It has been a crazy busy year this year. The school is brand new and so are all the staff. Starting at a new start up school has its positives and negatives. Positives being you can grow with school and hopefully with increased responsibility and position. The negatives are you are trying to get organised and ready, but so is the school. Teachers that have not taught at a start up school need to be patient and know that there will be challenges. Especially with a big school such as the one I work at. Over six hundred students from Kindergarten all the way to Secondary. And there is boarding at the school as well. So I can say we have had a lot of challenges.
When I started, I was the only International teacher to teach the International children. Meaning the children that have foreign passports, foreign children (from another country) and Chinese children (born in another country but local to China). Those would be the children in Grade 1 and 2. The rest of the international children from grade 3 upwards had specialist teachers. Another international teacher started with us to teach grade 3 and 4. But left early and the grade 3 and 4s became one of my responsibilities. That's why I say teachers need to be able to accept challenges during the first year of a start up school.
I have enjoyed my teaching this year and have had great fun doing so. I have arranged field trips and events that the whole of the International school can participate in. The year has gone so fast and I am already nearly in year 2 in Hangzhou. It's amazing. Paul and myself cannot believe that we are going into our 7th year here in China. And we have loved every bit of it.
Have a look at some of the fantastic events and field trips that have happened this school year (2018-2019).
Literacy Week
This week was dedicated to our Literacy Week and International Grade 1/2 chose the Dr Seuss as our Author. I created a campsite theme in my classroom which was called CAMP READ-A-LOT. At the different tents, their tent names were the different book titles, were different activities for that particular book. The children were super excited. This was the first time I have done a classroom transformation and now seeing how engaged the children were for this week, I have decided to do it more in my classroom. There were two more areas in the classroom where other activities were done. Have a look at the photos.
Moganshan Tea Plantation
The children from International Grade 1-7 were treated to a trip to Moganshan Tea Plantations because the Grades 3 and 4 were learning about different countries tea cultures in English class. It was a blistering hot day, but the children did not complain at all. Thanks to E-Travel who helped with organising the field trip. We fist picked the tea leaves, then were invited to a locals home where they showed us, and we tried as well, to dry the tea leaves to making and tasting the tea. Then we went to a local restaurant for lunch before heading back to school.
Children's Day
What a better way to show how special children are than to have a special day for them. We took the afternoon on Children's day and gave the children an activity to complete. They had to divide themselves onto two groups. They were given a scenario - You have woken up and you are on a remote island. On this island you have to give it a name, create a game to play on the island and create a uniform to wear. It was fantastic seeing the problem solving going on as well as the team work amongst the different ages.
International Day
This is such a special day for the children in the international school. This is where the children could show off their countries. The children also had to research a country and present it on the day. Parents were also invited to attend the presentations which went on through the day. During lunch time, we had a bring and share where the children brought food which represented their home countries. It was very festive and the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
International Assembly
Our International School presented their assembly to the whole school. They represented their countries and spoke about them. You can see this in the videos below.
Water Day
All I can say is Fun Fun Fun. I organised different water activities that the children had to complete. They got so wet which was perfect under the burning Hangzhou sun. Lots of fun was had and you can see it in the children's expressions.
Goodbye
And now the 1st school year has finished. It has been great teaching these awesome children and they have shown such progress. It was sad to say goodbye to my Head of International as he left to become the Founding Principal of Kings College in Bangkok.
When I started, I was the only International teacher to teach the International children. Meaning the children that have foreign passports, foreign children (from another country) and Chinese children (born in another country but local to China). Those would be the children in Grade 1 and 2. The rest of the international children from grade 3 upwards had specialist teachers. Another international teacher started with us to teach grade 3 and 4. But left early and the grade 3 and 4s became one of my responsibilities. That's why I say teachers need to be able to accept challenges during the first year of a start up school.
I have enjoyed my teaching this year and have had great fun doing so. I have arranged field trips and events that the whole of the International school can participate in. The year has gone so fast and I am already nearly in year 2 in Hangzhou. It's amazing. Paul and myself cannot believe that we are going into our 7th year here in China. And we have loved every bit of it.
