Learning about our home countries

https://picasaweb.google.com/110387364778470538731/ParentPresentations

We want to thank all the parents who have shared about their country with the children. More presentation to come....

Marshmallow shapes

This is a favorite activity each year, making shapes with toothpicks and mini-marshmallow. The mini size are brought from the US, because I have never found them here. Many of children brought it their own shapes and they (or their parents) were very resourceful in finding substitutes.

paste link into browser to view photos

https://picasaweb.google.com/110387364778470538731/MarshmallowShapes

How to bake a train cake

In writing workshop, the children were learning to write "How to..." stories. We baked a train cake together, and working in pairs, we decorated one train car to divided in half, and wrote about how we made the cake. Then we ate it! Yum

https://picasaweb.google.com/110387364778470538731/BakingACake

Writer's workshop 2

Here are additional videos of writing conferences with 6 more children. One of the most satisfying aspects of teaching at ISD is the time to work with children individually. It is time to learn each child's strengths and how to support them as they develop new skills and take on new challenges as they find their voice through writing. We are always impressed working with these young authors, with their inner drive and intrinic motivation as they work during writing time

We are using these video for professional development with some colleagues to analyze how we can help the children continue to develop their craft of writing.

http://youtu.be/SO56wtqh4TQ Ibrahima part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0K_fKA1ptA&feature=related Ibrahima part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tj6FAxraqRg Regine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izMUAOfPFGU Sarvesh part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_isVJPTbC0 Sarvesh part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8szJ37Yfo8 Halima part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coO4sg8Flq0 Halima part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28-bAEqSZ0Y Vlad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-yv5-Ww-KE Yaka part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTcSbAeRnCY Yaka part 2

Kindergarten Rules

At the beginning of the school year, each child received a book about the rules, routines and expectations for kindergarten.  Less than half of the children had attended ISD the year before.  When the group posed for the cover picture, I promised them that I would take a picture with silly faces, but first we need to take a serious one.  After the pictures were printed, we chose the silly faces, because as one child, "we have fun in school".

 

 

We write our name.

We learn French.

We sit for morning meeting.

We share snack with our friends.

We run on the playground

We walk to class.

We wash our hands at the canaclas.

We write our stories.

We keep our writing folders in our cubbies.

We listen attentively during story time.

We raise our hands to talk. 

We play math games.

We make good choices at work time.

We help one another at clean up time.

We hug goodbye.

Writers' Workshop

The children write everyday, four children to a table.  We circulate among the 5 tables, so Karen and Sedi meet with each table each week.  We have begun to video tape our individual conferences with the children.
Watching the videos we can see how much effort the children put into their writing.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bU9l05JNvY  Mariam's writing conference

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aami42sFCPs    Alexa's writing conference

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs6kXUloGkk  Zeinab's writing conference with Ms. Karen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oex9MPJcjU  Zeinab's writing conference with Ms. Sedi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAffEJtqZo8   Joseph's writing conference

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl7mddPxWN8  Anuj's writing conference

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Z9M0cOmr-A  Helene's writing conference

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbnEG4m1m34  Boubacar's writing conference pt 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6wpLo6JWbY  Boubacar's writing conference pt 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPYagwi_Ies  Nicola's writing conference

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WLpBpVcFBU Nicola reading his revised story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzMxXktJnbw  Sam's writing conference

ISD Core Values

ISD CORE Values

Creativity--in thought, expression, interpretation and communication

Openness--acceptance of differences and willingness to learn

Responsibility--for self, community and society

Excellent--in all things