Thursday HW
1. Math HW Book pages 68-69
2. Class party tomorrow afternoon. We will be missing about six students from the group tomorrow due to early Christmas vacation departures. Contributions to the party can be planned for based on about 25 people in attendance.
Tuesday HW
(Computer network issues prevented me from updating the blog yesterday. My apologies!)
1. Math Unit 4 Test tomorrow. A test pack was returned today that should provide some guidance on areas for student focus in their study.
2. Test pack given out today. Please return during the first week back from the Christmas holidays.
3. Our "Teammates" reading response went overtime today and I had to push back the Novel Study quiz to Wednesday.
4. Our food drive efforts have resulted in our class taking the junior division lead! Way to go boys and girls! We had some really dedicated contributors and our class responded well to their examples. Thank you very much for your efforts.
5. On Friday afternoon we will have some snacks and a class party with a film. I am bringing carrots and dip and popcorn. Other students are bringing a range of items.
(Heating and cooling are available at school but other classes may be using these facilities as well. There is no way of knowing how much access we can count on. We'll do our best to work around the circumstances, but foods that require limited preparation are probably best.)
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Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Week of December 12-16, 2011
Friday HW
1. Math Unit 4 unit Test on Wednesday December 21.
2. Novel study quiz on the last half of the novels on Tuesday December 20.
3. Book report reading. Most of the class have said their books are finished. I will provide some in-class time next week with an eye towards avoiding any sort of holiday homework. We have had several in-class powerpoint periods and I am seeing many presentations that are at, or beyond, the halfway point. Well done!
4. We have collected 56 food items so far for the food drive. Thank you to
C. H. for his generous 23 item donation today. Wow! I did use this as an opportunity to challenge out class to seize the junior school lead. We can do it!
Wednesday HW
1. Math Quizzes 3 and 4 on Thursday December 15.
2. Toy Drive items.
3. Band and Strings concert tonight.
4. Tomorrow is the long-awaited gum day from our Terry Fox Challenge. Students should refrain from gum chewing during gym or French classes. I asked the class to show some self regulation when it comes to how much is being chewed and to consider using sugar free gum for part or all of the day.
Tuesday HW
1. Math Quizzes 3 and 4 on Thursday December 15. These cover the remainder of the Unit Four material.
2. Math HW book pages 66-67.
3. Novel Study quizzes on first half of the book on Wednesday December 14.
4. Toy Drive items -- we now have three items for our two gift boxes.
5. Food drive items. The students have contributed quite a number of items. Thanks!
Today I returned a diagnostic Math activity on multiplying and dividing decimals in word problems. Each student has received a individual meeting and discussion about his/her work and a copy of my suggested strategy for the each solution. Most students do not explain their work in clear, direct sentences and often they omit number sentence work altogether. No students submitted what might be evaluated at the level 4 grade for these two problems. Students should use the feedback to help study for the quizzes and apply this style to all future Math activities in any unit this year.
Our class Christmas event will have to be modified somewhat from my original plans due to a range of scheduled school activities and policies that would impact dates and food content. We will have an afternoon film and game time on Friday December 23. I will bring some carrot sticks and dip and some healthy choice microwave popcorn. The students should bring along drinks and other snacks that have some healthy eating component to reflect the TDSB compliance with provincial guidelines to healthy food choices in schools. No soda pop please. From our school directive:
"80% of food/beverages are healthy options and generally have higher levels of essential nutrients and lower amounts of fat, sugar and/or sodium. 20% may have slightly higher amounts of fat, sugar, and/or sodium.
For more information please visit the ministry website: www.ontario.ca/healthyschools"
Monday HW
1. Math HW book pages 64-65. Long division style only -- no short division.
2. Math Text book pages 153-54 # 1 to 6. The class worked on this on Thursday with the substitute teacher and again with me today.
3. Math quizzes 3 and 4 on Thursday December 15. Several students will be away next week and I would like to get the final unit assessment done before they leave. There is a junior concert on Wednesday night which about half of the class is attending. Preplanning to study will be important for this group.
4. Novel study quiz on the first half of the novel on Wednesday, December 14.
5. Food Drive items.
6. Toy Drive items.
7. Book Fair starts tomorrow. Junior classes can go to the fair in the Library at PM recesses for the rest of this week.
Today's homework club was host to five boys, who worked mainly on the Social Studies powerpoint and Bitstrips activities for French class -- well done!
We had a word problem diagnostic in Math class on multiplying and dividing decimals. I am finding that most students have difficulty organizing a structured solution, recording the number sentence work and writing a sentence that uses words from the problem. A smaller subset have great difficulty writing neatly and clearly enough, leaving proper spacing to read the work. This may be a problem linked to haste or to ability, but it is hard to tell. I looked over the diagnostic and gave each student a model solution sheet for each problem as a guide. Please look over your child's response and compare it to an exemplary model. Word problem performance on tests are significant area of separation between level 3 and 4.
1. Math Unit 4 unit Test on Wednesday December 21.
2. Novel study quiz on the last half of the novels on Tuesday December 20.
3. Book report reading. Most of the class have said their books are finished. I will provide some in-class time next week with an eye towards avoiding any sort of holiday homework. We have had several in-class powerpoint periods and I am seeing many presentations that are at, or beyond, the halfway point. Well done!
4. We have collected 56 food items so far for the food drive. Thank you to
C. H. for his generous 23 item donation today. Wow! I did use this as an opportunity to challenge out class to seize the junior school lead. We can do it!
Wednesday HW
1. Math Quizzes 3 and 4 on Thursday December 15.
2. Toy Drive items.
3. Band and Strings concert tonight.
4. Tomorrow is the long-awaited gum day from our Terry Fox Challenge. Students should refrain from gum chewing during gym or French classes. I asked the class to show some self regulation when it comes to how much is being chewed and to consider using sugar free gum for part or all of the day.
Tuesday HW
1. Math Quizzes 3 and 4 on Thursday December 15. These cover the remainder of the Unit Four material.
2. Math HW book pages 66-67.
3. Novel Study quizzes on first half of the book on Wednesday December 14.
4. Toy Drive items -- we now have three items for our two gift boxes.
5. Food drive items. The students have contributed quite a number of items. Thanks!
Today I returned a diagnostic Math activity on multiplying and dividing decimals in word problems. Each student has received a individual meeting and discussion about his/her work and a copy of my suggested strategy for the each solution. Most students do not explain their work in clear, direct sentences and often they omit number sentence work altogether. No students submitted what might be evaluated at the level 4 grade for these two problems. Students should use the feedback to help study for the quizzes and apply this style to all future Math activities in any unit this year.
Our class Christmas event will have to be modified somewhat from my original plans due to a range of scheduled school activities and policies that would impact dates and food content. We will have an afternoon film and game time on Friday December 23. I will bring some carrot sticks and dip and some healthy choice microwave popcorn. The students should bring along drinks and other snacks that have some healthy eating component to reflect the TDSB compliance with provincial guidelines to healthy food choices in schools. No soda pop please. From our school directive:
"80% of food/beverages are healthy options and generally have higher levels of essential nutrients and lower amounts of fat, sugar and/or sodium. 20% may have slightly higher amounts of fat, sugar, and/or sodium.
For more information please visit the ministry website: www.ontario.ca/healthyschools"
Monday HW
1. Math HW book pages 64-65. Long division style only -- no short division.
2. Math Text book pages 153-54 # 1 to 6. The class worked on this on Thursday with the substitute teacher and again with me today.
3. Math quizzes 3 and 4 on Thursday December 15. Several students will be away next week and I would like to get the final unit assessment done before they leave. There is a junior concert on Wednesday night which about half of the class is attending. Preplanning to study will be important for this group.
4. Novel study quiz on the first half of the novel on Wednesday, December 14.
5. Food Drive items.
6. Toy Drive items.
7. Book Fair starts tomorrow. Junior classes can go to the fair in the Library at PM recesses for the rest of this week.
Today's homework club was host to five boys, who worked mainly on the Social Studies powerpoint and Bitstrips activities for French class -- well done!
We had a word problem diagnostic in Math class on multiplying and dividing decimals. I am finding that most students have difficulty organizing a structured solution, recording the number sentence work and writing a sentence that uses words from the problem. A smaller subset have great difficulty writing neatly and clearly enough, leaving proper spacing to read the work. This may be a problem linked to haste or to ability, but it is hard to tell. I looked over the diagnostic and gave each student a model solution sheet for each problem as a guide. Please look over your child's response and compare it to an exemplary model. Word problem performance on tests are significant area of separation between level 3 and 4.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Week of December 5 - 9, 2011
Tuesday HW
1. Novel Study questions up to the half way point in the novel by Thursday. Students can take the books home but they must return them each day for in-class work.
2. Please bring in food drive items or money for our school effort.
3. Trading partners research is ongoing and should be in class everyday.
Several students have no materials at all for the Trading Partners work for consecutive days now, and are relying on the laptops for research gathering. This means that little time is spent making notes or creating the powerpoint in class. There is a risk of falling behind with such a strategy. Students were reminded today that books are also valuable sources of information which are not reliant on printers and inkjet cartridges for their availability. We have a Library period on Thursday and students are strongly encouraged to look for books to sign out on that day. Be sure to have all of your books returned so you can sign new ones out.
Monday HW
1. Math HW Book pp. 60-61.
2. Math Quiz Unit 4, Lessons 6 and 7 tomorrow.
3. Please bring in food drive items for our school effort. Thank you!
4. Novel Study questions -- to the halfway point of your novel by Thursday.
About 15 students attended Homework Club today at lunch. Chess Club forms (every Tuesday at lunch) were handed out today. The Chess Club begins next Tuesday December 13.
1. Novel Study questions up to the half way point in the novel by Thursday. Students can take the books home but they must return them each day for in-class work.
2. Please bring in food drive items or money for our school effort.
3. Trading partners research is ongoing and should be in class everyday.
Several students have no materials at all for the Trading Partners work for consecutive days now, and are relying on the laptops for research gathering. This means that little time is spent making notes or creating the powerpoint in class. There is a risk of falling behind with such a strategy. Students were reminded today that books are also valuable sources of information which are not reliant on printers and inkjet cartridges for their availability. We have a Library period on Thursday and students are strongly encouraged to look for books to sign out on that day. Be sure to have all of your books returned so you can sign new ones out.
Monday HW
1. Math HW Book pp. 60-61.
2. Math Quiz Unit 4, Lessons 6 and 7 tomorrow.
3. Please bring in food drive items for our school effort. Thank you!
4. Novel Study questions -- to the halfway point of your novel by Thursday.
About 15 students attended Homework Club today at lunch. Chess Club forms (every Tuesday at lunch) were handed out today. The Chess Club begins next Tuesday December 13.
Monday, November 28, 2011
November 28 - December 2, 2011
The students had a terrific time on our trip to Mono Cliffs. I was especially pleased with the behaviour of the boys in my dormitory. They were good as gold. I really enjoyed the experience!
Friday HW
1. Math Quiz on Unit 4 Lessons 6 and 7 on Tuesday December 6.
2. Please bring your trading partner country research materials to class starting on Monday so we can begin using organizers to take notes and build the presentation. Project due January 20. Details of the project requirements are at the back of the "Canada and its Links to The World" in-class booklet.
3. Book report Reading. Report due January 18.
Thursday HW
1. Math Quiz Unit 4 Lessons 1-5 on Friday
2. Math Quiz 2 on Unit 4 Lessons 6 and 7 on Tuesday, December 6.
3. Math HW Book pages 58-59.
4. Book Report reading.
5. Have research for Trading Partner project in class for Monday when we begin note taking.
Wednesday HW
1. Diversity Booklet and Text due in class tomorrow.
2. Math Quiz Unit 4 Lessons 1-5 on Friday.
3. Math Quiz 2 on Unit 4, Lessons 6 and 7 on Tuesday December 6.
3. Math HW book page 57.
4. Begin gathering research material for your country for the Trading Partners project. We will start in-class work with our organizers on Monday. The project is due on January 20.
We continued our Inferencing activities in class today with a Media Literacy focus. We are looking at overt and implied meanings and audience. The medium is movie posters and TV ads.
Tuesday HW
1 Diversity booklet and text due in class on Thursday.
2. Math Quiz unit 4 Lessons 1-5 on Friday December 2.
3. Book report reading 20 minutes.
4. Math HW Book page 56.
5. Begin gathering research for Trading Partners powerpoint project. It is due on January 20.
We will spend a fair amount of class time on this Trading Partners assignment before the Christmas break to avoid having students do the work on the holidays. Students should remember though that they must be prepared for class time work (rather than rely on class time for all research efforts) and use it well to avoid "crunch-time" pressures. There is a book report due at the same time (January 18) so students need to plan accordingly.
Monday HW
1. Math HW book pages 54-55.
2. Math quiz on Friday December 2 on Unit 4 Lessons 1 to 5.
3. Diversity presentations are ongoing. Please be prepared to deliver yours when it is your turn.
4. Diveristy booklets are due in class for marking on Thursday this week. Be ready to hand them in as well as the text books.
Friday HW
1. Math Quiz on Unit 4 Lessons 6 and 7 on Tuesday December 6.
2. Please bring your trading partner country research materials to class starting on Monday so we can begin using organizers to take notes and build the presentation. Project due January 20. Details of the project requirements are at the back of the "Canada and its Links to The World" in-class booklet.
