Early childhood and primary education in Ho Chi Minh City has undergone many innovations and adaptations in recent years. One of these is the open school and open classroom model.
PARENTS TRUST, STUDENTS ENJOY
One morning in November 2024, kindergarten students and teachers from the 19/5 Kindergarten in Ho Chi Minh City (District 1, HCMC) gathered in the yard to practice yoga under the guidance of Ms. Thai Thi Kim Anh, a parent whose child attends the school.
Ms. Kim Anh is a yoga instructor, and this is her first time teaching yoga at her child's school. "One of the things that always makes me feel happy at my child's school is the sincerity of the teachers and childcare staff. The school is open, transparent, and provides clear information to parents about everything from school meals and the curriculum. They also invite parents to participate in many activities such as nutrition day, children's lessons, parent-child coffee-making day, and now, I get to teach yoga to the teachers and children," Ms. Kim Anh expressed.
Students from Dinh Tien Hoang Primary School, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, during a lesson at the Vietnam History Museum.
In another open learning session at the 19/5 Kindergarten in Ho Chi Minh City, parents were allowed to participate with their children in the "Printing Photos on Potted Plants" activity. Grandparents, parents, and children participated in steps such as taking family photos, printing photos, developing photos, printing the images onto pots, and planting a potted plant together. Ms. Nguyen Thi Tra My, a retired math teacher from Nguyen Huu Huan High School (Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City), shared that through the eyes, gestures, and words of the teachers to the children in a single lesson, she felt the warmth and trust between the teachers and the children. "Open schools and open learning sessions help make education more transparent, and parents have more trust in the school. Families and schools become more connected, and from there, the benefits go to the learners themselves," Ms. Tra My said.
BE CREATIVE TO ENGAGE THE CHILDREN
The concern for how to make each lesson not only impart knowledge but also inspire and cultivate a love of learning in students, so that each student can develop their own abilities, is the driving force behind primary school teachers in Ho Chi Minh City in the new era. This forces them to step out of their comfort zone, change traditional teaching methods, explore new approaches, apply modern technology, or integrate experiential learning activities, helping students learn through practice and discovery .
At Dinh Tien Hoang Primary School, District 1, on November 12th and 14th, 5th-grade students had a history and geography lesson integrated with local education at the Vietnam History Museum (District 1). Within the museum space, the students participated in various activities organized by their teachers, such as learning the basics about the Van Lang, Au Lac, Funan, and Champa kingdoms.
The approach of Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Duyen, a teacher at Le Van Tam Primary School, Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City - who was recently honored by the Ministry of Education and Training as an Outstanding Teacher of 2024 - is also a good example. For many years, Ms. Duyen has organized open activities such as inviting parents to attend and co-teach a lesson; and working with parents to take students to experience classes outside of school life…
Children and parents participate together in an open lesson at the 19/5 Kindergarten in the city.
Ms. Duyen shared: "Each school year, 1-2 parents participate in co-teaching with me on topics related to their professions, about 10-20% of parents participate in open classes, and about 50-60% participate in experiential activities with students outside the classroom. Through these open activities, I receive positive feedback from parents, thereby increasing their trust in me. Students are very enthusiastic about participating in open classes. From here, they supplement and experience necessary skills in practice in addition to the knowledge learned from textbooks…"
Open-ended lessons also surprised the participating parents. At Thuan Kieu Primary School in District 12, to teach students an experiential activity on food safety and hygiene, teacher Ngo Thi Hoa organized a class in the school canteen, allowing students in class 3/5 to personally handle and observe each bag of biscuits and bottle of milk, and practice distinguishing safe food. In another lesson, teacher Truong Thi Thuy Duong, from class 4/5, opened the classroom space to the school's football field; however, this was not a physical education lesson but a math lesson on "The number of repetitions of an event." The application of the flipped classroom model, changing the classroom space, made the participating parents feel the creativity and dedication of teachers today.
" Open" the classroom, without adding extra pressure.
Ms. Tran Thi Thu Huong, Principal of Dinh Tien Hoang Primary School, District 1, said that the open school and open classroom model is effective primarily for the learners themselves. For example, in history and geography lessons at museums, students go on field trips, stepping out of the traditional classroom space, seeing artifacts firsthand, and listening to direct explanations from experts with engaging and captivating narratives. At the same time, students exchange and discuss what they have seen, thereby increasing their interest in learning and acquiring more meaningful knowledge. Ms. Huong believes that innovation and creativity are essential requirements in daily work for each teacher, and this does not create additional pressure for both teachers and students.
"When teachers love their profession, they will always be dedicated and explore creative methods in the teaching process, so that lessons are as effective as possible for students, and students also receive joy and inspiration from each lesson," Ms. Huong shared.
The "open school" or "open classroom" model will bring many benefits to students, families, schools, and society.
Expert Tran Thi Que Chi, Deputy Director of the Institute for Educational Sciences and Training (IES), also believes that when schools strengthen the "open school" and "open classroom" models, it will bring many benefits to students, families, schools, and society. Firstly, schools become more transparent, parents understand the school's educational program, and the connection between parents and the school becomes stronger. Secondly, students are more interested in learning in the open classroom environment, thereby developing life skills, social skills, and critical thinking. Finally, the innovative approach of teachers also contributes to stimulating and inspiring students' creativity.
And importantly, according to Ms. Que Chi, schools and classrooms must build a positive learning culture. "Innovation and creativity are only truly effective when built on a foundation of active learning. That means not chasing after achievements, encouraging a genuine, effective, and happy learning spirit, and respecting the creativity of students and teachers," Ms. Que Chi shared.
The Department of Education and Training encourages the development of "open classrooms".
In a document outlining some activities for the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, for students preparing to start school, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training requested primary schools to develop plans to improve the quality of education; publicly disclose the quality of education to each parent; continue to promote the "open classroom" model; invite parents to the classroom to participate in learning, playing, and activities with their children; and attend specialized workshops, clubs, and educational activities of the school.
The Department also provided guidance on many other important issues. These included principals proactively arranging school plans, creating flexible and appropriate timetables; and developing and implementing a plan for digital citizenship skills education in accordance with Circular No. 3899/QD-BGDĐT dated July 30, 2024, of the Ministry of Education and Training. Implementation must be appropriate to the psychological characteristics and cognitive development level of primary school students and the school's conditions; it should not create pressure or overload for students and teachers.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/minh-bach-with-open-classroom-185241122180619481.htm
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