Chinese New Year!

Donors Choose!

Practice is the key in learning to speak a new language. I have created a Donors Choose project that is asking for two mini iPads. We will soon be Skyping children in another Mandarin Immersion Program around the United States. Other uses for the iPads are: reinforcing vocabulary words, reading online books, playing engaged Mandarin games, and even practice writing following the correct sequencing of strokes (without chopping trees).  Thank you for your continuous support for our teachers and kids! 

Xie Xie!! 

http://www.donorschoose.org/project/globalized-citizens/1133130?utm_source=dc&utm_medium=proposal&utm_campaign=copyURL&rf=copyURL_dccontent_2014_01_teacherid_2046698

TED: Learn to Read Chinese with Ease!

Week of January 22-24, 2014

Better Chinese - Parents, you have got to put your child on Better Chinese nightly. I am already seeing lots of excitement and improvement among kids (and parents).  It IS a supplemental resource that is meant to be used at home and sometimes during centers. If you are still confused about where to go and what your child's log-in info is, email your room moms ASAP!

The children made flash cards of family member's names and are getting better at recognizing the words. Some words can look alike, but the more they see, read, and play with them the more fluent they will become.

 Mandarin Center and Top it!

Usual Class in an Unusual Setting in the Media Center due to Mold

Love my Ice Latte from a very thoughtful parent! :) 

Week of January 13-17, 2014

BETTER CHINESE ONLINE SUBSCRIPTION
Make sure you are checking your email for this important log-in information. Spend as little as 10 minutes on this wonderful program nightly. I have already received lots of positive responses from parents and students! 

Animals made out of recycled materials helped us learn about solid shapes. 
See what the kids have created!

Martin Luther King Jr. has inspired our children to think more about treating others based on their characters, creating peace with our words, and loving one another. We made hearts to exemplify his love. 

Happy Long Weekend Everyone!

Seat Work / Centers/ Indoor Recess (Just Dance Kids) 

PLEASE PRINT!

Please print the image below and review with your child before bedtime nightly. 

Focus on Mom, Dad, Older Brother, Younger Brother, Older Sister, and Younger Brother. 

Week of January 8-10, 2014

CHECK OUT these two websites for lots of great resources for parents whose children are in Mandarin Immersion Programs.

Mandarin Parents Immersion Council

Yellow Bridge 

And you all probably have heard, we are required to speak to friends and Mandarin teachers in Mandarin ONLY (some obvious exceptions, of course!) starting this past Wednesday! All the cool kids are doing it at G.L.O.B.E.! Being the one to break the wonderful news to the French kids, I was able to make them feel how amazing their journey will be. I moved to Atlanta when I was 18 years old and did not have the option to not speak English. The key to be fluent in speaking any language is to...SPEAK IT! Some weeks kids only have two out of seven days to speak Mandarin
(hopefully all day), and that is just 16 hours a week. I am so proud of how much progress the kids (and I) are already making.  It might be a little quiet at times now, but not for long..hopefully!! 

In another news, we received our Better Chinese curriculum in Traditional Chinese this week. The students were engaged during guided reading group lessons and I was thrilled at the moments they click between the spoken and written language. It is truly magical! 

Below are pictures of student work and a short video...

 Building Animals Using Squares

 Counting the Squares and Writing them down in Mandarin

Ajay as Our Mystery Reader! Thank you, Ajay!