3. Book report Reading. Report due January 18.
Thursday HW
1. Math Quiz Unit 4 Lessons 1-5 on Friday
2. Math Quiz 2 on Unit 4 Lessons 6 and 7 on Tuesday, December 6.
3. Math HW Book pages 58-59.
4. Book Report reading.
5. Have research for Trading Partner project in class for Monday when we begin note taking.
Wednesday HW
1. Diversity Booklet and Text due in class tomorrow.
2. Math Quiz Unit 4 Lessons 1-5 on Friday.
3. Math Quiz 2 on Unit 4, Lessons 6 and 7 on Tuesday December 6.
3. Math HW book page 57.
4. Begin gathering research material for your country for the Trading Partners project. We will start in-class work with our organizers on Monday. The project is due on January 20.
We continued our Inferencing activities in class today with a Media Literacy focus. We are looking at overt and implied meanings and audience. The medium is movie posters and TV ads.
Tuesday HW
1 Diversity booklet and text due in class on Thursday.
2. Math Quiz unit 4 Lessons 1-5 on Friday December 2.
3. Book report reading 20 minutes.
4. Math HW Book page 56.
5. Begin gathering research for Trading Partners powerpoint project. It is due on January 20.
We will spend a fair amount of class time on this Trading Partners assignment before the Christmas break to avoid having students do the work on the holidays. Students should remember though that they must be prepared for class time work (rather than rely on class time for all research efforts) and use it well to avoid "crunch-time" pressures. There is a book report due at the same time (January 18) so students need to plan accordingly.
Monday HW
1. Math HW book pages 54-55.
2. Math quiz on Friday December 2 on Unit 4 Lessons 1 to 5.
3. Diversity presentations are ongoing. Please be prepared to deliver yours when it is your turn.
4. Diveristy booklets are due in class for marking on Thursday this week. Be ready to hand them in as well as the text books.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Week of November 14-18, 2011
Thursday HW
1. Math Text pages 127-128 # 1 to 8. Students should use the number line sheets I gave them to complete some or all of these questions.
2. Math HW Book pages 50-51.
3. Novel Study reading up to the assigned page for each group. Keep in mind that the questions from the booklet for each chapter will eventually need to be finished. Students can take home the folder with the novel but should ensure that it is back at school on Monday.
The Curses of Third Uncle: up to the end of page 73
The Westing Game: up tp the end of page 103
Dust: up to the end of page 78
The Egypt Game: up to the end of page 113
Wednesday HW
No Homework tonight -- interview week. Tomorrow night the students will have a few things to take home to work on for the PA Day that we ahve started in class already.
On Wednesday morning we had a class meeting about bringing sports balls from home. Our vice principal announced today that students should be using only the school sports balls that are provided in class as a means of preventing injury. We discussed the way that might play out over the coming months and the need to avoid roofing or losing the sports equipment in some way. In Math we looked at comparing and ordering decimal numbers using place value charts and number lines for two periods. I found the students reluctant to explain their reasoning in sentences when they ordered numbers in a certain way. This type of "explain your thinking" response is a key feature of the grade 6 program -- short cut explanations are not rewarded on assessments like the EQAO test or my quizzes.
We also continued our work on inference-making using our novel study books. The focus today was on making connections that are deeper and meaningful rather than superficial. The goal is to enrich a student's understanding of the literature through text to self, world or other text connections.
In the afternoon we read chapter 2 of The Giver as our read aloud book. We also had some presenters deliver their Diversity projects.
Tuesday HW
No Homework tonight -- interview week. I will have some homework on Thursday night but not much on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Today we caught up on some novel study reading prior to the trip to Roy Thomson Hall to see Lang Lang's performance with the TSO. I thought the students responded well to this engaging charismatic young man. Peter Oundjian's enthusiastic talks in between pieces were also a revelation. After lunch we listened to some presentations for the Diversity projects. These are going well so far. The students are making honest efforts to engage the audience with questions and generally they avoid reading the slides to us. As a first exposure to the PowerPoint format, it bodes well for later efforts in the year.
Monday HW
1. TSO trip tomorrow. Bring a lunch to school to eat in class during period 4 when we return.
2. Social Studies booklet pages 4 and 5.
3. Prepare for Diversity presentations.
Today we spent a double period on Novel Study and Guided Reading in the morning. After recess we read The Wretched Stone by Chris Van Allsburg and completed an inferencing reading response activity. In the afternoon we scheduled some Diversity presentations. We also worked on our Social Studies booklets.
1. Math Text pages 127-128 # 1 to 8. Students should use the number line sheets I gave them to complete some or all of these questions.
2. Math HW Book pages 50-51.
3. Novel Study reading up to the assigned page for each group. Keep in mind that the questions from the booklet for each chapter will eventually need to be finished. Students can take home the folder with the novel but should ensure that it is back at school on Monday.
The Curses of Third Uncle: up to the end of page 73
The Westing Game: up tp the end of page 103
Dust: up to the end of page 78
The Egypt Game: up to the end of page 113
Wednesday HW
No Homework tonight -- interview week. Tomorrow night the students will have a few things to take home to work on for the PA Day that we ahve started in class already.
On Wednesday morning we had a class meeting about bringing sports balls from home. Our vice principal announced today that students should be using only the school sports balls that are provided in class as a means of preventing injury. We discussed the way that might play out over the coming months and the need to avoid roofing or losing the sports equipment in some way. In Math we looked at comparing and ordering decimal numbers using place value charts and number lines for two periods. I found the students reluctant to explain their reasoning in sentences when they ordered numbers in a certain way. This type of "explain your thinking" response is a key feature of the grade 6 program -- short cut explanations are not rewarded on assessments like the EQAO test or my quizzes.
We also continued our work on inference-making using our novel study books. The focus today was on making connections that are deeper and meaningful rather than superficial. The goal is to enrich a student's understanding of the literature through text to self, world or other text connections.
In the afternoon we read chapter 2 of The Giver as our read aloud book. We also had some presenters deliver their Diversity projects.
Tuesday HW
No Homework tonight -- interview week. I will have some homework on Thursday night but not much on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Today we caught up on some novel study reading prior to the trip to Roy Thomson Hall to see Lang Lang's performance with the TSO. I thought the students responded well to this engaging charismatic young man. Peter Oundjian's enthusiastic talks in between pieces were also a revelation. After lunch we listened to some presentations for the Diversity projects. These are going well so far. The students are making honest efforts to engage the audience with questions and generally they avoid reading the slides to us. As a first exposure to the PowerPoint format, it bodes well for later efforts in the year.
Monday HW
1. TSO trip tomorrow. Bring a lunch to school to eat in class during period 4 when we return.
2. Social Studies booklet pages 4 and 5.
3. Prepare for Diversity presentations.
Today we spent a double period on Novel Study and Guided Reading in the morning. After recess we read The Wretched Stone by Chris Van Allsburg and completed an inferencing reading response activity. In the afternoon we scheduled some Diversity presentations. We also worked on our Social Studies booklets.
Monday, November 7, 2011
November 7 - 11, 2011
Thursday HW
I thought this was a particularly interesting web page which gives an indication of the local impact of World War II. It's called the Poppy File and displays a marker in the neighbourhoods all over the city that suffered human losses during that conflict.
http://toronto.openfile.ca/remembrance_day
1. Novel Study reading for Monday morning. Each group has a defined number of pages to read and respond to each week for the next 4 weeks. We've spent a fair amount of class time reading and I would judge that more than half of the students are finished the weekly reading as of today. There are questions in the booklet that will help each student prepare for quizzes.
2. Diversity Powerpoint presentation practice. With only a couple of exceptions, each student was ready with his/her assignment today. We modelled presentation 'best practices':
3. Science booklet work up to page 9 and also page 11.
This morning we collected book reports and Mono Cliffs forms before working on Guided Reading and Novel Study activities. After recess our math class focussed on the decimal and fraction representation of numbers up to thousandths. After lunch we worked on Diversity presentation techniques and other tasks connected to handing in the project. Music/Drama and French ended the day. Tomorrow is Remembrance Day. Schools across Canada respectfully ask students for poppy fund donations to help support Veterans' programs. Thank you for your generosity.
Wednesday HW
1. Diversity project due tomorrow.
2. Book report due tomorrow.
3. Interview request form sent home today.
4. Book Mark for Novel study assigned in class and to be completed as homework.
Today we completed Math text work on Decimals lesson 1. We also introduced a new lesson on thousandths using grids and base 10 blocks. We generated some success criteria for our book marks during the novel study period. In the afternoon we visited the Library and received some instruction on information gathering resources before foing a book exchange. After French, we worked on our Scoial Studies booklet page 4.
Tuesday HW
1. Novel Study Book Cover for Wednesday.
2. Mono Cliffs form and fee due Wednesday.
3. Diversity project due on November 10.
4. Book report due on November 10.
5. Math HW book pages 44-45
Today we wrote our Geometry test in the morning. During Novel Study we worked on the Book Cover and discussed success criteria for that assignment. We also completed Mono Cliffs roommate request slips which Mr. Reynolds collected and used to start sorting students into room pairs. Gym and french periods took place in the afternoon. We also worked on page nine of our Diveristy booklets in class.
Monday HW
1. Geometry Test tomorrow on Unit 3. Study the Show What You Know review questions we did in class last week, and make a vocabulary list for yourself.
2. Diversity project is due on November 10. Today was our last day using computers for this project.
3. Book Report 2 is due on November 10 as well.
4. Mono Cliffs forms are due on Wednesday November 9.
Today we introduced our reading groups. We are pursuing two general directions: a mystery novel study in a group and a non-fiction Guided Reading arc with the same group. There are four different texts for each activity (eight in all) and each has a link to some curricular topic we've touched on already or are about to study in class. The novel study will be read in chunks over four weeks. Students were placed in groups and read the novel today and met in small groups for Guided reading introductions. We also introduced our new Math Unit #4 on Decimals with a small group activity using newspapers. In the afternoon we worked for our final day on the Diversity project in class using paper and computer resources. The Homework Club today at lunch was well attended -- over a dozen students availed themselves of this extra time, mainly to use the laptops. Way to go! A November Newsletter was distributed today as well.
I thought this was a particularly interesting web page which gives an indication of the local impact of World War II. It's called the Poppy File and displays a marker in the neighbourhoods all over the city that suffered human losses during that conflict.
http://toronto.openfile.ca/remembrance_day
1. Novel Study reading for Monday morning. Each group has a defined number of pages to read and respond to each week for the next 4 weeks. We've spent a fair amount of class time reading and I would judge that more than half of the students are finished the weekly reading as of today. There are questions in the booklet that will help each student prepare for quizzes.
2. Diversity Powerpoint presentation practice. With only a couple of exceptions, each student was ready with his/her assignment today. We modelled presentation 'best practices':
- don't read slides to us;
- make eye contact;
- use movement around the room;
- get audience involvement by asking questions;
- use humour where appropriate.
3. Science booklet work up to page 9 and also page 11.
This morning we collected book reports and Mono Cliffs forms before working on Guided Reading and Novel Study activities. After recess our math class focussed on the decimal and fraction representation of numbers up to thousandths. After lunch we worked on Diversity presentation techniques and other tasks connected to handing in the project. Music/Drama and French ended the day. Tomorrow is Remembrance Day. Schools across Canada respectfully ask students for poppy fund donations to help support Veterans' programs. Thank you for your generosity.
Wednesday HW
1. Diversity project due tomorrow.
2. Book report due tomorrow.
3. Interview request form sent home today.
4. Book Mark for Novel study assigned in class and to be completed as homework.
Today we completed Math text work on Decimals lesson 1. We also introduced a new lesson on thousandths using grids and base 10 blocks. We generated some success criteria for our book marks during the novel study period. In the afternoon we visited the Library and received some instruction on information gathering resources before foing a book exchange. After French, we worked on our Scoial Studies booklet page 4.
Tuesday HW
1. Novel Study Book Cover for Wednesday.
2. Mono Cliffs form and fee due Wednesday.
3. Diversity project due on November 10.
4. Book report due on November 10.
5. Math HW book pages 44-45
Today we wrote our Geometry test in the morning. During Novel Study we worked on the Book Cover and discussed success criteria for that assignment. We also completed Mono Cliffs roommate request slips which Mr. Reynolds collected and used to start sorting students into room pairs. Gym and french periods took place in the afternoon. We also worked on page nine of our Diveristy booklets in class.
Monday HW
1. Geometry Test tomorrow on Unit 3. Study the Show What You Know review questions we did in class last week, and make a vocabulary list for yourself.
2. Diversity project is due on November 10. Today was our last day using computers for this project.
3. Book Report 2 is due on November 10 as well.
4. Mono Cliffs forms are due on Wednesday November 9.
Today we introduced our reading groups. We are pursuing two general directions: a mystery novel study in a group and a non-fiction Guided Reading arc with the same group. There are four different texts for each activity (eight in all) and each has a link to some curricular topic we've touched on already or are about to study in class. The novel study will be read in chunks over four weeks. Students were placed in groups and read the novel today and met in small groups for Guided reading introductions. We also introduced our new Math Unit #4 on Decimals with a small group activity using newspapers. In the afternoon we worked for our final day on the Diversity project in class using paper and computer resources. The Homework Club today at lunch was well attended -- over a dozen students availed themselves of this extra time, mainly to use the laptops. Way to go! A November Newsletter was distributed today as well.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Week of October 31 - November 4, 2011
Friday HW
1. Almost all TSO forms have been returned. About half of the Mono Cliffs forms need to be handed in with fees if you are going, or with a No if you are not going.
2. Geometry final test on Tuesday November 8.
3. Diversity project due in class on November 10.
Thursday HW
1. Test pack is due on Friday with parent signature and corrections.
2. Diversity project is due November 10. Homework Club times are a good way to catch up, work ahead or ask questions. Last Monday, no one came to the Homework Club time. I encourage anyone to attend, although I require a minimum of two attendees.
