Monday, September 30, 2019

Week of September 30 - October 4, 2019

My Extra Help Times (shared on Curriculum Night):
  • Mondays from 3:02 - 4:00 PM
  • Day 1 8:20 AM- 8:50 AM
  • Day 2 8:20 AM- 8:50 AM
These would be times to seek extra help for topics that a student is having difficulty with, or to catch up after absence.  Students in my Grade 6 class have assigned "Study Buddies", whose names are written on a bulletin board in class.  They should all know who their buddies are.  These are options to reach out to when a student is absent.  No student is limited to asking only the study buddies for help.

Thursday HW
6A Notes:  This is homework for the grade 6 classes I teach.
1.  20 minutes of reading.
2.  A reminder that the book report is due on October 17.
3.  Math Quiz on Friday, October 4 -- Unit 2 Number Sense, Lessons 2 and 3 (Comparing and Ordering Large Numbers, Multiples).  Students can study their Math Journals, Homework books (MMS) and the practice questions done in class.
4.  Social Studies "Treasure Hunt" on pages 3 and 4 of the booklet is due as finished homework for checking on Friday, October 4.
5.  Sign (by a parent) and return test pack with corrections for the quiz by next Thursday, October 10.  Please understand that the Learning Skills snapshot is exactly that - a "heads-up" well in advance of the Progress Report Card.  There is still plenty of time to make improvements.

8F Notes: This is homework for the grade 8 class I teach.
a)  20 minutes of reading.
b)  Students should have settled on a tweet that they could analyze in class in a short oral presentation of 1-2 minutes.  Success Criteria are listed in the Monday Homework section below.
c)  Begin settling on a topic for a personal essay.  We looked at one in class on Uniforms in School and will work on another group topic about conformity before students write one on a topic of their choosing.

Wednesday HW
6A Notes:  This is homework for the grade 6 classes I teach.
1.  20 minutes of reading.
2.  A reminder that the book report is due on October 17.
3.  Math Quiz on Friday, October 4 -- Unit 2 Number Sense, Lessons 2 and 3 (Comparing and Ordering Large Numbers, Multiples).  Students can study their Math Journals, Homework books (MMS) and the practice questions done in class.
4.  Social Studies "Treasure Hunt" on pages 3 and 4 of the booklet is due as finished homework for checking on Friday, October 4.
* No students appeared for extra help times this morning before school.  Students who are absent must come to these times to catch up.  They will fall behind if they wait until class time to inquire after what they missed as we will be taking up new topics.

Tuesday HW
6A Notes:  This is homework for the grade 6 classes I teach.
1.  I handed out notebooks today to use as agendas since the bound versions have not arrived.  We practiced composing them (six rectangles on a page in landscape format, with five dates and an 'upcoming test/assignments' section) and I will provide time each day to fill them in with the details on my blog.  I encourage parents to check them daily.  Students should have them at school each day and I will check them regularly as a Learning Skills assessment.  If the book is lost, students should replace it.  I will provide new ones when this one is filled up.
2.  20 minutes of reading.
3.  A reminder that the book report is due on October 17.
4.  Math Quiz on Friday, October 4 -- Unit 2 Number Sense, Lessons 2 and 3 (Comparing and Ordering Large Numbers, Multiples).  Students can study their Math Journals, Homework books (MMS) and the practice questions done in class.
5.  Photo proofs were handed out to students today.
* No students appeared for extra help times yesterday after school or this morning before school.

8F Notes: This is homework for the grade 8 class I teach.
a)  20 minutes of reading.
b)  Students should have settled on a tweet that they could analyze in class in a short oral presentation of 1-2 minutes.  I have printed 17 so far and the first day of presentations was today.  Success Criteria are listed in the Monday Homework section below.

Monday HW
6A Notes:  This is homework for the grade 6 classes I teach.
1.  Terry Fox Fundraising donations will be accepted until tomorrow.  Our class raised $1055, which blew past our goal of $620.   Thank you so much!
2.  20 minutes of reading.
3.  MMS pages 22-23.  Save the game on page 21 for class tomorrow.
4.  Math Quiz on Friday, October 4 -- Unit 2 Number Sense, Lessons 2 and 3 (Comparing and Ordering Large Numbers, Multiples).  Students can study their Math Journals, Homework books (MMS) and the practice questions done in class.

8F Notes: This is homework for the grade 8 class I teach.
a)  20 minutes of reading.
b)  Students should start settling on a tweet that they could analyze in class in a short oral presentation of 1-2 minutes.  I have printed seven so far and the first day of presentations is tomorrow.
Success Criteria Considerations:
  • providing identifying context about the tweeter
  • explaining the overt meaning of the tweet
  • outlining how we could use it to develop digital literacy skills (such as judgement, truthfulness, distinguishing opinion from fact, critical thinking/critical literacy) by considering the implied meanings
  • Student presents the contents with a great deal of confidence, and speaks directly to the class without having to refer to notes. 
  • Student demonstrates an excellent understanding of the content of this material.
  • Volume (clarity)
  • Pace
  • Eye contact
  • Rehearsal
  • Expression (dramatic emphasis)
  • Engagement
  • Enunciation, vocabulary chosen
Students should share an image an the short written work with me to my Google Drive (not the classroom).  If this process is unclear, I am available at extra help times to provide coaching on how to do it.