"Week 0" - Preparation for Grade 1

According to the report of the Department of Education and Training, the province currently has 155 primary schools and 89 primary-secondary schools, with about 14,000 first-grade students in the 2025-2026 school year. Implementing the direction of the Department of Education and Training (GD&DT), 100% of units with primary classes have organized two "Week 0" and integrated content to enhance Vietnamese for ethnic minority students. In fact, in many schools, right from the first lesson, teachers have proactively developed a plan to organize the class in a methodical manner. Students are arranged with suitable seats, divided into study groups to encourage a spirit of cooperation; they are able to visit and get acquainted with the library, computer room, and playground of the school, thereby reducing the feeling of confusion when entering a new environment. In class, teachers train students in basic skills such as raising their hands to speak, lining up to enter and exit the classroom, putting things away in the right place, and keeping the classroom clean.

At Hoang Van Thu Primary School (Ky Lua Ward), this school year the school has 9 first grade classes with more than 350 students. Being present at the school in early August 2025, we saw that the classroom atmosphere was in order, the students listened attentively to the teacher's lecture, actively practicing the operations that had been instructed, from how to open and close books, take out school supplies to maintaining a straight sitting posture. In the joy of the first days of primary school, Hua Viet Hoang, class 1A8, innocently said: "When I go to school, the teacher teaches me how to write, read, draw pictures, and play with friends, so I like it very much, every morning I want my mother to take me to school early."

Along with discipline training, many schools focus on "Week 0" to foster Vietnamese vocabulary, accordingly teachers will design teaching according to teaching content circuits such as: warm-up - connection, discovery - practice, application - experience... to help students expand their vocabulary, get familiar with basic communication sentences, and boldly chat with teachers and friends. Ms. Hoang Thi Nguyet, homeroom teacher of class 1A at Khanh Khe Primary - Secondary School (Khanh Khe commune) said: The class has 20 students, many of whom rarely communicate in Vietnamese at home, so when teaching, in addition to practicing strokes, letters, and reading, we also incorporate familiar images and objects, combine folk games and short songs to create confidence and boldness for students. After a few sessions, many students know how to greet, introduce themselves, participate in conversations, and practice writing strokes more confidently and proficiently.

According to the plan, each lesson of “Week 0” lasts a maximum of 120 minutes, divided into many periods, with a break of 5 to 10 minutes between periods. During this time, students practice communication skills, use Vietnamese in basic situations, get acquainted with books, boards, squared notebooks, recognize letters, numbers and practice basic writing strokes. According to teachers, combining learning skills training with language development will create a solid foundation for students to be ready to receive knowledge when entering the main curriculum.

Mr. Ho Cong Liem, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training, said: "Week 0" is defined as a gentle transition from preschool play activities to primary school learning. Therefore, the Department has issued a guiding document and coordinated with commune-level authorities to ensure implementation conditions. The Department also requires that, for students with limited Vietnamese language skills, schools develop appropriate plans, arrange experienced teachers, and prepare adequate equipment and learning materials. In more favorable locations, schools focus on strengthening discipline and learning skills, ensuring that by the time of the opening ceremony, students have mastered classroom rules and are proficient in basic operations.

According to records at schools, through the implementation of “Week 0” and teaching Vietnamese to ethnic minority children before entering grade 1, students have gradually adapted to the new environment. They are more confident when participating in learning activities, boldly exchanging with teachers and friends, many have formed the habit of sitting upright, raising their hands to speak, and keeping their books and notebooks neat. In particular, for students who have little exposure to Vietnamese, their ability to listen, understand and respond to language has clearly changed, no longer shy like in the early days.