3. Spelling Text page 25 # 1,3,4; and page 26 #7,8,9.
4. First two paragraphs of the Play Critique good copy should be done tonight. We will finish it in class tomorrow and hand it in.
5. Geometry Final test on Tuesday November 8. Useful study preparation would be to finish the "Show What You Know" questions on pages 106-107 of the text and make a list of special vocabulary for the unit with definitions.
6. TSO and Mono Cliffs forms and fees.
Wednesday HW
1. Math HW Book pages 42-43.
2. Spelling Dictation tomorrow.
3. Last 2 paragraphs of Play Critique in rough draft form. We spent about 30 minutes in class working on that today.
4. Test Pack is due on Friday with parent signature and corrections.
5. TSO and Mono Cliffs forms.
I heard some thoughtful letters today to our mayor -- bravo! However a fair number of students did not have a 10 sentence rough draft done.
Tuesday HW
1. Diversity project due November 10.
2. Math HW Book pages 40-41. Today we worked on 3D isometric drawings using triangular dot paper. It was a difficult topic. We'll revisit it again tomorrow as a warmup.
3. Paragraph 1 and 2 of the Play critique in writing notebook -- rough draft form. We've brainstormed lists of elements of the play we could discuss prior to this and spent at least 1 hour in class leading up to the writing of the draft.
4. Rough Draft of a formal letter to Mayor Ford taking a side on the issue of Toronto's Zoo in the Qwriting notebook. Each student has a Writing Sense text book to bring home that shows an example of a formal letter (pages 12-13). It is about 10 sentences long. We brainstormed and listed the Pro and Con arguments concerning the Zoo's fate on the whiteboard today.
5. TSO form and fee.
6. Mono Cliffs forms and fee.
Monday HW
1. TSO form and fee.
2. Mono Cliffs form and fee.
3. Diversity project due November 10. Tomorrow we will work on formal letter structure.
4. Happy Halloween! Please begin bringing in candy wrappers (clean, nut-free) that we can use for a mosaic project organized by our school's Green Team. Our class will be creating a fantasy animal.
1. Almost all TSO forms have been returned. About half of the Mono Cliffs forms need to be handed in with fees if you are going, or with a No if you are not going.
2. Geometry final test on Tuesday November 8.
3. Diversity project due in class on November 10.
Thursday HW
1. Test pack is due on Friday with parent signature and corrections.
2. Diversity project is due November 10. Homework Club times are a good way to catch up, work ahead or ask questions. Last Monday, no one came to the Homework Club time. I encourage anyone to attend, although I require a minimum of two attendees.
3. Spelling Text page 25 # 1,3,4; and page 26 #7,8,9.
4. First two paragraphs of the Play Critique good copy should be done tonight. We will finish it in class tomorrow and hand it in.
5. Geometry Final test on Tuesday November 8. Useful study preparation would be to finish the "Show What You Know" questions on pages 106-107 of the text and make a list of special vocabulary for the unit with definitions.
6. TSO and Mono Cliffs forms and fees.
Wednesday HW
1. Math HW Book pages 42-43.
2. Spelling Dictation tomorrow.
3. Last 2 paragraphs of Play Critique in rough draft form. We spent about 30 minutes in class working on that today.
4. Test Pack is due on Friday with parent signature and corrections.
5. TSO and Mono Cliffs forms.
I heard some thoughtful letters today to our mayor -- bravo! However a fair number of students did not have a 10 sentence rough draft done.
Tuesday HW
1. Diversity project due November 10.
2. Math HW Book pages 40-41. Today we worked on 3D isometric drawings using triangular dot paper. It was a difficult topic. We'll revisit it again tomorrow as a warmup.
3. Paragraph 1 and 2 of the Play critique in writing notebook -- rough draft form. We've brainstormed lists of elements of the play we could discuss prior to this and spent at least 1 hour in class leading up to the writing of the draft.
4. Rough Draft of a formal letter to Mayor Ford taking a side on the issue of Toronto's Zoo in the Qwriting notebook. Each student has a Writing Sense text book to bring home that shows an example of a formal letter (pages 12-13). It is about 10 sentences long. We brainstormed and listed the Pro and Con arguments concerning the Zoo's fate on the whiteboard today.
5. TSO form and fee.
6. Mono Cliffs forms and fee.
Monday HW
1. TSO form and fee.
2. Mono Cliffs form and fee.
3. Diversity project due November 10. Tomorrow we will work on formal letter structure.
4. Happy Halloween! Please begin bringing in candy wrappers (clean, nut-free) that we can use for a mosaic project organized by our school's Green Team. Our class will be creating a fantasy animal.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Week of October 24-28, 2011
Friday HW
The Hallowe'en parade is coming on Monday after lunch, at about 1:00 PM. Our Vice principal recommends that costumes be worn after lunch if possible to help preserve the morning for school activities. It should be fun!
1. TSO form and fee as soon as you can.
2. Mono Cliffs forms were distributed today. Our class visit is on November 23-25, 2011. Please check your schedule for sport or other activities that conflict with that Wednesday to Friday slot for the trip when you are making your family decision on participation. Our principal has approved cheque payments for this activity given the higher cost.
3. Diversity project is due on November 10. We work on aspects of it every day in class.
4. Spelling text work page 21 # 1,2,4 and page 22 # 6,7,8. The students had about 20 minutes to work on this in class today.
Thursday HW
The Hallowe'en parade is coming on Monday after lunch, at about 1:00 PM. Our Vice principal recommends that costumes be worn after lunch if possible to help preserve the morning for school activities. It should be fun!
1. TSO form and fee as soon as you can.
2. Mono Cliffs forms were distributed today. Our class visit is on November 23-25, 2011. Please check your schedule for sport or other activities that conflict with that Wednesday to Friday slot for the trip when you are making your family decision on participation. Our principal has approved cheque payments for this activity given the higher cost.
3. Diversity project is due on November 10. We work on aspects of it every day in class.
4. Spelling text work page 21 # 1,2,4 and page 22 # 6,7,8. The students had about 20 minutes to work on this in class today.
Thursday HW
We had another informative assembly this afternoon on the pitfalls of Facebook use. Students received some helpful tips about privacy settings. Althought the stated Facebook age is 13 years old, we recognize that it is widely used and some familiarity with the dizzying settings is probably very important. I encourage all families to discuss the uses and cautious practices that will make Facebook experience less risky.
1. Toronto Symphony forms have been distributed to all students at this point. Please return your responses to room 365.
2. Animal research project due on November 10. We have been using the laptops and desktops for the past two days and working through some of the growing pains. The kids are learning quickly.
3. Although I provide protractors rulers and compasses to the students for geometry, the TDSB stock order materials are generally very flimsy and prone to breakage, much like the pencils that do not sharpen well. I recommend the purchase of a simple Math set of the sort one finds in little metal or plastic boxes with a shorter, clear ruler and a better quality compass. I'm finding that the fine motor demands of compass use and the cheap quality of the tools is making the skill hard to learn. Having said that, I do want to reiterate that no one needs to purchase these items. I will provide the materials I have for quizzes and day to day work to the extent that I am able to do so.
Wednesday HW
(Our afternoon was altered significantly on Tuesday by an assembly. As a result I did not assign any homework for the class, nor post an entry on the blog, because I did not work with them all afternoon and we did not have any agenda time.)1. Math HW Book pages 36-37. We spent about 15 minutes in class today workin on these pages.
2. Math Geometry Quiz 1 on lesons one and two of Unit 3 tomorrow.
3. Spelling Dictation on Word Up list 4 tomorrow.
4. Animal research project due November 10.
Monday HW
1. Rough draft of "A Person I Admire" is due in class tomorrow. We are peer editing and correcting, then starting to write the good copy in class.
2. Spelling word up cycle activities and 15 sentences.
3. Math Quiz Lessons 1 and 2 of Geometry Unit 3 on Thursday, October 27.
4. Animal research project is due on November 10. We discussed Powerpoint use today and outlined which sections were on papwer presentation formats and which would be done electronically on Powerpoint.
5. Scholastic order due on Wednesday, October 26.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Week of October 17-21, 2011
Friday HW
1. "Person I Admire" rough draft is due in class on Tuesday for peer editing and good copy writing.
2. We have a patterning quiz on Monday October 24. It covers the last three lessons of the unit. I may have a final test after that depending on the results I see. Yesterday I stated it would be the last one, but I've reconsidered.
3. Scholastic orders due on Wednesday for those interested.
4. Animal research project due on November 10. Three parts (animal notes/pictures, friendly letter and map) wil be presented via Powerpoint and the other half will be on paper (narrative story, formal letter, classification chart). We will begin introducing Powerpoint features on Monday.
5. Please bring some pencils for yourselves to class. My system has worked very well, but our stocks are seriously depleted. Based on my own experience as a student and a parent I think it is reasonable to request that students come equipped with basics such as erasers and pencils. Please contact me if you'd like to offer feedback.
Here is a final clip from Twelfth Night. Tom Rooney, who gave such a fine performance as Malvolio, is in full kit with smiles and yellow cross garters as he 'woos' the Countess Olivia. I thought the boys and girls handled Shakespeare's bawdy elements well and enjoyed them in the spirit of the play.
Thursday HW
1. Test pack is due tomorrow with a parent signature and corrections in the whte bin.
2. We wrote notes and/or rough drafts of the "Person I Admire" profile for about one hour in class today. I was pleased to see so many students had taken research notes or made interviews already. Our classroom focus was on the note-taking and the introductory paragraph writing. The rough draft is due in class in the booklet on Tuesday October 25.
3. Our last Patterning test is on Monday October 24. It covers the last three lessons of the unit: divisibility rules, solving equations and integers. It also has some treatment of pattern rules from the first two lessons.
Here is another video from the Stratford Shakespeare Festival production of Twelfth Night.
Wednesday HW
Our trip yesterday to Stratford was very successful. The feedback I received today and yesterday from the students was similarly enthusiastic. I was very appreciative of the kids' exemplary conduct as well. They got on well with each other and were open to the experience.
1. Math HW Book pages 8-9 and 10-11. We have a quiz tomorrow on lessons 1 and 2 of the Patterning unit.
2. We have our last "Person I admire" note-taking/rough draft writing period tomorrow. Come prepared.
3. Theatre Critique started today. We will work on it again tomorrow in class. Come prepared with your program and the rubric.
Here is a small reminder of one of the lively songs we enjoyed yesterday.
Monday HW
1. Tomorrow is our Stratford trip. Students should arrive in class at 8:15 AM with a packed litterless lunch and a warm jacket or other clothing suitable for the weather that day. We will likely be back at about 7 PM depending on traffic. NO BACKPACKS NEEDED.
2. Have some research or interview notes in class on Wednesday for "A Person I Admire" note-taking and draft writing. Students should have chosen a person they already know a little bit about (given that they admire the person) but should not rely only on their prior knowledge. The rough draft is due in class on Tuesday, October 25 in the booklet that I handed out today. We will have at least two more in class writing and note-taking periods before then.
3. Patterning Quiz on Lessons 1 and 2 of unit one on Thursday, October 20.
4. Sign and correct test pack. Return it to class on Friday, October 21.
5. Animal research project is due in class on November 10.
6. News Journal Summary and reflection.
Today only one student wanted to come to my Homework Club time which was posted in my October calendar. I will only host it if there are a minimum of two students. I encourage all students to come to Homework Club times to correct tests, get extra help for a question or use computer resources.
1. "Person I Admire" rough draft is due in class on Tuesday for peer editing and good copy writing.
2. We have a patterning quiz on Monday October 24. It covers the last three lessons of the unit. I may have a final test after that depending on the results I see. Yesterday I stated it would be the last one, but I've reconsidered.
3. Scholastic orders due on Wednesday for those interested.
4. Animal research project due on November 10. Three parts (animal notes/pictures, friendly letter and map) wil be presented via Powerpoint and the other half will be on paper (narrative story, formal letter, classification chart). We will begin introducing Powerpoint features on Monday.
5. Please bring some pencils for yourselves to class. My system has worked very well, but our stocks are seriously depleted. Based on my own experience as a student and a parent I think it is reasonable to request that students come equipped with basics such as erasers and pencils. Please contact me if you'd like to offer feedback.
Here is a final clip from Twelfth Night. Tom Rooney, who gave such a fine performance as Malvolio, is in full kit with smiles and yellow cross garters as he 'woos' the Countess Olivia. I thought the boys and girls handled Shakespeare's bawdy elements well and enjoyed them in the spirit of the play.
Thursday HW
1. Test pack is due tomorrow with a parent signature and corrections in the whte bin.
2. We wrote notes and/or rough drafts of the "Person I Admire" profile for about one hour in class today. I was pleased to see so many students had taken research notes or made interviews already. Our classroom focus was on the note-taking and the introductory paragraph writing. The rough draft is due in class in the booklet on Tuesday October 25.
3. Our last Patterning test is on Monday October 24. It covers the last three lessons of the unit: divisibility rules, solving equations and integers. It also has some treatment of pattern rules from the first two lessons.
Here is another video from the Stratford Shakespeare Festival production of Twelfth Night.
Wednesday HW
Our trip yesterday to Stratford was very successful. The feedback I received today and yesterday from the students was similarly enthusiastic. I was very appreciative of the kids' exemplary conduct as well. They got on well with each other and were open to the experience.
1. Math HW Book pages 8-9 and 10-11. We have a quiz tomorrow on lessons 1 and 2 of the Patterning unit.
2. We have our last "Person I admire" note-taking/rough draft writing period tomorrow. Come prepared.
3. Theatre Critique started today. We will work on it again tomorrow in class. Come prepared with your program and the rubric.
