kodomo No Ie

Saturday Japanese Class News

January 2009

1: Class I
2: Class II
3: Class II-2
4: JF
5: Lower Grades
6: Middle Grade
7: Higher Grades
8: Middle School


Class I

Happy new year.
Winter break passed in the wink of an eye, and a new term is beginning.
I hope everyone spent a nice holiday as a family. I am looking forward to hearing stories about vacations from kids.
At the beginning of January, I am going to tell stories about new years, such as zodiac. At the same time, we will start studying "ma" through "mo" this term. I will also incorporate easy crafts or hand play for children to enjoy during class. May this new year be a good year for everyone. I am looking forward to working with you.
(Ms. Nakatake)

Class II

At the beginning of the year, we will study new year's words, such as zodiac, to expand our vocabulary.
We will also experience new year's events such as card game (karuta), calligraphy (kakizome) using pencils, and writing new year's card (nenga-jo). We will also practice Katakana with correct stroke order, and learn to use both hiragana and katakana.
(Ms. Ozeki)

translator's notes:

Karuta: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karuta

Kakizome: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kakizome


Class II-2

Happy new year, 2009.
Let's continue to work hard on Japanese study.
We will continue to study Katakana through new year's vocabulary, and new year's games.
We already practiced writing short sentences, so we will now practice keeping journals.
Please help us start our class on time.
(Ms. Umehata)

JF

Happy new year. I am looking forward to working with you this year again.
January's theme is "winter".
The first class of the year is our annual "new year's game party".
We will study and enjoy Japanese traditional new year's games, such as Kakizome, Karuta, and Fukuwarai.
During the mochi-pounding festival the next day, we will display our kakizome results, so please come and take a look.
We will study winter scenery, customs, and songs of Japan from the second class and on.
We will also renew our interest in the Daikon seedling that has been growing since November.
(Ms. Yamada)

translator's notes:

Fukuwarai: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukuwarai



Lower Grades

Thank you parents for all you have done in the past year and thank you in advance for your continued support throughout the coming year.

Since last September, the students have been putting their effort in transcribing Japanese in Kana (the Japanese syllables) and reading out loud. Those who have been on top of their homework assignments showed much improvement in the last four months.

For the second term, we will be studying everyday Japanese with increased Kanji characters that are compatible with the level 10 in the certified Kanji examination (Kanji Kentei, or Kanken).
Please read the home studying guide “to parents” thoroughly, as an aide to assist your child effectively but not forcibly. You can also access the guide as a PDF file through my personal blog site, http://sakamotosanchi.spaces.live.com/. Of course, nothing is more effective than coming to class every week.
(Ms. Sakamoto)


Middle Grade

Thank you for your support and assistance throughout the past year. I look forward to working with you.

Our second semester will start with the Oshougatsu (New Year) game tournament on January 10. In the same manner as Halloween candy house, the students will be grouped crossing over their grade levels. They will surely have fun while learning. After the game, we will continue to use Hungry Planet as a studying guide in our classroom. We are still in the midst of cold weather. Take care so as not to catch a cold. Thank you in advance for your continued guidance at home.
(Ms. Shrecker)

Higher Grades

Happy New Year! Thank you in advance for your continued support for the coming year. Our second term will start with the annual Oshogatsu games. The students will experience Japanese culture through Fukuwarai, Karuta and Kakizome. They will be learning arithmetic this way as each of the group performances will be scored.

After the Oshogatsu game tournament, we will be discussing food issues in the world with Hungry Planet. This month, we will be focusing on food expenses. We will be making comparisons among photos and data taken from 12 different countries, and identify similarities and differences by reasoning.

Our class is full of students who are quite busy with events held at their local school, sports activities and other lessons. Even though they were absent consecutively, they have been good with turning in their homework and in-class assignments. I commend their efforts and parents' support.
(Ms. Miyajima)

Middle School

I wish you a Happy New Year!

Kodomono-ie Saturday Japanese school will start with our annual Oshogatsu games. In the same manner as last year's halloween candy house, five classes - Japanese as a second language, three elementary levels (lower, middle and higher) and middle school - will be divided into groups and learn arithmetic, Japanese and teamwork through the games.

Our goal for this month is to learn about globalization through continued use of Hungry Planet, facts about food around the world. By looking into food distribution systems, the students will be introduced to the fact that globally, it will become even more difficult to find solutions on a country level and that we can't depend on the governments to provide their people with accurate information. My goal for this class is to improve the students' Japanese by fostering their abilities to think.
(Ms. Douglas)


Thank you: Ms. Hayashi, Ms. Kono




Backnumber

[ 2017/02 ] [ 2017/01 ] [ 2016/12 ] [ 2016/11 ]
[ 2016/10 ] [ 2016/04 ] [ 2016/03 ] [ 2016/02 ]
[ 2016/01 ] [ 2015/12 ] [ 2015/11 ] [ 2015/10 ]
[ 2015/09 ] [ 2015/06 ] [ 2015/05 ] [ 2015/04 ]
[ 2015/03 ] [ 2015/02 ] [ 2015/01 ] [ 2014/12 ]
[ 2014/11 ] [ 2014/10 ] [ 2014/09 ] [ 2014/06 ]
[ 2014/05 ] [ 2014/04 ] [ 2014/03 ] [ 2014/02 ]
[ 2014/01 ] [ 2013/12 ] [ 2013/11 ] [ 2013/10 ]
[ 2013/09 ] [ 2013/06 ] [ 2013/05 ] [ 2013/04 ]
[ 2013/03 ] [ 2013/02 ] [ 2013/01 ] [ 2012/12 ]
[ 2012/05 ] [ 2012/04 ] [ 2012/03 ] [ 2012/02 ]
[ 2012/01 ] [ 2011/12 ] [ 2011/11 ] [ 2011/10 ]
[ 2011/06 ] [ 2011/05 ] [ 2011/04 ] [ 2011/03 ]
[ 2011/02 ] [ 2011/01 ] [ 2010/12 ] [ 2010/11 ]
[ 2010/10 ] [ 2010/06 ] [ 2010/05 ] [ 2010/04 ]
[ 2010/03 ] [ 2010/02 ] [ 2010/01 ] [ 2009/12 ]
[ 2009/11 ] [ 2009/10 ] [ 2009/09 ] [ 2009/06 ]
[ 2009/05 ] [ 2009/04 ] [ 2009/03 ] [ 2009/02 ]
[ 2009/01 ] [ 2008/12 ] [ 2008/11 ] [ 2008/10 ]
[ 2008/09 ] [ 2008/06 ] [ 201/50 ]