One of the best ways to experience Tokyo was by riding all three Big Bus routes—the Blue, Green, and Red lines. Each route offered a different perspective of one of the world’s largest and most dynamic cities.
The tour highlighted Tokyo’s remarkable blend of ancient traditions and cutting-edge innovation. From peaceful gardens and historic temples to towering skyscrapers, bustling shopping districts, and iconic landmarks, every stop revealed another layer of the city’s rich history and vibrant culture.
Traveling the complete network allowed me to appreciate how Tokyo balances preservation with progress. I visited cultural sites, modern business districts, beautiful parks, and neighborhoods that each tell a unique story about Japan’s past, present, and future.
For educators, the experience provided countless opportunities to connect geography, history, architecture, economics, and culture. It reinforced how travel serves as a powerful classroom, helping us better understand the people, traditions, and values that shape communities around the world.
Exploring all three routes gave me a comprehensive introduction to Tokyo and laid a strong foundation for deeper learning throughout my journey in Japan.
There was a lot going on in September. As I prepared for the new school year, I intentionally took time to reflect on the students who would be entering my classroom. I prayed for them—that they had enjoyed a wonderful, refreshing summer and that they would feel welcomed, valued, and connected as members of our classroom community.
The beginning of the year is always one of my favorite times because it gives us an opportunity to build relationships. Through community-building activities, I was able to watch students interact, connect with one another, and begin finding their place within our classroom family. These early observations often tell me so much about who they are as learners and as people.
This particular September was especially challenging, and I honestly could not have accomplished everything without my student teacher. Her support was invaluable as we navigated the excitement and demands of the start of the school year together.
One of my favorite traditions is sharing carefully selected back-to-school read-alouds. This year, the books resonated beautifully with the students. One of my all-time favorites is Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco. I also love many of Patricia Polacco’s other books because they remind students that everyone has strengths and challenges. There are things they may excel at right away, and there are things that may require patience and perseverance. Most importantly, they learn that they will not be the same students in June that they are in September. Growth happens throughout the year, and that is something worth celebrating.
Another activity I look forward to every year is the “What’s in the Bag?” activity. Students go home and select three items to bring back to school. One item represents something they love, another represents a place they visited during the summer, and the third can be anything they choose. One by one, each student sits in the rocking chair and shares their items with the class.
It is such a simple activity, but it is filled with joy. I love learning about my students, hearing their stories, and taking little notes about what makes each child unique. It helps me begin building connections that will last throughout the year, and it is a tradition I truly cherish.
Taking individual student photographs, capturing our class picture, printing and laminating them, and displaying them throughout the room made everything feel real. Looking around the classroom, I realized that this was my new group of students. This was our classroom family. Together, we were about to embark on a year of learning, growth, challenges, and accomplishments.
As I stood there looking at their faces, I couldn’t help but smile and think: we’re going to do great things together.
Shawnette Brown 