Thank you for giving us parents a ticket to visit our childhood

I was surprised to see 5 other parents already at class 5A15 when I arrived 15 minutes early to Vinschool Elementary school. Just 5 minutes had passed and the group had grown to over ten. Happily, we had all gotten out of work in order to “come to class” on time.

An hour of being a class 5A15 student with the children, I was genuinely delighted and excited with Ms. Mai’s lessons. It was a class full of joy, enthusiasm, surprise and creativity. A vivid class filled with vibrant colors.

– Daddy, would you like to be a 5th grader?
Mit, my eldest daughter had asked me one day on our way home from school.
– Of course. Who’s smarter than a 5th grader? I wish I were a 5th grader in Vinschool.
– Then your wish can come true. I would like to invite you to my class’s storytelling of “The Champion” this Thursday.
– I have work that day… but I can move it to Friday, so I can be a 5th grader with my Mit!
– Yes. Thursday it is! But you had better be on time, daddy.

It was the color of wonder right from the start: “Getting to know each other”. Ms. Mai introduced us to the class as new students and divided us into 6 groups to take part in the lesson with the children. Only by studying with the children did we realize how smart, creative and proactive they are – much more than we had been when we were their age.

Next was the color of enthusiasm as the teacher engaged all students and parents in the lesson, involving every participant in lively group discussions. Under the group leader’s instruction, we each got to voice our opinions. Of course, we – as the new students – did not simply sit and listen but also got to practice with the 5W1H tool set (What, When, Where, Why, Who, How), asking the right questions to better understand the content and meaning of the story.

Then it was the color of surprise when neither the children nor the parents knew what was coming next. But the teacher was always in control and guided us perfectly. It seems that the whole class successfully puts students at its center, with excellent interactions.

Now it was time for the color of creativity, when both students and parents enthusiastically created the most interesting and creative story in their own unique way. After listening to a story, the groups took turns acting out the story. The audience roared with laughter and praised the performers with rounds of applause. After that, we were allowed to write a new ending to the story.

Last, but not least, it was the color of joy when everyone felt they were part of the stories. The children were well-versed in the art of “impossible solutions” and completed new endings for the stories in record time. To be honest, it took us adults a few minutes of “pen-biting” before ideas came to us.

I really liked how the lesson was developed, and I believe, I was not alone because all the students and parents who took part in the lesson seemed to feel the same. I could see it in the many raised hands, the enthusiastic discussions and the eyes that shone brightly full of happiness. Thank you, teacher, and our children for giving us parents an hour of “back to our childhood”. I hope there will be many more chances to sit on tip-toe in class like today!

Mr. Duc Pham – Father of Vinser Pham Ngoc Minh Anh, class 5A15 of Vinschool Elementary school