Hi there! Welcome to our classroom!Please feel free to walk around the classroom.

You have a mint treat for being so minty (aka COOL)!

Welcome to our Grade 2B class!At present there are 25 students in class.

There are 12 boys and 13 girls- all unique and special!

Joely Ann Mafnas, soon-to-be-Mrs. Owen :)

- Philippines/USA-Elementary Education, Specialty in Early Elementary-13th year of teaching, 3rd year in CDNIS-China (Beijing, Tianjin, Guangzhou) and Hong Kong-Pre-Reception, Kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade and 5th grade

Beatrice Cheung

HK/UK-Creative Arts in Music education/LTCL diploma-Licentiate vocalist

27 years in teaching field, 18 years in CDNIS, 14 years working as music specialist and choir conductor, 4 years ago, stepping across as education assistant

husband- History teacher in a local secondary school, my younger girl- in grade 12, my older girl-graduated two years ago

I love to sing, playing piano, read, cook and travel with my family.

My PhilosophyPersonal Philosophy

Sleep whenever you can.

Teaching Philosophy“Set them up for success.”

Safe Loved Trusted Accepted Capable

“I believe in you.”

Class Essential Agreements

Take care of the classroom.

Be a caring friend.

Have an “I CAN DO IT” attitude.

Always tell the truth.

Respect everyone with your words and actions.

Programme of Inquiry

Who We Are:Our personal wellbeing is affected by the choices we

make about our diet

How we Express Ourselves:

Images communicate ideas and information.

How The World Works:

Earth is part of a system which affects life on the

planet.

Where We Are In Place And Time:

Throughout history significant individuals have made contributions to society and changed people’s lives.

Sharing the Planet:Plants sustain life on Earth and play a role in our lives.

How we Organize Ourselves:

The value of goods and services is connected to what people buy, sell, and

produce.

What is transdisciplinary teaching and learning?

A transdisplinary approach refers to learning that is authentic

and relevant to the real world. Learning is not confined by traditional subjects but is

supported and enriched by them.

Who We Are

How can you integrate inquiry into other

subjects?

MathematicsWriting

Reading

Art

Word Study

Science

MeasurementData Handling

FractionsWriting to Instruct

Non-fiction text, reading to

learn about nutrients

Making Food Face, Still Life

Drawings

Not always transdiscipli

naryUnit related vocabulary/

Dolch

Food science: what is

in food, understanding

food labels

Differentiated LearningWe group and re-group. (Math and Word Work)

Not a once size fits all.

Each student starts from a different place in his or her understanding, so

learning experiences need to be tailored to his or her starting level.

Aim is to appropriately challenge and engage each student.

Literacy- ReadingBuild good reading habits

Teach 7 separate comprehension skills throughout the year

•Making connections•Questioning•Visualizing•Inferring•Summarizing•Evaluating•Synthesizing

Literacy- Writing FocusWho We Are

Sharing the Planet

How the World Works

How We Organize Ourselves

Where We Are in Place and

Time

How We Express

Ourselves

Purpose To Instruct To Describe To Describe To Persuade To Recount To Entertain

Text Type Recipes Labels, DescriptionsInformation

ReportsPersuasive letters/ads

Biographies/Auto-biographies Fairytales

Conventions such as spelling, punctuation, and grammar are taught throughout the year.

Words Their Way• Based on an assessment, your child has been put into a differentiated

word study group that your child has not yet consolidated.

• The students are not ‘memorizing’ words, they are learning the spelling patterns, sounds and meanings of the words.

• Each week, each student will be given a set of words called a sort.  The objective is for the student to become aware of the pattern in the words, and to understand its rule so that he/she can apply it to those words and other words.

• Some activities will be done in class, while others will be sent home as homework.

Video

Mathematics in the PYP

NumberPattern & FunctionShape & SpaceMeasurementData Handling

5 Strands Learning Math model

Sharing prior knowledge, using manipulatives to show what is known, asking questions for inquiry, goal setting, active learning.

Transferring understanding into symbols, making connections, reflecting, using mathematical vocabulary.

Practical hands-on applications, problem solving, investigations, presenting new mathematical knowledge.

Learning Math model

‘Everyday Math’Hands-on Comprehensive and Child-Friendly

1. Spiral curriculumWhat we’ve learnt previously, we will revisit all the time! We build up on what we know, keep relearning and learn new concepts!

2. Real-life Problem Solving Practical and meaningful! Students learnthe most when they can make connections with their learning and their experiences.3. Balanced instruction

Small groups and individual tasks4. Multiple Methods for Basic Skills practiceGames, memorization, whole group, one-on-one, booster programme5. Math JournalReflect on their Mathematical thinking

Home Learning PolicyThe purpose of home learning is to enhance

student learning and optimize student potential and growth.

We recommend the following time frame for homework:

Reading for 20 minutes daily.

10 minutes 3/4 days a week for other subjects

What will home learning look like in 2B?

Problem of the Week- given to them every Monday, due on Thursday

Word Work: (1) Word Sort- reinforce what the patterns and spelling rules that they are learning in class (2) High-frequency word list- memorize

Math fact sheet 3x/week

How Do We Assess in All Areas of the Curriculum?

Assessment is ongoing.

Pre-Assessment: Student’s prior knowledge

Formative Assessment: Evidence of understanding

(Everything that they are doing throughout the unit)

Summative Assessment: Student use all of what they have learned to accomplish a task

Key Reporting Dates

Oct. 9-10- Three-Way Learning Review (child-centered goal-setting)

Oct.17- Portfolio is sent homeJan 7- Portfolio is sent home

Jan 9- Progress report is available onlineApril 23 and 24- Student-Led Learning Review and

Portfolio sent homeJune 5- Portfolio is sent home

June 11- Progress report is available online

Class Blog

Don’t know how to access our website?

No worries! It’s easy peasy.

Type the following on your web browser:

http://sites.cdnis.edu.hk/teachers/annmafnas/

For the latest class happenings, visit our class website.

In a nutshell, what is important in this class?We teach each other to be critical thinkers.

Risk-takers.We value honesty.Make safe choices.

The students take ownership of their learning.The process is the most important part- not the

product.It is happy learning but we have strict agreements!

Every single child in this class is learning.

‘No one is better than the other.’

Y

E

S

NO.

P.M.I.

PositiveMinus- ‘Question’

Interesting...