Week of October 13-16, 2015

This week, we are all about positional words. The students placed the ball above, below, inside, next to, in front of, and behind a box. They also practiced with a figure and a cup. You may do this at home by incorporating any objects. Reinforce those vocabulary words in English! 

In language, we continued to work on body parts. We made our flash cards and are now learning to tell someone/ a teacher if a body parts. Your child may sing the body parts song to you if you ask! 

In centers, we are testing our sight words reading muscle! It's exciting how many words we already know and it's only been 40 something school days. 

In Science, we continued on experimenting with gravity. Look at the gravity art our class made on this beautiful fall day. 

Board Game Day!! 

Our second graders and kindergarteners were giggly when they saw each other. So many leaders in the group, which made the experience more meaningful. We encouraged the children to apply all the Mandarin words that they know. By playing familiar games with friends in Mandarin not only reinforce oral skills but also improve critical thinking abilities. There are so many times a second grader tries to explain the rules in Mandarin mixed in some English. 

|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?

Week of December 16-20, 2013

If this was not the most exciting, fun filled, and care free week...then I don't know what is! The children hand made calendars for their family for year 2014 for the new years, they practiced songs Ms. Mashburn taught them, and they accomplished their first holiday program on the stage in front of hundreds of people without a tear. This was a true GLOBE spirit we all shared and embraced. We do not have fancy technology, shiny bathrooms, or a grand entrance - what we do own is the pride, confidence, and the sense of family.  

We ended the week with Polar Express, some yoga, and a birthday celebration for Noopur and Nandini. Ms. Salzillo read Pollar Express to the classes and even punched holes in their golden tickets! I am fortunate to work with such creative and positive friend like her.

Just to share a huge transformation my family chose in 2013, we became not only vegans, but animal rights activists. I also left my previous general ed. job as a first grade teacher to teach Mandarin at GLOBE. GLOBE has gone through many ups and downs in the short five months it has opened, but I am so lucky to have been there to witness and embrace it all. I love all of my students and their parents who have been loving, supportive, and overly generous. You have made my job and life more rewarding than ever. So, thank you! 

More to come in 2014, can't wait to share what we have in store for the kiddos!! 

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! 

Ms. Salzillo punching kids golden tickets before Polar Express

"How to" Writing Unit - How to build a house?

"Cake for Daddy's Birthday" made by Dylan

"Spring" 

Personalized 2014 Calendar by Lillian