Here is a small reminder of one of the lively songs we enjoyed yesterday.
Monday HW
1. Tomorrow is our Stratford trip. Students should arrive in class at 8:15 AM with a packed litterless lunch and a warm jacket or other clothing suitable for the weather that day. We will likely be back at about 7 PM depending on traffic. NO BACKPACKS NEEDED.
2. Have some research or interview notes in class on Wednesday for "A Person I Admire" note-taking and draft writing. Students should have chosen a person they already know a little bit about (given that they admire the person) but should not rely only on their prior knowledge. The rough draft is due in class on Tuesday, October 25 in the booklet that I handed out today. We will have at least two more in class writing and note-taking periods before then.
3. Patterning Quiz on Lessons 1 and 2 of unit one on Thursday, October 20.
4. Sign and correct test pack. Return it to class on Friday, October 21.
5. Animal research project is due in class on November 10.
6. News Journal Summary and reflection.
Today only one student wanted to come to my Homework Club time which was posted in my October calendar. I will only host it if there are a minimum of two students. I encourage all students to come to Homework Club times to correct tests, get extra help for a question or use computer resources.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Week of October 11-14, 2011
Friday HW
1. Book Report reading.
2. Review the "Play Critique" topic sheet so you are prepared to write in class on Wednesday, October 19 after the play.
3. Animal research project due November 10.
4. Think about a subject you can interview or research for "A Person I Admire" writing assignment.
Thursday HW
1. News Journal summary and opinion.
2. Math HW book pages 6 and 7.
3. Animal research for project due on November 10.
Wednesday HW
1. Spelling Text page 17 # 2-5; page 18 #6,8; page 19 #1,2. We started this work in class today for about 20 minutes in class.
2. Animal research for Diversity project. We have used computers in class on three occasions to record facts on the "Who Am I?" rough notes page in the Science booklet. The due date is November 10.
3. Book Report reading.
Tuesday HW
1. Math HW book pages 2-3 (worked on in class today and started last Friday), and 4-5. We focussed a considerable amount of time explicitly teaching vocabulary such as "term", "recursive pattern", "successively/consecutively", "alternately" and "apply a rule". These are important words to review and memorize in order to understand word problems that are coming.
2. Spelling Cycle activities for word up list 3. We started these in class.
3. Dictation for Lesson 2 on Tuesday. We were supposed to write this on Friday, but my in-school workshop and actor visits made the day too busy to fit it in.
4. Behind the Door good copy due in class tomorrow. Eleven students were already done before we started today for a 45 minute writing period.
1. Book Report reading.
2. Review the "Play Critique" topic sheet so you are prepared to write in class on Wednesday, October 19 after the play.
3. Animal research project due November 10.
4. Think about a subject you can interview or research for "A Person I Admire" writing assignment.
Thursday HW
1. News Journal summary and opinion.
2. Math HW book pages 6 and 7.
3. Animal research for project due on November 10.
Wednesday HW
1. Spelling Text page 17 # 2-5; page 18 #6,8; page 19 #1,2. We started this work in class today for about 20 minutes in class.
2. Animal research for Diversity project. We have used computers in class on three occasions to record facts on the "Who Am I?" rough notes page in the Science booklet. The due date is November 10.
3. Book Report reading.
Tuesday HW
1. Math HW book pages 2-3 (worked on in class today and started last Friday), and 4-5. We focussed a considerable amount of time explicitly teaching vocabulary such as "term", "recursive pattern", "successively/consecutively", "alternately" and "apply a rule". These are important words to review and memorize in order to understand word problems that are coming.
2. Spelling Cycle activities for word up list 3. We started these in class.
3. Dictation for Lesson 2 on Tuesday. We were supposed to write this on Friday, but my in-school workshop and actor visits made the day too busy to fit it in.
4. Behind the Door good copy due in class tomorrow. Eleven students were already done before we started today for a 45 minute writing period.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Week of October 3-7, 2011
Wednesday HW
1. Math Quiz # 4 on Friday October 7, 2011; Add/Subtract/Multiply/Divide whole numbers. No Calculator use on this quiz.
2. Book Report due tomorrow. I am away at a tournament but the reports will be collected by the substitute teacher.
3. "Behind the door" rough draft due in class tomorrow.
4. Spelling Dictation on Friday for Word Up List 2.
5. Scholastic orders due on Friday. Cheques only please, made out to "Scholastic Canada Ltd.".
Tuesday HW
1. Math HW Book pages 32-33.
2. Book Report due Thursday.
3. Brainstorm for "Behind the Door" story due in class tomorrow.
4. Math Quiz 4 Friday October 7, 2011: Add/Subtract/Multiply/Divide whole numbers. No Calculator use on this quiz.
5. Scholastic orders due on Friday. Cheques only please, made out to "Scholastic Canada Ltd".
Monday HW
1. Math HW Book pages 30-31.
2. Book Report due Thursday.
3. Spelling textbook page 13 # 2,3,4; page 14 # 5,6; page page # 1.
4. Math Quiz 4 Friday October 7, 2011: Add/Subtract/Multiply/Divide whole numbers. No Calculator use on this quiz.
1. Math Quiz # 4 on Friday October 7, 2011; Add/Subtract/Multiply/Divide whole numbers. No Calculator use on this quiz.
2. Book Report due tomorrow. I am away at a tournament but the reports will be collected by the substitute teacher.
3. "Behind the door" rough draft due in class tomorrow.
4. Spelling Dictation on Friday for Word Up List 2.
5. Scholastic orders due on Friday. Cheques only please, made out to "Scholastic Canada Ltd.".
Tuesday HW
1. Math HW Book pages 32-33.
2. Book Report due Thursday.
3. Brainstorm for "Behind the Door" story due in class tomorrow.
4. Math Quiz 4 Friday October 7, 2011: Add/Subtract/Multiply/Divide whole numbers. No Calculator use on this quiz.
5. Scholastic orders due on Friday. Cheques only please, made out to "Scholastic Canada Ltd".
Monday HW
1. Math HW Book pages 30-31.
2. Book Report due Thursday.
3. Spelling textbook page 13 # 2,3,4; page 14 # 5,6; page page # 1.
4. Math Quiz 4 Friday October 7, 2011: Add/Subtract/Multiply/Divide whole numbers. No Calculator use on this quiz.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Week of September 26-30, 2011
Friday HW
1. Book Report due October 6. Be sure to pick a new book over the weekend.
2. Test pack signed, corrected and in the white bin on Monday.
3. Our class raised $205 for the Terry Fox run. Way to go boys and girls!
4. We introduced a descriptive writing assignment today called "Behind the Door". The emphasis is on using rich language and creating vital sentences in a short space. I spent some time stressing that the story does not have to be scary or gory for it to be a good piece of writing.
We have had a month together at this point. I know I am really enjoying each day with the group and I hope they are finding value in the program. I will send out a new calendar and newsletter early next week for October. Have a great weekend.
Thursday HW
1. Math Quiz 3 on Friday September 30 on Order of Operations.
2. Math Text book work on pages 66-67 # 2,3,5,6,9,11.
3. Spelling Cycle activities for list 2 (Alpha Order, Syllabication, Derivatives)
4. Book Report is due on October 6. You should be working on it now. You should also select a book for the next report over the weekend.
5. Have your parents sign the top page of your test pack.
6. Correct all the errors in your test pack.
7. Return the test pack to the white bin by Monday Octber 3.
(In future I will combine these steps in one listing: "Sign and correct test pack by October 3.").
Wednesday
1. Math Quiz 3 on Friday September 30. Unit 2, Lesson 8.
2. Math HW book page 28 only.
3. News Journal Summary and Reflection.
4. Journal -- movie review.
Here is a Khan Academy video that outlines multiplication by two digit factors. Salman Khan is an MIT graduate who has posted a remarkable number of educational YouTube videos to take advantage of the learning possibilities provided by the Internet. I find his approach to be straightforward and helpful. Try watching it. (Notice that he uses commas for large numbers in the 10 thousands or more, which we don't use in metric notation.)
Tuesday
1. Math Quiz 3 on Friday September 30. Unit 2, Lesson 8 (Order of Operations).
2. Math HW book pages 26-27.
3. Running Shoe done in full and mounted on paper.
4. Toonie for Terry. Dress for the run tomorrow.
5. Spelling Word Up dictation # 1 tomorrow.
6. Photo day is on October 4.
Monday HW
1. Math Quiz 2 tomorrow. Unit 2, lessons 5 and 7. The last Math quiz was done very well. The average was about 18 out of 20. Well done!
2. Math HW Book pages 24-25. At least half the class started this work in class today.
3. Canada map fully done and handed in to white bin tomorrow. We've had three periods to complete the map. A model was on display in class showing the requirements.
4. Toonies for Terry. Run date is Wednesday AM.
5. Science pages 3,4,and 5. As well, students should complete their own creature cards for tomorrow in colour. We worked on this in class and most students were well into the personal creature card.
1. Book Report due October 6. Be sure to pick a new book over the weekend.
2. Test pack signed, corrected and in the white bin on Monday.
3. Our class raised $205 for the Terry Fox run. Way to go boys and girls!
4. We introduced a descriptive writing assignment today called "Behind the Door". The emphasis is on using rich language and creating vital sentences in a short space. I spent some time stressing that the story does not have to be scary or gory for it to be a good piece of writing.
We have had a month together at this point. I know I am really enjoying each day with the group and I hope they are finding value in the program. I will send out a new calendar and newsletter early next week for October. Have a great weekend.
Thursday HW
1. Math Quiz 3 on Friday September 30 on Order of Operations.
2. Math Text book work on pages 66-67 # 2,3,5,6,9,11.
3. Spelling Cycle activities for list 2 (Alpha Order, Syllabication, Derivatives)
4. Book Report is due on October 6. You should be working on it now. You should also select a book for the next report over the weekend.
5. Have your parents sign the top page of your test pack.
6. Correct all the errors in your test pack.
7. Return the test pack to the white bin by Monday Octber 3.
(In future I will combine these steps in one listing: "Sign and correct test pack by October 3.").
Wednesday
1. Math Quiz 3 on Friday September 30. Unit 2, Lesson 8.
2. Math HW book page 28 only.
3. News Journal Summary and Reflection.
4. Journal -- movie review.
Here is a Khan Academy video that outlines multiplication by two digit factors. Salman Khan is an MIT graduate who has posted a remarkable number of educational YouTube videos to take advantage of the learning possibilities provided by the Internet. I find his approach to be straightforward and helpful. Try watching it. (Notice that he uses commas for large numbers in the 10 thousands or more, which we don't use in metric notation.)
Tuesday
1. Math Quiz 3 on Friday September 30. Unit 2, Lesson 8 (Order of Operations).
2. Math HW book pages 26-27.
3. Running Shoe done in full and mounted on paper.
4. Toonie for Terry. Dress for the run tomorrow.
5. Spelling Word Up dictation # 1 tomorrow.
6. Photo day is on October 4.
Monday HW
1. Math Quiz 2 tomorrow. Unit 2, lessons 5 and 7. The last Math quiz was done very well. The average was about 18 out of 20. Well done!
2. Math HW Book pages 24-25. At least half the class started this work in class today.
3. Canada map fully done and handed in to white bin tomorrow. We've had three periods to complete the map. A model was on display in class showing the requirements.
4. Toonies for Terry. Run date is Wednesday AM.
5. Science pages 3,4,and 5. As well, students should complete their own creature cards for tomorrow in colour. We worked on this in class and most students were well into the personal creature card.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Week of September 19-23, 2011
Friday HW
1. Math Quiz 2 on Prime & Composite numbers and Mental Math (Unit 2, Lessons 5 and 7) on Tuesday September 27.
2. Finish News Journal started in class: Summary and reflection.
3. Terry Fox Toonie
4. Stratford Form and fee
5. Student Data verification form
6. Book Report is due on October 6, 2011. Reading of the book sghould be done.
Yesterday's spelling was completed by a much higher percentage of the group. Thank you.
Thursday HW
1. Math Quiz 2 on Prime & Composite numbers and Mental Math (Unit 2, Lessons 5 and 7) on Tuesday September 27.
2. Math HW Book pages 22-23
3. Terry Fox Toonie
4. Stratford Form and fee
5. Student Data verification form
6. Spelling textbook page 9 # 1,2; page 10 # 4,6 and 7; page 11 # 1
Today's math quiz went well. The Spelling above was worked on today for a period. Yesterday's spelling was forgotten at school or not done or left at home by 15 of 28 students. I have started tracking homework/practice incompletes. Most work is simply finishing up in-class work. It is work I consider valuable and spend class time doing it as well as assigning it as homework. I am out of the room for 2 of the 5 days in the cycle during the last period but students are reminded to pack their backpacks when we write the agenda out daily right after lunch.
Wednesday HW
1. Math Quiz on Unit 2, Lessons 1 to 4 on Thursday September 22. See study review suggestions from Monday's entry.
2. Finish Spelling Cycle (Syllabication and Derivatives -- a guide with explanation is glued on the inside cover of the notebook).
3. Finish your summary and reflection based on Mika's or Jasmine's presentation
4. Terry Fox School Run on Wednesday September 28. Please bring a toonie for Terry on that day and dress for the morning run.
5. Book report due on October 6.
Tuesday HW
1. Math HW Book pages 20-21. A number of students have been forgetting their books at home or not doing the assigned practice.
2. Timestables independent practice from 1 to 6 and up to 12 (ie: 6 X 12). I find the number of students that have shaky control of their number facts to be significant. We do practice working with number facts in class as well, but some basic review on scrap paper at home is a good idea. I do permit calculator use for the most part, but tables from 1 to 12 are best memorized.
