ISB Elementary School

Dear Parents,

Please find below letters written by Claire Conner’s Grade 3 class, while typing them we have basically copied the children’s own words (including spelling). We hope that you enjoy them as much as we did and again we thank you so much for all of your efforts.

International Day is so fun: I like the saimai and the foods.I also like the games and toys like the flying thing that zooms so fast to make it fly. the windmill is sooo cool and it make a clicking sound.
I learned sooooo much in Italy! I learned that the Mona Lisa gazes at you when you move from side to side and leonardo Da vinchi. I also learned that they don’t let people in the pisa tower anymore because it leans sideways. I learned that people call Italy the boot because it is shape like a boot.
Thank you for all your hard work and making this week a wonderful week. This week has been the best week ever. You make this weekever the most special week ever. Thank you for teaching us all.

Do you want to know what we did on International Day? The most part liked about International day was when we fold the lotus in Thailand and did the wind meel. I love the cup game in Denmark we can’t pass the line with our feet we can pass the line with our hand.
I learned a couple of things.
I learned how to fold a lotus and how to make a Thai wind meel. We wrote our names in Serbia and little bit of the Serbia alphabet letters. I learned that the Mona Lisa doesn’t have any eye brows. Where ever you go the eyes of the Mona Lisa will look at you. Thank you to all parents for making the day a pleasant special day.

I really like the countries! My most favourite country because it had games, toys and cool colors to look at! I also enjoyed the windmills in Thailand. The whole entire room was awesome! It was amazing!
I learned most in Italy I learned that people in Italy eat spagetti everyday! The ‘Mona Lisa’ was painted by an Italy artist. Her eyes follow me! She doesnt have eye brows either!
Did you enjoy decorating and helping us enjoy the different countries? It was really a great help! I know if you werent helping none of International Day would have been such a incredible, awesome experience! Thank you so much!

I enjoyed many things in International Day. I liked the tasty food. I also touching and using different things. I enjoyed doing things like folding flowers, making windmills, and trying to write letters from a different country.
I learned a lot in Italy. Nobody knows if Mona Lisa is smiling and Mona Lisas eyes just keep following you. Marco Polo created noodles. America was named after Amerigo. When people thought earth was flat a explorer thought he could reach a different place by going around the world but ended up in the wrong place!
I learned many things in Thailand also. To fold a lotus you have to tuck a petal in itself and keep doing it until you see all the yellow pollen. I also learned that people make a lot of Thai toys out of wood. I also learned how to learn some new Thai toys.
Thank you for all your hard work to make us have fun on that day. I wish you could make another day like that.

I really liked all the things you did for us on International Day. I liked the food, the quizzes, movies and all the fun activities you prepared for us.
From all those countries I learned a lot too! In Holland I learned I what kind of clothes you wear and what kind of flower you see the most.
In Serbia they gave you papers to learn how to write in their way.
In Italy I learned what they invented and what they did not, and also the secrets of the Mona Lisa, by Leonardo Da Vinci. In Finland, Sweden and Denmark there was a lot of traditional and I learned a traditional game. I learned that in Germany they created pretzels and sausages and that Swiss people invented cheese in Austria, Switzerland and Germany. And in Thailand I learned their traditional food, games how to fold lotus’s and how to make a windmill in the Thai version.
Thank you for all the hard work

Thank you for the International Fair I liked going to all the countries and learning about the countries.
My classroom country was Thailand. In Thailand I liked make the windmill. First I made an oval with stick. Then I put the paper on top of the oval to make the windmill. I also ate some fruit like bananas and oranges.
The next countries was Italy. In Italy they had chip that had chip with sugar on top. It was delicious. I also learned that you can’t drive car on some of the bridges. You only could ride ride bike because it is narrow.
After learning about Italy we went to Switzerland. In Switzerland we ate cheese. I also learned that Federer is from Switzerland. He was my favourite tennis player.
It was my favourite day because we got to learn in a different way. Thank you again for setting up for the International Fair.

I loved Internatuonal Day! All the foods were delicious! I liked the games and activities and the quizzes! It was very fun reading the fact boards beacuse I learned new things every sentance.
In Thailand, I learned how to fold a lotus flower to make it look like the Banana float Thai people put in the water on the Thai holiday, Loy Krathong. In Serbia, I learned how to writs a Serbia letter. In Austria we ate yummy bread that had a lot of crums and spices. In Switzerland I learned that cows have really big bells - probably about 5 pounds!!! There are also chocolates that look like mountain peaks. We ate cheese. In Germany we ate yummy sausages. The pants in the German national dress can’t ever get washed! In Italy, we ate a Italian dessert that in crunchy with a lot of powerdered sugar. A national kinf of singing in Italy is opera. Then went to the Netherlands. We dressed up in the national dress in the Netherlands. We also got to paint on a painting a painter in Holland made. In Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway we read poster with information. In Finland we read lots of books. In Sweden I forgot what we did, in Denmark we ate meatballs from Denmark, and in Norway we touched lava stones.
Thanks for the awesome day! It was soo fun!

