Freedom Elementary welcomes Thai educators in teacher exchange program

Freedom Elementary recently hosted two special Thai friends, Oi and Pookie, as part of an annual exchange with the Varee Chiang Mai School in Thailand. The visit was especially meaningful for fifth grade teacher Debbie Scott who observed in Oi’s classroom last June in Thailand.

“She is also a fifth grade teacher, so we were able to share ideas,” said Scott.

Pookie is a seventh through twelfth grade English teacher.

The ladies spent about a month in the area visiting schools associated with the Teachers Connect group.

Pookie and Oi spent a day in Scott’s classroom, and a day with third grade teacher Kim Thiesen. Both Scott and Thiesen are a part of the Teachers Connect team. Pookie and Oi also visited many of the classrooms on campus and had an opportunity to share some of their culture as well.

Pookie explained to the students, “Last week we have Loy Kratong festival. It’s a Thai tradition to give thanks to the river. We make small kratong and float it in the river. Kratongs are made from banana leaves and decorated with beautiful flowers. Thai people usually light the candles in their kratongs, at their house and also play fireworks. We went to float kratong at Ping River and we flew the lanterns into the sky. Many people did that together and it was so pretty.”

The teachers also showed third-graders how to write their names in Thai.

The visitors took many photos and notes for the presentations they would make as they returned to their home school.

“It is fun to learn about different cultural celebrations,” said Scott. “It was a great opportunity for all involved and a look into a culture that is new to many.”