3. Math Quiz on Unit 2, Lessons 1 to 4 on Thursday September 22. See study review suggestions from Monday's entry.
4. Terry Fox School Run on Wednesday September 28. Please bring a toonie for Terry on that day and dress for the morning run.
5. Book report due on October 6.
Monday HW
1. Math HW book pages 18-19.
2. Math quiz on Unit 2, Lessons 1 to 4. Students should study the corresponding lessons in their texts, notebooks and Homework Books. The "Connect" (textbook) and "Quick Review" (homework book) sections are useful for strategies and vocabulary. I usually have questions I do not assign in the text for each lesson. These are helpful for review. As well, there are questions in the text at the end of each Unit in the "Show What You Know" section (pages 76-77 for Unit 2) that are keyed to each lesson.
3. Student data verification sheets returned with or without corrections.
4. Stratford form and fee.
5. Toonie for Somalia famine relief tomorrow.
6. Book report one is due October 6. Reading should finish up by this weekend.
Today we spent time in Math reviewing the idea of Prime and Composite numbers and the special vocabulary that goes along with that cluster (ie: factor). Understanding and retaining the vocabulary is very important in helping a student understand a problem on a quiz. I also stressed that students should never erase rough work in a word problem and modelled an exemplary problem solution to a multi-step problem in class. We also finished up with a CASI practice and reviewed one more News Journal example.
1. Math Quiz 2 on Prime & Composite numbers and Mental Math (Unit 2, Lessons 5 and 7) on Tuesday September 27.
2. Finish News Journal started in class: Summary and reflection.
3. Terry Fox Toonie
4. Stratford Form and fee
5. Student Data verification form
6. Book Report is due on October 6, 2011. Reading of the book sghould be done.
Yesterday's spelling was completed by a much higher percentage of the group. Thank you.
Thursday HW
1. Math Quiz 2 on Prime & Composite numbers and Mental Math (Unit 2, Lessons 5 and 7) on Tuesday September 27.
2. Math HW Book pages 22-23
3. Terry Fox Toonie
4. Stratford Form and fee
5. Student Data verification form
6. Spelling textbook page 9 # 1,2; page 10 # 4,6 and 7; page 11 # 1
Today's math quiz went well. The Spelling above was worked on today for a period. Yesterday's spelling was forgotten at school or not done or left at home by 15 of 28 students. I have started tracking homework/practice incompletes. Most work is simply finishing up in-class work. It is work I consider valuable and spend class time doing it as well as assigning it as homework. I am out of the room for 2 of the 5 days in the cycle during the last period but students are reminded to pack their backpacks when we write the agenda out daily right after lunch.
Wednesday HW
1. Math Quiz on Unit 2, Lessons 1 to 4 on Thursday September 22. See study review suggestions from Monday's entry.
2. Finish Spelling Cycle (Syllabication and Derivatives -- a guide with explanation is glued on the inside cover of the notebook).
3. Finish your summary and reflection based on Mika's or Jasmine's presentation
4. Terry Fox School Run on Wednesday September 28. Please bring a toonie for Terry on that day and dress for the morning run.
5. Book report due on October 6.
Tuesday HW
1. Math HW Book pages 20-21. A number of students have been forgetting their books at home or not doing the assigned practice.
2. Timestables independent practice from 1 to 6 and up to 12 (ie: 6 X 12). I find the number of students that have shaky control of their number facts to be significant. We do practice working with number facts in class as well, but some basic review on scrap paper at home is a good idea. I do permit calculator use for the most part, but tables from 1 to 12 are best memorized.
3. Math Quiz on Unit 2, Lessons 1 to 4 on Thursday September 22. See study review suggestions from Monday's entry.
4. Terry Fox School Run on Wednesday September 28. Please bring a toonie for Terry on that day and dress for the morning run.
5. Book report due on October 6.
Monday HW
1. Math HW book pages 18-19.
2. Math quiz on Unit 2, Lessons 1 to 4. Students should study the corresponding lessons in their texts, notebooks and Homework Books. The "Connect" (textbook) and "Quick Review" (homework book) sections are useful for strategies and vocabulary. I usually have questions I do not assign in the text for each lesson. These are helpful for review. As well, there are questions in the text at the end of each Unit in the "Show What You Know" section (pages 76-77 for Unit 2) that are keyed to each lesson.
3. Student data verification sheets returned with or without corrections.
4. Stratford form and fee.
5. Toonie for Somalia famine relief tomorrow.
6. Book report one is due October 6. Reading should finish up by this weekend.
Today we spent time in Math reviewing the idea of Prime and Composite numbers and the special vocabulary that goes along with that cluster (ie: factor). Understanding and retaining the vocabulary is very important in helping a student understand a problem on a quiz. I also stressed that students should never erase rough work in a word problem and modelled an exemplary problem solution to a multi-step problem in class. We also finished up with a CASI practice and reviewed one more News Journal example.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Week of September 12-16, 2011
Friday HW
We've had a great week. I'm really pleased with the cooperative spirit the kids show. Well done!
Today we began a CASI practice round on our Future theme. We'll finish and correct on Monday. We also continued with our News Journal introduction. Every student received a presentation date which he/she wrote into their agendas, as well as the good copy sheet to actually present the work. This ia oral and written evaluation. We spoke and modelled at length to distinguish between "retell" and "summarize". We are working toward the summary form. In Math we completed work on comparing large numbers and looked at finding multiple and common multiples. In the afternoon we viewed some web sites that have age-appropriate news articles for the News Journal (such as http://teachkidsnews.com/ ), began Science activities and introduced a mapping task for Social Studies. We have limited homework on Fridays:
1. Read 20 minutes for Book Report.
2. Begin looking for an article for your news journal presentation if your date is coming up next week.
3. Toonie for Somalia famine relief.
4. Stratford form and fee are due October 5.
5. Pizza day forms.
Thursday HW
Thank you to all the parents who came out to last night's presentation in our class. The students appreciated your notes and I welcomed the feedback I received as well as the introductions.
Today we continued with our Unit 2 math, focussing on ordering large numbers from greatest to smallest. We continued with our future paragraph work: self and peer edits using tools in the class such as dictionaries, thesauruses and my COPS sheets. The students have put a good amount of effort into planning their work and it's my expectation that they begin thinking consistently of organizing their extended writing into paragraphs with indentations. We ended our classes together with a News Journal introduction and an art activity.
1. Math HW book p. 16.
2. Good copy of future paragraph in pen, coloured and trimmed.
3. Somalia famine relief toonie.
4. Stratford field trip form and fee.
5. Read for Book Report 20 minutes.
Wednesday HW
1. Math HW book page 15.
2. Pizza Day forms
3. Toonie for Somalia famine relief
4. Read 20 minutes
5. Stratford form and fee by October 5, 2011.
Tuesday HW
1. Math HW book page 14.
2. Rough draft of Running Shoe of the future
3. Scholastic orders due Wednesday.
4. Pizza day forms.
5. Toonie Tuesday for Somalia famine relief next Tuesday. Thank you!
Monday HW
1. Math HW Book pages 12-13. This book was given to each student who takes part in my Math program today. Please return it to school each day for corrections.
2. Good copy of "Recipe For Me" is due in class tomorrow in pen. We brainstormed imperative, recipe-style language for it and spent 2 periods working on a rough draft.
3. Decorated and trimmed photo of yourself in class tomorrow. This is from a photo I gave to each student today.
4. Scholastic orders due Wednesday. Cheques payable to Scholastic Canada Ltd.
5. Pizza day forms.
6. Curriculum Night in my room on Wednesday September 14 from 7-7:30 PM.
We've had a great week. I'm really pleased with the cooperative spirit the kids show. Well done!
Today we began a CASI practice round on our Future theme. We'll finish and correct on Monday. We also continued with our News Journal introduction. Every student received a presentation date which he/she wrote into their agendas, as well as the good copy sheet to actually present the work. This ia oral and written evaluation. We spoke and modelled at length to distinguish between "retell" and "summarize". We are working toward the summary form. In Math we completed work on comparing large numbers and looked at finding multiple and common multiples. In the afternoon we viewed some web sites that have age-appropriate news articles for the News Journal (such as http://teachkidsnews.com/ ), began Science activities and introduced a mapping task for Social Studies. We have limited homework on Fridays:
1. Read 20 minutes for Book Report.
2. Begin looking for an article for your news journal presentation if your date is coming up next week.
3. Toonie for Somalia famine relief.
4. Stratford form and fee are due October 5.
5. Pizza day forms.
Thursday HW
Thank you to all the parents who came out to last night's presentation in our class. The students appreciated your notes and I welcomed the feedback I received as well as the introductions.
Today we continued with our Unit 2 math, focussing on ordering large numbers from greatest to smallest. We continued with our future paragraph work: self and peer edits using tools in the class such as dictionaries, thesauruses and my COPS sheets. The students have put a good amount of effort into planning their work and it's my expectation that they begin thinking consistently of organizing their extended writing into paragraphs with indentations. We ended our classes together with a News Journal introduction and an art activity.
1. Math HW book p. 16.
2. Good copy of future paragraph in pen, coloured and trimmed.
3. Somalia famine relief toonie.
4. Stratford field trip form and fee.
5. Read for Book Report 20 minutes.
Wednesday HW
1. Math HW book page 15.
2. Pizza Day forms
3. Toonie for Somalia famine relief
4. Read 20 minutes
5. Stratford form and fee by October 5, 2011.
Tuesday HW
1. Math HW book page 14.
2. Rough draft of Running Shoe of the future
3. Scholastic orders due Wednesday.
4. Pizza day forms.
5. Toonie Tuesday for Somalia famine relief next Tuesday. Thank you!
Monday HW
1. Math HW Book pages 12-13. This book was given to each student who takes part in my Math program today. Please return it to school each day for corrections.
2. Good copy of "Recipe For Me" is due in class tomorrow in pen. We brainstormed imperative, recipe-style language for it and spent 2 periods working on a rough draft.
3. Decorated and trimmed photo of yourself in class tomorrow. This is from a photo I gave to each student today.
4. Scholastic orders due Wednesday. Cheques payable to Scholastic Canada Ltd.
5. Pizza day forms.
6. Curriculum Night in my room on Wednesday September 14 from 7-7:30 PM.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Welcome to the New Grade 6 Year!
Week of September 6-9, 2011
Greetings to the new students in my class for 2011-12. I'm looking forward to meeting and getting to know all of you during this first week. We will jump right in to the school year with some ice breaker activities and some Math and Language reviews. As the first week goes by we will be preparing for the first Math unit in Number Sense and the first Language activities with News Journals and a novel study. Also upcoming are our preparations for our Stratford visit to see Twelfth Night on October 18, including actor workshops right in our classroom. It should be fun! See you soon!
This blog will function as a weekly homework listing and be archived as the week ends. Be sure to check out my class web page at http://areynolds.org/ all year long. Plenty of useful stuff is posted, including downloads of class handouts which you should use to replace lost work.
Friday September 9, 2011
We've had a terrific first week of school in room 365. A fair number of routines have been introduced and we've had an assembly with Mr. Hochberg and a Library introduction with Ms. Edgar, our new librarian. Ms. Edgar is pleased to offer Library access for study, research or homework practice every day starting at 8:00 AM and for half an hour each day after school until 3:45 PM. She has also provided a number of useful web links for research that complement the offerings on my web page. Check out your child's agenda for more information. Please take advantage of this welcoming environment!
1. Typically I give little or no homework on weekends aside from project research/reading and twenty minutes of daily book report reading. Our first book report is due on October 6. Students should select a book they haven't already read that is at least 90 pages long and have it in class for Monday.
2.Curriculum Night on September 14, 2011. My session runs from 7 to 7:30 PM. The evening lasts from 6:30- 8 PM.
3. Scholastic forms will be mailed on Wednesday. I would prefer that you send cheques made out to Scholastic Canada Ltd. rather than sending cash.
4. Pizza day forms have been given out.
5. School forms and letters signed and returned as needed.
Thursday September 8, 2011
1. School letters, including Pizza Day requests, signed and returned as needed.
2. Agenda fee,as needed.
3. Please consider donating a roll of paper towel and a box is tissue for class use. Thank you.
4. We corrected math review 2 and 3 in class and spent 25 minutes on Math Review four. Study all four sheets for tomorrow's quiz.
5. Curriculum Night on Wednesday September 14, 6:30 - 8 PM
Wednesday September 7, 2011
1. School letters signed and returned.
2. I request one box of tissue and one roll of paper towel from each student for class use -- thank you.
3. $6.50 for agenda. Please send cash, as requested in our school policy, with exact change if possible. Thank you again and sorry for the inconvenience.
4. Math review #2 and 3; quiz on Friday.
5. Bring a photo of yourself that you can cut if you need to.
6. Sign Book Report package.
The class is settling in very nicely. They are a wonderful group! We have been doing some introductory activities in math and language as we establish class routines. Thank you very much for your cooperation in providing payment for the agenda and helping to stock our paper towel and tissue supplies. Much appreciated!
Tuesday September 6, 2011
1. School letters signed and returned.
2. I request one box of tissue and one roll of paper towel from each student for class use -- thank you.
3. $6.50 for agenda. Please send cash, as requested in our school policy, with exact change if possible. Thank you again and sorry for the inconvenience.
4. Math review #1; quiz on Friday.
5. Bring a photo of yourself that you can cut if you need to.
Greetings to the new students in my class for 2011-12. I'm looking forward to meeting and getting to know all of you during this first week. We will jump right in to the school year with some ice breaker activities and some Math and Language reviews. As the first week goes by we will be preparing for the first Math unit in Number Sense and the first Language activities with News Journals and a novel study. Also upcoming are our preparations for our Stratford visit to see Twelfth Night on October 18, including actor workshops right in our classroom. It should be fun! See you soon!
