Inside a Finnish Teachers' Lounge

Sign up for my free Finnish education webinar: bit.ly/2NuNL1l
Check out my book, "In Teachers We Trust: The Finnish Way to World-Class Education": bit.ly/3cbqHy0
And "Teach Like Finland: 33 Simple Strategies for Joyful Classrooms": bit.ly/2Obcpo3
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REACH ME
Twitter: @timdwalk
Email: [e-mail]
Website: teachlands.com
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I want to say thanks to the students and faculty at Martti Ahtisaaren koulu in Kuopio, Finland. What a fun and insightful visit! And thank you to my brother-in-law, David Popa, for filming the whole thing! (Subscribe to David's KZbin channel here: bit.ly/2OTytP3)

[@timwalker6836]

Educators, I want to hear about your teaching schedule. Are you getting enough breathers throughout the day? What’s a typical break look like for you? Anything you want to do differently now that you’ve peeked inside a Finnish teachers’ lounge?

[@aipsyaepul6722]

Tjs situation is exactly different with us here in Indonesia. My personal view, a teacher in Indonesia is same as the teacher in USA. It is mostly like what you described in your book "teaching like findland. We came to school at 7 in the morning with two time break. The first at break is at 10 to 10.20 and the second one is at 12.30, we teacher have a time together only at that time, we will finish the school at 15.30 what do you think? It is normal situation conducted at primary and sexondary education. In some school they even have more time in school. What do you think Tim,,?

[@gtechpoint4556]

In the philippines i think 6 hours of teaching is too long. I want it to be like finland,only four hours

[@Alexandros.Mograine]

as some1 who has experienced both american, and finnish education systems, i can say that Finnish school feels actually nice, you are motivated to study because its made easier for you with less homework, more free time, and the teachers actually want you to succeed (finns usually take this for granted, ofc because they dont know how much more it sucks in most places). I feel like teachers love their jobs, and want you to succeed because in Finland becoming a teacher takes alot of education, and in finland teachers are respected, their jobs are important, unlike in america where teachers 90% of the time get paid shitty and its not seen as a high class job. just a tip to all finns, dont take anything your country has for granted, because most countries dont have most things as good as you do.

[@onlyblue7]

I'm a student in 7th grade (middle school) in Finland. The great thing about it is that we know we can go knock on the teacher's lounge's door if we need help, if we have questions or if we have to find some teacher. There is always someone who can give us guidance.

[@tiwa329]

Great to hear! Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@minoosanoori3633]

When the teachers feel comfort they can convey this feeling to the students

[@rajeshg8760]

Always fascinated by Finnish education system. I would love to turn back time and study in Finnish schools :)

[@Escapistier]

Haha seeing that teacher lounge so alive and full of happy working people gave me a funny big smile :) We always joked teacher went there to have coffee and a bun and other sweets while we had to go outside no matter what the weather was, well surely it wasn't that far from the truth

[@elenaandtheworld]

I've just discovered your channel! Love your videos, I'm moving to Finland in October, and I can't wait!

[@timwalker6836]

Thank you! Glad to hear that. Safe travels!

[@kaitzurovaniemi]

i can say that finnish school system is great.

[@neealiuski670]

In my school we have three 75 minutes long lessons and one 45 minute lesson. Two of the breaks are 15 minutes long and one is an hour long break(I'm 15 from Finland )

[@Ok-fe5kt]

The teachers lounge at my high school had a fridge and a few tables. The lounge was unlocked only during the 25 min lunch break.

[@veronicakivela1358]

Thank you for doing this! I am a BIG fan and have had your book quite a while. First, brief background on me before I answer your questions. I am American teacher married to Finnish Navy man. Since 2016, when we met, I have been looking for opportunities to get into Finnish schools and learn more and share. This past summer was the best. I attended a Helsinki Summer School course all about the Finnish Education System at the University of Helsinki. During the course, I was able to visit a Finnish Secondary School (I am USA high school teacher) and also see the teacher lounge. Very, very different than in US. I have to tell you my situation here is awful and I just wish I was teaching in Finland. My day every day is 4- 50 minute classes straight...then I have off 5th lunch period and 6th in which I just eat alone in my room because the Social Studies teacher lounge is far away (and has negative energy inside usually because teachers just go there to complain) from my room and I don't have the same time off as most of my other colleagues or even know them anymore (turnover is great at my school) Then I teach 7th period at end of day. What I try to do (based on your book) is work breathers and breaks for students and me into lessons...usually 10 min. off or so. I also try to make all Fridays fun days off. I think I would like to be able to create Finnish-like teacher spaces or lounges in all buildings and just be able to break with those teachers around me. It would be much better than feeling so isolated.

