Teacher Shares the World with Students

Teena Bolton, a 10-12 grade English teacher at Gifford Street High School has gone to Japan as a Fulbright Teacher Participant, and as a world-class teacher, has transported her students there. Teena went to Japan in November to learn more about their culture and education.

She brought back her knowledge and passion for this country and shared it with her students. Japan became the vehicle for teaching research, writing, and reading skills. In addition students read books with a Japanese theme and viewed movies depicting life there. Students also researched many aspects of life in Japan including the dress, the education, and the traditions. Their work led to a variety of displays showcasing the information they discovered.  Everything from tea ceremonies to Sumo wrestling was examined by this group of students.  

Students worked individually on all of these projects. They were able to select their own topics which ensured it was something they were interested in. Initially they selected three topics and after doing preliminary research chose the one they would work on. They used the internet and books supplied by the teacher to do their research. Some students became so interested in learning more that they also visited the local library on their own time.

The information collected by students was then shared with not only fellow students but also the public through their displays. A Japanese Reception was held at the school as a conclusion to all their hard work. To see more of their work click here.

Hands-on experiences were a part of this lesson. For example, students learned about kokeshi dolls (wooden dolls without arms or legs, but with a large head and a cylindrical body). Students then used clothespins and paints to create their own kokeshi doll. The dolls clothing replicated traditional Japanese dress that students had also learned about.

Another project had students displaying their creative side as they created masks.  Students learned about the Noh masks used for theatre and dance performances. Each mask represents a certain person, hero, ghost, or legendary animal, depending on what the character portrays in a theater performance.  

Part of students’ weekly experience was to practice writing Japanese kanji (a Japanese writing system that uses pictorial characters based largely on Chinese ideograms).  By the end of their 9-week quartermaster, each student had created his/her own Kanji booklet memento.

The Japan Center for Global Partnership provided a grant in the amount of $4500.00 that was used to purchase some of the resources used by students.  This money allowed Teena to buy classroom books, DVD’s, and artifacts to share with students. The books, about culture, dance, people, colors of Japan, Japanese clothing, tea ceremony, kamishibai, etc. enhanced student learning.

Being a Fulbright Teacher Participant made a difference in Teena Bolton’s life but it didn’t stop there.  She used her experiences to enrich the educational experiences of her students and broaden their world.

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