This blog will function as a weekly homework listing and be archived as the week ends. Be sure to check out my class web page at http://areynolds.org/ all year long. Plenty of useful stuff is posted, including downloads of class handouts which you should use to replace lost work.
Friday September 9, 2011
We've had a terrific first week of school in room 365. A fair number of routines have been introduced and we've had an assembly with Mr. Hochberg and a Library introduction with Ms. Edgar, our new librarian. Ms. Edgar is pleased to offer Library access for study, research or homework practice every day starting at 8:00 AM and for half an hour each day after school until 3:45 PM. She has also provided a number of useful web links for research that complement the offerings on my web page. Check out your child's agenda for more information. Please take advantage of this welcoming environment!
1. Typically I give little or no homework on weekends aside from project research/reading and twenty minutes of daily book report reading. Our first book report is due on October 6. Students should select a book they haven't already read that is at least 90 pages long and have it in class for Monday.
2.Curriculum Night on September 14, 2011. My session runs from 7 to 7:30 PM. The evening lasts from 6:30- 8 PM.
3. Scholastic forms will be mailed on Wednesday. I would prefer that you send cheques made out to Scholastic Canada Ltd. rather than sending cash.
4. Pizza day forms have been given out.
5. School forms and letters signed and returned as needed.
Thursday September 8, 2011
1. School letters, including Pizza Day requests, signed and returned as needed.
2. Agenda fee,as needed.
3. Please consider donating a roll of paper towel and a box is tissue for class use. Thank you.
4. We corrected math review 2 and 3 in class and spent 25 minutes on Math Review four. Study all four sheets for tomorrow's quiz.
5. Curriculum Night on Wednesday September 14, 6:30 - 8 PM
Wednesday September 7, 2011
1. School letters signed and returned.
2. I request one box of tissue and one roll of paper towel from each student for class use -- thank you.
3. $6.50 for agenda. Please send cash, as requested in our school policy, with exact change if possible. Thank you again and sorry for the inconvenience.
4. Math review #2 and 3; quiz on Friday.
5. Bring a photo of yourself that you can cut if you need to.
6. Sign Book Report package.
The class is settling in very nicely. They are a wonderful group! We have been doing some introductory activities in math and language as we establish class routines. Thank you very much for your cooperation in providing payment for the agenda and helping to stock our paper towel and tissue supplies. Much appreciated!
Tuesday September 6, 2011
1. School letters signed and returned.
2. I request one box of tissue and one roll of paper towel from each student for class use -- thank you.
3. $6.50 for agenda. Please send cash, as requested in our school policy, with exact change if possible. Thank you again and sorry for the inconvenience.
4. Math review #1; quiz on Friday.
5. Bring a photo of yourself that you can cut if you need to.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
June 20-24, 2011
Tuesday HW
1. Test pack went home today.
2. Bring a bag for desk/portfolio cleanup on Friday.
Monday HW
1. No Homework.
2. Bring a bag for desk and portfolio cleanup on Friday.
3. Playday tomorrow. Arrive at room 113 at 8:30 only if you can.
1. Test pack went home today.
2. Bring a bag for desk/portfolio cleanup on Friday.
Monday HW
1. No Homework.
2. Bring a bag for desk and portfolio cleanup on Friday.
3. Playday tomorrow. Arrive at room 113 at 8:30 only if you can.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Week of June 13-17, 2011
Monday HW
No homework to speak of! Students should get packed for an exciting trip. Remember to pack rain gear, including boots and a rain coat. A hat and sun screen are also important. Making sure your clothes and sleeping bag stay dry is a final note -- wrapping things up inside a garbage bag is an easy and cheap way to do that.
We've had a few discussions about behavioural expectations already. To reinforce that, here are the major points: no cross-gender visits to other cabins, no electronics and a general reminder to support an atmosphere of trust between students and their belongings in the cabins and in the camp. It should be great!
In honour of our returning Music Camp students, here is an interesting video of some enthusiastic cello players...
No homework to speak of! Students should get packed for an exciting trip. Remember to pack rain gear, including boots and a rain coat. A hat and sun screen are also important. Making sure your clothes and sleeping bag stay dry is a final note -- wrapping things up inside a garbage bag is an easy and cheap way to do that.
We've had a few discussions about behavioural expectations already. To reinforce that, here are the major points: no cross-gender visits to other cabins, no electronics and a general reminder to support an atmosphere of trust between students and their belongings in the cabins and in the camp. It should be great!
In honour of our returning Music Camp students, here is an interesting video of some enthusiastic cello players...
Monday, June 6, 2011
Week of June 6 to 10, 2011
Wednesday HW
1. The Camp Wahanowin trip is nearly here. Please return the signed tear away slip at the bottom of the update letter if you give permission to your child to leave from the school to go home directly after our return from the camp on Friday June 17.
2. Eco-art activity on Thursday morning. Please wear (or bring) old clothes as the paints are not washable.
Tuesday HW
1. Scientists in School Flight tomorrow morning.
2. Alien Ad good copy is due tomorrow. We worked on the good copy of the script today in class for 45 minutes.
3. The Camp Wahanowin trip is nearly here. Please return the signed tear away slip at the bottom of the update letter if you give permission to your child to leave from the school to go home directly after our return from the camp on Friday June 17.
4. Eco-art activity on Thursday morning. Please wear (or bring) old clothes as the paints are not washable.
As part of our eco-art activity on Thursday with Ms. Inwood and Ms. Grenville we are looking at some examples of nature art by artists associated with GreenMuseum.org. Here is a profile of Ulrike Arnold, who makes works in the field with paints she creates from rocks and meteorites.
Monday HW
1. Math quiz tomorrow on Unit 10 Lessons 1 and 2
2. Scientists in School $6.00
3. Camp Wahanowin is coming. Please return the signed tear away slip at the bottom of the update letter if you give permission to your child to leave from the school to go home directly after our return from the camp on Friday, June 17.
4. Alien Ad rough draft.
Today we hosted a visit from Ms. Inwood and Ms. Grenville who are helping our class take part in a school eco-art project entitled "Acts of Green". The students spent time in the nature garden looking for Treasures and Troubles from the perspectives of different inhabitants of our environment. We will be painting green leaves in a pathway around the school (depending on the weather) on Thursday June 9. Students should dress up in old clothes that day as the paint is not washable.
As a complement to our eco-art activity, here is a video of digital music from underwater sound samples from "The Belly of the Whale", a music project conceived by GreenMuseum.org and InterSpecies.
1. The Camp Wahanowin trip is nearly here. Please return the signed tear away slip at the bottom of the update letter if you give permission to your child to leave from the school to go home directly after our return from the camp on Friday June 17.
2. Eco-art activity on Thursday morning. Please wear (or bring) old clothes as the paints are not washable.
Tuesday HW
1. Scientists in School Flight tomorrow morning.
2. Alien Ad good copy is due tomorrow. We worked on the good copy of the script today in class for 45 minutes.
3. The Camp Wahanowin trip is nearly here. Please return the signed tear away slip at the bottom of the update letter if you give permission to your child to leave from the school to go home directly after our return from the camp on Friday June 17.
4. Eco-art activity on Thursday morning. Please wear (or bring) old clothes as the paints are not washable.
As part of our eco-art activity on Thursday with Ms. Inwood and Ms. Grenville we are looking at some examples of nature art by artists associated with GreenMuseum.org. Here is a profile of Ulrike Arnold, who makes works in the field with paints she creates from rocks and meteorites.
Monday HW
1. Math quiz tomorrow on Unit 10 Lessons 1 and 2
2. Scientists in School $6.00
3. Camp Wahanowin is coming. Please return the signed tear away slip at the bottom of the update letter if you give permission to your child to leave from the school to go home directly after our return from the camp on Friday, June 17.
4. Alien Ad rough draft.
Today we hosted a visit from Ms. Inwood and Ms. Grenville who are helping our class take part in a school eco-art project entitled "Acts of Green". The students spent time in the nature garden looking for Treasures and Troubles from the perspectives of different inhabitants of our environment. We will be painting green leaves in a pathway around the school (depending on the weather) on Thursday June 9. Students should dress up in old clothes that day as the paint is not washable.
As a complement to our eco-art activity, here is a video of digital music from underwater sound samples from "The Belly of the Whale", a music project conceived by GreenMuseum.org and InterSpecies.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Week of May 30 to June 3, 2011
We began and completed work on our EQAO booklets this week. The students worked well.
We will have our long awaited pizza party on Friday at Lunch.
Thursday HW
1. Math Volume Quiz on Friday June 3.
2. Math Patterning Quiz Unit 10 Lessons 1 and 2 on Tuesday, June 7.
3. Test pack signed by a parent and returned.
4. $6 for Scientists in Schools Flight workshop on June 8.
5. Camp Wahanowin is coming. Please bring back the tear away permisssion slip if you plan on leaving early on Friday June 17 after we return. Also, read the update letter carefully to see packing suggestions and the arrival and departure times. A lunch is required on Tuesday for the students.
Here is an interesting flight video highlighting a technological advance seen in the re-entry testing for SpaceShipTwo. It is called "feathering" and it looks really neat.
Wednesday HW
1. Math perimeter and Area quiz tomorrow.
2. Math Volume Quiz on Friday June 3.
3. Math Patterning quiz (Unit 10) on Lessons 1 and 2 on Tuesday June 7
4. $6.00 for Scientists in School -- Flight on June 8.
5. Test pack signed by a parent and returned.
Tuesday HW
1. Math Perimeter and Area quiz on Thursday June 2.
2. Math Volume quiz on Friday June 3.
3. Math textbook work on pages 382-83 # 1 to 7.
4. $6.00 for Scientists in School -- Flight on June 8 (AM).
Monday HW
1. Math textbook pages 367-69 # 4 to 8 on surface area.
2. Math HW book pages 144-145 on the same subject.
3. Math Perimeter and Area quiz on Thursday June 2.
4. Math Volume of rectangular prisms quiz on Friday June 3.
5. $6 for scientists in school presentation on June 8.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Week of May 24-27
EQAO test begins on Monday May 30 and continues through Tuesday and Wednesday of that week. We are writing in the mornings before lunch. Practice activities have been underway for the past few weeks.
Wednesday HW
(I was away at Soccer yesterday and there was no homework posting.)
1. Math Text book page 357 # 5,6,7. Students should remember to use the formula each time, organize steps with subtitles and answer word problems with a sentence.
2. Math HW book pages 138-39.
3. We have a probability test tomorrow. it was a very brief unit (four lessons). The primary focus is being able to represent the chances of an event occurring theoretically and experimentally using fractions and percents. As well the students learned how to draw tree diagrams, which are somewhat challenging to start, but easier to finish once underway.
Wednesday HW
(I was away at Soccer yesterday and there was no homework posting.)
1. Math Text book page 357 # 5,6,7. Students should remember to use the formula each time, organize steps with subtitles and answer word problems with a sentence.
2. Math HW book pages 138-39.
3. We have a probability test tomorrow. it was a very brief unit (four lessons). The primary focus is being able to represent the chances of an event occurring theoretically and experimentally using fractions and percents. As well the students learned how to draw tree diagrams, which are somewhat challenging to start, but easier to finish once underway.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Week of May 16 to 19, 2011
Please note: Friday May 20 is a PA day and there are no classes scheduled that day. Monday May 23 is Victoria Day and there are also no classes scheduled. We resume class on Tuesday May 24.
Wednesday HW
1. Math text pages 424-25 # 1 to 5. Numbers one to three should have been done in class. Dice, spinner blanks and paper clips were provided.
2. Math HW book pages 162-63.
3. Probability test on Thursday May 26.
A longer Sal Khan introduction to Probability:
Tuesday HW
1. Math Text pages 418-19 # 4, 5 and 6.
2. Math HW book pages 156-57, pages 158-59 and pages 160-61. This is really only one new lesson of practice given the amount of class time we had today.
3. Math Unit 8 Lessons 10 and 11 quiz tomorrow.
Our latest CASI results reflected some key improvements in grammar, character trait analysis and features of narrative. I was impressed with the gains from the Level two to Level three that the students made as a class since September. We also had a number of Level four scores which were not present at that time. Way to go boys and girls!
Monday HW
1. Math Text page 411 # 3 and 4.
2. Math HW book pages 156-57.
3. Math Unit 8 Quiz on Lessons 10 and 11 on Wednesday May 18.
We have skipped to the final chapter to work on probability because of the connections between fractions and percent that we have just finished working with. This is a short chapter and we will return to Measurement directly afterwards.
Wednesday HW
1. Math text pages 424-25 # 1 to 5. Numbers one to three should have been done in class. Dice, spinner blanks and paper clips were provided.
2. Math HW book pages 162-63.
3. Probability test on Thursday May 26.
A longer Sal Khan introduction to Probability:
Tuesday HW
1. Math Text pages 418-19 # 4, 5 and 6.
2. Math HW book pages 156-57, pages 158-59 and pages 160-61. This is really only one new lesson of practice given the amount of class time we had today.
3. Math Unit 8 Lessons 10 and 11 quiz tomorrow.
Our latest CASI results reflected some key improvements in grammar, character trait analysis and features of narrative. I was impressed with the gains from the Level two to Level three that the students made as a class since September. We also had a number of Level four scores which were not present at that time. Way to go boys and girls!
