Year 8

GJS Blended Learning: Students’ Reflection

The global pandemic has created significant disruption and upheaval over the past 20 months. Although the transition to blended learning was welcomed by many as the first step in a return to the new normal, it was still a change that had to be navigated. We asked some of our year 8 students how they have coped with this change and how it made them feel.

Coming back to blended learning and going to the GJS campus for the first time was somewhat different. The environment, new people, and coming back to blended learning after a year felt different than it was before. People had to keep their distances, the rules we have to follow ( such as the one-way stairs, the fact that we have to walk on our left ) Personally it was hard for me to fit in with other people because I am a person that doesn’t like to talk with others, However, even though the tough times people came and started to talk to me and help me around ( such as the time where I was lost and don’t know where are the classes are ) The teachers, staff, and students help me throughout the time I was struggling. The IB curriculum is very different from the Cambridge curriculum from my other school. For example, at my old school, there was not a lot of presentation work, group work, and SA / FA and is based more on individual work, however, I am still trying my best to get used to the IB Curriculum by getting support from other people and communicating a lot with my teachers and friends. (Khalifah 8A)

Coming into blended learning this semester was my first time going to on-campus school as a GJS student. So far, GJS staff and students have been nothing but supportive by fostering a welcoming learning environment: In the halls, students don’t hesitate to show you directions if you are lost, Student support staff regularly conduct surveys to monitor your mental wellbeing during a time where it can be stressful for students, and teachers generally do well at making sure every student is given the same standard of education by adequately adapting their plans to new developments and students’ needs. (Altasena 8D)

Year 8_Extended Advisory Activity (Friday, Oct 23, 2021)

Our extended advisory curriculum is one way in which we support students to develop skills and understanding about themselves and where they fit in the world. In the details below you can find information about our current unit, the big idea, learning intentions and student activities.

Unit Title: Year 8, Confidence is Key

Big Idea: Positive thinking gives us the confidence to know, love, and motivate ourselves.

Compliment a Classmate. Students choose a partner to sit with. Each of them will individually write a note or short letter to the other with a compliment. Swap notes and discuss as a class:

• Helping, respecting, and being kind to others is a great way to build our own self-confidence. Why do you think this is?

Positivity Poster. Students individually create their own “positivity poster” (digitally or hand-drawn). They can draw themselves in the middle or include a photo they like. Around the center, they should bring everything from the previous few weeks together and include the following:

• my positive traits and attitudes

• my talents

• my achievements

• how I help others

• my positive self-talk and affirmations (should include what is personally relevant and what works for them)

Final Questions. “You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through.” - Rosalynn Carter

Each day (Mon to Thurs), students write a note with a compliment to a different person in their life. Encourage them to give their note to that person. Alternatively, students turn in bucket-filling messages for their classmates, to be distributed at the final advisory before the next unit starts.

Reflection Questions (Fri):

What is one aspect of this unit you’re grateful you learned or took part in?

What do you think could be an effective part of this unit in the future? What may we have missed or not spent enough time on?

Year 8 Advisors comments:

The students in 8A show engagement in-class discussion about confidence during extended advisory. They are interested in complementing other friends.

During extended advisory, the students in 8B were having a discussion about how compliments can improve their confidence. After the discussion, the students were giving compliments to each other. At the end of the session the students wrote a reflection about the unit.

The students were involved in the extended advisory session to discuss and share their feelings about confidence. They were able to express it well with excitement, type, and share their thoughts through the Jamboard, Padlet.com, papers, and mind map. They were really excited when sharing their appreciation and positivity with their friend to build confidence together.

The students in 8D spent their extended advisory session by having discussions about confidence is key. They seem to enjoy it and most of them participate by sharing ideas verbally or writing them on a Jamboard.