School Education in Japan Elementary Schools Today

1
School Education in Japan Elementary Schools
Today

• Support Material

2
Organization of the School Structure in Japan
SOURCE Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology, Japan Web site
3
Number of Schools, Students and Teachers in
Japan (As of May, 2003 Correspondence course
excluded)
NOTE In Japan, lower secondary and upper
secondary schools are separated. SOURCE Data
from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology, Japan
4
The Structure of School Management (example)
Functional Organization
Activity-based Organization
Public
Teachers' Mutual Aid Association
Relations
OB/OG Association
Section
PTA
Administration of facilities and equipment
Administration of the contact network
General
Affairs Section
Clerical affairs (administration of documents,
budget drafts, etc.)
School Business
Traffic safety guidance
Management Committee
Committee of teachers with
School lunch guidance
Health and
designated responsibilities
Environmental hygiene and creation of beauty in
the school surroundings
Safety
Section
Vice
Teachers'
Health guidance and regular health checks
Principal
meeting
Principal
Guidance on extra-curricular activities
Daily Life
Planning and guidance for all-school meetings and
club activities
Guidance
Management and guidance of the "Children's
Conference" activities
Section
Daily life planning and guidance within the school
Research and
Research presentations
Entrance Ceremony Committee
Implementation of teaching research
Training
Implementation of training outside subjects and
subject areas
Graduation Ceremony
Section
Committee
Deciding on and administering school events
Budget Committee
Educational evaluation
Educational
Administration of register of enrolled children
Affairs
Preparation of grade management draft
Section
Deciding on education plans (yearly, monthly,
weekly)
Drawing up and submitting the curriculum
SOURCE JICA(2003) The History of Japans
Educational Development pp.88
5
Professional Duties of Designated Teachers
SOURCE JICA(2003) The History of Japans
Educational Development pp.90
6
School Health Activities
?Health issues covered by the subject curriculum
of Physical Education
and Health and Physical Education
?Health, safety and nutrition issues covered by
other related subject
Health Instruction
curriculums
?Health, Safety and Nutrition issues covered by
"Integrated Study Period "
Health
Education
?Health guidance through classroom/ homeroom
activities
?Health guidance through school events
Health Guidance
?Health guidance through student councils and
club activities
?Individual guidance in health rooms and
classrooms
?Health guidance through everyday school life
School
?Health observation
?Health examination(Health Survey)
Health
?Monitoring and guidance of students with
Management
?Health consultation
health concerns
of physical
and mental
?Prevention of infectious disease
aspects
Students'
?First Aid
Health
Management
?Monitoring and managing health aspects of
students' daily life
Management
of life
?Management of school life
Health
Organizing time tables and daily schedules
appropriate for a healthy life
Management
Play and sports during breaks
The psychological environment in the school
Management
?Hygiene management of school environment
Environmental
of School
Hygiene inspection of school
environment(Regular, Daily)
Management
Environment
?Beautification of school environment for a
better psychology
?Establishing teachers' group and cooperation
mechanism
?Cooperation with families
Organizational
?Cooperation with other related institutions,
organizations and schools
Activities
in the local area
?School Health Committee
SOURCE Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology, Japan Web site
7
Subjects and Standard Class Hours for Elementary
Schools
SOURCE JICA(2003) The History of Japans
Educational Development pp.152
8
Timetable (example)
SOURCE Compiled on the basis of timetable in
Kamitoba elementary school. Different subjects
are allocated for Period 1 to 6.
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Textbook Authorization Process
SOURCE JICA(2004) Video The History of Japans
Educational Development
10
Lesson

• The existence of a relational network of
  tensions linking these three factors is a
  precondition for a good lesson

