The Diamonds are out and about

We toured our campus this week in order to explore our environment with our senses. Many students were able to conclude that you can smell, feel, taste, hear and see rain.

Talking Trees?

Several students noticed the sounds of the wind blowing through the trees. Other students went as far as to tap different trees with their pencils to hear the different sounds they made. It soon became a rhythmic search, as students created a collage of tap patterns on the different trees.

There is a new homework post!

Please go to the homework page to see the interesting batch of things that we cooked up for the upcoming week!

We are the Diamonds

It's official! After voting, our class name is "the Diamonds"!

Profiles of Internationalism

• Inquirers
• Thinkers
• Communicators
• Risk-takers
• Knowledgeable
• Principled
• Caring
• Open-minded
• Well-balanced
• Reflective
  

The Primary Years Program (PYP), and thusly KGG, embodies internationalism. We do so by creating a community environment that caters to certain learner profiles (listed above). We feel that if we help the student bring out these characteristics within themselves, they will be apt for success in the international world.

If you visit this site frequently you will be able to see how we are learning the profiles in class as it happens. Further research on www.ibo.org, more specifically the PYP section and "Making the PYP Happen" will provide a deeper understanding of the ideology behind the Learner Profiles.

For the Kindergarten Classroom, a great way to introduce the learner profiles is through stories. Through picture books and oral stories, students can see the profiles in action and start to apply them to themselves. Stories also create great prompts for discussion.

A recent profile that we came across was "Risk-taker" in the story Milli, Jack and the Dancing Cat by Stephen Michael King. It is the story of a girl who has a true love of using her creativity to make beautiful creations. She is afraid to show her true self, because she is afraid of what others might think. Instead of making the glorious things that she loves, she is stifled by working at a plain shoe shop. When Jack and his cat come along, they encourage her to share her gift of creativity. She then takes a risk by creating a new shop which is greatly enjoyed by all.

Most of the students enjoyed the story, but some are still not sure exactly what a "risk" is. As the year goes on we will be sure to point out the many risks that students take and the consequences. If you see your child taking a risk at home, please discuss this behavior. Why did they do what they did? What happened as a result? Likewise, if there is anybody in their environment who takes a risk, be sure to take advantage of the discussion that can result.

Welcome!

Wow! I'm so glad that you found this site. This is KGG's first venture into blogdom, and it hopefully will be an enlightening endeavor. The blog is for the students, parents and staff of the KGG community, but also welcomes the constructive interest of the early years, ISD, Bangladeshi, IB and global communities. Here you will find important information relevant to our classroom, as we meander through the IBPYP. Things such as homework, wanted resources, important dates, current events and the Primary Years Programme from a Kindergartner's perspective will all be at your convenience.

For the KGG parents, this year shall be a great year to learn to live and live to learn. Please use this blog to enhance what your child is learning in school at home.