Narrative Writing Culminating Event

Our kindergarteners had been working hard on their narrative writing piece. This week, they were confident to read to second and third graders. Many kinder babies received the confidence boost they needed because they were able to read and converse fully in Mandarin.

The narrative writing goes like this. "Hi, my name is ____. I am ___ years old. My birthday is ______. My best friend is _______. I love playing ____ and _____. "

Hobbies

Thanks for parents who have sent in photos of their children enjoying their hobbies outside of school. We will be creating a class book using the pictures. Here is a video of students using picture cues and reading by memorization. You would be surprised by how many words students in kindergarten can recognize and write by this time of the year.

Please continue to work on fact fluency with your child at home. Being fluent in Addition and Subtraction 0-10 will be very helpful in first grade.

Week of March 13-17, 2017

In the past week, we shared what we ate at the Chinese restaurant, the friendliness of the staff who are willing to speak Mandarin, and the overall experience. The students brought in artifacts and we used our resources to make a booklet. I encourage you to give another restaurant a try if the staff weren't especially friendly. Pyng Ho and Lucky Key were popular among the kids.

We have begun to introduce subtraction strategies in Math. Students are learning ways to subtract; counting with fingers, number lines, snapped cubes, drawing dots, and thinking of a picture.

Understand addition

We have introduced the concepts of adding through strategies and manipulatives; drawing, connective cubes, number lines, ten frames, tally marks, dominos, etc. This may not be a new concept for some, but building operations and algebraic thinking is a critical foundation for all. Your child may be going home to express boredom, but we are constantly exploring new ways to add and improve upon critical thinking skills through a variety of tasks.

I have included two exemplars for you to review at home. Since addition isn't just about math facts, I encourage all to apply math into real life experiences. It's much more challenging and a great way to assess understanding.

|Mandarin Journal| Are you my mom?

| Chinese Restaurant Project | Due: Friday, February 24, 2017

Dual language immersion school is not only about learning through standards, but also being immersed in the culture. So for your child's next project, you and your child will take a trip to a local Chinese restaurant. While there, your child(ren) will experience dining in an authentic cultural setting. Please turn in non-edible artifacts collected at the restaurant (chopsticks, labels, to-go menus..etc.) in a shoebox and bring it to school on Friday, February 24. 

This project is meant to be fun! Every child is different, so allow your child to be him or herself. Below is a list of a restaurants previous parents recommended. These establishments are said to be extra friendly!  

Let me know if you have any questions! 

Lauren Williams Korzan Pyng Ho in Decatur was great! They still remember us and take time to talk to Emery when we go there.

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Alison Quod Mueller Oriental Pearl was great and we were also at Grand China in Buckhead off Peachtree for a birthday party recently and they were super nice and really Excited that the kids st the party were practicing their mandarin with them! 👍

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Elayne DeLeo Chin Chin in Brookhaven. Next to Kroger.

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Judith Noble-Wang Chef Liu on Buford Hwy, Doraville

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Laura Podgorski Beck We went to the Chinese mall. Walked the stores. I also second Alison Quod Mueller grand china recommendation!

Like · Reply · 27 mins

Susan Witucki The folks at Fortune Cookie are always very kind. Druid Hills and Briarcliff near Fresh Market.

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Weeks of January 21-February 3, 2017

Chinese New Year celebration, 100th day of school, Community Worker Culminating Event, and Shakespeare for Kids filled lots of laughters and memories for our students these two weeks. Because of the age of our students, we did not get into the history of Chinese New Year. They enjoyed Chinese Calligraphy, looking and creating crafts through Pictures from "All About China", writing words using chopsticks, and watching older kids flourish. 

Shakespeare for Kids

George Dressed as Mr. Gay

Chinese Calligraphy 

100th Day of School

100th Day of School