Baishan AWS Newsletter Sep. 20th

September 20th, 2019

Dear Baishan AWS Parents, Students, and Friends：

We are fast approaching the end of September and we are happy to see the progress your children are making every day. We should not underestimate the difficulty of learning only in English, and the need for patience and understanding.

You should know that our entire staff is working with care and consideration in building up the level of English in use at our school. A few points that are noteworthy to share are:

●  All AWS staff will be using the SIOP model in their lesson planning to offer a consistency in the lessons given to our students.

●  Students now have been informed that they are expected to speak English to one another in all classes. (Other than in their Chinese courses). We are working to encourage students to develop this habit with the question of, “how would you say that in English”? When Chinese is spoken.

●  Students have been given and are using IXL as an additional resource to aid their learning in English and teachers and staff have the ability to monitor progress. We will begin sending reports periodically in the coming weeks.

●  More instruction will take place in English in the evening classes on October 7th. This will include English, Math, and Science.

I look forward to seeing you all again over the course of next week.

 

 Robert Hinman

 Director

What we see changes what we know. What we know changes what we see.”--------Jean Piaget

Humanities Classes

 

Our 9th grade geographers are comparing data-rich map infographics to look at global issues during this week and next. And in 10th grade we'll fast-forward 12,000 years from prehistoric to precolonial American history. No big projects this weekend in either class -- enjoy a restful weekend!

Art students have continued to prepare for their unit project by experimenting with new drawing techniques.  These techniques include using patterns in their shoe print to learn how to use Prismacolor pencils and drawing light by erasing charcoal.

In Accelerated Algebra II, students are developing their vocabulary so they can describe how to write linear functions, graph inequalities, and absolute value equations.

This week in 9th grade, we finished our work with the short story "All Summer in a Day" by making storyboards of alternative endings. Next week, we will focus on learning vocabulary and target language that will assist students in their subject classes (Science, Art, and Geography).

In 10th grade, we have been discussing how an author's purpose for writing has an impact on the type of writing he or she does. Next week, students will be examining different types of texts and text conventions (rules).

Starting next week, students will also have some time to practice English conversation a little more informally.

Science is off to a great start. We are working on Key Vocabulary that is part of the Scientific Method.  Students are putting their Scientific Method skills to the test by creating an individual presentation.  The presentations will include many of our English Key vocabulary terms.  The key vocabulary terms include: research, question, hypothesis, data table collection, variables, graph, and conclusion.  The presentations will happen in class next Thursday (September 26) and Friday (September 27).

Some moments from student life this week

We are always ready to help.
Baishan AWS
Qingdao, China
info@baishanaws.cn
http://aws.baishanschool.cn/index.html