Starting Grade 1 Right at BBSG

For children moving on from kindergarten, primary school represents an exciting yet challenging new chapter. Grade 1 students face a range of transitions: navigating a larger campus, building relationships with new teachers, making new friends, managing their school supplies, and adapting to longer lessons. From adjusting to a new environment to understanding new rules and embracing different learning approaches, each challenge is both tangible and significant.

One month into the school year, let’s take a look at how our new Grade 1 students are doing.

Dual Homeroom Teacher System:

Building a Sense of Belonging in an Immersive English Environment

Grade 1 homeroom teachers play a vital role during this transition, serving as students’ primary point of contact and trusted mentors. 

At BBSG, our Grade 1 teachers bring extensive experience in lower school education. Beyond their subject expertise, they excel in classroom management, pastoral care, and parent communications - supporting students’ physical, emotional, social and academic adjustment, and laying a strong foundation for their primary years.

The homeroom teachers spend most of their time with the students at school.

This year, we have introduced a "2+1" homeroom system, with each class supported by both a bilingual and an international homeroom teacher, along with a bilingual teaching assistant. The bilingual homeroom teachers safeguard students' emotional well-being through ice-breaking activities, engaging routines, and themed classroom decorations, creating a safe space for emotional expression and personal development.

"Beehive" themed classrooms help each little "bee" find their sense of belonging

Meanwhile, international homeroom teachers hold regular story time sessions and interactive activities, encouraging daily English communication. This fosters an immersive English environment that naturally enhances language skills. Within just two weeks, many students have already greeted their teachers proactively in English.

Morning reading: story of the day

Differentiated Teaching Approaches:

Establishing Learning Habits and Boosting Efficiency

Developing good learning habits is essential during the transition from kindergarten to primary school. 

Mrs. Daniel Stevens (Mrs. DS), our Grade 1 English teacher and international homeroom teacher, has implemented consistent routines and instructions over the first two weeks to help students establish classroom habits. To help them adjust to 40-minute lessons, she used engaging puppets and dynamic activities to maintain students' focus. Within such a short time kicking off a new academic year, Grade 1 students have become more proficient in preparing for class, more active participants, and have even started using everyday English vocabulary - some have even taught her how to count in Chinese!

This year also marks the start of BBSG’s differentiated English instruction, tailored to students’ varying levels. This approach allows each child to progress at an appropriate pace, building confidence and improving language learning efficiency. 

"We begin differentiation in English learning from Grade 1 because every student who comes to BBSG starts their English journey from different points. We believe that every single child should have just the right challenge in every single class."

—— Mr. Michael Hodgkinson

Assistant Head of Primary and Primary English Teacher

Our international faculty extends beyond English classes, bringing global perspectives to specialised subjects like PE and Arts, fostering well-rounded development.

Nurturing Independence:

The Benefit of Early Boarding

For our young boarders, the transition can be particularly challenging. Most Grade 1 boarders are living away from home for the first time. Instead of rushing to become independent individuals, our boarding team supports them in creating a "home" away from home.

The BBSG boarding community maintains a buddy system, where older students guide new arrivals through morning routines and enjoy dinner together. Houseparents and tutors also spend time reading with them in the evenings, helping them navigate emotional changes and discover the joys of boarding life.

"Our role isn’t to constantly remind or teach self-management, but to offer companionship, support, and positive feedback on their smallest achievements.

We don’t expect perfection from Grade 1 students; instead, we want them to gradually gain confidence in their abilities."

——  Ms. Cissie Huang, Primary Houseparent

After only two weeks, many students have shown remarkable growth. Some have overcome homesickness within just a fortnight; parents shared that students now know how to make their beds and tidy their rooms at home. They are gaining not only independence but also valuable attributes such as respect, sharing, cooperation, and inclusion.

The Greatest Reward: Love for Learning

In less than a month, our Grade 1 students have embraced their new journey with confidence, curiosity, and new friendships. This transformation reflects the dedication and patience of our teachers, the support of parents, and the students’ incredible adaptability. At BBSG, we believe that a successful transition isn’t about rushing academic progress, but about developing well-rounded capabilities and fostering positive attitudes towards learning.

As one Grade 1 parent shared: "The most important task for Grade 1 students is to fall in love with learning." On this exciting journey ahead, we will witness them discover the joy of knowledge, explore their passions and grow into confident, globally-minded learners at BBSG.