孩子上国际学校第一周，老师给家长的一封信。真的好感动

tibet2010

Dear Mr. XML,

Thank you for your e-mail. Please accept my apologies for my emai lnot reaching you- I had lost my wifi connection and my outlook program did not inform that my email had not left my inbox.

Jenny has adjusted well in this first full week at XXX. She has shown to be a dilligient student who concerns herself with making sure she understands the teachers expectations on schoolwork and homework. There was one instance on Wednesday when I did need to remind her on multiple occasions that she cannot read  'manhua' in class; however, seeing as it is difficult AND exhausting to be in an all-English environmetn (especially in the first week), it is understandable and I have faith she will not repeat this.

On Monday she will  sit our math entrance exam (things were rather hectic this first week, with projects, final assessments to do, the spelling bee and the choosing of books for novel studies....quite a first week for her in a new school!  

A large part of her vocab lists will be math terms, as I believe this is one area where her prior knowledge can help her shine in class, as well as improve her English. I will have a laminated, bilingual vocab sheet that she can use during math class. I will also have several mp3 files for her to practice her listening & speaking skills (will key words and phrases of math, as well as other subjects in the file); written text will be included.

For Wednesday, Jenny is expected to give a powerpoint presentation, in Chinese, about Confuciunism. I will have a powerpoint template prepared for her on Monday and she can fill it in with the info from her research. She will also have the chance to practice her oral presentation skills- speaking loudly/ slowly/ clearly, while standing straight.  I hope she will have the chance to practice with an adult at home.

As for this weekend, I would like to ask if you could help her continue reseaching her topic.

Our Central Idea is People have different Belief Systems  ;

and our 3 Lines of Inquiry are:  1) what is a belief system
                                                   2) The similarities and differences between belief systems
                                                   3) How belief systems affect our daily lives

We have explained to the students that a belief system is NOT always a religion (?? being one example). having said that, the students have put much effort into studying Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism , as well as Shinto and Taoism. We have also discussed how living in a country that has a large influence from a certain religion (Asia= Buddhism ; Middle East= Islam India= Hinduism ; USA = Chrstianity) can affect your life due to cultural traditions and / or laws.

I would like Jenny to focus on Confucius' history (birth, hometown, life/work, death, followers/students, etc...) and how his teachings have affected China thru the centuries; also how it affects modern-day China, if at all (has it changed? Is Confuciunism experiencing a 'rebirth' ? etc..)

Also, she should research how Confucius became a quasi-religion and people began to think he was a god, but not anymore (and why).

She can also write about how Confuciunism has affected other countries/cultures in Asia.

For this weekend, she needs to create a PIE CHART about the current number (and % ) of believers of each religion here in China. (using MS Word)

She should also gather photos/ images (and a timeline, if she can find one) about Confucius and his followers, hometown, etc...

For the most part, this is a research paper about FACTS. However, on Monday & Tuesday I hope to help Jenny to make the connection between Confuciunism and moChinese society  (both traditional/ historical AND modern) : social rules, laws, traditions, customs, rites of passage (naming ceremonies, marriage, funerals, etc..)  music, literature, respect for the dead (??)

Mr. Ruth, our Teacher Assistant from YunNan, will also be on hand to work with Jenny to help her complete her classwork assignment on time.

Also, next week we will begin to explore a new unit based on science- 'Kitchen Chemistry' . This unit will focus on the properties of energy and matter, thru cooking. I will have a parent letter for all families go home on monday with more info. Also, next monday I would like Jenny to begin daily homework of : reading, cursive writing and keyboard typing - I will provide more info on that on monday as well.

It is a pleasure to have you daughter join us, Mr. XML and I look forward to meeting you next month during parent-teacher conferences. If  you have and questions or comments, please do not hesistate to contact me.

Best Regards,

tibet2010

背景：小学五年级、刚转入第一周的英文学校（学校在国内）。老师给家长的信的翻译：
感叹几点：
1、老师很认真！
2、作业量很大。
3、学的东西和方法和国内大不同，难度不是想象的那么容易。

珍妮在XX校的第一周就调整得很好，她已表现出来是一个勤份的学生，能理解老师对学校和家庭作业的要求。有个例子，周三时，我好几次注意到她在课堂看中文漫画，我提醒了她，可以理解在一个全英文环境下的她感受到的困难和疲劳，我相信她不会再这么做了。周一，她将做一个数学入学测试（这一周事非常多。。。）