Have a look at some of the fantastic events and field trips that have happened this school year (2018-2019).
Literacy Week
This week was dedicated to our Literacy Week and International Grade 1/2 chose the Dr Seuss as our Author. I created a campsite theme in my classroom which was called CAMP READ-A-LOT. At the different tents, their tent names were the different book titles, were different activities for that particular book. The children were super excited. This was the first time I have done a classroom transformation and now seeing how engaged the children were for this week, I have decided to do it more in my classroom. There were two more areas in the classroom where other activities were done. Have a look at the photos.
The different tents.
Each child was given a clip board with a choice board of activities that can be done at the different tents. They were also given a torch as we turned off some of the lights to make the effect much more exciting.
The children at different tents. What I love about these activities is that the children had to read the book and sometimes twice to be able to complete an activity. Sometimes they had to work through the book again to find certain words that had to be filled in.
The other two areas were 1. Listen to Dr Seuss audio books on the iPads. This was a winner and 2. could choose any book in the book corner.
We also had a door competition, which we, with a Bilingual Grade 1, won. The Hat door had the titles of books underneath them as as a child finished with reading one of the books and an activity, they then stuck a picture of themselves wearing The Cat in the Hat's hat on the hat with the same title.
On the other door we decorated the door with a scene from the Lorax.
During the week we had different activities. One major activity was a Spelling Bee. It was fantastic to see how competitive the children were. Other activities were crazy sock day (Fox in socks), Create a hat day (Cat in a Hat), Crazy dress code (Wacky Wednesday, and Dress up as your favourite book character.
Below the children are making their hat.
The children also painted a scene from the Lorax.
Dress Up Day. The children had to bring the book to school so they can show the character they chose to dress up as.
Moganshan Tea Plantation
The children from International Grade 1-7 were treated to a trip to Moganshan Tea Plantations because the Grades 3 and 4 were learning about different countries tea cultures in English class. It was a blistering hot day, but the children did not complain at all. Thanks to E-Travel who helped with organising the field trip. We fist picked the tea leaves, then were invited to a locals home where they showed us, and we tried as well, to dry the tea leaves to making and tasting the tea. Then we went to a local restaurant for lunch before heading back to school.
Children and teachers picking the tea leaves. The small leaves are the leaves we had to pick as these are the best for tea making.
Our walk back to the bus
Busy drying out the leaves. This bowl looking oven gets very, very hot.
Then tea tasting time.
Children's Day
What a better way to show how special children are than to have a special day for them. We took the afternoon on Children's day and gave the children an activity to complete. They had to divide themselves onto two groups. They were given a scenario - You have woken up and you are on a remote island. On this island you have to give it a name, create a game to play on the island and create a uniform to wear. It was fantastic seeing the problem solving going on as well as the team work amongst the different ages.
The children were then treated to a meal and a small gift at the end of the day.
International Day
This is such a special day for the children in the international school. This is where the children could show off their countries. The children also had to research a country and present it on the day. Parents were also invited to attend the presentations which went on through the day. During lunch time, we had a bring and share where the children brought food which represented their home countries. It was very festive and the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
The different foods served...
Some of the crafts the Grade 1/2 children made for each country.
Some presentations presented during the day.
I represented South Africa.
Our International School presented their assembly to the whole school. They represented their countries and spoke about them. You can see this in the videos below.
Water Day
All I can say is Fun Fun Fun. I organised different water activities that the children had to complete. They got so wet which was perfect under the burning Hangzhou sun. Lots of fun was had and you can see it in the children's expressions.
Goodbye
And now the 1st school year has finished. It has been great teaching these awesome children and they have shown such progress. It was sad to say goodbye to my Head of International as he left to become the Founding Principal of Kings College in Bangkok.
Now it's time to embrace the summer break and enjoy the relaxation the holidays have to bring.
Keep reading and I will keep writing.
