Student teacher fun

For the past six weeks our Middle school Chinese students have had the pleasure of working with our student teacher Xi Ma.  Xi is from the University of Iowa and has been doing fantastic lessons with the students.

Here is a character writing activity she taught to sixth graders.

Here she is having her students introduce themselves to native Chinese speakers over Google hangout.

She also taught a cultural activity to out eighth graders.

Countries and Nationalities

The Washington Township 3rd grade class is busy learning about countries and nationalities.

In this video, they say they are Americans, and not from a variety of other nations.

First Quarter Elementary Newsletter

Mid Prairie Middle School Chinese Featured in the Gazette

Here is a link to the article online.
http://www.thegazette.com/subject/life/people-places/mid-prairie-school-district-teaches-exploratory-chinese-at-the-elementary-level-20151027

Visit by the Cedar Rapids Gazette

We were very fortunate today to have received a visit from the Gazette.  Two reporters came to Mid Prairie Middle School and interviewed me about the Chinese language programs in our district.  Afterwards they interviewed students about their classes and took pictures!   Expect to see it in the paper soon!!

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

Mrs. Fisher's 2nd grade class at Wellman Elementary reads "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed" from the Smart Board. 

Great job, students! Keep up the good work!

Confucius Institute Moon Festival

The University of Iowa Confucius Institute visited Kalona Elementary School's fifth grade, and the classrooms of Mrs. Bessman and Mrs. Wood, to deliver a special presentation on the Moon Festival.

The Moon Festival is the second-most important holiday in Chinese culture, after Chinese New Year.

Our visitors, Erin Mullin, Xi Ma, and three teachers from China studying at the UI, told the KES students a story called "The Monkey Scoops the Moon."

Outdoor Extravaganza!!

KE PBIS Movie Celebration!!

Saying good bye to our student teacher Mr. Dusek

Today marks the last day for our visitor Mr. Dusek (Dai Laoshi).  Mr. Dusek comes from the University of Iowa and has been here for the last 8 weeks.  Mr. Dusek is a Masters of Teaching student specializing in Chinese and ESL education.  He has been very luck because his time here coincided perfectly with the new quarter so he was able to teach one group of middle schoolers from the very beginning of their Chinese class to nearly its end.  For our good bye we made dumplings and he showed students kung fu items he uses at the University.  From Next week he will head to Cedar Rapids to continue his student teaching and we wish him the best of luck.

Thanks Dai Laoshi

Chinese New Year activities

To celebrate the year of the sheep we did various activities at our schools here in Mid Prairie.  The University of Iowa Confucius Institute came and presented to our fifth graders at each elementary.   At the middle school Chris Dusek, my student teacher, did a lesson on Chinese paper cutting with the six, seventh, and eighth graders.

Visitors from the UI Confucius Institute presenting to our fifth graders.

Seventh graders learning how to do traditional Chinese paper cutting.

Mr. Dusek showing sixth graders how to make paper lanterns.

Literacy Night Guest

Join Dan Wardell as he travels to KALONA ELEMENTARY tomorrow night for a fun filled evening! (Tuesday, February 10th)

PLEASE bring your ENTIRE family and join us for Family Literacy Night! A free meal will be served from 5:15-6:15pm! Parents will enjoy an informational speaker from 6:30-7:30pm while children will enjoy Literacy activities, INCLUDING a session with IPTV Dan Wardell! All children will receive a free book to take home! Childcare will be provided!
REMINDER...parents IF you have an electronic device, please plan to bring it with you, as this will be an interactive session! ALSO bring a camera or your phone for our family photo booth! 

Family Literacy Night!!