Lunedi - Classrooms

Buon giorno! 

How do YOU get to school? Today we arrived by taxi, because I was not sure of how to get to the school. The Luigi Einaudi School is on Via Delle Pace, and happened to be the one we came across on our walking tour on Friday, when it started to rain. 

Ray drawing a simple alligator for the students to try

We started our school week at the Einaudi School in a 4th grade classroom. 8:15 to 10: 15, class 5B, teacher  Tiziana NEGRINI (t.negrini@mail.scuole.vda.it).

The students were very excited to see the American teachers. After introductions and some questions  and answers, Ray drew an alligator on the board, while I showed the children photos of ones from the Okefenokee Swamp. They wanted to also draw one, and they labeled it, "Georgia Alligator". We then broke into small groups to do our activities.  

I started with a short PowerPoint to introduce Where's Walrus?.  I had made (smart to have posted it to the Blazeview site before leaving the U.S.), which included Stephen Savage's video clip of Walrus leaving the studio. The additional you tube videos I had on real walruses would not open, but the teachers got the info for later on. 

We read Where's Walrus? in small groups, each with a copy. The children liked my beanie baby puppet with the sparkling top hat and his own suitcase, and enjoyed that I had said he wanted to come to Italy with us to meet them!

The children were excited and they laughed at each page, and some pointed to the zookeeper's face. The classroom teacher LOVED how the expressions told the story and was very happy to learn that we were leaving a copy of the book with her after we finished. Each child was asked to draw a picture of where Walrus might blend in in Aosta. They immediately got out their pencils and began to draw. As they were finishing up, I passed out US Flag toothpicks for the VSU teachers to poke through, as if the children's walruses were holding the USA flag. It made for a great souvenir and everyone seemed happy. 

We had such a good time in the first class! In the second one, the teacher aid spoke English, so it was a little easier on me to communicate, knowing I had back up. Teachers: Tiziana and Lucia (tzanardo@libero.it) and l.gal@mail.scuole.vda.it

The VSU students felt more comfortable, since they had been successful with the first group. We again talked about where we lived, and that there were alligators nearby. Ray drew his on the board, and then the children did their own. 

Again, we moved into reading Where's Walrus? and then asked the children to think about Aosta and where Walrus might be hiding here.

As with the first group, location served their knowledge. There were many instances of drawing the Arc of Agustus, but one that fascinated me most was the Roman centurion at the Roman Theater, which is in the centre or Aosta. Although the girl did not get to finish coloring her drawing, the most important parts, the wall, the zookeeper, and Walrus, were completed. This is my favorite one, so far.

Angela's class

The children were really excited to have the American flag toothpicks. I had purchased 500 of them through Amazon, and they have been a huge hit in both classes.   I figured it would serve as a little gift and a token of memory after we were gone.

It was a terrific morning and we headed out for a quick lunch and then to another school...

We arrived at the school of St. Orso, Mikaela COTZA (School: Ponte di Pietra) + class 5  (School: Quartiere Dora, teachers Fabio BARMASSE - Fiorella SALVADORI) and had more conversation with the children, who were very eager to speak English with us. We were in the classroom of Angela Morrone (angelamorrone1@gmail.com).

Walrus winning a cup for skiing

At first they were shy, but by now we had learn that by singing Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes , got the children more comfortable, it was fun, and we could be silly. They then sang with the Italian words for each part. The teacher was happy to get the songbook I had made prior to leaving the US, and I pointed out that I had listed a website for each song and the English lyrics could be found for each song in the booklet, as well. Thank you, Miss Blanche for making the copies!

After this class, we were with what apparently was an afterschool group. We did not sing or read with them, but in English, they asked us questions, and we answered, and then we asked them questions and they answered. It was more recitation oriented, but at least we were able to interact, and they practiced their English skills.

We met Elena back at Hotel Torino. She had brought each of us an Aosta apron and a box of cookies. So Ray and I would not have two aprons, she bought Ray a tea towel, as she had for Greg. She is so sweet. I am calling her my 'Aosta Angel'. She had booked a reservation for all of us at a beautiful wine cellar  restaurant, Aldente Trattoria Italiana, Via Croce di Citta, 34 (aldentetrattoriaitaliana@yahoo.it) and joined us for dinner.  She was so interested in our school experiences. We will visit her school on Wed.  After a great meal and some talk a out our day, we braved the rain drops to turn in.