Monday HW
1. Math Text page 411 # 3 and 4.
2. Math HW book pages 156-57.
3. Math Unit 8 Quiz on Lessons 10 and 11 on Wednesday May 18.
We have skipped to the final chapter to work on probability because of the connections between fractions and percent that we have just finished working with. This is a short chapter and we will return to Measurement directly afterwards.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Week of May 9 to 13, 2011
Friday HW
For some reason my Wednesday and Thursday updates did not get uploaded. I thought I saved them correctly, but a user error (me) is always the problem in these situations. My apologies.
1. Math text pages 326-27 # 5 to 12.
2. Math HW book pages 128-29. Corrections are up to date to page 127.
3. Math Text pages 330-31 # 5 to 12.
4. Math Unit 8 quizzes:
a) Monday May 16 Lessons 8 and 9
b) Wednesday May 18 Lessons 10 and 11.
Tuesday HW
1. Math text pages 314-315 # 1 to 12. We had a double period and a few minutes after recess this morning to work on these activities. Using equivalent fractions that can be converted to a fraction over 100 ( /100) is a key concept. Sometimes the students need to reduce the fraction to one with a smaller denomininator as a middle step before moving to the fraction over 100.
2. Math HW book pages 122-23
3. Math Quiz Unit 8, lessons 6 and 7 on Thursday May 12.
4. Book Report due on Thursday.
Here is another Khan academy video on the meaning of percent. We do similar activities in class with shading hundredths grids.
Monday HW
1. Math text pages 310-11 # 1 to 12. We completed # 1,2 and 3 as a class and had a further 20 minutes to work on this.
2. Math HW book pages 120-21.
3. Math Quiz Unit 8 lessons 6 and 7 on Thursday May 12. (We skipped adding and subtracting fractions.)
4. Complete pages 5 and 6 of the "Tales: Heroes, Deeds and Wonders" booklet. We started this on Friday and had a further 30 minutes to work on it today.
5. Book report is due on Thursday May 12.
Check out this Khan academy video on the relationships between fractions, decimals and percents for extra exposure to the concept.
For some reason my Wednesday and Thursday updates did not get uploaded. I thought I saved them correctly, but a user error (me) is always the problem in these situations. My apologies.
1. Math text pages 326-27 # 5 to 12.
2. Math HW book pages 128-29. Corrections are up to date to page 127.
3. Math Text pages 330-31 # 5 to 12.
4. Math Unit 8 quizzes:
a) Monday May 16 Lessons 8 and 9
b) Wednesday May 18 Lessons 10 and 11.
Tuesday HW
1. Math text pages 314-315 # 1 to 12. We had a double period and a few minutes after recess this morning to work on these activities. Using equivalent fractions that can be converted to a fraction over 100 ( /100) is a key concept. Sometimes the students need to reduce the fraction to one with a smaller denomininator as a middle step before moving to the fraction over 100.
2. Math HW book pages 122-23
3. Math Quiz Unit 8, lessons 6 and 7 on Thursday May 12.
4. Book Report due on Thursday.
Here is another Khan academy video on the meaning of percent. We do similar activities in class with shading hundredths grids.
Monday HW
1. Math text pages 310-11 # 1 to 12. We completed # 1,2 and 3 as a class and had a further 20 minutes to work on this.
2. Math HW book pages 120-21.
3. Math Quiz Unit 8 lessons 6 and 7 on Thursday May 12. (We skipped adding and subtracting fractions.)
4. Complete pages 5 and 6 of the "Tales: Heroes, Deeds and Wonders" booklet. We started this on Friday and had a further 30 minutes to work on it today.
5. Book report is due on Thursday May 12.
Check out this Khan academy video on the relationships between fractions, decimals and percents for extra exposure to the concept.
Monday, May 2, 2011
May 2 - 6, 2011
Thursday HW
1. Math text page 296 # 1 to 5.
2. Math HW book pages 114-115.
3. Final book report due on May 12.
4. First nations powerpoint due on Monday May 9
5. Math Quiz unit 8 lesson 3 on Monday May 9.
Wednesday HW
1. Math Quiz Unit 8 Lessons 1 and 2 tomorrow.
2. May book report due on Thursday May 12.
3. First Nations powerpoint due on Monday May 9.
4. Have your essay rough draft ready for good copy writing in class tomorrow.
Tuesday HW
** Reminder that the Junior concert is being held on May 10 at Humberside CI at 7 PM. **
1. Math Text page 293 # 1 to 6. I modelled numbers 1 and 2 and the class had 25 minutes to start it. We reviewed unit vocabulary such as numberator, denominator, simplify, improper and proper fraction and mixed number today. Yikes: 13 of 29 students did not complete yesterday's HW book pages.
2. Math HW book page 112.
3. First Nations powerpoint due on Monday May 9. Eleven computers were in use today at the homework club to work on this. Way to go!
4. 12 students did not have an essay rough draft in class today for peer editing. It's vital that we are prepared for class each day. Tomorrow we write the good copies. Students who were unprepared have an extra night. Be aware that we are running out of days in the school year. Let's make every one count.
Monday HW
1. Math text pages 289-90 # 1 to 10
2. Math HW book pages 110-111
3. First Nations powerpoint due on Monday May 9.
4. Be sure to have extra pencils and erasers in class going forward. I gave everyone fresh ones today.
Check out this Khan academy video for another considered look at the concept of equivalent fractions:
http://www.khanacademy.org/video/equivalent-fractions?playlist=Arithmetic
1. Math text page 296 # 1 to 5.
2. Math HW book pages 114-115.
3. Final book report due on May 12.
4. First nations powerpoint due on Monday May 9
5. Math Quiz unit 8 lesson 3 on Monday May 9.
Wednesday HW
1. Math Quiz Unit 8 Lessons 1 and 2 tomorrow.
2. May book report due on Thursday May 12.
3. First Nations powerpoint due on Monday May 9.
4. Have your essay rough draft ready for good copy writing in class tomorrow.
Tuesday HW
** Reminder that the Junior concert is being held on May 10 at Humberside CI at 7 PM. **
1. Math Text page 293 # 1 to 6. I modelled numbers 1 and 2 and the class had 25 minutes to start it. We reviewed unit vocabulary such as numberator, denominator, simplify, improper and proper fraction and mixed number today. Yikes: 13 of 29 students did not complete yesterday's HW book pages.
2. Math HW book page 112.
3. First Nations powerpoint due on Monday May 9. Eleven computers were in use today at the homework club to work on this. Way to go!
4. 12 students did not have an essay rough draft in class today for peer editing. It's vital that we are prepared for class each day. Tomorrow we write the good copies. Students who were unprepared have an extra night. Be aware that we are running out of days in the school year. Let's make every one count.
Monday HW
1. Math text pages 289-90 # 1 to 10
2. Math HW book pages 110-111
3. First Nations powerpoint due on Monday May 9.
4. Be sure to have extra pencils and erasers in class going forward. I gave everyone fresh ones today.
Check out this Khan academy video for another considered look at the concept of equivalent fractions:
http://www.khanacademy.org/video/equivalent-fractions?playlist=Arithmetic
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Week of April 26-29, 2011
Thursday HW
1. Math Quiz on Unit 7, Lessons 5 and 6 on Friday April 29.
2. Math Text book work page 279 # 1-5.
3. Math HW book pages 108-109.
Wednesday HW
1. No HW -- Science Fair from 6 -7 PM. Math quiz moved to Friday.
Tuesday HW
1. Math Quiz on Unit 7, Lessons 5 and 6 on Thursday April 28.
2. Page 12 of the Electricity booklet -- Design Report on the Drawing Machines we made in class today.
3. Come up with three questions for visitors to your Science project during tomorrow's Science Fair.
4. Science Fair is tomorrow afternoon and in the evening from 6 to 7 PM when parents are welcome to attend. Please ensure that your project is ready to demonstrate when I come around to view it.
1. Math Quiz on Unit 7, Lessons 5 and 6 on Friday April 29.
2. Math Text book work page 279 # 1-5.
3. Math HW book pages 108-109.
Wednesday HW
1. No HW -- Science Fair from 6 -7 PM. Math quiz moved to Friday.
Tuesday HW
1. Math Quiz on Unit 7, Lessons 5 and 6 on Thursday April 28.
2. Page 12 of the Electricity booklet -- Design Report on the Drawing Machines we made in class today.
3. Come up with three questions for visitors to your Science project during tomorrow's Science Fair.
4. Science Fair is tomorrow afternoon and in the evening from 6 to 7 PM when parents are welcome to attend. Please ensure that your project is ready to demonstrate when I come around to view it.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Week of April 18-22, 2011
Thursday HW
1. Math text pages 272-73 # 1 to 7 for Tuesday.
2. Math HW book pages 106-07 for Tuesday.
3. Quiz on Lessons 5 and 6 (Unit 7) on Thursday April 28.
4. 25 of 34 students have handed back the Camp Wahanowin forms. We need a bit more participation to continue with our planning. With hope we will receive a few more positive forms by early next week. I'll keep the class posted. Thank you for your patience.
We worked very productively today in class on the Science Fair. We have one last morning to finish up on Tuesday morning after the holiday. Most, if not all, students finished their car construction. What remains for most is the Design Portfolio pages and decorations for the car. A good amount of preparation would see a student ready to mount the various portfolio pages in class on Tuesday morning and perhaps test a last little bit. Our Science fair is on Wednesday night April 27 from 6 to 7 PM. We look forward to seeing everyone that evening.
Wednesday HW
1. Math text pages 272-73 # 1 to 7 for Tuesday.
2. Math HW book pages 106-07 for Tuesday.
3. Quiz on Lessons 5 and 6 (Unit 7) on Thursday April 28.
4. Wahanowin forms and fee due tomorrow.
Tuesday HW
1. Camp Wahanowin forms and fees due April 21, 2011.
2. Vehicle building went well today. Almost everyone had materials with which to build. The boys and girls seemed excited and interested in problem solving to make the designs work well. We will continue tomorrow and for Thursday as well. Students received a display board today as well, on which they will mount the design process worksheets we are completing in class. The students are free to decorate the board how they like as long as there is room to display the design sheets in some way. A title/name for the car is a must.
Monday HW
1. Math text work page 269 # 1,2,3,4,6.
2. Math HW book pages 104-105.
3. We are building vehicles tomorrow morning for 3 periods. Be sure you have your materials present, including a frame or chassis. Some ideas for that could be a kleenex box, a one litre milk container, a meat tray or any other rectangular shaped solid. Round bottles are harder to work with. I have all the other things students need, including skewers, straws and glue guns. Electricity materials kits are still available for $10 each.
1. Math text pages 272-73 # 1 to 7 for Tuesday.
2. Math HW book pages 106-07 for Tuesday.
3. Quiz on Lessons 5 and 6 (Unit 7) on Thursday April 28.
4. 25 of 34 students have handed back the Camp Wahanowin forms. We need a bit more participation to continue with our planning. With hope we will receive a few more positive forms by early next week. I'll keep the class posted. Thank you for your patience.
We worked very productively today in class on the Science Fair. We have one last morning to finish up on Tuesday morning after the holiday. Most, if not all, students finished their car construction. What remains for most is the Design Portfolio pages and decorations for the car. A good amount of preparation would see a student ready to mount the various portfolio pages in class on Tuesday morning and perhaps test a last little bit. Our Science fair is on Wednesday night April 27 from 6 to 7 PM. We look forward to seeing everyone that evening.
Wednesday HW
1. Math text pages 272-73 # 1 to 7 for Tuesday.
2. Math HW book pages 106-07 for Tuesday.
3. Quiz on Lessons 5 and 6 (Unit 7) on Thursday April 28.
4. Wahanowin forms and fee due tomorrow.
Tuesday HW
1. Camp Wahanowin forms and fees due April 21, 2011.
2. Vehicle building went well today. Almost everyone had materials with which to build. The boys and girls seemed excited and interested in problem solving to make the designs work well. We will continue tomorrow and for Thursday as well. Students received a display board today as well, on which they will mount the design process worksheets we are completing in class. The students are free to decorate the board how they like as long as there is room to display the design sheets in some way. A title/name for the car is a must.
Monday HW
1. Math text work page 269 # 1,2,3,4,6.
2. Math HW book pages 104-105.
3. We are building vehicles tomorrow morning for 3 periods. Be sure you have your materials present, including a frame or chassis. Some ideas for that could be a kleenex box, a one litre milk container, a meat tray or any other rectangular shaped solid. Round bottles are harder to work with. I have all the other things students need, including skewers, straws and glue guns. Electricity materials kits are still available for $10 each.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Week of April 11 to 15, 2011
Thursday HW
1. Camp Wahanowin forms and fees due on April 21.
2. Math quiz on Unit 7 Lessons 3 and 4 on Monday April 18.
3. Electricity materials available now for 10 dollars cash. We start to build on Monday morning.
Much better homework completion was on display again this morning. Well done! As well, I also found dramatic improvement in research note taking for the First Nations PowerPoint yesterday in the computer lab. Students received another paired period to work on computer research today. We will have one more school research opportunity before we start to create the presentations using PowerPoint. Students should consult other sources, including books, if they feel they need more information in any category over the weekend and tonight.
Wednesday HW
1. Camp Wahanowin forms and fees due on April 21.
2. Math quiz on Unit 7 Lessons 3 and 4 on Monday April 18.
3. Persuasive paragraph 4.0: the mini essay. Finish the last two body paragraphs and the conclusion using the model I started for you.
4. Page 3 of the "Tales: Heroes, Deeds and Wonders" booklet. This is a rough set of sketches for a larger cartoon representation of an Iroquois creation myth assignment.
