daw.com - December 2

Some neat things happening this week and next so you might want to grab a coffee first as you read through.  First off, here are next week's current events.  There was some confusion this week with absences and also me being away for a day.  I think it is all sorted out now;

Tuesday - Angel
Wednesday - Brandon
Thursday - Oscar
Friday - Tiffy

At the start of the week the students completed the performance of Ibn Batutta from a book we read in class called The Traveling Man.  Much of what they did was created by the students and it involved learning from a number of professionals and experts in the field.  I was very impressed with their work.  If you were not able to attend, here is a short video of the students.

Here are pics from our class.

We also did our first baking/cooking of the year.  This was part of our fractions unit as all the measurements given for the recipe were in fractions or mixed numbers.  All this had to be completed by the students.  In the end, we had delicious cinnamon muffins to eat.  I think it went very well and I want to say how proud I was.  A big thank-you goes out to the four moms who volunteered to help us.  We are in the kitchen again next Friday for Banana-Rama bread and Smoothies.

We are just about finished with out adding and subtracting of fractions.  It is not a very hard unit but it does make the students draw models to prove their work.  This is something I believe is very important as students need to have a high level of understanding of their math.

We have also just about completed our first story.  I would say that about 80% of all the students are now done and published.  We will move on to report writing for the remainder of the time before winter break.  This is in conjunction with our Prove It science unit.

I want to remind everyone that Dec 14th at 1:30 pm we will have the science exhibition in which students will present the learning they have done through the unit.  I hope some of you will be able to make it.

Roots and shoots is a worldwide organization that brings conservation awareness to students at schools.  We have an ES and HS chapter of Roots and Shoots here at ISB and they are once again doing the Holiday Hounds.  This is a program where you can financially support a dog or cat that is currently at a shelter here in Beijing.  Donations will be taken during lunch hour in the cafeteria for the next week.  There is even a small gift with donations of RMB50, 100 and 150.  I will ask the Student Council Reps to talk more about this with the class in case they want to do something as a class.  In the past every student has gone without ice cream once to use their money to support this very worthwhile cause and my class has supported a farm animal each year.  If you are asked for RMB5 for this cause as part of 5HD's contribution, I know the rest of the students would be very thankful if everyone could participate.

Time is speeding through at the moment and it is coming close to holiday time.  I would ask you to please keep your student on task with the things we are doing as I need to complete them and assess them as part of the first semester reporting.  There will be no work to do over the holiday so they can have a total respite from school during these three weeks.

As always if there are questions or concerns, please let me know and I will gladly make a time to meet with you.  You can also contact me through my email.

daw.com - November 26

Here are this weeks Current Events reporters;

Tuesday - Leo
Wednesday - Cici
Thursday - Ada
Friday - Angel

Just a reminder that the Current Events are part of our morning meeting routine as they are one way we share in the morning.  Students should report on things happening around the world and include all the information they need so that the rest of the class will understand.  They also for part of our Impact Unit at the end of the year.

We have completed module 2 of math and started module 3 - Addition and Subtraction of Fractions.  You can find the parent letter for this here. It is not a long unit and we will finish before the winter break.

Next Thursday we are in the school kitchen cooking using fractions.  I want to thank the parents who volunteered to help for this.  It is always a highlight for the students.  Look for pics on next weeks blog.

We will complete our first piece of fiction writing this week.  Students are just about completed their first draft then it is revisions and edits ending with a final draft.  After I have assessed them, I will be sure to send it home in the Monday Folders.

We had a discussion this past week about proper digital behaviors.  It has come to our attention that many students at ISB are part of WeChat groups that are using inappropriate language, bullying others and various other nefarious activities.  One thing I pointed out to the students is that to use this site they needed to obtain written consent from parents.  This is clearly documented in the User Agreement for PRC.  You can find this here for your information. The legal age for users of WeChat here in China is 18.

This week students will start their Science Fair project.  This is an investigation of a science principle from questions the student asks.  It needs to include three questions all related to the idea.  Here is an example;

Science Principle - solids dissolving in liquids

Question 1 - What happens when sugar is dissolved in water, vinegar and coca-cola?
Question 2 - Does temperature affect the dissolving of sugar in water, vinegar and coca-cola?
Question 3 - Is there a difference in dissolving crystal and powder sugar in water, vinegar and coca-cola.

Each of these investigations is then carried out and students will keep track of the results they gather by drawing models, using charts and completing graphs.  Finally they will prepare a display of their work for the science fair on Dec 14th.  All of the investigations will be homework starting later this coming week and being completed by Dec 8th.

Tuesday is the annual Grade 5 Performing Arts performance.  It is in the theatre at 8:30 am for those of you that can make it.  It is a story that we did in class about an explorer from the 14th century - Ibn Batutta. Students will do all sorts of things for this performance and it will include all grade 5 students.

Once again I would like to ask you to let me know if you plan on leaving early for Christmas.  With all the celebrations of the semester as well as the ending of our science unit, I really need to know so that students can be kept on track.  Thank- you in advance for this. 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns please let me know and I will gladly set a time up for us to meet.

Harold Daw

daw.com - November 28

Yet another week has sped by and we are really into a lot of learning.  First off is next week's current events;

Tuesday - Michael
Wednesday - Annabel
Thursday - Robinson
Friday - Poppy

Our current unit of science has all the students exploring the safety of parachutes.  We started by looking at what makes a parachute work and then came up with list of questions that would help us learn more about the safety of parachutes.  Students then created an investigation based on one of the questions.  They are in the process of completing these and then we will compare the results from the various groups.

Our writing of fiction stories has entered the final stages with most students almost completed their first drafts.  Now they will share it with each other as the revise the story then it will be for editing and completion of the final draft.  I want to remind everyone that writing is a very long term piece of learning.  It takes most students years of learning and practice to become efficient and effective writers.  Because of this, sharing becomes a very large part of the learning since it offers a larger audience of learning that just the student and teacher.

We will complete our math unit this coming week with the final assessment sometime towards the middle of the week.  I want to spend some time reviewing first and then looking at problem solving.  Our next unit is on addition and subtraction of fractions.

Next Friday is the school's annual book fair.  These are vendors from here in Beijing that come to sell the books they have that are of interest to both our students and families.  If you think your student might like to purchase a book, send some money with them and I will take them to the book fair to look around.  There is no requirement to do this.  

I want to take the students into the cooking lab for some real life fractions cooking but need some parents to help me please.  The two dates I am looking at are Dec 1 and 9th and it will be sometime between 11:00 and 12:30.  If you do not mind supervising this with me, please let me know.  In the past students have really enjoyed this.

We are coming up to our grade 5 Performing Arts presentation on November 29th.  It will be in the theatre starting at about 8:30 am.  If you can make it, I am sure the support will be greatly appreciated by the students.

Next week is our Week of Kindness in the Elementary School.  This is an important week as I feel that learning to be kind and learning about kindness is important for this age group.  I am sure you will hear more about this as the week continues.

I will return to weekly Monday folders this week after my absence this past week.  Look for the assessment rubrics for the exploration unit as well as the past two weeks of work the students have completed.  Just a reminder that you are asked to sign this so that I know you have seen what I am sending home.  The folder and signature paper comes back to school, the work stays at home.

Here is the video of the students involved with the Jedi Jugglers three weeks ago;

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

Harold Daw