Posts

THE LAST BLOG

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What a magical year it’s been in K1 Frog Class ! It's gone so fast - I can hardly believe this is my last blog of the year. Our little learners have blossomed from their first nervous, tearful days into confident explorers and curious inquirers, each growing in their own unique way. They’ve mastered taking turns, created vibrant drawings that tell their own stories, and filled the room with joy through silly songs and dances. From initially being nervous and unsure about speaking in circle time to raising their hands to answer questions... and then... stepping up and out as bold public speakers, their newfound confidence shines bright.  Following on from the popularity of Handa's Surprise, we continued with some more Story Sack exploration.   Ringo the Flamingo   is an excellent tool for introducing concepts like empathy, kindness, and acceptance of differences. It also aligns beautifully with the growth of our K1 Froggies—transitioning from nervous beginnings to co...

Transitioning to K2

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Following our celebration of the Dragon Boat Festival, we began preparing for the transition to K2 by exploring our school community. The children reflected on various areas of the school where they enjoyed playing this past year. To introduce the concept of summer, we read the story "Katie Discovers Summer" (凯蒂在夏天). This prompted the children to share their favorite summer activities, including swimming and enjoying ice cream. In a creative activity, we made ice cream artwork using a mixture of glue, shaving foam, and food coloring. We appreciate your continued support in enhancing the children’s learning experiences and your volunteer efforts in Chinese activities. Wishing you a wonderful summer, and we look forward to seeing everyone next school year. Class Blog:  Frog    Chinese Albums:   Frog AM                   Frog PM https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1X8zOFgvXeuVIJffhZl27LT1zw1seVZEvnHSjO10WS10/edit?slide=i...

Bringing Stories to Life

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In our classroom, we encourage creativity and imagination at every opportunity. One delightful way to nurture these skills is through story sacks—magical bags filled with props and materials related to specific stories. These sacks allow children to immerse themselves in the narrative, enhancing their understanding and enjoyment of literature. Repeated exposure to story sacks can significantly boost children's confidence. As they engage in the activity multiple times, they become more familiar with the props and the storyline, empowering them to step out of their comfort zones. When children act out stories repeatedly, they grow more comfortable with the characters and scenarios, which builds their confidence. Observing their peers enjoying the activity encourages them to participate and feel a sense of belonging. This repetition not only helps improve their storytelling and creative skills but also fosters a safe environment where they can express themselves freely. Ultimately, ...

Celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival

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Dear Parents and Caregivers, As the Dragon Boat Festival approaches, I am excited to share that the children have been learning about the various celebrations associated with this event.  We have explored traditional customs through the stories of “端午节” (Dragon Boat Festival), including the delightful sticky rice dumplings (粽子) and the thrilling dragon boat race (龙舟比赛).  The children particularly enjoyed playing with the dragon headbands they crafted themselves. To reinforce key vocabulary, the children have been sitting in the "dragon boat" and singing the song "划龙舟" (Row the Dragon Boat) together in class and small groups.  This week, we delved deeper into the festival's origins and created a fun experience by imitating a dragon boat race with tummy boards! It has truly been a highlight of our learning journey. We hope you and your families had a joyful and healthy Dragon Boat Festival! If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out ...
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Last week was quite the rollercoaster, with parent-teacher conferences (PTCs) and a bout of strep throat adding some challenges along the way. Despite these, our kids have been exceptionally busy and productive. This blog is a bit shorter than usual, but I hope you find some time to explore the photo albums.  Take a look at what they’ve been up to! AM Class Photo Album PM Class Photo Album  We welcomed back Meredith to our AM class, who had been overseas for the birth of her baby sister. The kids were thrilled to see her again, and she couldn’t wait to share pictures of her new baby sister!  I was so proud to see how excited the children were to welcome her back. To say she was well looked after upon her return would be an understatement! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We introduced some new technology in the classroom; a visualiser helped to bring the children's creations to life on the screen, allo...

Exciting Updates from Our Classroom

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Dear Parents and Caregivers, I am thrilled to share some wonderful updates from our classroom over the past two weeks!  As part of our unit on "How We Express Ourselves," we had the privilege of welcoming Fai Shi Fu, the puppetry master, who captivated our students with a mesmerising performance featuring string puppets. The children not only enjoyed the show but also learned about the rich history and theory behind the puppets' movements. Their engagement with the monkey's tricks was a joy to see, and many were eager to try their hand at moving the little lion puppets. Furthermore,  we began by exploring the vibrant world of colours. Through the engaging story of "Press Here " (小黄点), the children learned about the three primary colours and patterns. To reinforce these key concepts, the children participated in hands-on activities like sorting and counting colourful round pieces. Our journey continued as we explored colour expressions through the engaging t...