(I have made some changes to the writing here so that the translations will be easier to understand).
Dear parents,
Since we came back from the holidays there have been some changes in Year 1. All new systems are now ready and I can explain exactly what they are. I am sure that you will agree that all changes will be of benefit to the children and help their education.
1. Miss Lucey has worked with all of the children this week and last week. She is an excellent teacher, and the children all enjoy working with her.

2. The registration classes (where we count the children) have been split into two classes. This means that, for five minutes in the morning and afternoon, the children go to Miss Lucey's and Mr. Kohll's classes to greet each other and sing a song or do shared reading.
3. The Maths and English classes have been split. There are now two Maths classes and two English classes. Almost all of the children go to one class with Miss Lucey and another class with Mr. Kohll; we both teach almost all of the children.
4. Click here to see a full list of all the classes and the children in them.  
5. Miss Rhonda's classes, Miss Mackay's PE and swimming classes, and Miss Packer's Music classes are the same as before; no changes.   
6. All other classes (History, Science, Art, Computers, Geography, etc.) are taught with all of the children together in one classroom, with Mr. Kohll and Miss Lucey and Miss Helen teaching them all together.
Tianjin Rego International School has a policy of class sizes being no more than 15. This is because we want the childre to get lots of help from the teacher. Now that we have two teachers the children will have lots more help in all of their lessons.
Please feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions, either on this website or in the homework diaries.
Thank you,
Mr. Kohll and Miss Lucey.

What a nice week!

We learned about plants in science, and homes in history. We learned to sing "the green grass grows" song.

In maths, the children learned how to multiply by counting their fingers more than once (for example, to do 3 x 5, the children can count 5 fingers three times). On Friday, we read a story to learn about division. Here it is, if you want to read it again!

In English lessons this week, we learned about instructions. This is very useful for the children. It teaches them about verbs, making sentences, and non-fiction text. This week we practiced putting instructions in order. We played these games in class, and did activities for ordering and making things. Here are photos of the children making play cakes and giving instructions to each other.

Miss Lucey has been working with the children this week in all lessons. Next week, she will have one half of the class for English lessons, and the other half of the class for Maths lessons, in her classroom. For all other lessons (Science, History, Reading, and so on, Miss Lucey and Mr. Kohll will teach the children together). The children will greatly benefit from having a second teacher to help them, and from working in smaller groups.

In PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) this week we learned about People Who Help Us - our topic for this term. The children made hand puppets for the people they liked - mostly doctors and police officers. Miss Lulu made a beautiful display to show them.

As it says in your homework diaries, World Maths Day begins on the 28th of February. The website is www.worldmathsday.com, and the children can go there to practice their maths. The whole school will participate in the World Maths Day competition. The usernames and passwords are in your homework diaries so you can start practicing if you want to.

Finally, I would like to apologise for the badly translated letters about the Projects. Korean letters were sent out today, and Chinese letters will be sent out on Friday. The children can choose whether they want to do a project on plants, homes, or people who help  us; and they can begin work next week, on Wednesday. In a few weeks, the children will show their projects to the class, and talk to the class about them. This will be excellent speaking practice for them, and help the class to learn about all our subjects!
Have a good weekend!
Mr. Kohll.

We have had an excellent start to the second half of term!

First, I'm very excited to say that Mr. Kohll's personal educational website is now ready, full of great learning games. Enjoy!

The children enjoyed working with Miss Lucey.

They started to learn about plants in Science lessons.

Miss Lulu made a beautiful Science display to help. Soon the children's worksheets will grow on the tree!

Here are the children's projects from last term. You can come and see them! We will make more projects this term and the children will give speeches about them at the end.

Hello! I hope you all had a good holiday. We have a busy and exciting time ahead of us, and I want to tell you some of the things we will be doing. Please remember that timetables are available here for you to see plans for this term and this year.

There is an exciting new development this term. As you know, the policy of TRIS is that classes will have no more than 15 children, so that the children will receive a high quality education. We now have 16 children in Year 1. Therefore, a new teacher has joined us, Miss Lucey. The children will now have two teachers, but don't worry - both teachers will teach all of the children; there will not be two seperate classes. What there will be is many new ideas and ways of teaching, and extra help for your children in learning.

In English lessons we are going to begin by learning the English topic of Instructions. The children will learn about how to put English sentences in order, how to write neat instructions for things like recipes, making things and playing games, and how to give instructions in spoken English. After that, we will have two weeks for the children to continue learning about science fiction and fantasy stories. Lots of fun! 

In Maths lessons this week, we will be learning about simple multiplication and division. There will be more games on the website for your children to practice these at the end of the week. Here are two games they can play now to help them learn and practice.

In Science lessons this term we will learn about plants. The children will learn to name different parts of plants, see how plants grow and learn about roots and flowers and what we can use plants for.They will learn that plants are living organisms, and the things that they need to grow and live.

In History lessons, we will be learning about houses a long time ago. the children will learn about the history of houses in Britain and compare them to China and Korea.

Hello! This will be another exciting week, In Year 1, we will:

The children will learn what science fiction and fantast stories are. We will read stories and have fun acting them and writing about them. The children will learn about characters and settings and how to describe them. We will read stories like Sleeping Beauty (a roleplaying game book), Dr. Xargle, and will read the online books The Princess and The Dragon and The Cold Planet.

This is linked to our work in Science, using materials like cardboard, plastic, glue and sellotape. And it is linked to our English work, reading magic stories about castles. the children will begin their castles this week, working in groups. I would be very grateful for any cardboard or plastic - boxes, bottles, etc. - you could donate for the children to share and use.
 Click here to watch a video of how to make a castle.

This week we will learn a song to practice English and learn about Chinese New Year customs. You can watch a cartoon of the song here (click on the picture).

Our maths topic this week is measuring - fun with clocks, rulers and weighing scales.

Yesterday, the Literacy class wrote recounts of the Assembly. Today, they completed them. You can see and hear them here.

Today, the children brought in the Projects they have been working on. I was so pleased with how hard they are working, and I want to thank you for your help with them. A great help to their writing, reading and Art skills. I loved how they have worked so hard on them - finding samples, drawing and writing about them, and all so creative - it's very exciting!

Today, we also started our new Design and Technology topic. The children are going to learn about how to make model homes. We got out the cardboard boxes and scissors and practiced ways to make models that stand up, joining cardboard with no glue or tape!

Last week, the children made some beautiful paper weavings. Today Miss Lulu kindly made them into a display outside the classroom.

We had a treat at the start of this term, as Lisa brought in a book to read to the class. She read beautifully, and should be proud of her English speaking and reading. If any of the other children wish to bring in a book to read to the class, or bring in something special to show and tell their friends about, I am happy to make time for them to do so.

How time flies when you're busy and having fun! I think it's safe to say that we were very busy this term, and we did have a lot of fun. Here are a few of the things that stand out most when I look back on the autumn term:
(1) The children! They have been a delight to teach and to work with. Curious, fun, engaging and friendly. We have been sad to lose four of them, but happy to welcome Grace, Cool, Cherry, Woo Bin and You Bin.

(2) Fun learning games in class - computer games at school and at home, like Tutpup and Education City; playing card games like twenty-one, to practice adding maths. We've had fun telling stories, including some like the one in the photo where the children chose what they wanted to do in the story. 

(3) The Christmas play. Especially considering how young they were, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 made us all very, very proud. They worked hard and gave excellent performances that were a credit to the school.

And now Spring Term is here! I'm certain it's going to be as busy and full of fun as last term. I hope you will enjoy looking around the new Year 1 website, and find it of use for you and for your child or children.

Happy New Year!

Mr. Kohll.