(Please refer to the registration page for fee schedule.)

Each child will be assigned to class according to age and/or school grade at time of registration and will remain in the class for the full year. The only movement between semesters based on age is from Toddler to Preschool -- if the child turns 3 between terms.
We expect that each child will progress from year to year with his or her assigned class. Each class will now be identified by the name of a plant important in Chinese lore, and we hope that these names will not only give each class identity as a group, but also help the school administrators and parents track the classes as they advance through the school from year to year.
Because students remain in these groups as they grow, children can rely on who will be in their classes from year to year, and the learning can happen on a continuum. Often, the same teacher will remain with a certain class, and this continuity enhances how much can be accomplished during the semesters.
If a parent would like a child to switch to a lower class, please speak with the teacher and parent coordinator for assistance.

INTRODUCTORY CLASSES

These early classes are great places to meet other families. The curriculum uses a child's everyday world to introduce and reinforce Mandarin. A supporting resource is the NiHao Little Friends videotape series, and families are encouraged to purchase a set for home. They are available at www.chinasprout.com. Children learn best by repetition, and the more they listen to Mandarin, the more they will get out of their experience at Chinese School.

CRICKETS - Xi shuai
For toddlers, 18 months to almost 3
9:30 - 10:45am
Shannon Lyons, teacher

Parent attends with child. The class is designed to expose families to simple Mandarin that can be used in the home during the child's daily routine. The class offers familiarity with spoken Chinese and prepares the child for the broader curriculum of the school.
  Our youngest class remains the CRICKET class as children pass through and graduate into their PLANT classes.

SNAPDRAGONS - "Goldfish Flowers" - Jin yu hua 
3-year-olds
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Joanna Jing Yu, teacher

Parent attends with child. Children will build upon and re-enforce their Mandarin vocabulary words, particularly focusing on material drawn from the NiHao Little Friends videotapes. They will become familiar with patterns of speech as they hear instructions given in Mandarin. The children will participate in Chinese games and other active forms of learning, including weekly age-appropriate art projects.

PERSIMMONS - Shi zi

4-year-olds
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Irene Lim, teacher

Parents will begin transition out of classroom, as the child is able to separate. Students will continue building and re-enforcing their Mandarin vocabulary. They will become familiar with patterns of speech as they hear instructions given in Mandarin. They will also experiment with calligraphy. The children will participate in Chinese games and other active forms of learning, including weekly age-appropriate art projects. Dance will be introduced by teacher Fan Luo, and the class will have the opportunity to dance at the Chinese New Year Fair.     (Sign up for the performance must take place during registration.)

UPPER CLASSES

Our curriculum based on Chinese Made Easy for Kids (by Yamin Ma) and Chinese Made Easy (by Yamin Ma and Xinying Li). Parents will receive weekly e-mails describing classroom material covered that should make it easier to follow your child's progress - and supplement your child's study at home.

Our teachers and volunteers are a very committed crew, but with so few Saturdays together, their efforts are strongly reinforced by the CD. It's like Suzuki music: what children hear repeatedly, they absorb.
Please note that an adult class following Chinese Made Easy is offered to help parents who want to learn themselves and to boost their child's efforts.

Books/Materials

Books will be available for purchase and pick up   on the first day of classes. Please indicate  on your registration form whether you need to purchase a book this year.

PLUMS - Lizi
Kindergarten
9:30 - noon
Phyllidia Ku-Ruth, teacher

Children will begin building on the base vocabulary and using sentence structure. They will be introduced to pinyin and to written characters. Tones will be emphasized. Through games, songs and listening to Chinese stories, children will improve their competency in communicating in Mandarin. They will also have a dance class each week with teacher Fan Luo, learn to write simple characters, and will do a variety of art and culture projects.

BAMBOO - Zhu
First grade
9:30 - noon
Ying Ying Brown, Teacher

Students will continue to work on their conversational use of Mandarin. They will be introduced to pinyin and continue to practice writing characters. Through games, songs and listening to Chinese stories, children will improve their competency in communicating in Mandarin. They will also have a dance class each week and will do a variety of art and culture projects.

LOTUS - Lian Hua
Second grade

9:30 -  noon
YingYing Brown, teacher

Children in this group will continue working on tones, pinyin and sentence patterns. They will expand their base of written characters. They will be using games, songs and artwork to enhance their learning. They will participate in a dance class, do cultural activities, and begin brush painting lessons.

GINGER -- Jiang
Third Grade
9:30 - Noon
Viveca Kwan and Qing Mei Zheng>, teachers

Children in this group will continue working on tones, pinyin and sentence patterns. They will expand their base of written characters. They will be using games, songs and artwork to enhance their learning. They will participate in a dance class, do cultural activities, and begin brushpainting lessons.

ORCHIDS - Lan hua 

Fourth Grade
9:15 to noon
Qing Mei Zheng, teacher

This class will expand its use of spoken Mandarin and reading and writing characters. Reading will be continued. They will participate in a dance class, do cultural activities, and will continue brush painting. Students completing the year will also be eligible to participate in the weekend getaway to Cow Island in May.

CHRYSANTHEMUM - Ju hua
Fifth Grade
9:15 - noon
Sally Ng , teachers

This class will expand its use of spoken Mandarin and reading and writing characters. Reading will be continued. They will participate in a dance class, do cultural activities, and will continue brushpainting.
Students completing the year will also be eligible to participate in the weekend getaway to Cow Island in May.

JASMINE - Mo li hua
Sixth Grade and above
9:00 - noon
Viveca Kwan, teacher

This class is for children who have been consistently involved in the school and who have the most advanced command of Mandarin. Children will work on expanding their knowledge of the Chinese language as well as completing projects that will bolster their use of Mandarin and increase their familiarity with Chinese culture. They will practice reading characters and will continue to practice writing characters. They will also learn how to use more complex sentences. They will be using games, songs and artwork to enhance their learning. In addition, students in this class will participate in dance, Chinese Brush Painting.  Students may choose to take on volunteer roles in the school.  Students who complete the year in this class will also be eligible for the weekend trip to Cow Island in May.

For MAMA and BABA
9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Sally Ng, teacher

Here's a class for parents interested in learning to read and write Chinese characters and to practice speaking Mandarin. The curriculum will be based on Chinese Made Easy.