Week of August 25-29, 2014

This week we continued to review color words, and we are also connected fruits and their colors. (i.e. Red Apples, Yellow Bananas, Green Pears, Pink Peaches..etc) The students played games and sang songs to reinforce the skills. You may download the CD we frequently play on iTunes as it's loved among all children.

In Math the students practiced using one to one coorspondence and Mandarin while counting.  Please encourage your child to count objects at home or sitting in traffic. The skill is incredibly important. 

Family is a community. Students learned the titles for family members. (Dad, Mom, Myself, Older Brother, Younger Brother, Older Sister, Younger Sister, Grandma, and Grandpa) It is quite confusing for foreigners because each person has a place in a family and he or she may be called something different depending age and gender.

Check out all the work we have been doing in the classroom! Don't forget, water bottle daily and ALWAYS keep the Mandarin journal in your child's book bag.

                 

    We are writing color words in Mandarin!

We are teaching each other how to say "Xiang Jaio". 

We are learning a new poem "Wu Zhi Ge". 

                       

Outside collecting natural objects...

 Building Characters out of Natural Objects - A constructivist activity

Finished Products! 

Photo Gallery in the Hallway

Chineasy flashcards help us see pictures in words. 

Calendar Math

Fruits and Colors

Week of August 18-22, 2014

This week we practiced Mandarin greetings through play and songs. The students have now become more comfortable saying "Zao An! (Good Morning)" in the morning and "Ni Hao (Hello)" as well as "Shang Ce Suo (Go to the Bathroom)". It's only been 1.5 weeks, I am amazed by how quickly children learn and master at the age of five.

In Math, we practiced counting by one's. One to one correspondence is especially important at this stage. Children counted in Mandarin by touching each object. They are also familiarizing with Chinese characters for numbers.

I am attaching a number video to review at home.



Next week we will be introducing members in a family unit (Mom, Dad, and Myself).
In Math, we will continue to familiarize between number 0-10.

Friendly Reminder

*Fresh fruit and veggies for snack only please!

*Water bottle daily.

Mandarin Number Matching Game

Building Chinese Characters through Play-dough 

Be on the look out for emails coming from Room Moms for social gathering and volunteering opportunities. In the meantime, please check out my wish list - http://amzn.com/w/3MKQG5OQDHEL3

And don't forget, always include both Ms. Liu and Ms. Salzillo for all of your email communications. 

Ms. Liu - vliu@theglobeacademy.net

Ms. Salzillo - lsalzillo@theglobeacademy.net

|WATCH| ::Mandarin Songs:: How Are You? / Where is My Friend?

Please refer to this ^^^ Mandarin Journal for lyrics referencing. This is a way to enjoy learning Mandarin and building confidence. Please have fun doing it! (Even when your child says you are wrong...) 

 Song 1 - How are you? 你好嗎？

Song 2 - Where is my friend? 我的朋友在哪裏？



I hope this helps! Stay tuned for weekly updates! 

1st Week of School!!

Welcome and good-bye to the first week of school at the GLOBE! Can't believe first year has come and gone and here we are. I am sitting at my dining table blogging, and my head is literally spinning. There has been moments when I wasn't so sure I was meant to teach five and six year olds...but those smiles, those innocent and honest words have made it worth it. This week at the lunch table, I listened to two boys having a conversation about what would happen if you swallow a whole watermelon versus if you cut it up first.  This is when you realize silence is not golden. It is the sweetest and precious moment that you want to preserve forever.

So, I welcome you join me for school year 2014-2015. Let's have fun, laugh, create, stay positive, make a mess, and sometimes, take a nap when needed. There will be bumps on the road, but let's build the village our children deserve, and be problem solvers.

This week your children were introduced routines, basic greetings and farewells, and numbers - and yes, all in Mandarin. Some were unsure at first, but most jumped in like brave little sailors. Because each child learns at different rate, I am never worried about the ones being silent and shy at the moment. Some children are simply taking it all in. 

Friendly Reminders - 
* I have sent out an email to all parents, if you have not received an email from me, please email me ASAP at vliu@theglobeacademy.net so I can keep you in the know!
* Fresh fruits or veggies for snack daily! It is important that we keep snack break at ten minutes maximum so it does not impact instructional time. Please pack palm sized fruit that your child can enjoy without making a lot of mess. 
* Water Bottle is essential to keep your child hydrated. Please label water bottle and lunch bags as these items get lost quite frequently.

Bare yet organized space ready to be filled with children's work!

 Fresh Fruit Keeps our Mind Sharp!

Top Left: 1st Grade Mandarin Kids Lending a hand.

Top Right: Learning to Count in Mandarin!

Bottom Left: Making Mandarin Characters with Sticks.

Bottom Right: Math Matching Game

Congratulations GLOBE!

My amazing GLOBE kids took home second place at the Charters Rock - Charter Got Talent today! $500 for the school, but tons and tons of precious memories for the teachers, kids, moms, and pops! Such a proud moment in my career and life. I love my little village and they are taking up the world!

Thank you for allowing me to be part of the journey...

Welcome to the GLOBE Academy!

Ni Hao Mandarin Kindergarten Families!

Welcome to Kindergarten at The GLOBE Academy! My name is Vivian Liu, and I will be your child’s Lead Mandarin Speaking Kindergarten teacher.  I know starting a brand new school can be nerve wrecking, but hopefully this letter answers many of your questions.

A little about me

I was raised in Taiwan and came to Atlanta for college when I was eighteen. My passion for teaching started young, as both of my parents and sister are educators. After receiving my degree from Georgia State University, I taught first and second grades in Gwinnet County Public Schools. Being able to teach has been great, but being able to feel rewarded, inspired, and valued at GLOBE is something else. The freedom to be creative and immediately watch the children sprout has made my career more purposeful.  Watching five and six year olds pick up a foreign language and converse with it is not something you see at a traditional school everyday.  When I am not at work, I enjoy spending time with family, cooking vegan dishes, and traveling. 

What does a Mandarin Immersion Classroom look like?

Your child will be immersed in Mandarin across all content area as well as art, music, culture, and many more. Beginning the first day of school, students will learn routines and “survival” words in Mandarin.  There will be lots of opportunities for your child to learn the skills by acting out, drawing, pointing, and sharing.  The first few weeks could be interesting for your child and he might show anxiety towards a new language. Please know that it is totally normal.  Most language learners go through the silent stages and it can vary how long it will take for them to start imitating or responding. 

My Teaching Philosophy

I have taught in a variety of classroom settings throughout my nine years of teaching.  It is my belief that all students are capable of achieving at different rates. While some may be extremely verbal, she may require extra support in another area.  Identifying the strengths and weakness in students is most helpful for students’ overall success.

Homework Assignment and Communication

To learn and master a new skill, repetition is essential. Although we will not be sending home busy work, you will assist your child in creating some of the homework assignments. These assignments will be announced on the newsletter as well as the blog.  Many of the assignments involve speaking in front of a camera or teaching a family member new words or phrases learned in class.  If you have any questions regarding assignments or events, please check the newsletter or blog (globemandarin.blogspot.com) on a weekly basis. I can also be reached via email at vliu@theglobeacademy.net .

Sincerely,

Vivian Liu

Open House Welcome Video