|Mandarin Journal| Number Rap

Week of August 15-19, 2016

In language thematic unit, we continued on greeting each other by saying good morning, hello, good-bye, thank you, and you're welcome. The students have made lots of improvement and some began to ask to go to the bathroom in Mandarin. Ms. Yang and I remind the students to say thank you and you're welcome whenever possible. Next week, we will introduce "I am sorry." "It's okay!" "How old are you?" and "I am ___ years old."

In Math, we used manipulatives to help us count. Students stack unifix cubes while counting in Mandarin. They also trace numbers using playdoh as well as roll them in balls to create ten frames. Students are now counting from 1 to 100 orally when looking at the hundreds chart. They are also expected to count by 10's from 10 to 100 by the end of this unit. It is important that students are counting during their spare time to get familiar with number sense. Counting in both English and Mandarin are encouraged.

Today, Ms. Eckmann's class went out on a nature walk and recorded things we see, hear, touch, and smell by drawing objects on the graphic organizer. Next week, Mrs. Holmes' class will conduct their walk and both classes will be introduced to scientific tools.

Have a great weekend and see you at meet and greet on August 25!

Swap that color!

Number Tracing & Ten Frame

Fine Motor Skill Center

Peace Feet - Mrs. Holmes introduced Peace Feet so students may resolve minor conflicts through expressing their feelings. 

Hands are not for Hitting lesson

Geo Board Sight Words Building

Nature Walk Recording

What can you hear?

First Week of School 2016-17! (Video at the Bottom!)

It's been an overwhelmingly exciting first week of school. The students have gotten into the groove of routines and are showing so much eagerness to learn. The first few weeks of school are vital because routines are taught, practiced, and reminded. Smooth routines mean a successful school year. Our students are no different, except it IS a little more difficult. They arrived Wednesday morning expected to follow directions in Mandarin. To better help students comprehend, I incorporated gestures and pictures. By day three, most students are already able to unpack their backpacks, find their names on the table, and place snacks and water bottles in the bin. It is already rewarding for me as a teacher!

Next week, we will continue to focus on Math standard - Counting from 0 to 100 by ones and tens (a Common core standard but in Mandarin, of course) We will count using manipulative (sticks, uni-fix cubes, play-doh..etc.) This is also a good time to go over writing numbers from 0 to 9 at home and counting by touching (one to one correspondence).

In Science, we will be exploring nature using our senses. The students will record their findings on a graphic organizer.

In Mandarin, the students will continue to add greeting vocabulary words by importing songs and dialogues.

See pictures below from our first week of school! Happy weekend everyone!

Fly Swapping Sight Words / Colors 

|Home Project Due| Wednesday, May 11

On May 16, Kindergarten and First Grade students will be sharing their music journey at 1pm. Our students will need to wear spirit wear and a headband made at home. The song "Go! Go! Let's go!" covers beautiful objects in nature. Please create a headband with your child at home and bring it to school on Wednesday, May 11. We will need the headband for dress rehearsal on Friday, the 13th.

**** Feel free to make extras if you just can't help having fun!  ****

There are several objects to choose from:

1. Ocean
2. Wave
3. Beach
4. Flower
5. Bird
6. Forest
7. River
8. Tree
9. The Earth
10. Sun

And there are always great ideas from pinterest...

Have fun!

Let's Go!

At our end of year concert, your child will be performing several songs including one from this album. Go! Go! Let's go! is the name of this song that captures the beautiful voice of the children. The lyrics are easy to understand and I love how it surrounds nature. 

There was not a video on youtube but here is the link to the song if you do choose to purchase on iTunes. 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/go!-go!-lets-go!/id980481823?i=980481824

(Purchase of the song is totally optional! We will have plenty of opportunity to rehearse before the show! ) 

The lyrics will be available in your child's mandarin journal as well. I do want to spend some time to familiarize them with the words first. 

Week of March 28- April 1, 2016

We have been exploring relationships between Sun and Earth. The students also traced and measured their shadow as well as getting their portraits made inside the classroom. 

Our language learners put together a book using "_____ wants to eat_______. ______ wants to eat # _________. " 

On Thursday, we had visitors from the second grade Mandarin classrooms. Second graders created repetition books learned at writer's workshop. Both grades had a rich language exchange experience.

 We continue to study words through games. Try this tic-tac-toe games next time you are waiting at the restaurant using SIGHT WORDS! We incorporate Mandarin sight words, but you can play with any new words as well.

|Mandarin Journal| 你是不是我的妈妈？Are you My Mom?