What can I say about this book except that: it's cuteness overload! Tetsuko is a Japanese Television personality and UNICEF goodwill Ambassador. The author has narrated some events of her school life.
She used to call herself Totto-Chan and was a naughty girl. Having been expelled from one school for being very disruptive and restless, she joins a very innovative school, known as Tomoe Gakuen, run by Principal Sosaku Kobayashi. The school is unconventional in its approach and sees to it that children learn to educate themselves by making their own choices and through real-life skills, experimenting and hands-on experiences. The children get a unique sense of freedom, feel appreciated and proud of their work. They behave more empathetically, adjust with each other, and enjoy the school and its related activities thoroughly. The school motivates children to talk by giving them encouraging prompts. It lets them wear old rag-like dresses to school so that they wouldn't be worried about getting dirty.
A significant part of the book describes the excellent teaching techniques adopted by the school, reflective of the multitude of doubts parents and teachers have about teaching children.
It is quintessentially a way to deal with children who cannot easily adapt to strictly structured learning during the early learning stage. The principal is a visionary and sees to it that every child blossoms into a better human being by tapping the best skills in every child. Totto Chan herself appreciates and loves him a lot and so does every other child in the school.
We see the way the child reacts to various situations with utmost innocence and complete involvement. The whole narrative is adorable and parts of it are moving as well.
In my opinion play way techniques are needed for children until grade two or three. After those years slowly they need to be moulded into studying in a more structured manner. I can’t imagine calculus or organic chemistry being taught by the play way method.
It is a must-read for teachers and parents and is narrated in a simple, fluid manner, even children can read it.