Mrs. Gardner’s 9 ATP News
Grade 9 ATP teachers are Mrs. Gardner, Mrs. Crowther and Mrs. King
9 ATP collaborated with the Chinese Club for an Asian Culture Day on November 7, 2014. Our
ATP students enjoyed this enrichment opportunity that was based on independent
learning/student interest. After reading China’s Son by Da Chen and learning about Asia,
students were interested in learning more about Asian culture. The following presentations were
shared:
Recent photos of China and Mandarin Chinese phrases (Veronica Li, 10th grade student),
Chinese traditional clothing, Landmarks, and Regional differences (Stella Chen, 11th grade
student, Chinese New Year (includes info. on dinner, fireworks, red packets, etc. and includes a
short video) (Chris Liu, 11th grade student), Moon Festivals and Moon Cakes (Kevin Chen, 11th
grade student), Calligraphy (Christine Wang, 10th grade student), Japanese Woodblock Printing
(Liz Healy, 11th grade student taking a Japanese distance learning course), Japanese education
system, culture and people (Mrs. Josef is a GV librarian who traveled to Japan through Japan
Exchange Teaching Program. Mrs. Josef spent three years in Japan.) See picture below.
(Calligraphy workshop with Christine Wang, 10th grade GVHS student)
9 ATP is enjoying Reader’s Workshop. Each marking period students have the goal of reading
600-800 pages, which is approximately 3-4 books depending on length. For the most part,
students have free choice over their selections. However, students will be asked to relate several
selections over the year to countries we are studying in ATP. Our ATP class created a bulletin
board to track reading progress. Students use avatars to mark reading goals and our 2nd period
class chose a Mulan theme and drew the Great Wall of China. See picture below.
(Reader’s Workshop Bulletin Board with page number “flags.”)
9 ATP had the opportunity to skype with a Japanese news anchor on November 25, 2014.
Melissa Josef, school librarian, was able to arrange an information session with Yasushi
Komatsu. He graduated from Sapporo Higashi High School in 1993, went to International
Christian University and then attended Berkeley and University of Pennsylvania during a one
year exchange program. He is now a news anchor for a morning talk show called “Morning
Bird.” He has attended many interesting events such as the Summer Olympics in Athens, the
Winter Olympics in Turin and the Oscars. During the skype, students learned more about
Japanese culture. See picture below.
(9 ATP class using skype to talk with Yasushi Komatsu, a news anchor in Japan)
Regular pleasure reading is the fastest way to increase reading and writing skills. In order to promote
independent reading, 9 ATP attended a “book talk” in the library hosted by Mrs. Josef on December 19,
2014. Mrs. Josef gave students information on some of the titles in the GVHS library collection. At the
end of the presentation, students used/shared smart phones to access Kahoot! Kahoot! is a classroom
response system which creates an engaging learning space, through a game-based digital pedagogy.
Students were “quizzed” on information presented and two winners received autographed novels! 9
ATP is attending another book talk during enhancement on January 16, 2015. The book talks support
our Reader’s Workshop.
(9 ATP class at “The Walking Read” book talk hosted by Melissa Josef, school librarian)