Teacher
Teaching Material
Children
SOURCE JICA(2003) The History of Japans
Educational Development pp.226
11
Basic Flow of Learning Development (example)
Confirmation of readiness Difficult points from
previous lesson
Express problem solving methods and ways of
thinking
Present lesson theme
Have discussion on the basis of presentations
Debate lesson theme
Propose expectations or hypotheses
Summarize learning content and methods
Think of methods and solve problems
Announce theme of the next lesson
SOURCE JICA(2003) The History of Japans
Educational Development pp.192
12
Plan for Blackboard Writing
Date. Class period
Name of teaching materials
Name of first group to give presentation
Particular points to watch out for or listen to
during the presentation
Discussion points on the presentation
Name of second group to give presentation
Particular points to watch out for or listen to
during the presentation
Discussion points on the presentation
New topic
SOURCE JICA(2003) The History of Japans
Educational Development pp.199
13
Learning Styles and Their Characteristics
SOURCE JICA(2003) The History of Japans
Educational Development P191
14
Teaching Methods
SOURCE JICA(2003) The History of Japans
Educational Development P191
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Types of Classrooms
Science room
Ordinary classroom
Music room
Visual arts Handicrafts room
Multi-purpose room
Home-making room
Special classroom for disabled children
Facilities for Life Environmental Studies
Classroom
Special classroom
Special activity room
Education consultation room
Common study space
Broadcasting room
Library
Space for preparing and storing educational
materials and teaching aids
Audio visual room
Computer room
SOURCE Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology, Japan, 2003,
Guidelines for Upgrading of School
Facilities (modified and translated)
16
Criteria for Science Education Equipment for
Elementary School
SOURCEJICA(2003) The History of Japans
Educational Development pp.178
17
Special Education (as of May 2001, at the
compulsory education level)
SOURCE Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology, Japan Web site
JICA(2003) The History of Japans Educational
Development
18
Standard for School Library Book Stock
SOURCE Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology, Japan, 2003,
Standard for School Library Book Stock
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Moral Education
SOURCE Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology, Japan, 1999,
Course of Study for Elementary School----
Moral Education
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Special Activities
SOURCE Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology, Japan, 1999,
Course of Study for Elementary School----
Special Activities
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Integrated Study Period
SOURCE Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology, Japan, 1999,
Course of Study for Elementary School----
General Provisions
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Life Environment Studies
SOURCE Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology, Japan, 1999,
Course of Study for
Elementary School---- School Life
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Lesson Study

• The Process of Lesson Study Elaboration of the
  lessons through the continuous cycle of
  Plan-Do-See

Study of Teaching Material(Plan) (Identification
of themes, compilation of lesson plans)
Lesson Study(Do) (Lesson implementation and
observation)
Lesson Discussion Meeting(See) (Lesson
evaluation and reflection)
SOURCE JICA(2003) The History of Japans
Educational Development pp.227
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Strong Points of School-Based Training

• Has potential to deepen research on urgent
  problems faced by the school or the teacher.
• Has potential to take research forward in the
  context of linking it with everyday school
  practice.
• It is easy to utilize research results
  immediately for classroom practice.
• Has potential to deepen joint research in context
  of smooth human relations.
• It is easy to carry out research on the basis of
  relationship with parents or local community.

SOURCE JICA(2003) The History of Japans
Educational Development pp.222
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The Significance of In-service Training for
Teachers

• Enhancing human qualities as educators
• Acquiring high-level specialist knowledge and
  skills
• Acquiring new teaching methods
• Communication and assembling of information among
  teachers
• Assembling information provided by the
  administration

SOURCE JICA(2003) The History of Japans
Educational Development pp.221
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Types of In-service Training Provided by
Different Bodies
SOURCE JICA(2003) The History of Japans
Educational Development pp.219
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An Overview of Training Geared to Experience and
Length of Service
Objectives
Training Format
Training Content
SOURCE JICA(2003) The History of Japans
Educational Development pp.219
28
Constituent Ability Items and Training Examples
Suited to Professional Ability Level
SOURCE JICA(2003) The History of Japans
Educational Development pp.220
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Educational Administrative Bodies and Authorities
SOURCE JICA(2003) The History of Japans
Educational Development pp.69
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Organization of the Board of Education
Governor
Educational Institutions
(Appointment)
Other Institutions
Secretariat
Board of Education Chairman Board members
Supervisors Administrative staff Technical
staff Other staff members
(Appointment? Supervision)
Guidance Division
Physical Education Sports Division
The Superintendent of Education
Deputy Superintendent
Lifelong Education Division
(Management?Supervision of staff members)
Cultural Affairs Division
Benefits Welfare Division
Office of Education
SOURCE National Commission of Prefectural
Education Boards Website (Translation)
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The Basis for Lesson Planning Teaching Plan
SOURCE JICA(2003) The History of Japans
Educational Development pp. 187
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Summary Diagram of Structured Lesson Design
SOURCE JICA(2003) The History of Japans
Educational Development pp.187
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Individual Lesson Teaching Plan(Sample Format)

• Unit (Lesson Theme)
• Lesson Plan for Unit Lesson (Period)
• Date and Time
• Class
• Unit Name (Lesson Title)
• Objective of this Lesson
• Lesson Development Plan
• Plan for Blackboard Writing
• Lesson Evaluation

SOURCE JICA(2003) The History of Japans
Educational Development pp.198
34
Organization Chart of a PTA(Example)
General Meeting
Management Committee
Officers Committee
Auditors
Community Representatives Committee
Specialist Committee
Grade Representatives Committee
Class Representatives Committee
Educational Affairs Committee
Health and Welfare Committee
PR Committee
SOURCE JICA(2003) The History of Japans
Educational Development pp.92
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An Example of School Calendar
SOURCE JICA(2003) The History of Japans
Educational Development pp. 89
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How Teachers are Viewed in Japan
Teacher as a Sacred Profession
Teacher as a Worker
Teacher as a Professional
SOURCE JICA(2003) The History of Japans
Educational Development ,
diagram prepared based on the description in pp.
206
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Types of Teacher Certificate