I liked the countries food my favourite is the sausage. I also like meatball, bread, cheese, they are all yummy we madde fans from Thai, all countries are fun. The best is the Thai snacks. I learned a lot I learned that Mona Lisa stares at you were ever you go, she watches you. Italy has city underground. I learned mostly about Denmark. They won the war by waving flags. So many countries have history even Iceland.

I enjoy the Italian class because some of the class got to sing opera with the video.
I learned that the picture of Mona Lisa would always look at you where ever you move, and that Leonardo Davci painted the picture of Mona Lisa. If Mona Lisa is smiling or not and why she didn’t have eyebrows.
Thank you for all of your hard work and snacks I learned a lot about Italy.

I injoid a lot of thing in internasanel week. I like the part when you taught us to play games and try new food and dress up to people and took pictures of us in Dutch land. And I liked going to all the countries and all of the fun things we did and I learned a few things. I learned how to peel a flower and I learned how to play Thai games and it was really fun there was a horse made out of branches and dolls.
Thanke you for all the stuff

International Day is as fun as rolercoasters! I like the Thai games and the widmill because I never made a windmill before, also when the windmill spin it makes a clicking sound thats cool! That flying whatever its spins so fast to make it fly! It zoom soo fast. That’s also cool.
I learned sooo much about Italy! I learned that Mona Lisa is acttaly painted by Leonardo DaVincci and he is Italian! Venus is knowed to be a water city to get to school you have to use a cannoes, bikes or you can walk. The leaning tower of Pisa leaned because of an earthquake. At first people thought it would fall but it didn’t! Now people cant go on the leaning tower if Pisa.
Thank you for the best international day and made it possible. We thank you all your hard work and thank you for teaching us, food and all you have planned, you made this day the most special day.

I honestly like the Thai games the spinning one and the lotus. I like it because when I know how to do it its kind of easy for me. I also like the part when I wore the Dutch clothes its warm and not too hot and to cold. And testing the food were excellent. We loved the food and the games we watch the movie in Holland.
In Italy they had frapp-r which is a dessert people eat I also learned food they eat in Italy is pizza and spagetti and other many things we also learned words in Italy. We said these word in Italy “welcome thank you”. We also learned how to sing a opera song in Italian and a car they have.
Thank you for the food we really like it thank you for coming to celebrate international day with us. We have a special day and next time you may come again.

I had wonderful time on International day and I want to share my wonderful draft with you and I enjoy the seets in Thailand and the fun activitys I did. In Switzerland I loved the cheese, it was very deliciouse! I liked the dress up in the Netherland because the costumes were very cute and the tulip were very pretty. In Germany I loved the sausages and the pretzels they were awesome! I liked the game in Denmark it was hard but at least I didn’t get out and I like the Mama Mia in Sweden it was fun.
In Italy I learned that the sport cars were made in Italy, Italy was a famous name because the shape of Italy was like a boot, and I also learn a opra song from Italy. In Germany I learned that they invent sausages and pretzel and they never wash they’re clothes because its cold there. In the Netherland I learned that they have to were wooden shoes to keep them warm. In Finland I learned that we could only eat crayfish in Finland and its the only place I also learned that Santa Cluase also lived there too! It sent it awesome.
Thank you to all parents that help us in International Day we had a wonderful with you all and thank you for decorating the class, it was so pretty. You made this day a very special day.I appreciate the hard work you done for third grade!

What I liked from many countries I liked the international food and the international things. One of the thing that I like the most is when you made Thai toy and windmills. When I push the windmill trough the air it made cik, cik, cik sounds, or we put the windmill in front of ac it make ccik, cik, cik, sounds too. My favourite foods was Switz cheese and Italian desert (white sugar chip) what learn many things.
I learn how to write Serbia words too.
After we learned Toblerone was made in Switz. These triangle was stand for many many many mountains. Finally we new sausages was made in Germany, and I like the sausages too. We thank you for teaching, showing, eating international day.

Durring the International Day I have travelled to many countries. But I like Finland the most. I think one day I need to go to Finland. I like the Finland hard brown bread and the famous book about the Finland instrument, and all the pitchers of Finland’s nature like trees and flowers and snow.
I learned that Finland has a real sata clause and I never saw a real sata clause befor and I want to see one. I also learned that Finland people make cray fish partys and they eat the crayfish. I wonder what it taste like? And I just learned that Finland have solf white snows that falls durring winter!
Thank you for all your hard work and you did a great job. If we didn’t have you we wouldn’t have fun durring the International Day.

