International admissions, advocating holistic education, integrating "learning by doing", and good character becoming the light of education

LOCK TAO CHRISTIAN KINDERGARTEN Comprehensively develop children’s multiple intelligences and deepen their development in logical thinking, language, interpersonal relationships, music and natural observation intelligence. Principal Ho Min-yin is tireless in education and has taken the initiative to obtain different qualifications in education, physical fitness, counseling and psychology to promote the development of whole-person education. "As the principal of a Christian school, the thing that makes me most grateful is that Heavenly Father has given me a group of high-quality and caring teaching teams. We are always happy that the school is filled with the happy laughter of children. We hope that the diverse curriculum and the concept of 'learning by doing' in the kindergarten will make every child brave enough to explore and be curious, and establish a positive and optimistic learning attitude from an early age." Principal He said with a smile.

International admissions: Create an English context

Under the trend of globalization, it is particularly important to cultivate the new generation to establish an international perspective. If children can learn and seek knowledge in a multicultural environment, they can not only expand their horizons and understand the development of the world, but also build a better language foundation, learn respect and tolerance, and appreciate individual differences. "Since the school was founded, the school's enrollment has been diverse and broad. We respect children from different cultures and carefully design learning activities to support non-Chinese speaking children to receive equal and high-quality education. Therefore, in addition to local students, the school has also attracted students from different nationalities to apply, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Belgium, Argentina, India, Brazil and other countries." Principal He introduced with a smile that it is precisely because of the international enrollment that the kindergarten has established an international school atmosphere, creating a good English learning context for children.

In order to enhance the diversity of English learning, the school has specially introduced artificial intelligence (AI) robots to allow students to learn English outside the classroom. The robots also have built-in school-based English courses, allowing students to actively learn English by combining interesting and interactive methods. At the same time, the artificial intelligence has the ChatGPT function, which teachers can use to teach children how to make good use of and understand the latest technology, thereby enhancing the learning of information literacy. In addition, the teaching team is also committed to increasing children's interest in English. They specially arrange for foreign teachers to be stationed at the school three days a week to participate in daily teaching activities and lead English classes. They sing English children's songs, tell stories, and play games with children. The foreign teachers will also organize English activities with teachers at all levels, such as "English Fun Day", "English Puppet Show" and "English Speech" Day", etc., allow young children to improve their English skills in many aspects through interactive games, puppet performances and English recitations, and encourage them to communicate in English with their foreign peers and apply classroom knowledge.

Reading as a teacher lays a solid foundation for biliteracy and trilingualism

The kindergarten stage is a critical period for children's language development, and reading ability is the basis of learning, related to children's future mental development and lifelong learning ability. Therefore, the school has been investing resources, purchasing a large number of Chinese and foreign books and picture books, and adding picture books to the curriculum. Students are also encouraged to bring their beloved puppets back to school as "reading friends" to promote a reading atmosphere. At the same time, the school also invited the children's picture book organization "Green Feet" to the school to coach teachers on storytelling skills, so that teachers can master vivid interpretation methods, formulate different teaching measures, promote a reading culture, and allow children to expand their knowledge through reading and use their imagination and creativity.

In addition, the school is also committed to increasing children's exposure to English reading materials so as to establish good reading habits. Principal Ho said: "The school regularly allows students to borrow English books, and teachers will also tell children English stories in detail in class, and encourage them to express their opinions in English through interactive games and question-and-answer sessions, thereby improving their English speaking skills and self-confidence." At the same time, teachers are more attentive to adding interesting English learning elements to the school layout. Most of the information notices on campus are in Chinese and English. For example, "Reading Corner" is marked under the "Reading Zone", and "Art" is listed under the "Art Zone" Corner", etc., to facilitate children to recognize and read Chinese characters, and at the same time increase the English vocabulary in daily life.

Promote parent-child reading together and focus on home-school cooperation

The school hopes to extend reading learning to home and make it a daily habit for children. Therefore, during weekly book borrowing activities, the school will help parents select suitable reading materials for parent-child reading, and allow students to complete simple reading reports and share them back to school. In addition, in order to strengthen home-school cooperation, the school holds parent-child education lectures every month. In the past, senior clinical psychologists have been invited to the school to explain important factors in children's development and growth, and to guide parents on appropriate parenting methods. In response to the different learning needs of children, the school has also allocated additional resources to provide on-site support services and arrange for educational psychologists to observe classes. Through the professional observation of children by experts and teachers, students with individual needs can be identified early and help children develop appropriately.

Integrate Chinese culture to establish "affective education"

Moral and emotional education can cultivate children to establish correct values and learn to respect the people and things around them. Therefore, the school focuses on cultivating children's good moral character, vigorously plans school-based moral courses, and adds Chinese etiquette teaching elements to enhance students' moral character and affection. The excellent moral education has made the school an "Excellent Pilot School for Chinese Etiquette Projects." The teaching team specially selects short stories from the famous Chinese classics "Book of Rites" and "The Analects" in the school-based curriculum to allow children to understand the moral values ​​of "benevolence", "righteousness", "propriety", "wisdom" and "faithfulness" in Chinese thought through interesting and concise stories.

In terms of Chinese culture, the school combines the development of innovative technologies and introduces "Chinese chess robots" to introduce and explain chess culture to children, which can not only train their logical thinking, but also deepen their understanding of Chinese culture. The school also holds different Chinese festival activities to allow children to have an in-depth understanding of the meaning behind different Chinese festivals. At the same time, the Chinese etiquette education picture book "Good Children with Ritual and Music" is given to students so that teachers can use the picture book to engage in story activities with students and encourage young children to apply what they have learned through life practice. In addition, the school actively participates in various moral education support programs, such as the Hong Kong Quality Movement "Quality School", the Education Bureau's school-based support program "Cultivating Children's Moral Development", etc., through a variety of moral and affectionate activities, to help children develop positive thinking, enable them to face stress and setbacks optimistically, and move towards a fulfilling life.

Pay attention to professional development and continue to enhance training

High-quality early childhood education is the power that helps children fly into a wider world, so the school attaches great importance to the quality of the teaching team and curriculum. Principal Ho also leads by example, continues his studies, obtains different qualification certificates, and travels around the world to learn about the latest developments in global early childhood education, and communicates with the local education community to integrate early childhood education concepts and experiences to optimize teaching effectiveness. The school also actively deepens and establishes systematic teaching courses through measures such as "joint lesson preparation", "peer lesson observation" and "lesson evaluation".

At the same time, in order to keep up with the education trends in Hong Kong, the school participates in various off-campus trainings. For example, in the Education Bureau's "3Es Informed and Reasonable" school-based teacher development plan to enhance the social and emotional development of kindergarten students, educational psychologists and school development officers from the Education Bureau are invited to the school to provide professional advice. In addition, in order to strengthen non-Chinese speaking education and create an inclusive atmosphere in the school, teachers also actively participate in the "Jockey Club Learning Chinese with Friends" program to improve non-Chinese speaking teaching skills. At the same time, by visiting different religious sites and ethnic minority communities, we can personally experience the daily life of ethnic minorities, take care of their learning diversity, and build an inclusive campus with care.