Monday, May 11, 2015

Who We Are

August 2014,

Our first PYP Unit of the year was Who We Are.

Our Lines of Inquiry:
-Roles and responsibilities that people have in a group
-Ways to provide and receive feedback
-Characteristics that make groups effective
-Skills individuals bring to a group

In this unit we did a lot of group work activities that helped us to uncover ways that people can effectively work together. Students learned through action and reflection what characteristics make groups work effectively and learned about their own skills that help a group to be successful. They were able to use this learning as they moved forward throughout the year, working in groups.

We are learned what effective communication is and why we need to use it. The goal was to communicate in order to pass the ball all the way back using only our feet and words.


We are learning what different kinds of roles people take on in groups such as a leader, organizer, etc. Our challenge was to build a robot out of these materials.

Saturday, May 9, 2015

Moving to Suzhou China

July, 2014

This year I have moved to Suzhou Singapore International School, in Suzhou, China.

Suzhou is about 30 minutes by high speed train to Shanghai. My new role will be an ESL/EAL support teacher in Grade 2. This school is a PYP/MYP/IB World School. I am looking forward to the opportunity to teach and learn in a PYP school and teaching EAL!

But first I have to fix up my classroom! YIKES, it was an old storage room for unwanted old furniture and books. Here are the before and after shots. Now I am ready to welcome the students! :)

 

Here are a few shots of some pretty places near my new home...








It will be a new and exciting adventure getting to know China over the next few years!