Kindergarten teacher Jeff Kratz at Summerhill. SUMMERHILL INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Coming from a family of teachers, Pennsylvanian Jeff Kratz is honoured to be running the new kindergarten program at Summerhill International in Moto-Azabu.
Mr Kratz graduated in elementary education. Having joined Summerhill in August last year, with the specific responsibility of developing the kindergarten class, he draws upon his eight years of teaching experience in the United States and China as well as in Japan, making him an excellent teacher for multicultural children. During those eight years he has worked as a sixth grade science, preschool, eikaiwa, and summer camp teacher. He has even taught alongside his mother.
Having worked in both the US and international education systems, Mr Kratz is encouraged by the very high level of education in the latter and the high level of achievement of his students: “It makes teaching more fulfilling when the children are excited about learning!”
His class size is small, ensuring that each child receives a high level of attention every day, during the program’s hours of 9am–2pm.
While the school’s administrators rave about Mr Kratz’s new class, the kindergarten teacher is modest about his achievements, stating that his secret to success in the classroom is simple: “I set the bar high for the students, and use their natural curiosity to give them what they want.”
He starts the day with class meetings to discuss past activities, uses verbal quizzes for reinforcement throughout the day, and utilizes more formal evaluations for language arts and mathematics. He is particularly proud of the phonics program he has created from a variety of sources, which he feels is working very well.
“Like every teacher, each year you get better and better,” said Mr Kratz, adding that he hoped to grow the class to 10 or 12 students, and welcoming interested parents to drop by the school anytime where he would be happy to discuss the program.
“I really don’t know if it’s the students, or the parents, or the school, but every morning the kids are so happy to be here. It is so rewarding to work somewhere where you know that the students wake up and want to come to school!”
The children aren’t the only ones happy to go to Summerhill every day, as Mr Kratz finished off by saying how much he enjoyed his work environment, and, as long as he can stay in a rewarding job like this, it looks like he’ll be happily continuing the family tradition, just rather far afield.
For more information about Summerhill’s new kindergarten program see http://www.summerhill.jp.
