As an international PYP school, we cater to many non-English speakers. To encourage some of these non-native English speakers to participate and engage with the class community in Early Years, we introduced an app called Furry Friend. This interactive app is great for engaging young students in simple play and conversation. Students can play independently…
We are partway through our mini visual learning project (for EAL students) to support learning in the homeroom classrooms. Grade 5 students are currently learning about Migration in our UOI “Where we are in Place & Time”. During EAL pull-out time (40 mins each day) we’ve been revisiting vocabulary and concepts on this theme. iPads…
Is your blog worth reading? http://www.creativityden.com/blog/things-you-need-to-follow-to-become-a-pro-blogger/ This term we will practice more editing skills in preparation for middle school. We will use blog posts as a way to share our learning with others and a way to improve our writing. Here are some examples of the pictures you drew after the activity. What do you…
MYP pair up with PYP for Literacy Week! To celebrate literacy across the school we hosted a collapse day for students in grades 1-9. Classes were ‘buddied’ up for 2 hours after break to engage in a variety of literacy activities planned by the homeroom teachers. An example of the buddy schedule can be found…
To practice oral presentation skills, I introduced my grade fives to ‘5 frame flickr storytelling’: See FLICKR website: We played the game a few times, using different prompts and different storytelling arrangements. Some students told the whole story themselves, while others told the story in 5 parts, each person narrating one picture. For homework,…
First Table Talk Topic ~ Jan 29 2013 Today Grade 5 EALs started ‘Table Talks’ which encourage speaking & listening skills. Students are responsible for 3 cubes which they used to contribute to the conversation. We started out discussing what helps us feel ‘safe’ in conversations. Students brainstormed what helps them feel confident when they…
Grade 5 students are wrapping up their e-dictionaries this week! In preparation for Exhibition, students reviewed the project requirements on the blog and chose from over 15 new words to learn. They prepared posters on Comic life or Keynote that defined the new terminology on Simple Machines. Students chose their top 5 and are in…
THE GREAT DEBATE Understanding the Social Purpose of Debating As language learners, EAL students develop and practice oral language skills though a variety of ways, both in the classroom and on the playground. However, many students still require careful scaffolding and meaningful real-life experiences to apply these skills in a supportive environment. During…
Innovative Learning 