29 November - 2 December

Well, November came and went and now it is DECEMBER!!! This week we started our project with Year 5 and looked at Christmas in NZ.

With Year 5 we introduced the topic "The 4 seasons" and we listened to a song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTXtSGf1VdY.

The project will be continued in the new year...

With all the classes we looked at Christmas in New Zealand, it is very different because it is summer time! We go for walks on the beach, swims and go camping! We eat lots of fresh berries YUM...

We do not have Tres Reys, Pasebras or Pasturets! We go to Christmas parades and sing carols outside in parks... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2o1rHIQ5c8

22 November - 26 November

Wow, Christmas is REALLY close now!
This week we looked at the HAKA - take a look:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-lrE2JcO44, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdMCAV6Yd0Y

We practiced Tu tira mai nga iwi again too:

Until next week ... Emily

15 November - 18 November

This week was another week that flew by! This week we listened to a song from NZ about the weather, to listen to it click on the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag8XcMG1EX4.
we continued our speaking practice and I can see a lot of the children growing in their confidence.
Christmas is nearly here and our project for the ministry is coming along!
Until next week...
Emily

8 November - 11 November 2010

This week was another busy week, at the beginning of the classes I explained to the children the NZ flags...

In our individual speaking we work on vocabulary and practice!

We read books about farm animals or magazines about wild animals, we spot the differences, we describe funny looking faces or we try and give instructions to draw a picture!

Fina and I have our idea nearly formed for our project, we are thinking about SEASONS, as this is a topic that begins for the senior children after Christmas. The focus of course, is ORAL but we have some fun ideas to produce a creative and hopefully AWESOME and FUN project both for us and the students... watch this space!

First week of November!

It is November already!

Monday was a holiday and Tuesday was a short day as I went to Barcelona for a meeting with the Ministry of Education.

This week I showed the children the Tuatara of NZ

We watched a brief clip but it was hard to hear! Hopefully you can watch it at home if you are interested... http://tvnz.co.nz/view/video_popup_flash_skin/1806692

I continued speaking with the children and now I have a role – book, just like a real teacher!

In the arts and crafts class we briefly learnt about the flags of NZ... We coloured in the flags and stuck them to sticks. (I was a bit confused and I thought I was taking pictures, but really they were a movies!)

Next week I will explain to the older children about the flags, so see next week’s blog for more information! 

The last week of October!!! 25/10 – 29/10 2010

It is hard to believe that October has already been and gone. This week there were Halloween and Castanyada celebrations! There were dress-ups and great festivities. Halloween, like here in Catalunya, is not really celebrated in New Zealand and Castanyada is a new celebration for me!

Monday we had visit from the Lochness monster and Mad madison! (see Sant Josep’s English blog).

In classes we danced the Skeleton dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e54m6XOpRgU  and I read

I continued taking small groups / individuals at the back of the class. Now that a routine is established and everything is ‘normal’ I can really focus on helping the children at Sant Josep with their confidence and practice of the English language.

On Thursday there was a lot of costumes and excitement.

 


 




 

On Friday there were lots of games and chestnuts (castanyadas).

In the coming new year Sant Josep and I have a project to present to the Ministry of Education. It is a project to complete with the children. Fina and I have our thinking caps on and would really like to do something innovative, if anyone has ideas or suggestions send us an email!

18 October - 22 October

On Monday the 18th another week began, and time is already flying! This week I visited Year 2 to read them the HUNGRY CATEPILLAR.
In the classes I showed the children my family. They learnt about my dad, my mum and my sister.

In the science classes Year 6 and Year 4 I played them a song about the five senses, this was a bit hard as it was too fast! Year 4 found it a bit easier as they were learning about the senses so had the vocabulary fresh in their minds.  To see the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5CHfLP71T4

Things are starting to become normal and it is wonderful. In the English classes I now sit at the back and take 1 – 4 children and ask them to describe me pictures or read them stories and ask them questions afterwards.
On Thursday 21st we got a visit from a witch about Castynada / Halloween this coming week. I got a big fright! The children thought it was very funny.

On Friday 22nd I was lucky enough to accompany the senior children (Year 5 & 6) to Ripoll and we visited the monastery and scriptorium there. This was amazing and great fun, the teachers got a lot of English practice telling me the history of Catalunya and Ripoll.

Another busy and interesting week, and am looking forward to the next one.

Short week! 13 October - 15 October

This week I showed the classes a short presentation about the NZ song, Tutira mai. The Year 5's had song this song for me last week, so I brought a translation for them.

Firstly I showed them how the song sounds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZkCvpKjBCs

Then I showed them some simple actions which we all tried together:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HogrQL1zrSg

I started speaking with my classes one on one, the children where a bit scared but it was a lot of fun! 

8 October 2010

Fridays I normally have away from school but I choose to go to the really little children and with Juana I read them the hungry caterpillar, they think my accent is funny, I think they are cute!

7 October 2010

I was starting to settle in now, and Navàs was feeling like home. I spend lunchtimes eating and playing with the children and this is a great way to get to know them.

With Year 5 English I did a short activity describing photos.

These are photos from New Zealand.

What can you see?

4 October 2010

This was my first day at school. It started at 11am with a big welcome in the hall!

I learnt a lot about the students and Cataluyna, everyone was very welcoming and we were all so happy to see and meet each other.

In the afternoon I went with Year 6 on a tour of Navàs, this was wonderful, and the sun was shining!