I like the Swiss, Austrien, Germany room. I also like the cheese in Switzerland and the sausage in Germany. But I also liked the bread in Austria.
Do you know how many castle are there in Germany. I learned that there are many castles in Germany and that Disneyland copied Germany’s castle. Well the one how showd us Germany also showed us two of the most beautiful castle I have ever seen.
Thank you for all your hard work and making this a special day for everyone. And I heard that so many kids now know more than they did before.

I really enjoyed International Day. International Day was so fun because I got to go to many countries and because because I got to eat many different types of food from all around the world.
I learned many things on International Day.
I learned that Tulips are famous in Holland and that Vincent Van Goh is from Holland. I also learned about other countries too, like Italy. In Italy I learned that Italy is shaped like a high heel boot and that Italy is famouse for fancy cars.
Thank you for making Internationa Day special.

To view and download all the International Day Photos CLICK HERE

A HUGE thank you to the parents and teachers for all of the hard work and great thinking during international week. Because of your collaboration and dedicated efforts, the week was filled with meaningful learning. Here is what students said when asked about their learning during the week:

Grade 2:

- I learned that many countries have very different foods and games, and many countries have things that are kind of the same. We are all different and the same.
- I hope we can do this again next year, I want to learn more about other cultures.
- It was fun to hear about where my mom and dad are from.

Grade 5:

- We are learning about rice and how it changes and why it is important to Thailand. It is so neat because we get to touch it and see what it looks like in different stages.
- International week is important to have because it means that we can all come together and learn about different cultures and celebrate our differences.
- It is important to learn about this because it is our world. It will help us all get along in the future.

Grade 3:

- It has been so fun and I have learned way more than I thought we would.
- We learned about many countries and also about us here at ISB.
- I can’t believe we get to make all of these beautiful things!
- We get to see how people are the same and how people are different.

Grade 4:

- I want to share what I have learned with my family when I get home!
- This is important learning because we are from all over the world and we all play and go to school together. We are friends and friends need to know about each other.

1st grade:

- This is the best day ever. I feel proud that I know so much about many places in the world.

And finally from a few parents:

- My daughter felt like an expert – talking to her friends about important things in her life. This week has given her a place that values that.
- It gives me such an appreciation for what teachers do.
- I have chills listening to and watching the kids.

Tags: International Week, Looking For Learning

In my Looking for Learning classroom visits over the past week, I focused on two Grade 4 classrooms and spoke to students about their Math and Science learning. Here is some of what they shared with me:

What are you learning about?

“We are learning about water…. some of the concepts of water we are learning about are surface tension, slope, density, hot vs. cold and lots more. “

Which of these topics have you found most interesting and why?

“I learned that cold water sinks and hot water goes to the surface….. This was different than what I thought would happen, because when we put ice in water it floats. So – I was really surprised when we put dyed cold water into hot water and it sank to the bottom.”

“Why do you think this is important to know? How is it connected to the real world?”

“Because ice floats, it allows lakes and ponds to freeze over and prevents them from freezing all the way down. The plants and animals survive winter because the ice protects them and they can still breathe and eat. So this is important because it is connected to the life cycle.”

And in another Grade 4 classroom…..

“What are you learning?”

“Math. We are learning how to break numbers apart.”

“Why is this important?”

“If you are solving problems, like a hard question, you think of a way to break the number apart and put the pieces together.”

To another Grade 4 Math student……

“What are you getting better at today?”

“Math. What we are doing is finding different numbers to add to a thousand.”

“Why do you need to know how to do this?”

“Well, if you are going on a driving trip and you stop at two places, it would help you to know how far you have gone and how far you still need to go.”

“How is this math game helping you?”

“ I am finding different ways of making 1000. First I used an algorithm to solve the equation, then I checked through estimating. She (her partner) is breaking the numbers apart in order to find another way of solving the puzzle.”

A big part of the Grade 2 Global Citizenship unit in Social Studies is a service-learning project. Recently the second graders worked with the Mercy Centre Library in Klong Toey. The students learned about the Mercy Centre Orphanage and the library that is currently being built for its children. They brainstormed ways they could earn money on their own in order to purchase books for the library.

The learning objective of this project was for the students to understand that they are contributing members of their community. The hopes were that students understand that their efforts and contributions are truly important and can have a positive impact on others. Here follows what the students said about their learning…

The whole class bought books, we earned our money but it was hard not to spend it at the booster hut

I feel proud of myself, it’s something better than going to the Booster hut because it’s better to care about people

We learned a lot- we are proud of ourselves; always caring is good

Everyone was working for the money but we were the ones who came and gave.
It was a good idea to make a change in the world, helping poor children get books. The kids who got the books were very happy, we saw in real life how happy they were

ISB wants you to be caring, global citizens. What does that mean?
Those three words are what we did!
Caring- that’s what we did
Global- that’s them, we reached out and met other people
Citizens- that’s us!

