|Project Due| Lion Head

Thank you for the parents who are volunteering to help with the Chinese New Year celebration. We have had a good turn-out so far and the students have been practicing their songs and dances with Ms. Mashburn. The media is suppose to be there on Friday(2/20), too! 

The students last year did a phenomenal job parading in their lion heads, so we are going to continue the tradition this year. 

See the photo above and here is what you have to do:

1. Find a box that isn't too big or too small for your child's head 

2. Cut a piece of square out so your child's face can show.

3. Add the tongue using the square that you just cut out. 

4. Add eyes (paper plates are good options) 

5. Be creative with your lion! 

The project is due Tuesday, 2/17

(Due to our lack of space, please do not turn in early!) 

|WATCH| 天氣 | 小白兔

Below are three Shared Reading we have been doing in class. It is recommended that your child practices these at home on School Nights. (Journals are kept in the classroom over the weekend)

|WATCH| Week of January 12-16, 2015

Thank you to the parents who sent in paper towels and glue sticks, if you are still looking for ways to help, my Amazon wish list has been updated. You may also sign up to be a Mystery Reader HERE. Super fun and the kids are always proud and excited when their parents show up! You CAN read English books in my room, in case anyone is wondering.

MATH
The students continued to compare length, weight, and capacity using different measuring attributes. We compared objects' length by lining them up from the tip point. We also measured length using snap cubes and ruler. Take some time this weekend to go over the math activity sheet in your child's folder and review by measuring the stuff animals or family pets.

LANGUAGE
We introduced winter clothing and how to tell someone when I am cold! In centers, we played Where is the Elephant game to reinforce sight words. Recognizing Mandarin words by sight is a must to become readers. Since Mandarin words are not phonetic, rather pictorial, you have to learn each word independently to become fluent. Luckily words are grouped by radicals, so it does get easier down the road. I am very pleased with the progress our children have made in such short amount of time. The foundation in learning anything is essential, so it is important we build the skills steady. At this stage, all I really focus on is building their confidence. Lots of encouragement during one-on-one has been helpful.

I write, You guess!

The students were given four pieces of yarn and four numbers, then they had to figure out as a group what to do with them. 

They decided to line them up and order from shortest to longest.

How tall are we? Next week, we will be measuring and comparing height using different tools. 

Proud bunch! 

|WATCH| Mid-Year Chinese Performance

Thank you for all the parents for celebrating all the hard work the children and teachers have put in thus far! Can't wait to see what is in store for everyone in the second semester!

|WATCH| Week of January 6-9, 2015

Enjoy of the video of three students working together to figure out where the correct order of the poem. It is important the students are building their word recognition skills regularly. You may hear them converse in English, and this is totally normal for dual language immersion students.


Happy New Year! Can NOT believe we are well on our way into the second semester of Kindergarten. The shadow of perspective parents touring in the school hallways is surreal. On Tuesday, January 6, 2015, our students began the 50/50 same day rotation. It went very smoothly and after four days of our new schedule, I am confident the students have already benefited from the consistency and their growth over the next few months will be exciting to see!

What was very exciting for the teachers? We are so fortunate to have Mrs. Marie Bouteillon at GLOBE! Mrs. Bouteillon is a native French speaker who also speaks English, Spanish, and Mandarin. She helped open several French immersion schools in New York City and is currently a consultant for schools across the US. I have started implementing word study centers during the language block and good dual language immersion practice throughout the day. Mrs. Bouteillon will be visiting us four times between now and May.

What are we studying?

Math
Students are learning to measure with different measuring attributes, measuring from the tip point, and comparing length and weight.
Some ideas to try at home...
1) Compare the height between two family members.
2) Measure the family pet with dog biscuit, a ruler, or a piece of yarn.
3) Compare the weight of two objects. For example, an empty water bottle versus a metal cup.

Science
Students will use senses to observe and group rocks by physical attributes such as large/small, heavy/light, smooth/rough, dark/light.
Some ideas to try at home...
1) Compare two rocks found in the backyard and discuss their attributes
2) Research natural landscapes made up of rocks
3) Discuss the difference between rocks and soils and their uses

Mandarin
Students continue to familiarize with their birthdays as well as others' by reading the month and day. We are having lots of fun playing Fruit Stand. The students are learning to recognize words by sight through poem and songs through Morning Meeting.

                                                                   Word Building

                                                     
                                                             Matching Body Part Words

Additionally, my Amazon wish list has been updated - http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/3MKQG5OQDHEL3/ref=cm_wl_rlist_go_o?