Week 30 (2009/06/13)

It was our last day for this school year. I was glad to see that most of my students showed up. I gave them their report cards along with awards and prizes.

It is OK if you do not get a good mark.
The most important thing is that you really learned something from the the classes.

We had to carry our chairs to the gym for the assembly. That was a challenge for my large and young class. Anyway, we made it through the crowded hall way and got set in our position in the gym.

We were the second class to go up to the stage after the speeches. We did not sing as loud as we usually do. It was OK! It really looked scary up on the tall stage. Even though we did not sing really loudly on the stage, it was fine because we had fun singing during the classes.

The program was too long for little kids. They took turns going to the washroom with me. I took care of one girl who got a bloody nose... When it ended we got all our chairs back to the classroom. Good job! I am so proud of you guys!

I encourage my students to use their Chinese names more, to speak Mandarin more, don't give up learning Chinese if they don't come back next year, pay attention in class and do their homework...

I open the door, hugged everyone, wished them a good summer and let them go home.

Week 29 (2009/06/06)

We had the quietest class ever!

I was very impressed that everybody was so concentrated on the exam. I bet everyone did a great job!

We sang the Monkey's Rhyme and had fun when we went up to the front and performed in groups. We did some Pokemon colorings. Some kids were impatient and only used one color, but they did better on the second one.

You can do a great job if you work harder!

We practice the song that we are going to sing next week. Before we left for home, we gave each other "爱的鼓励"! ("ai de gu li " Love Cheers!)

Way to Go! Kiddos! No Homework!

Week 28 (2009/05/30)

We are almost there!
Well done kiddos!




Homework for week 28:

• Text Book 1 中文修订版第1册
  综合练习(四) Review4 p.76 and 79 and 总练习 Exercises p.80~p.84
• Finish HanYu PinYin sheet
• Practice writing your Chinese name

Week 27 (2009/05/23)

Time really flies! Can you believe that it is almost the end of the school year?


We have two weeks before the final exam. We are going to use them for a good review.

I handed out a review sheet and showed the kids how much they had learned this year.
The review was a bit long. But everybody paid good attention and it went well. They all want to do well at the final exam. I am so proud of my young students.

I repeated the tip that I said many times: pay attention in class and do your homework.
It works for everything you learn. If you can study and practice those tips more, you will do well in every subject in school.

Homework for week 27:

• Text Book 1 中文修订版第1册
  综合练习(一) Review1 p.16~p.17 and 综合练习(二) Review2 p.34~p.35
• Finish HanYu PinYin sheet

Week 26 (2009/05/09)

Everyone was very good today. We made some Mother's Day cards . We had a very busy class, so busy that we almost did not have time to sing! I hope everybody had a fun time. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!


Homework for week 26:

• Homework Book B Lesson 12 练习册第1册B 第12课 p.71 (3, 4) p.80 (5) p.81 (5)
  
• HanYu PinYin Book 汉语拼音 p.55 read p.53 and 54

No class next week because of Victoria's Day.

Week 25 (2009/04/25)

We reviewed the words regarding positions and directions.
We also made sentences by rearranging cards.

I am glad that the children are now more familiar with PinYin.
We sang all 9 songs, under the condition that no one should run around when I play the music.
I gave the kids some rice cakes before I sent them home.

All the students were very well-behaved today! Good job!


Homework for week 25:

• Homework Book A Lesson 11 练习册第1册A 第11课 p.75~82
  
• HanYu PinYin Book 汉语拼音 p.51 and 52
  

Week 24 (2009/04/18)

We had a really excellent class this week.
Everybody (well... most of them) paid good attention to me. We learned all the words in lesson 11, and reviewed all the PinYin we learned.


We also did some origami and played a game called
"东西南北" ("dong xi nan bei")




I hope we can have more weeks like this. Good Job! Kids!


Homework for week 24:

• Homework Book A Lesson 11 练习册第1册A 第11课 p.68~74
  
• HanYu PinYin Book 汉语拼音 p.47, p.48(四), and p.49(五)
  

Week 23 (2009/04/04)

We stayed in the Gym longer this morning. But we were asked to leave before we could sing all the songs. It was a shame that we could not share the gym with the adult TaiChi Lessons.

Anyway! When we settled down in the classroom, I told everyone that I would ask the student to step aside if s/he talks during class because s/he is disturbing other students.

Some students still talked, but we had a quieter day. Most of the children paid good attention to me. Well done kids!


Homework for week 23:

• Homework Book B Lesson 10 练习册第1册B 第10课 p.58~59, and P.61~63
• HanYu PinYin Book 汉语拼音 p.39, p.44~45
• Practicing writing your Chinese Name

No school next week because of Easter long weekend!

I hope you like the Easter Eggs I bought from States.

Week 22 (2009/03/28)

It is good to see you again and know you all had a great March break!

We went through the test. It took so long that we only had time for lesson 10 and some drawing.

Homework for week 22:

• Homework Book B Lesson 10 练习册第1册B 第10课 p.56, p.57, and P.60
  

Week 21 (2009/03/07)

After singing in the gym, we did some review for today's test.
We did not have time for snacks. It took us longer then usual to finish the test. We sang songs afterward. The kids got some treats before they went home.

I hope everyone did well on the test.

Homework for week 21:

• Practicing writing your Chinese Name:
• Everybody got a sheet with your name on it. Write on top of the "GRAY WORDS" to practice your writing. Fill up the whole page and give it back to me the next time you come back.
  