[@behuman3811]

Thank you so much to share your story. I would like to go to summer school too in Finland, and you just share what I need to know, thank you..

[@lassi3554]

It has been five years since your post, but in case you read this... It would be really nice to hear if you're teaching in Finland.

[@veronicakivela1358]

@@lassi3554 Thank you so much for looking back on this post and inquiring about me now. Unfortunately, my dream of teaching in Finland has not come true. Since this post, I had instead tried to get into a Education PhD program at the University of Helsinki, but that proved quite difficult. I think being an American who did not do a Masters degree in Finland was huge disadvantage. So now, I am trying to get into an Education PhD. Program at Peabody College Vanderbilt (my Alma mater). If I get in, I start in Fall 2024 and would move back to Tennessee, my home state. In the meantime, I am still at same school, practically doing same thing as I said in original post…but things are much worse teaching in Florida USA. My Finnish husband (who still lives in Helsinki primarily) does plan to move with me to TN, However, I do plan to maintain my connections to Finland with hubby and through the University of Helsinki education researchers I have met when trying to get in. Now, if I ever teach in Finland, it will probably be as visiting professor, I hope 🤞🏾😉

[@raquelbunny]

Yes! Thanks for this beautiful peek into the teachers' staff room! Peer support and time out are so important in keeping happy.

[@THomasJPeel]

Excellent video

[@regupathyregupathy6124]

Super teaching schedule

[@jerrychili5203]

Thanks for being in our school Tim! Such a flashback to see my previous classmates since im already so used to the new ones.

[@timwalker6836]

We had such a blast! Great to meet you and thanks for following along. Hope you're having a great time at your new school!

[@tinotime8034]

Siis joo

[@jerrychili5203]

@@tinotime8034 bruh

[@ax1orduna]

Hi Tim! I have been following your blog, book and now vlog since you so graciously shared an afternoon with me and other American colleagues during Oppi 2014. Since then I have moved from the classroom to museum education. Although most of my work takes place in an office setting I have found taking my breaks through the galleries and interacting with visitors refreshes me for the remainder of the day and inspires me to return to my tasks with renewed vigor. I thrive on people interaction particularly when its focused around learning a new concept or building a skillset. Thanks for the video!

[@timwalker6836]

Terrific to hear from you, Armando! Hope you are your family are well. Thanks for sharing your insight.

[@viedralavinova8266]

Funny enough I did have a teacher in high school (US) that would give us a break during lessons. If it was a shorter timed class we'd get like 5 or so minutes to get up and stretch, and about 10min for longer timed class.

[@markofarrell3457]

Thanks Tim for sharing great video to see inside a Finnish staffoom and hear about best practice. There is a lot here about regular teacher breaks and connecting with other socially that models what we actually want students to do with each other.

[@timwalker6836]

Thanks a lot, Mark! Such a good point.

[@odume1024]

I love your content!! But do you have any more videos?? I think i missed a few...

[@run071210]

I would like to know the name of the shoulder massagers the two ladies were using. Thanks for the videos. I love learning about the Finnish educational system.

[@andrewkeating2936]

I would say our system in Ireland is quite similar but also different in some ways. Typically each day we start at 9 and end at 4 with a 15 minute break at 11 and a 50 minute break at 13:10. We would typically teach three forty minute class periods one after another in between. However we will not always have all nine classes each day and typically we teach 7 sometimes 6 of those 9. However, we always finish early on Friday at 13:10. In relation to supervision of break times this is also done on a rota of 15 minutes three times per week. The biggest difference I would see between Ireland and Finland is that many teachers in fact give up their lunch break to do extra curricular activities such as debating and Student Council work with students leaving many with only a very short break and an element of burnout. I must stress that this is voluntary work but it is almost seen as a necessity in order to climb the ladder and be made permanent. Also class times off during the day are often used for planning/correction. Looking forward to the response and thanks again for the video.