Tags: Grade 2, Mercy Center

What do our Elementary Students say about their learning?
By Annelies Hoogland

Wizard of Oz: Thursday and Friday, February 11 and 12.

Grade 4 and 5 students have collaborated during the past months and invite us to join them on the yellow brick road to the Emerald City. What have they got to say about their learning?

I’m learning how to work with a team- there is no I in team! The show would not be complete with all the parts.
As a team, you have to know when to say your lines and when to come in.

I learnt that even though you have a boring part, a place where you show up, you can sing along with the others. At first I am just standing and singing three songs but there were other things to be done like being part of the team.

I learnt how to act it and not just talk it. Being good communicators…

Choreography is a big learning for me. I have never danced in front of a big crowd before, it’s my first play. Singing is not a big deal, memorizing lines is. I have never done that before.

Yellow brick road is about Dorothy’s adventure and her longingness to get back to Kansas. Yellow Brick Road gives me a lot of connections- I am somewhere in the forest- If you are stuck somewhere it can lead you to a place you have mot been before. Without a yellow brick road there is no show.

I feel a mix of emotions- happy, excited, feel like something special is about to happen, it’s building up!

Author Study (Grade 4)
While visiting a classroom, one student had this to say about her learning.

We are doing an author study and trying to make guesses about the author’s life and connect his/her life to the book. Patricia Palacco connected a lot about her life through her books. We have read a few of her books and have learnt a lot about her family- Jewish, she talked about her mothers’ wedding and the Sabbath and family dinners together. There is a lot of evidence and it is repeated throughout her books. If you know something about the author you can understand the book better and relate to it.

This is just right learning because it is not too easy. I understand and can do the connections to the author. It’s not too hard because the connections make sense. If it were too hard I wouldn’t be making the connections about the author.
I’m doing a lot of predictions and finding evidence and connecting. The author’s message helps us understand the reading- we’re inferring, not just reading the words.

The author study helps in our writing- to put our personal “stuff” into our writing so the reader can understand us. You have to write it well enough so the reader understands what you are trying to say.

What’s our next learning? I’m not sure but we might go to autobiographies.
That way we could know for sure about the authors.

Tags: 4th, 5th, Looking For Learning, Wizard of OZ

By Dr. Troy Regis

Thank you to our ISB ES parents who attended the two math workshops we had in the past couple of weeks (Sept. 2 in the morning and Sept. 9 in the evening). We had over 50 parents show up for the 2-hour morning session focused at Grades 3, 4, and 5! It was a great turn out and we explored the building of multiplication concepts in Grade 3, 4, and 5 with multiple activities at each grade level. ??

At our evening workshop, we had about 75 parents participate in an hour long session where we broke out in Grades K-1, 2-3, and 4-5 groups. We played a few games, used some of the math manipulatives, and experienced activities from the Investigations program.

Don’t forget that you can access the grade-level specific Student Math Handbook online with information from your child’s teacher. This has resources to help with homework as well as all of the game rules for that grade level. We will also be having more math workshops for parents in the future … stay tuned!

Tags: math

By Struan Robertson

ES Progress Report is going home this  Friday, September 11 with the students. Please return the signed copy to the homeroom teacher.

The “pink” request form for the upcoming parent/teacher conference on October 8-9, 2009 is also going home this Friday, Sept. 11, 2009.

If you have children in the elementary and middle school, kindly fill out one blue form only.  Please return this request form to the ES Office by Monday, Sept. 14, 2009.  Thank you.

Tags: Conference, Progress Reports

By Tracy McMahon

Please check your Friday folders for your child’s ASA confirmation schedule.  The ASA program kicks into action this Monday Sept 7th!  A class listing and room allocation will also be posted daily outside the ES office.

If you have been unsuccessful in your application, you should have already been contacted by me and offered an alternate activity on your chosen day.  Some activities proved extremely popular this semester and were well oversubscribed.  To compensate for this, consideration will be given to unsuccessful applicants for the same activity if offered in our second semester.

There are also spaces open in some activities if you would still like to register.  A list of these activities is currently posted outside the ES office so don’t delay!

If you have any concerns or queries, please do not hesitate to contact me in person daily from 1pm - 330pm in the ES office.  I look forward to being of assistance to you!

Tracy McMahon
ES ASA coordinator
esactivities@isb.ac.th

Tags: after school

Tags: Parent Info