Keystone Magazine Learning the Keystone Way 2015-2016 EN

W hen students from grade 3 read these and other simi- lar verses and poems, it got them thinking, remarked pri- mary school Chinese teacher Grace Wang: “One of the basic skills students are measured against in grade 3 Chinese is their ability to write 400-character arti- cles. This is a good measure, but it does not allow students to form depth in their language skills. Poetry helps students to think, form and express their own opinions.” Ms. Wang provided students not only with Chinese poems, but also verses from authors around the world if they are available in Chinese translation. This helps broaden their cultural and cognitive horizons, in turn enriching their language skills in breadth and depth and not just in characters. At the end of the poetry unit, students penned their own verses that were displayed in an in- house exhibition. Ms. Wang remembered how some students’ poems deeply examined everyday life, and questioned its meanings. Others looked beyond what they saw, and expressed thoughtful reflections. One student was so excited, that she wrote eight poems. “It is beyond what I expected,” noted Ms. Wang with a smile. Though the unit is complete, she hopes her students will continue investing time throughout the academic year to reading poetry. 23

Keystone Magazine Learning the Keystone Way 2015-2016 EN | Page 25