DAY 3

DAY 3

We go to the 3rd campus Elementary school with Evi.

One of the buildings is new, there we find the library. We go in and there is Effie, another of the librarians. Evi explains to us that the architect has designed it to be a magical place. She tells us that this one is special. The books are arranged in different sections (ex. fiction (in Greek and English), non-fiction, stories, graphic novels, etc.).

In the library we find different spaces; one for teaching lessons, a space for reading, one for the 6th grade students to work in, an outside space for reading and explaining stories, dramatizing, etc. very nice and special, etc. They also have magazines, a curiosity, they have them in very original and practical display boxes. A very special piece of furniture are two chairs in which you can hear your voice when you sit down, they also have a music line inside and you can listen to classical music, etc.

Then Evi gives us a tour of the new primary building, the classrooms are very nice and spacious, with a natural light that helps to maintain a climate of warmth and comfort.

We get to the art classroom where we meet the teachers, they explain that they work with different techniques, tempera, watercolor, pastels, etc. They explained to us that the project they have to do now is to decorate the school; I find it very interesting that the children participate in the decoration of the new school, so the art is functional and meaningful.

There is a huge multi-purpose space to hold theater, events, classes, etc. with a stage, tables, chairs, etc.

Evi shows and describes another building on campus that is older, she says that this is where students attend 1st and 2nd grade, the rest of the elementary school attends the new building.

Curiosity: all students arrive by bus.

EFFIE the librarian explains what they do at the lesson.

Nice moment, the storytelling in a different language, in a different country. I am delighted to listen and to have seen this moment. The intonation, the children's contributions, the space, the teacher's role, the way she intoned, told the story, etc. while respecting the children's interventions. It is a pity not to understand Greek to know what the children say at the end of the story, the subsequent conversation. After the story there is a book lending session with some of the books selected by the librarian. They are 45' sessions.

We meet Evi and talk. During the session the teachers ask the children about their opinion, what they think, etc. Evi explains that the rules are flexible. They are not policies. They adapt.

Libraries and librarians:

They have 4 libraries and 8 librarians; 1 librarian for kindergarten and primary. 3 for secondary school. 4 at university.

We ask her a few questions; if they do daily reading; she says that according to the teacher they read, but as a project they don't have any. Guided reading, they have libraries in the classrooms. They do not have a reading program. They have a library for 5 years; 2 years ago they had everything more prepared. But the first 3 years they didn't have it. Every month the director, the librarians and the coordinating teachers meet.

They have 2 primary buildings; one of bilingual Greek / English and one in which they do everything in English.

Then we go to the primary school, where they do it all in English. It is another school, in another building and another area of the campus. But it is part of Anatòlia. Curiosity; the younger ones are not in uniform.

We arrive at the Library and we see two teachers conducting a session with around 12 students. Evi told us that libraries have a similar structure; area to listen to stories, room to do some activity, TV/coordinator. The librarian is called HELENI, she explains that the library is new, that it has been in function for a month, the students from the classrooms visit the library, they can read there, do sessions, etc... As a methodology they make Work Plans.

Curiosity: they explain that there are no school libraries in public schools.