῍Strange things about Japanese Elementary Schools῍ӵ‫ޢ‬൝൝For International Families(QJOLVK9HUVLRQ(Lifestyle Edition)n)

They got mad at me for bringing a snack!
You aren’t allowed to bring snacks to school. Thereis a rule that says, “Don’t bring things that aren’t
needed for studying.” If you tend to get hungry,
make sure you eat all of your breakfast and yourschool lunch!
They made me clean the school!
In Japan, children clean their schools
themselves. Cleaning for themselves fosters
an attitude of “taking care of things” and“using things neatly.”
There’s too much homework every day!
Start good study habits at a young age. It’s
important to study not only at school, but on
independently at home. If others in the homesay, “Let’s do homework” and keep the childcompany, that may be all they need to feel
comfortable tackling the day’s homework.

Parent-child communication is important!
Once your child enters elementary school, actively ask them how things are goingat school. Good parent-child conversations have lots of benefits. For example:
ᬅYou’ll know how school is going. ᬆThe child will acquire their nativelanguage. ᬇIt’ll be easier to grasp what the child is struggling with at school.
And more... Regular good communication also makes iteasier to seek help if and when your child is really inLanguages
trouble. Try to create an environment where your child
Usedfeels free to talk to you about happy thingsat Homeor upsetting things.
Resource Room for Schoolchildren from Overseas, Aichi University of Education
1 Hirosawa, Igaya-cho, Kariya-shi, Aichi, 448-8542 Tel: 0566-26-2219 Fax: 0566-26-2566
e-mail: gendaigp@auecc.aichi-edu.ac.jp HP: http://www.resource-room.aichi-edu.ac.jp

Thinking AboutYour Child’sFuture

Illustrated by Kengo Morita

Let’s go to elementary school!
῍Elementary school is where career education starts῍
Learn what
you’regood at andbad at

Learn theimportanceof taking
responsibility
for your duties

Do things on aset scheduleLearn theneed for rules,

and follow them

These things will help your child learn the attitude they need to develop inorder to work in Japan one day. They are difficult to master from family life
alone. You want them to get this education now, because now is the best timefor them to learn! Their differences in language and culture mean there’s a lot
they can learn!    Now, let’s go to school!

Must-knows before they start school...
Can they do it? Let’s check!! Ĳᴾvs.

If they can’t do some of these yet, it’s best to practice before they startschool!

In a group
grrou
Escorted bya GuardianG

There is a set route fromyour home to school
designed for your child tocommute to school safely.
It’s called the school road(tsuugakuro).

BussKindergarten/Day Care

Elementary

Getting enough sleep increases the appetite for learning. It’s best
est
for your child to develop a habit of going to sleep by 9:00 pm.

Change clothes without help
Use chopsticks, and eat a meal in under 20 minutes
Say their own nameChildi byhim/herself

The elementary school tells you about
your child’s belongings and homework.
These notes are in the correspondence
notebook (renrackuchou), so check themwith your child each day.

Teachers tell children,and children tellguardians.

Go to bed early and get up early at a set time
every dayAnswer “yes” (hai) when their name is called-Learningng subjects -Duties, etc..
y progresses according
g tooThe daya schedule.

Tell someone when they’re having troubleElementary

Kindergarten/Day CareI want to go to the bathroom.
I don’t feel well.

My stomach hurts.. 

Obey traffic rules Obey traffic lights  Use the crosswalk after looking both ways
Say “thank you” (arigatou) and “I’m sorry”(gomen nasai)
Don’t do dangerous things

Elementary

Kindergarten/Day Care῍For Mothers and Fathers῍῍Go to school every day!
Unless they’re sick, try not to let children stay home from school! If they don’t attend,
they won’t understand the class material. Absences also influence their relationships withfriends and their motivation to participate in school life. While they may need to help out
at home or take care of their siblings, it’s important for you to create an environment
where they can confidently attend school and enjoy it!

ƔMake sure you know how to contact the school by phonewhen your child will be absent, be late, or leave early.
ƔFor your child’s sake, put some thought into whether they
will be staying in Japan long enough to advance inschool/find employment, or whether you will be going backto your home country.

