Canadian International School KunshanClassroom Teacher
Aug. 2018 - Jul. 2020Kunshan, ChinaI began working at CISK as a PYP Classroom Teacher, receiving my Level 1 PYP Certificate in November 2018. The school was supporting teachers in implementing the PYP Learner Profiles and style of learning as we moved toward the IB accreditation. In 2019, I was given the responsibility for ordering supplies for my grade-level team that would help resource our classrooms to ensure they were designed to support the PYP curriculum. We used a lot of natural resources that were accessible to all students throughout the school day where they would explore and discover through hands-on learning. We began our day with a Question of the Day which promoted inquiry and wonder while building community through communication. In addition to the typical classroom responsibilities, I also taught after school clubs for various Primary students. In January 2020, many of the teachers were unable to return to China due to the global pandemic, and we were forced to continue our lessons online for the remainder of the school year. Lessons were designed to encourage students to explore within their homes, and as we began our Sharing the Planet unit, students planted seeds from fruit to grow new plants, they shared their knowledge of animals by sharing information about heir pets, and used books and online resources to learn about animal habitats. Teachers were creative and resilient as we worked odd hours to accommodate our students and continued to design lessons around the Units of Inquiry that met the needs of the individual students. In June 2020, my contract to return for another school year was terminated as borders remained closed and there seemed to be no reopening in the near future.