Mr Morgan – 2023/24

Hello again everyone!

Another week has flown by, and here is a quick rundown of what we have been doing this week.

InCas: Students took their start-of-term InCas tests in English and Maths. We took one test each day, and it went very smoothly. Everyone concentrated extremely well and did their best.

In Maths, we worked on using compasses to draw circles accurately and understanding the relationship between the radius and diameter. Handling compasses proved to be more difficult than anticipated, but with some resilience, everyone was using them proficiently to produce some intricate mandalas!

In English, we worked on writing blogs, imagining we were astronauts on the ISS. Students worked on using informal language and adverbial phrases to really bring their blogs to life. Here are some examples and I will post some more next week when more have been completed.

In IPC, we are coming to the conclusion of our first unit on the brain. We are starting to prepare the Exit Point, where students will work in groups to produce some videos on what they have learned over the course of the unit. They have already started collecting ideas, and I am looking forward to seeing their completed projects.

Students also enjoyed their trip to the Arts Centre to see the Henri Matisse exhibition. It was a great opportunity to have that on our doorstep.

It has definitely been another productive week, and next week is going to involve a lot of teamwork as students work together and get creative with their Exit Points.

Enjoy your weekend, and I’ll leave you with a few extra photographs from the week.

Mr Morgan

Hello everyone!

It’s Friday and we have wrapped up another productive week of learning. Here are just some of the highlights!

Maths: We spent time investigating and classifying 2D shapes. Students learned how to identify shapes based on their sides, angles, and symmetry. We worked on the tricky art of reflection and rotational symmetry. We finished the week by investigating how certain shapes tessellate, using real life examples and creating some creative designs.

English: Continuing with our theme of exploring space, we practiced using a variety of prefixes to increase our vocabulary. We also worked on using adverbs and adverbials to add details to our sentence structure. We ended the week comparing and contrasting different styles of informal writing, from journals to blogs.

IPC: As we continue to learn about the brain, we spent this week ‘Making Connections’. We used paint blowing to make colourful neurons. We also had an interesting session appreciating different methods of remembering information. These strategies will come in extremely useful in class.

Reminder: Next Wednesday, at 1.30 pm, students will visit the Henri Matisse exhibition at the Art Centre. This is a great opportunity to see the great works of this French visual artist. Students will not need to bring extra.

It has been a great week, and am looking forward to next week. Enjoy your weekend,

Mr Morgan.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Happy Friday to everyone! We have successfully completed our first week of full lessons and I am happy to report that the students have settled into their new routines remarkably well. It’s been a productive and positive week, full of learning and collaboration.

1. Adjustment to New Routines: The start of a new term always brings new routines and expectations. Our Year 5 and 6 students have adapted to these changes with ease and maturity, demonstrating their readiness to tackle the challenges of the year ahead.
2. IPC – Peer Teaching: This week, in our International Primary Curriculum (IPC) lessons, we started the new Unit ‘Brainwave: The Brain’ . The Entry Point made the students the teachers! Everyone taught each other new skills and learned something new. It was a fantastic opportunity for them to showcase their talents and knowledge. We had teachers of Japanese, coding, dancing, drawing, origami, and a variety of musical instruments. They all did a fantastic job, and it was lovely to see them share their expertise with such enthusiasm and confidence.
3. Open Morning: It was great to meet so many of you at our ‘Meet the Teacher’ morning. Your involvement and support are crucial to the success of our students, and it’s always a pleasure to discuss your child’s progress and any questions or concerns you may have. Thank you to Alec’s mum for the group selfie (attached!)

Thank you all once again for your continued support and encouragement. We are off to a great start, and I am looking forward to all the adventures and learning opportunities that lie ahead.

Have a fantastic weekend,

Mr Morgan

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Happy Friday! I hope this update finds you well. Although we’ve only had two days together, our class has dived straight into the new term with enthusiasm and energy, and I’m already feeling immensely proud of our Year 5 and 6 students. Here’s a quick overview of what we’ve been up to:

Getting to Know Each Other: We dedicated some time for students to share a bit about themselves, through a class ‘Truth or Lie’ quiz, which was really informative and allowed us to have some fun at the same time.

Tower Building Challenge. One of the highlights of our team-building exercises was the tower building challenge. Working in groups, the students were tasked with constructing the tallest and sturdiest tower using just some simple materials. The results were impressive, with some towers reaching dizzying heights! It was a wonderful exercise in creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving.

Class Song Creation: Music brought our class together in a melodious way! Each group composed a short song about our class, our hopes for the year, or simply something fun and catchy. It was great  to see the children collaborate, brainstorm, and put their ideas to rhythm. We even had a few impromptu dances!

Setting the Tone – Class Expectations: It’s essential that we all start the year with a clear understanding of what’s expected in our classroom. We discussed our class rules, the importance of respect and kindness,, and how we can all contribute to making our classroom a positive, productive environment. The students were also encouraged to share their personal expectations and goals for the year ahead.

Well done to  all the children for making these first two days so memorable. Their enthusiasm, openness, and positivity have set the tone for a fantastic year ahead. Please remind your child to come prepared on Monday as we hit the ground running, starting the curriculum.

Reminder: Next Thursday 31st at 11.30 I will hold an informal ‘Meet the Teacher’ morning in my classroom. It is the perfect opportunity for you to ask me any questions you might have, or just to say ‘Hello’’. I look forward to meeting you all.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone,

Mr Morgan

A letter to Mr Morgan’s student before school starts…

I hope you had a wonderful, long, summer holiday and are feeling refreshed and excited for a brand new term! I am buzzing with excitement to meet you all and can’t wait to get started.

Some of you know me from my teacher training at HFS in 2021. I am from Cornwall, in the UK, but have lived in Korea for a long time now. In my freetime I love going on adventures with my own children (and old dog), surfing, diving, and just doing anything outdoors. 

Our first day of school is Thursday 24th August 2023. However, on Thursday and Friday, we will not be having lessons, and will spend the time getting to know each other and getting prepared for a new year of learning. In Term 1, our Year 5/6 class will have 13 returning students and 2 new students, Noah and Jeonwoo. Let’s do what we can to help them settle in.

This year, I’m sure there are many goals you wish to accomplish, and we will work together to achieve them. While this year might be filled with new challenges, always remember that we’re in this together! Whether you need help understanding a new topic or just want to share a funny story, I’m here to listen and help. Let’s support each other, be kind, and have a fantastic, productive year.

There will be a lot of exciting learning happening in Term 1. We will be starting with a new unit “The Brain” in our IPC. A truly useful topic allowing us to ‘learn about learning’ and become more effective learners and problem solvers. It will be a great topic to kick off a fresh new term. 

I hope you are as excited as I am about a new year. Please do not worry about anything. There will be lots of new information, new routines, and new faces, but we will spend time in the first few weeks getting adjusted. My only expectations are that you are kind to each other and try your best. 

See you soon, and here’s to an incredible year of learning together.

Mr Morgan.