（她的）生词的大部分是数学术语，不过，我相信这里她以前的（数学）知识能帮她在班里表现出色，而且也能提高她的英文。我会给她一个能在上数学课时用的双语词汇对照表，还会给她几个MP3文件，用来提高她的听说。也包括书写。这周二，珍妮要做一个PPT演讲，关于儒教，用中文。我会在周一给她准备一个PPT模板，她把自己的研究成果填进去就可以，她同时有一个机会去锻炼口头演讲，（演讲要）大声/慢速/清晰，且要站直。我希望她在家能和大人有个机会先练一练。

这个周末，我想看看您是否能帮她继续研究这个课题。

我们的研究主题是人类有不同的信仰体系；
要了解三方面：
1什么是信仰体系？
2、不同信仰体系的相同点和不同点；
3、信仰体系对我们日常生活的影响

我们已向学生解释过，信仰体系不总是宗教，学生们已经花了很大精力研究基督教、伊斯兰教、犹太教、佛教、印度教等等。我们也讨论过如何在一个特定宗教影响力很广的国家生活。我希望珍妮集中于孔子历史（出生、家乡、生活/工作，死亡，跟随着/学生，等等）还有他的教学是如何影响中国好几个世纪；如何影响现代中国？（有什么变化？儒教正在经历“重生”吗？）还有，她需要研究儒教是如何变成一个准宗教，人们以前是如何开始把他当成一个神，后来又不是（为什么？）她还可以写写儒教是如何影响其它亚洲国家的。

这周末，她需要做一个WORD文档，用饼图来说明各种宗教信众的前人数她也要收集一些关于孔子和他的跟随者、家乡等的照片/图片总的来说，这是一个关于“真实情况”的研究论文，然而，在周一周二我希望能帮珍妮去建立儒教和中国社会（历史上和现在的）的关系；社会规则、法律、传统、风俗、成长仪式（起名仪式、婚姻、葬礼等等）、音乐、文学、对等死者？？。。。。

来自云南的XX老师助理（中国人）将会帮助珍妮去完成她的按时完成工作。

还有，下周我们将开始探索一个新的科学单元：“厨房化学”。这个单元将集中于烹调中的能量和物质的属性，我会给所有的家长发一封更多信息的信，还有，下周一我希望珍妮开始他的每日家庭作业：阅读、写字和健盘打字，周一我会提供更多的信息我很高兴你的女儿加入我们班。

我期待和您下个月在家长－教师会上见面。如果您有任何问题或建议，请随时和我联系。

木兰花慢

国内难得有这样的教学理念啊。

lalaz90

羡慕！

all4kids

这是国际学校通行的做法。

班级小，学生老师交流多，注重孩子能力和思维的拓展，而不仅仅专注于给孩子灌输知识。

幸好现在我们慢慢注意到这一点了，家长有心的话，还是可以补充学校教育的不足的。

当然，这样做需要家长有所取舍。既想要学校里门门功课100分，又要孩子这样那样能力的拓展，恐怕孩子的思辨和研究能力还没培养出来就给累倒了。

woodhead

小学重在基础，而基础重在面的拓展，而不是点的拔高。所以，飞飞5楼的取舍意见说的很好。

不过，具体到这封信，具体到老师的关于Jenny的演讲，我喜欢这种方式，但觉得这些内容对5年级的孩子而言未免有些面面俱到。
能够就一个问题谈点自己的看法就很好了。

paisley

是英国的国际学校吗？给我感觉好像是这样。：）

dse123

只有四个字：耳目一新，国内为什么学的那么死呢

yidan135

我和女儿玩积木，让她按我拼的拼，再复杂也能拼成。让她自己拼、随便拼什么也可以，她就一脸茫然，不知道怎么拼。这就是典型的应试教育的结果。我真想把孩子送到国际学校

小P妈妈

原帖由 yidan135 于 2009-11-26 17:04 发表
我和女儿玩积木，让她按我拼的拼，再复杂也能拼成。让她自己拼、随便拼什么也可以，她就一脸茫然，不知道怎么拼。这就是典型的应试教育的结果。我真想把孩子送到国际学校

你们玩什么积木阿，这个也不至于和应试教育联系上吧。。。。
貌似儿子中班，一个人就能玩积木，玩上半个小时，经常搭完了，然后让我去看他的杰作。。。。

还有上面那个研究孔子的命题也太夸张了，放到研究生课题也差不多阿。

论语二十篇都没读下来，研究什么孔子呢，这也太浮躁了吧，不理解这些国际学校的教法。