students. Writing the report cards is the good way to check what more I can do for my students. Students have put a lot of effort into studying, so I’d like to improve my teaching skill.

Skiing on fresh snow

Last Sunday, after the blizzard, my daughter and I enjoyed skiing on fresh snow. This slope is near my apartment house. The slope is located next to the base of the Self-Defense Forces called "north military unit". There is no lift here. So we walk up the slope. It's a good practice place for a beginner skier like my daughter.

It's March!

It's March! At the school I'm teaching, I would like to give my students great supports every day so that they can still learn and grow until their graduation and ceremony of completion.
At my home, I will improve life rhythms of my daughter and me.
I should go to bed early, become an early riser, and cook nutritious dishes which are good for balanced diet.

"Arigatou Hand Therapy"

Last month, I met Mr. Kichiji who is also known as "Meg Chan Sensei".
He taught me an "Arigatou Hand Therapy". After that, I had a go at applying the hand massage to my daughter at home. It seemed to help her to relax.
I teach students with emotional and behavioral difficulties at a school. I discovered that the hand therapy massage also relaxed and calmed down them when I tried to hold their hands using the technique I learnt.
I can now appreciate the 'power of touch' which is the core principle of 'Arigatou hand therapy' and I would like to continue practicing it.

An English class's event for kids

The other day, my daughter and I participated in an English class's event for kids.
We enjoyed playing with snow and making chocolate with a foreign teacher and a Japanese teacher, who went to the same junior high as I did.
 

The ice festival of Lake Shikotsu

Last weekend, my daughter and I went to the ice festival of Lake Shikotsu. We enjoyed an ice slide and so on. There were many ice sculptures and those were very beautiful and impressive. Then we relaxed and got warm in a hot spring.

The same big purpose, “For children.”

The cooperation between teachers is very important in putting education in practice.
Also, the relationships between teachers and parents are very important.
We have the same big purpose, “For children.” We can't change opponents, but we can cooperate by valuing relationships with them, and I think we can put education in practice effectively by doing so.

The reflection meeting.

This week, we are continuing to have the reflection meeting of the end of the year at the school I am working. For children's smiles, we are thinking a better policy and planning it. I’m glad that we could have the relationship that we are able to exchange opinions for everything. Last night, there was the meeting of the PTA, too. The cooperation with parents was splendid and I am appreciated.

"Love","thankfulness", "challenge" and "progress"!

"Love","thankfulness", "challenge" and "progress", those are the foundation of my life.
I meet all the people with love. I'm thankful for being given a life in this world and everything. Also, I'm working hard for the sake of all the children's smiles.
I will keep on going and make it better.
I start my day from making sure those words every morning.

Reading biographies to children.

I've been reading a lot of biographies to not only my daughter but also my students. I've read about Helen Keller, Hideyo Noguchi, Nightingale, the Wright brothers and so on. Instead of saying "Study hard" to children frequently, reading biography to them would make them have their dreams and work hard with their own initiative.　

My daughter's skating record meeting.

At the elementary school that my daughter goes, there was a skating record meeting last Friday. 　
I couldn't go to watch her skating, but I praised her that she had been making great effort so far.
She seemed to have enjoyed it very much!
In my duty school, however, it has unfortunately called off due to influenza.

An earthquake last night.

There was an earthquake with an intensity of 4 last night. Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) of my mobile phone sounded loudly and reminded me of 3.11. On that day, I left my daughter in Hokkaido and I worked as an assistant at a corporation training center in Tokyo. I felt very terrible at a hotel in Tokyo. The next day, I came back to Hokkaido and was relieved to see my daughter again.
I'm thankful for being with her and everything.

Welcome to my English blog!

Hi! I'm Yoko.
Let me introduce myself. I live in Hokkaido, Japan. I was born and grew up here.
I have a daughter, who is 7 years old, and I am an elementary school teacher.

I'm raising my daughter and teaching my students with love so that they can truly love themselves.

I hope that all the children can grow up with their hopes and dreams, and that one day they may fulfill their dreams. 

I like singing and dancing with children as well as playing the piano.
I also like activities such as jogging, trekking, skiing and so on, in the great outdoors.

I would like to make friends all over the world as well as to improve my English through my blog.I learn a lot from all of you, I want to do my best every day to grow myself.
I look forward to hearing from you!  Thanks!