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;
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.
