第一个月，他们悄悄长大了：斐特思一年级萌新蜕变记

In September, our students embarked on the structured, habit-forming, and academically focused life of primary school. One month on, what changes have we witnessed? Let's take a closer look at their growth through the small but telling details.

"We don't simply tell children what to do. We sit together and talk about how to create a respectful classroom environment," explained homeroom tutor, Bonita.

From this dialogue, agreements such as raising hands before speaking, listening attentively, and helping one another became the students' own "essential agreement." They illustrated these rules and proudly displayed them in the classroom.

Responsibility also extends to daily roles: from line leaders to homework helpers, each child takes on a small job, learning responsibility and teamwork along the way.

In UOI lessons, Cathy and Bronwyn guided discussions about self-management. Students shared moments when they felt responsible and considered less positive behaviours, such as losing their temper. Together, they reflected on "what kind of seed they wanted to become."

Today, they line up neatly for PE, organise their belongings in cubbies, and eat quietly in the cafeteria.

This shift—from being constantly reminded to becoming active owners of their behaviour—has become one of the clearest signs of growth.

We believe that a "one-size-fits-all" approach does not work in language learning.

In English lessons, Yannis and Bronwyn adopt a differentiated, group-based approach. For students with a stronger foundation, instruction builds on phonics by introducing digraphs and trigraphs, alongside guided reading activities. For those still developing their basics, phonics are taught through games, with weekly spelling lists drawn from previously learned sounds to strengthen the link between phonics and vocabulary. Weekly levelled reading sessions further support progress, creating a structured pathway from sounds to words to texts, and laying a solid foundation for literacy.

While English is the primary language of instruction, Chinese teachers provide simple scaffolding in Mandarin when needed. This ensures that no child feels left behind. Teachers also deliberately group students of varying English levels together, encouraging peer learning: helping others consolidates knowledge, while receiving help builds confidence and friendships.

To help students better adapt to the bilingual environment, teachers carefully plan their lessons, thoroughly discussing and refining which parts are suitable for full English practice and which content should be supplemented with Chinese explanations.

Classroom design also acts as a silent teacher: phonics cards on the wall, alphabet charts, bilingual picture books in the reading corner. Immersed in this bilingual environment, students develop their language skills naturally in daily routines.

"In the first month, our main focus is helping children adapt to the rhythm of primary school and develop effective learning habits," said the teachers.

Unlike EY's flexible, play-based model, primary school offers more structured lessons with greater subject depth.

To ease this transition, lessons are designed with gradual progression. In Chinese, Shirley introduced the theme Going to School through the picture book David Goes to School, while reinforcing good posture and pencil grip. In Mathematics, Bonita used bingo games to make learning engaging and collaborative.

The biggest adjustment is written homework. Understanding children's initial resistance, teachers focus on empowering rather than pressuring them.

"We start with a daily 'To-Do List,'" explained the teachers. "First, students clearly see what needs to be done. Then, with encouragement, they complete tasks independently. Over time, the goal is to form the habit of finishing everything by the end of the day."

This first month has been a time of budding growth: rules transformed into self-motivation, differentiated lessons bringing confidence, and habits shifting from reminders to self-management.

At FCG, we recognise that G1 encompasses more than just knowledge acquisition. It is about cultivating learning skills, shaping character, and laying the foundation for a global outlook. Each steady step in this first month is a powerful preparation for a lifetime of learning.