Hoshi always has a hard time getting up in the mornings for school, until her mom reminds her about music classes. Music is a very important part of the Japanese schools and at Hoshi’s school they study music first! Hoshi loves to sing with the other children in her class and will sometimes sing while walking to school. Hoshi walks to school with the kids in her neighborhood. All the children wear helmets! Once Hoshi arrives at school, she removes her shoes and changes into slippers. Each student has a cubby for their shoes, helmet and backpack.

After singing and studying music, Hoshi and her classmates practice their reading and writing Japanese. The Japanese language is very important, and very complex. Hoshi has her own ink and brush for writing kanji, the Japanese characters. Her second grade class has forty students and they practice reading to each other and the class every day. Hoshi’s favorite writing activity is when they get to write Haiku - a form of poetry from Japan. Hoshi’s favorite Haiku is:

Our concert
I hope to sing
with a sweet voice

After reading, Hoshi and her classmates all eat lunch together in their classroom. They all have lunch prepared in their cafeteria but served right in their room! After lunch, the students clean their classroom. Out of all the cleaning activities, Hoshi likes to make sure all the students clean their hands after they are done with their chores!

After lunch, the students practice their math, art, and science.

Hoshi will finish second grade in February, and start third grade in April. Third grade is the first year she gets to study English in school! Hoshi can’t wait! She has been practicing outside of school in classes and with her friends, but speaking English in school will be fun!

Hoshi wishes everyone luck in their new school year and reminds you that school isn’t the same everywhere around the world.