[@timwalker6836]

That's fascinating, Andrew. Thanks for sharing. Have you found a teachers' lounge culture in Ireland?

[@andrewkeating2936]

@@timwalker6836 There is definitely a teacher's lounge culture in Ireland but in the last few years many teachers, especially those in the profession many years have found that they have less time in there than they used to. Often times this can be spent filling out what many see as unnecessary paperwork. This is not to say that there is no support for teachers and one of the major themes recently has been teacher wellbeing e.g. hillwalks on a Friday after school and yoga after school finishes on Thursday, but each school is different.

[@keokikat]

Straightforward

[@andrewhanson1180]

Wow. When I was in Highschool we got one break a day. A 20 minute lunch. I dropped out at 16 and got my GED less than a month later. American public schools and workforce are a joke when it comes to break time.

[@lenniporali600]

There is my teaceacher😂😂im from this School!!

[@jerrychili5203]

Vautsis

[@Escapistier]

4:54 love that hug :)

[@iamhasrizal]

Under the Erasmus in Schools program, I got to visit Finnish schools and teach / facilitate some classes and during each visit, the teachers’ room always have the same positive vibe as what you show in this video. Last week, during a visit, the teacher asked me how much Finnish do I know? I immediately understand that they are going to have a weekly meeting in the teachers’ room and will discuss some matters involving students’ behaviour etc. They don’t want me as an outsider to be exposed to the students’ affair. I assure them that my Finnish is closed to zero 😊

[@yousefmansoorzadeh8810]

Hi and good day Timothy, I am an English teacher in IR and I have also studied English translation at college. I have recently read your book " teach like Finland" and I am very interested in translating that in to Persion so please let me know about your opinion. Good luck man.

[@asawarisawant1406]

Hello sir, I am from India. I am also educator. I would like to know about how to be a part of Finnish Education system, how to come there? and all important information. I would be a great help to know more.😊

[@konsta1575]

I remember when u was in my school in Kurtakko haha! It was a great time :D EDIT: 1:11 is my school yard EDIT 2: In teach like finland video is in my school xD

[@nointernet5722]

My teacher and school

[@RetheepOb]

❤️❤️

[@herkuttelijja6559]

This is my school :D

[@herkuttelijja6559]

1:49 it has my graders

[@ralfhaggstrom9862]

Been there.......... as a pupil .....

[@ole9898]

are you teaching in Finnish or in English?

[@Jamesmiller-qt9sz]

Right now iam looking for a job in finland..can you direct me to any good websites? or anyone?

[@kenrotheram]

Another video showed a test in the lesson. Was this marked in the break or was it marked by the pupils?

[@timwalker6836]

Hi! Not sure. I’ve seen teachers and students assessing work in Finland. Normally it’s the educators, but there’s been a recent national push to have kids engage in more self-assessment.

[@Ichigoeki]

@@timwalker6836 Our language teachers especially liked to outsource the grading. First we'd all finish our tests, then pass them to our neighbour. When everyone had someone else's paper in front of them the teacher would tell the correct answers. Then you'd just swap your own paper back and laugh at the comments your friend had left in it. If not done like this, then we'd get the graded tests back during the next lesson of the same subject, don't know if the if teachers used their own time after school or the breaks to grade them though.

[@fifiaish1928]

Why have you left recording videos man???????

[@onnijups4270]

Ay youre in my school did you see my teacher

[@JampaB]

I'm just going to point out that there is skeleton in the break room. I knew that there is something wrong with teachers :D

[@itsnotme8182]

@Riku this week my teacher just straight up brought a whole real skeleton to the middle of the class. What's funny though is that one of us tried to shake hands but ended up detaching James's (skeleton) arm. He got some scolding but we all laughed. He managed to screw it back so James is in his handsome whole being again lmao. Fun class.

[@thehelmet6325]

Wtf my friends are playng in snow yes thats my scool i see me and friends and i see my teacher

[@EverydayMusician]

Do you teach in English?

[@timwalker6836]

Yes! Thankfully 😅