{"id":294061,"date":"2025-10-10T15:11:04","date_gmt":"2025-10-10T06:11:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/isnedu.org\/?post_type=nagano-campus&p=294061"},"modified":"2025-10-10T15:11:32","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T06:11:32","slug":"nagano-shooting-stars-%f0%9f%8c%95-lanterns-letters-and-kindness-%f0%9f%8c%b8october-6th-10th","status":"publish","type":"nagano-campus","link":"https:\/\/isnedu.org\/en\/nagano-campus\/nagano-shooting-stars-%f0%9f%8c%95-lanterns-letters-and-kindness-%f0%9f%8c%b8october-6th-10th\/","title":{"rendered":"Nagano Shooting Stars: \ud83c\udf15 Lanterns, Letters, and Kindness! \ud83c\udf38(October 6th-10th)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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We had such a wonderful and busy week in class! \ud83d\udcaa<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In phonics<\/strong>, we worked hard learning the sounds j<\/strong> and e<\/strong>. The children practiced blending CVC words<\/strong> (like jam<\/em>, pen<\/em>, and bed<\/em>) and even tried some spelling<\/strong> activities. One of our spelling games had a Halloween theme<\/strong> \ud83c\udf83\u2014it was lots of fun seeing the children so excited to spell spooky words!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We started our week with a fun bus trip to Shinonoi Park<\/strong>! \ud83d\ude8c\ud83c\udf33
The highlight of the day was definitely the big white bouncy dome<\/strong> \u2014 it looked (and felt!) just like a giant marshmallow<\/strong>! \ud83c\udf61 The children couldn\u2019t stop laughing and jumping, and although we tried out some of the other playground equipment too, the \u201cbouncy marshmallow\u201d was the clear favorite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After all that jumping, we enjoyed a lovely picnic among the flowers<\/strong> \ud83c\udf3c before heading back to school. We were very lucky \u2014 even though there were rain clouds in the distance, the weather stayed nice for us! \u2600\ufe0f<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This week was also the Moon Festival<\/strong> \ud83c\udf15 (also called the Mid-Autumn Festival). To celebrate, we began making our own rabbit lanterns<\/strong> \ud83d\udc07! During the Moon Festival, people gather with family, eat delicious food, decorate with lanterns, and sometimes enjoy fireworks.
We talked about how this is a little bit like Obon<\/strong>, when families also come together\u2014but in Obon, we welcome back our ancestors, while in the Moon Festival people give thanks for the harvest moon<\/strong> and the autumn harvest<\/strong>. Next week, we\u2019ll continue exploring more festivals from around the world<\/strong>! \ud83c\udf0d\u2728<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some pictures from dance, music and swimming lessons! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This week, we also focused a lot on kindness<\/strong> \ud83d\udc95\u2014how to be kind friends, and how to respond when someone isn\u2019t being kind. You can talk about this at home too, and encourage your child to make kind choices<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve been learning five steps<\/strong> to solve problems with friends:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1\ufe0f\u20e3 Don\u2019t listen to unkind words.<\/strong> Pretend you didn\u2019t hear them \u2014 but remember, ignoring unkind words is good, not ignoring our classmates just to make them sad!<\/em>
<\/em> 2\ufe0f\u20e3 Talk friendly.<\/strong> Try saying: \u201cPlease be kind,\u201d \u201cLet\u2019s share,\u201d or \u201cLet\u2019s make up and play together.\u201d Kind words can turn a bad situation into a good one!
3\ufe0f\u20e3 Walk away.<\/strong> If it\u2019s not working, go and play with someone else.
4\ufe0f\u20e3 Talk firmly.<\/strong> Make eye contact and use your best teacher voice<\/em> (not shouting!): \u201cI said no,\u201d \u201cStop now,\u201d or \u201cStop or I\u2019ll tell the teacher.\u201d
5\ufe0f\u20e3 Tell the teacher<\/strong> if nothing else works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also practiced saying \u201cIt\u2019s OK if you don\u2019t want to play\u201d and then finding someone else who does. There are many reasons a classmate might not want to play at that moment, and reacting calmly helps everyone feel respected. \ud83c\udf08<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udcbb Helpful Phonics and Learning Links<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Here are some great websites to explore at home!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83c\udfac Alphablocks (YouTube)<\/strong> \u2013 Level 1 (one-syllable words):
\ud83d\udd17 https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLSW2D61TnopSNQv-dmUVbXkkyDyVtPSci<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83c\udfac Phonics Monsters (YouTube)<\/strong> \u2013 Level 2:
\ud83d\udd17 https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLR0WhOGd0aUDNQESuLsFyXx8xTeYTlMWf<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83c\udfae ABCya<\/strong> \u2013 Phonics and games (free account option):
\ud83d\udd17 https:\/\/www.abcya.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83c\udfaf TopMarks<\/strong> \u2013 Fun phonics games (no account needed):
\ud83d\udd17 https:\/\/www.topmarks.co.uk\/english-games\/5-7-years\/letters-and-sounds<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83c\udfaf Wordwall<\/strong> \u2013 CVC word games:
\ud83d\udd17 https:\/\/wordwall.net\/en-us\/community\/cvc-word-game<\/a>\ud83d\udca1 Many of these sites also have maths<\/strong> and other learning activities<\/strong>, so have fun exploring together!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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