No school next week because of March break!

Week 20 (2009/02/28)

We had a good start in the morning! There were only 5 students submitted to the drawing contest. We will find some time to do the drawings again.

We reviewed the phrases from lesson 7 to lesson 9 for the upcoming test. I am glad to hear a girl said: "We already learned that!" They did pay attention during classes!


I encouraged the kids to learn Pinyin well because it will be very useful in the future. We played a "Pinyin Bingo" game. Everybody got a prize when they said "bingo!"

After singing a new song, I gave them some treats before they headed home.


Homework for week 20:

• Text Book 1 中文修订版第1册 综合练习(三) Review3 p.54~p.56
• HanYu PinYin Book 汉语拼音 read p.39, p.40, and p.42
  

Week 19 (2009/02/21)

Many thanks to Jennifer lao shi and Derek for helping out when I was away!


Homework for week 19:

• Homework Book A finish Lesson 9 练习册第1册A 第9课 p.61~p.67
• HanYu PinYin Book 汉语拼音 p.37

Week 18 (2009/02/07)

Most of the students were late. We used the time to "刷牙" ("shua ya" brush teeth) when people kept coming in and out of the classroom.

We were pretty good at the beginning. We wrote all the characters of lesson 9.

Some kids lost patience when we started PinYin class. They talked to each other while I taught a new song. We could not finish playing the game. Everybody was talking and walking around. I had to yell to get the kids' attention... A boy hit a girl... The girl was crying... I lost my voice...

Although most of the kids did not behave, I still handed out the Valentin's cards and candy. Because they won't be here next week.


Homework for week 18:

• Homework Book A Lesson 9 练习册第1册A 第9课 p.53~p.60
• HanYu PinYin Book 汉语拼音 p.34

Week 17 (2009/01/31)

There were only 5 students when the morning bell rang and we started singing. It was more fun when there were more kids in class.

I explained why students have to pay attention to the teacher in class again. I am glad that I get more responses from the kids now when I ask questions.

We played the game of matching week days in Chinese with week days in English. I am impressed that one boy volunteered to sing the Monkey's rhyme alone. Everybody gave him a big hand when he went back to his seat with a proud smile.


We had fun playing 响板( "xiang ban" castanets) while singing the Monkey's rhyme.



Homework for week 17:

• Homework Book B finish Lesson 8 练习册第1册B 第8课 p.42~p.55
• HanYu PinYin Book 汉语拼音 p.30~31

Week 16 (2009/01/24)

We are half way through our classes already! I will speak in Mandarin more and more from now on. If you pay attention to me you will learn some useful conversations.

I gave back the birds and promised that we will make more of them if we have time in future classes.

We played a PinYin game named " shoot basket".

I gave back the "春聯" ( "chun lian" Chinese New Year Banners) and showed everyone how to paste it. We also made another one with the character "福" ( Good luck) on it.

We sang a new song "造飞机" (Make a plane) before the class ended. The boys started running again. Maybe it was the music that made them hyper...

Anyway! I hope everybody have a very happy Chinese new year and get some big red envelops from your relatives!


Homework for week 16:

• Homework Book B Lesson 8 练习册第1册B 第8课 p.42 开, 了, 车 P.47 真, 高, 兴 p.50 and p.54
• HanYu PinYin Book 汉语拼音 p.27~28

Week 15 (2009/01/17)

Some of you dressed up for the special occasion. You were very cute in those beautiful dresses. Just like little princesses.

I showed the kids the display board I made for our class. Everybody was excited and pointed out the birds they made. I told them the story about "春聯" ( "chun lian" Chinese New Year Banners). I promised that I would give them back their birds and the 春聯 next week.

We spent some time learning lesson 7.

There was a bit of chaos while practicing the monkey rhyme. Some boys started running and chasing each other. As well, no one wanted to stand in the front line because no body wanted to be the" little" one. Anyhow, we managed to practice a couple of times and built up some confidence.

We used the washroom before we gathered in the gym. Lots of guests and parents were already there. The program began on time. Finally it was our turn to go on stage. It was wide enough for us to stand in one line. We were the biggest group who went on stage. We were also the second youngest group in the whole show.

Although we were a little bit nervous, we had big smiles on our faces. We got a big applause when we finished and took a bow.

Way to go! Kiddos!



Homework for week 15:

• Homework Book A finish Lesson 7 练习册第1册A 第7课
  

Week 14 (2009/01/10)

We sang and danced in the gym before we headed to the classroom. It was easier and more fun because there was more space in the gym.

After everybody found their seat, I handed out the test results and homework books. The perfect mark for the midterm test is 120! I am very proud that many of you got more then 100.

Most of you did a great job. Only two of you didn't write down your Chinese name on the test. It is OK if you did not get a good mark as long as you really learned something!
Obviously, It really helps you learn if you pay attention at class and do your homework. A little tip for you: it is easier for you to do your homework every week rather then accumulating them until before the test.

We learned some words from lesson 7 and had snack before recess.

We made the "nodding bird" by folding paper.
It was fun practicing the monkey rhyme. Everybody was excited about next week when we are going to celebrate Chinese New Year. Before the end of the class, we learned new PinYin while there were still time.


What a busy day!


Homework for week 14:

• Homework Book A Lesson 7 练习册第1册A 第7课 p.39~40 and p.43/6(1)~(6)
• HanYu PinYin Book 汉语拼音 p.23~25