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4.43 AVERAGE
4.43 AVERAGE
Beautiful story with inspiring characters. Totto-chan's school, Tomoe Gakuen, is a model of how elementary schools should be. I definitely recommend this for educators and teachers.
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
What can I say about this book except that: it's cuteness overload! Tetsuko is a Japanese Television personality and UNICEF goodwill Ambassador. The author has narrated some events of her school life.
She used to call herself Totto-Chan and was a naughty girl. Having been expelled from one school for being very disruptive and restless, she joins a very innovative school, known as Tomoe Gakuen, run by Principal Sosaku Kobayashi. The school is unconventional in its approach and sees to it that children learn to educate themselves by making their own choices and through real-life skills, experimenting and hands-on experiences. The children get a unique sense of freedom, feel appreciated and proud of their work. They behave more empathetically, adjust with each other, and enjoy the school and its related activities thoroughly. The school motivates children to talk by giving them encouraging prompts. It lets them wear old rag-like dresses to school so that they wouldn't be worried about getting dirty.
A significant part of the book describes the excellent teaching techniques adopted by the school, reflective of the multitude of doubts parents and teachers have about teaching children.
It is quintessentially a way to deal with children who cannot easily adapt to strictly structured learning during the early learning stage. The principal is a visionary and sees to it that every child blossoms into a better human being by tapping the best skills in every child. Totto Chan herself appreciates and loves him a lot and so does every other child in the school.
We see the way the child reacts to various situations with utmost innocence and complete involvement. The whole narrative is adorable and parts of it are moving as well.
In my opinion play way techniques are needed for children until grade two or three. After those years slowly they need to be moulded into studying in a more structured manner. I can’t imagine calculus or organic chemistry being taught by the play way method.
It is a must-read for teachers and parents and is narrated in a simple, fluid manner, even children can read it.
She used to call herself Totto-Chan and was a naughty girl. Having been expelled from one school for being very disruptive and restless, she joins a very innovative school, known as Tomoe Gakuen, run by Principal Sosaku Kobayashi. The school is unconventional in its approach and sees to it that children learn to educate themselves by making their own choices and through real-life skills, experimenting and hands-on experiences. The children get a unique sense of freedom, feel appreciated and proud of their work. They behave more empathetically, adjust with each other, and enjoy the school and its related activities thoroughly. The school motivates children to talk by giving them encouraging prompts. It lets them wear old rag-like dresses to school so that they wouldn't be worried about getting dirty.
A significant part of the book describes the excellent teaching techniques adopted by the school, reflective of the multitude of doubts parents and teachers have about teaching children.
It is quintessentially a way to deal with children who cannot easily adapt to strictly structured learning during the early learning stage. The principal is a visionary and sees to it that every child blossoms into a better human being by tapping the best skills in every child. Totto Chan herself appreciates and loves him a lot and so does every other child in the school.
We see the way the child reacts to various situations with utmost innocence and complete involvement. The whole narrative is adorable and parts of it are moving as well.
In my opinion play way techniques are needed for children until grade two or three. After those years slowly they need to be moulded into studying in a more structured manner. I can’t imagine calculus or organic chemistry being taught by the play way method.
It is a must-read for teachers and parents and is narrated in a simple, fluid manner, even children can read it.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
This book made me smile, laugh and surprisingly made me cry too.
Although I kept hearing this book being mentioned and praised, I only knew that it was about a kid at a school. I thought it was a work of fiction. Until I saw a random bookstagram post that included this title as part of memoir reads. And when I began reading this, I googled about the author herself after reading the blurb and "about the author" section. I couldn't help but to feel even more intrigued about the story.
As I read on, I was introduced to the michievous Totto-chan, her loving mother, an unusual school with a principal who understood kids very well. The activities in the school, the little happenings at the school, the conversations and the contrast to World War II that was taking place, every single story made me feel some sort of way. Delight, grief, touched - you name it. The principal Sosaku Kobayashi reminded me of American television host Mr. Rogers. It's mind-blowing to me to know that these people existed, in a world where we adults so often refuse to spend time to communicate well with our children.
Equally interesting is the fact that the well-known illustrations that are now associated with the book were actually done before the book came to be. It was amazing how the author could find the right illustrations by Chihiro Iwasaki to go with her stories.
I also have to mention how amazing the translator Dorothy Kuroyanagi was at not only making it possible for English readers to read the book, but also adapted some of the very Japanese things into ways that can be well understood in English. I also appreciate the fact that the book has notes of English-Japanese words at the end for Japanese learners to benefit from.
Although I kept hearing this book being mentioned and praised, I only knew that it was about a kid at a school. I thought it was a work of fiction. Until I saw a random bookstagram post that included this title as part of memoir reads. And when I began reading this, I googled about the author herself after reading the blurb and "about the author" section. I couldn't help but to feel even more intrigued about the story.
As I read on, I was introduced to the michievous Totto-chan, her loving mother, an unusual school with a principal who understood kids very well. The activities in the school, the little happenings at the school, the conversations and the contrast to World War II that was taking place, every single story made me feel some sort of way. Delight, grief, touched - you name it. The principal Sosaku Kobayashi reminded me of American television host Mr. Rogers. It's mind-blowing to me to know that these people existed, in a world where we adults so often refuse to spend time to communicate well with our children.
Equally interesting is the fact that the well-known illustrations that are now associated with the book were actually done before the book came to be. It was amazing how the author could find the right illustrations by Chihiro Iwasaki to go with her stories.
I also have to mention how amazing the translator Dorothy Kuroyanagi was at not only making it possible for English readers to read the book, but also adapted some of the very Japanese things into ways that can be well understood in English. I also appreciate the fact that the book has notes of English-Japanese words at the end for Japanese learners to benefit from.
my comfort book. the only book that gave me immaculate comfortness. when my grandmother first gave me that book, it was white and clean, and it became dirty and yellow from time to time cause i’ll always bring it to school and read it carelessly. the book gave me insane nostalgia vibes, it makes me cry everytime i reread it. idk how much i’ve reread this book but it is my most favorite so far. and the fact that it’s an autobiographic book touches my heart.
A heartwarming story with such cute quirks. ”Totto-chan” reminds me of my childhood, quite a bit. Reading such innocence through an eye of a child gave me nostalgia I think everyone would want to feel too. Mr. Kobayshi’s different approach on learning made it interesting to read, as schools in real life do what he did. Headmaster Kobayshi simply wanted the children to have fun during their elementary school, and they received that. Kuroyanagi did a great, sweet retelling of her elementary school days.
I had no idea what this book was about. I just saw it available at my library and started reading. Once I realized that it was a memoir of a young girl in Japan during WWII I was hooked.
Totto-Chan is an absolute delight. She really is a joy to read about.
I have to say how remarkable her parents were, that instead of making her daughter conform I think her parents were remarkable. They could have insisted that their daughter conform, but instead, they found a school where she could thrive. Those children who went to that school were certainly lucky in that regard. In the midst of war, something beautiful was blooming.
Totto-Chan is an absolute delight. She really is a joy to read about.
I have to say how remarkable her parents were, that instead of making her daughter conform I think her parents were remarkable. They could have insisted that their daughter conform, but instead, they found a school where she could thrive. Those children who went to that school were certainly lucky in that regard. In the midst of war, something beautiful was blooming.
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
This was a reread (but before Goodreads). It's still sweet the second time around.