The sorting hat, wands, botany and magical spells: it can all be found with teacher Tamara Nijdam of group 8 at primary school de Rainbow in Zoetermeer
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Tamara has always had a thing for fantasy books, such as Narnia and Harry Potter. She regularly reads from this in class. When the students of group 7 asked Tamara last year if they could do a Harry Potter theme in group 8, Tamara didn’t have to think twice: time to go wild!
No half work
The Harry Potter theme is not half carried through in Tamara’s class. She says: “Because I would also have group 7 in group 8, it was very nice to start with the theme in group 7.” At the end of group 7, Tamara gave home the official acceptance letter to all students, including a train ticket: get on platform 9 ¾ of course. “Before the summer break, all students had to take a test, based on the results I assigned each student to one of four divisions: Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw.” tells Tamara.
The first schoolday
On the first day of school, everyone had to show their train ticket at the door. “On arrival there was Harry Potter music on and every student was given the sorting hat. This is how the students found out to which department she belonged for the rest of the year.”
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scoring
Points can be earned for your department throughout the year, just like Harry Potter. Points are also deducted if, for example, the homework is not completed or if you are late. The points are counted four times a year – before each holiday – and then a winner is chosen. What do they win then? The students have determined this themselves at the beginning of each period “the students then have 5 minutes to determine what they want as a prize if they win. This could be a pizza lunch or they could play outside for an hour longer.”
Positive atmosphere in the classroom
“I really notice that the children are fanatical about it and it also creates a special group feeling. They help and correct each other, there is less bullying and they also compliment each other more and more. Even students who did not like each other last year now get along much better.” Tamara’s students also learn to share well. They don’t have fixed drawers, everything is from their department and so they have to share.
In fact, Tamara’s points system is so popular that it is also being introduced among colleagues at other schools.
Harry Potter subjects
The lessons in group 8 of Tamara are also in Harry Potter style: herbalism, making wands and potions, crocheting owls and incantations are on the program. “The Harry Potter theme was also included in the 8th grade camp. They painted their ward mascot, played Quidditch and played Harry Potter-style Stratego live.”
Next year again?
Tamara is not yet able to answer that question, “I might come up with another theme.”