Contacting theElementary SchoolMust-knows before they start school...
Can they do it? Let’s check!! Ĳᴾvs.

If they can’t do some of these yet, it’s best to practice before they startschool!

In a group
grrou
Escorted bya GuardianG

There is a set route fromyour home to school
designed for your child tocommute to school safely.
It’s called the school road(tsuugakuro).

BussKindergarten/Day Care

Elementary

Getting enough sleep increases the appetite for learning. It’s best
est
for your child to develop a habit of going to sleep by 9:00 pm.

Change clothes without help
Use chopsticks, and eat a meal in under 20 minutes
Say their own nameChildi byhim/herself

The elementary school tells you about
your child’s belongings and homework.
These notes are in the correspondence
notebook (renrackuchou), so check themwith your child each day.

Teachers tell children,and children tellguardians.

Go to bed early and get up early at a set time
every dayAnswer “yes” (hai) when their name is called-Learningng subjects -Duties, etc..
y progresses according
g tooThe daya schedule.

Tell someone when they’re having troubleElementary

Kindergarten/Day CareI want to go to the bathroom.
I don’t feel well.

My stomach hurts.. 

Obey traffic rules Obey traffic lights  Use the crosswalk after looking both ways
Say “thank you” (arigatou) and “I’m sorry”(gomen nasai)
Don’t do dangerous things

Elementary

Kindergarten/Day Care῍For Mothers and Fathers῍῍Go to school every day!
Unless they’re sick, try not to let children stay home from school! If they don’t attend,
they won’t understand the class material. Absences also influence their relationships withfriends and their motivation to participate in school life. While they may need to help out
at home or take care of their siblings, it’s important for you to create an environment
where they can confidently attend school and enjoy it!

ƔMake sure you know how to contact the school by phonewhen your child will be absent, be late, or leave early.
ƔFor your child’s sake, put some thought into whether they
will be staying in Japan long enough to advance inschool/find employment, or whether you will be going backto your home country.

Contacting theElementary School῍Strange things about Japanese Elementary Schools῍ӵ‫ޢ‬൝൝

For International Families(QJOLVK9HUVLRQ(Lifestyle Edition)n)

They got mad at me for bringing a snack!
You aren’t allowed to bring snacks to school. Thereis a rule that says, “Don’t bring things that aren’tneeded for studying.” If you tend to get hungry,
make sure you eat all of your breakfast and yourschool lunch!
They made me clean the school!
In Japan, children clean their schools
themselves. Cleaning for themselves fosters
an attitude of “taking care of things” and“using things neatly.”
There’s too much homework every day!
Start good study habits at a young age. It’s
important to study not only at school, but on
independently at home. If others in the homesay, “Let’s do homework” and keep the childcompany, that may be all they need to feel
comfortable tackling the day’s homework.

Parent-child communication is important!
Once your child enters elementary school, actively ask them how things are goingat school. Good parent-child conversations have lots of benefits. For example:
ᬅYou’ll know how school is going. ᬆThe child will acquire their nativelanguage. ᬇIt’ll be easier to grasp what the child is struggling with at school.
And more... Regular good communication also makes it
easier to seek help if and when your child is really in
Languages
trouble. Try to create an environment where your child
Usedfeels free to talk to you about happy thingsat Homeor upsetting things.
Resource Room for Schoolchildren from Overseas, Aichi University of Education
1 Hirosawa, Igaya-cho, Kariya-shi, Aichi, 448-8542 Tel: 0566-26-2219 Fax: 0566-26-2566
e-mail: gendaigp@auecc.aichi-edu.ac.jp HP: http://www.resource-room.aichi-edu.ac.jp

Thinking AboutYour Child’sFuture

Illustrated by Kengo Morita

Let’s go to elementary school!
῍Elementary school is where career education starts῍
Learn what
you’regood at andbad atLearn theimportanceof taking
responsibilityfor your duties

Do things on aset scheduleLearn theneed for rules,and follow them

These things will help your child learn the attitude they need to develop inorder to work in Japan one day. They are difficult to master from family life
alone. You want them to get this education now, because now is the best time
for them to learn! Their differences in language and culture mean there’s a lot
they can learn!    Now, let’s go to school!