Yesterday (Monday, 8/26) we worked on Chinese literacy.  It was clear that the students did not need to review a book that I was supposed to review for the first have of the year.  They knew it inside and out.  So we decided as a class to just go straight into the next literacy textbook.  Your students truly are remarkable.

  We also reviewed multiplication and began our Science unit on the Traits of Organisms (Genetics, Heredity, etc.)

I notice a few families were able to get signed up for Quizlet.  But many still have not.  I would encourage you to go to the "learning at home" tab, and get your student signed up for Quizlet (our class quizlet specifically).  I will start putting up new vocabulary we are learning for both literacy and Science.

 Also, for our Character building curriculum in our class, we will be following a program we are thinking of adopting school-wide called the "Leader in Me."    This is a book and program adapted from Stephen R. Covey's 7 Habits for Highly Effective People, but it is tailored to younger people.  For those of you not familiar with the 7 Habits for Highly Effective People, you can get a brief summary here.  For those who really want to help your student understand, you should read the book 7 Habits for Highly Effective People, or a lot of teachers recommend reading 7 Habits for Highly Effective Teens, which is supposed to be really fun and interesting for people of all ages, and will help you teach your student's the habits.
 
   If you are wondering how to really help your students this year, mastery of these habits will do much them during their life than any possible academic knowledge acquired.

First Day of School! 开学了！

The 5th grade Chinese Immersion students at Spring Lane are some real cool kids.  I had a really great time teaching today.  Please make sure your students know that they were really attentive, respectful, funny and really good at Chinese.  If the students can keep up all their good work and attitudes they showed today, we will be able to learn and grow a lot this year.  They really demonstrated maturity and self control allowing me trust them enough to relax the class and have a lot more fun!  Please encourage your students that class will be better for everyone if they continue to act how they did today--meaning that they are attentive, listen and follow directions, respect others, and (most importantly), work hard.

   On to tomorrow...