Items 3 and 4 were initiated and worked on in class for an additional 20 minutes each. Today's homework check was much better. Only 2 of 26 students had not finished the six short persuasive activities for Persuasive Paragraph 3.0. Let's keep up the good work!
Tuesday HW
1. Camp Wahanowin forms and fees due on April 21.
2. Math HW book pages 102-103
3. Math Quiz on Unit 7 Lessons 3 and 4 on Monday April 18.
4. Research for your First Nations PowerPoint presentation. We have had some class time already in the Lab and with the Macbooks in class to fill in these organizers. After a few more periods, students will use the organizers to complete their Powerpoints. Internet use will be unavailable at that point in the interests of completing the presentation.
Persuasive writing activities continue. During today's homework check 13 students of 29 had not completed some or all of the Thesis planner assigned as homework last night. I'm hoping to see improvement in that rate as the year comes to a close.
Monday HW
1. Camp Wahanowin forms and feees due on April 21.
2. Math Unit Seven quiz on lessons 1 and 2 tomorrow. The topic is Transformations.
3. Math HW book pages 102-103 for Wednesday.
4. Persuasive Writing 2.0: Make thesis statements out of topics. We spent some time today on the idea and formation of a thesis statement. I am encouraging the students to do two things -- avoid simple "mad/bad/sad/nice" types of opinions and avoid making simple statements about the topic. An example is the smoking topic. A statement is "Smoking kills you", which is factual. A thesis in a similar vein might be "The costs of smoking are greater than the price on the package." The better the thesis the easier it is to write and evelop arguments. We are working toward a five paragraph persuasive essay with a progression of skills.
1. Camp Wahanowin forms and fees due on April 21.
2. Math quiz on Unit 7 Lessons 3 and 4 on Monday April 18.
3. Electricity materials available now for 10 dollars cash. We start to build on Monday morning.
Much better homework completion was on display again this morning. Well done! As well, I also found dramatic improvement in research note taking for the First Nations PowerPoint yesterday in the computer lab. Students received another paired period to work on computer research today. We will have one more school research opportunity before we start to create the presentations using PowerPoint. Students should consult other sources, including books, if they feel they need more information in any category over the weekend and tonight.
Wednesday HW
1. Camp Wahanowin forms and fees due on April 21.
2. Math quiz on Unit 7 Lessons 3 and 4 on Monday April 18.
3. Persuasive paragraph 4.0: the mini essay. Finish the last two body paragraphs and the conclusion using the model I started for you.
4. Page 3 of the "Tales: Heroes, Deeds and Wonders" booklet. This is a rough set of sketches for a larger cartoon representation of an Iroquois creation myth assignment.
Items 3 and 4 were initiated and worked on in class for an additional 20 minutes each. Today's homework check was much better. Only 2 of 26 students had not finished the six short persuasive activities for Persuasive Paragraph 3.0. Let's keep up the good work!
Tuesday HW
1. Camp Wahanowin forms and fees due on April 21.
2. Math HW book pages 102-103
3. Math Quiz on Unit 7 Lessons 3 and 4 on Monday April 18.
4. Research for your First Nations PowerPoint presentation. We have had some class time already in the Lab and with the Macbooks in class to fill in these organizers. After a few more periods, students will use the organizers to complete their Powerpoints. Internet use will be unavailable at that point in the interests of completing the presentation.
Persuasive writing activities continue. During today's homework check 13 students of 29 had not completed some or all of the Thesis planner assigned as homework last night. I'm hoping to see improvement in that rate as the year comes to a close.
Monday HW
1. Camp Wahanowin forms and feees due on April 21.
2. Math Unit Seven quiz on lessons 1 and 2 tomorrow. The topic is Transformations.
3. Math HW book pages 102-103 for Wednesday.
4. Persuasive Writing 2.0: Make thesis statements out of topics. We spent some time today on the idea and formation of a thesis statement. I am encouraging the students to do two things -- avoid simple "mad/bad/sad/nice" types of opinions and avoid making simple statements about the topic. An example is the smoking topic. A statement is "Smoking kills you", which is factual. A thesis in a similar vein might be "The costs of smoking are greater than the price on the package." The better the thesis the easier it is to write and evelop arguments. We are working toward a five paragraph persuasive essay with a progression of skills.
Monday, April 4, 2011
April 4 - 8, 2011
Friday HW
1. Constellation project is due in good copy form on Monday April 11. We spent three additional periods today in class finishing up. I provided extra resources to the students in class that helped with the "Alternate Myths" and "when/where" portions of the assignment. These are generally short sections and students were reminded not to leave today without having looked at these resources.
2. Math Unit 7 Quiz on lessons 1 and 2 (Transformations and Combined Transformations) on Tuesday April 12.
3. Camp Wahanowin forms and fee due on April 21.
Thursday HW
1. Constellation project is due in good copy form on Monday April 11.
2. Diary of an Astronaut due in booklet on Friday April 8.
3. Electricity Booklet cover page.
4. Math Unit 7 Quiz on Lessons one and two (Transformations and Combined Transformations) on Tuesday April 12.
5. Jump Rope for Heart pledge envelopes were distributed yesterday.
6. Camp Wahanowin Trip forms and fees. Return date is April 21.
Today we had some productive time writing the Diary of an Astronaut and the Constellation Story in class. We also spent a fair amount of time reviewing Math vocabulary for the geometry unit and correcting our HW books. 7 students had incomplete work on Monday night's pages 98-99 and 6 more did not complete the "Stretch Your Thinking" practice. It's a good idea to work on these tougher questions, as that type will appear at some point on quizzes and tests. We also talked through the Wahanowin trip form in class. Cabin and other information is forthcoming when we have a better grasp of our numbers. Based on the response during Curriculum Night Ms. Edgar and I received -- no negative feedback, only positive comment from parents -- we proceeded with the booking and approvals process.
Wednesday HW
1. Constellation project is due in good copy form on Monday April 11.
2. Diary of an Astronaut due in booklet on Friday April 8.
3. Book report due on Thursday April 7.
4. Math Unit 7 Quiz on Lessons one and two (Transformations and Combined Transformations) on Tuesday April 12.
5. Jump Rope for Heart pledge envelopes were distributed today.
Today we made partner pairs for a Social Studies culminating activity. Students will have time in class to fill in their own 2 sided organizer using internet resources. Each partner will hand in their own organizer for evaluation. Together the partners will use the organizers to build a PowerPoint presentation on their topic which they present together as well. I hope the students use their new skills from the Planet project to improve the depth and complexity of the PowerPoint and the presentation. Class time is given for research, but some personal time will also be required. Books are a very good research source in addition to internet sources. Remember that Wikipedia has no author and should be used sparingly. Paraphrasing is also a must to avoid direct copying from another's work.
Tuesday HW
1. Math HW book pages 100-101.
2. Constellation project is due on Monday April 11 in good copy form.
3. Diary of an Astronaut due on Friday April 8.
4. Book report due on April 7.
5. Earth Rangers toonie needed for presentation. Please bring it in tomorrow.
More than a dozen of each of the last two test packs have not been returned by the due dates (April 1 and March 25) with corrections and a parent signature. I spent PM recess helping students record this information in their agendas so that they can be returned tomorrow. It's important that results are shared with parents and returned in a timely way. Thank you for your cooperation.
Monday HW
1. Math HW book pages 98-99. I mistakenly assigned the next two pages on Friday evening.
2. Math Text pages 254-55 # 1 to 5. We have worked for nearly two periods on numbers one to three in class. Students are encouraged to make clear, neat coordinate grids with a ruler, plot the transformations using tracing paper and describe the pransformations thoroughly with these details: Type, Direction and Amount/Location.
3. Constellation project is due on Monday April 11 in good copy form.
4. Book report due on April 7.
5. Earth Rangers toonie needed for presentation. Please bring it in tomorrow.
1. Constellation project is due in good copy form on Monday April 11. We spent three additional periods today in class finishing up. I provided extra resources to the students in class that helped with the "Alternate Myths" and "when/where" portions of the assignment. These are generally short sections and students were reminded not to leave today without having looked at these resources.
2. Math Unit 7 Quiz on lessons 1 and 2 (Transformations and Combined Transformations) on Tuesday April 12.
3. Camp Wahanowin forms and fee due on April 21.
Thursday HW
1. Constellation project is due in good copy form on Monday April 11.
2. Diary of an Astronaut due in booklet on Friday April 8.
3. Electricity Booklet cover page.
4. Math Unit 7 Quiz on Lessons one and two (Transformations and Combined Transformations) on Tuesday April 12.
5. Jump Rope for Heart pledge envelopes were distributed yesterday.
6. Camp Wahanowin Trip forms and fees. Return date is April 21.
Today we had some productive time writing the Diary of an Astronaut and the Constellation Story in class. We also spent a fair amount of time reviewing Math vocabulary for the geometry unit and correcting our HW books. 7 students had incomplete work on Monday night's pages 98-99 and 6 more did not complete the "Stretch Your Thinking" practice. It's a good idea to work on these tougher questions, as that type will appear at some point on quizzes and tests. We also talked through the Wahanowin trip form in class. Cabin and other information is forthcoming when we have a better grasp of our numbers. Based on the response during Curriculum Night Ms. Edgar and I received -- no negative feedback, only positive comment from parents -- we proceeded with the booking and approvals process.
Wednesday HW
1. Constellation project is due in good copy form on Monday April 11.
2. Diary of an Astronaut due in booklet on Friday April 8.
3. Book report due on Thursday April 7.
4. Math Unit 7 Quiz on Lessons one and two (Transformations and Combined Transformations) on Tuesday April 12.
5. Jump Rope for Heart pledge envelopes were distributed today.
Today we made partner pairs for a Social Studies culminating activity. Students will have time in class to fill in their own 2 sided organizer using internet resources. Each partner will hand in their own organizer for evaluation. Together the partners will use the organizers to build a PowerPoint presentation on their topic which they present together as well. I hope the students use their new skills from the Planet project to improve the depth and complexity of the PowerPoint and the presentation. Class time is given for research, but some personal time will also be required. Books are a very good research source in addition to internet sources. Remember that Wikipedia has no author and should be used sparingly. Paraphrasing is also a must to avoid direct copying from another's work.
Tuesday HW
1. Math HW book pages 100-101.
2. Constellation project is due on Monday April 11 in good copy form.
3. Diary of an Astronaut due on Friday April 8.
4. Book report due on April 7.
5. Earth Rangers toonie needed for presentation. Please bring it in tomorrow.
More than a dozen of each of the last two test packs have not been returned by the due dates (April 1 and March 25) with corrections and a parent signature. I spent PM recess helping students record this information in their agendas so that they can be returned tomorrow. It's important that results are shared with parents and returned in a timely way. Thank you for your cooperation.
Monday HW
1. Math HW book pages 98-99. I mistakenly assigned the next two pages on Friday evening.
2. Math Text pages 254-55 # 1 to 5. We have worked for nearly two periods on numbers one to three in class. Students are encouraged to make clear, neat coordinate grids with a ruler, plot the transformations using tracing paper and describe the pransformations thoroughly with these details: Type, Direction and Amount/Location.
3. Constellation project is due on Monday April 11 in good copy form.
4. Book report due on April 7.
5. Earth Rangers toonie needed for presentation. Please bring it in tomorrow.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Week of March 28 to April 1, 2011
Thursday HW
1. Write 1 of the two pages of your constellation story in rough draft form for your Space assignment. Remember that a good story includes characters, a setting and a problem with a solution.
2. Earth Rangers toonie. Presentation is on April 6. I need to submit our class fee by April 5.
3. Test pack signed and corrected for Friday.
4. Book Report due on April 7.
5. Grade 6 Feeder School Internet Safety and Parent Information Session on Thursday April 14, 2011 at 7 PM in the Runnymede Public School library. Flyer went home on Tuesday March 29th.
Thursday ended in a bit of a whirlwind with our Drama leadership presentation after lunch. We did not have time to write an agenda since the students had to get to a French test as quickly as possible. I delivered the homework assignment verbally.
I thought the students performed well in the workshop. Further to that I also received positive feedback from our VP Mr. Kanalec and Ms. Ballanger this week regarding our class's behaviour in the halls and elsewhere which is always good to hear. Way to go boys and girls!
Wednesday HW
1. Earth Rangers toonie. Presentation is on April 6. I need to submit our class fee by April 5.
2. Test pack signed and corrected for Friday.
3. Math Unit 6 test on Thursday, March 31.
4. Book Report due on April 7.
5. Language Power pages 29-31. We had 15 minutes to start this in class today.
6. Social Studies booklet page 6.
7. Grade 6 Feeder School Internet Safety and Parent Information Session on Thursday April 14, 2011 at 7 PM in the Runnymede Public School library. Flyer went home on Tuesday March 29th.
8. Math Text book page 251 # 3,4,5,6. We worked through most of number 3 in class. Nearly a dozen students did not complete their homework book fully from Tuesday night.
Tuesday HW
1. Earth Rangers toonie. Presentation is on April 6. I need to submit our class fee by April 5.
2. Test pack signed and corrected for Friday.
3. Math Unit 6 test on Thursday, March 31.
4. Book Report due on April 7.
5. Language Power pages 24-28. We had 20 minutes to start this in class today.
6. Math HW book pages 96-97.
7. Grade 6 Feeder School Internet Safety and Parent Information Session on Thursday April 14, 2011 at 7 PM in the Runnymede Public School library. Flyer went home on Tuesday March 29th.
Monday HW
1. Main and Supporting Details quiz tomorrow.
2. Test pack signed and corrected for Friday.
3. Math Unit 6 Test on Thursday March 31.
4. Book Report due Thursday April 7.
5. Toonie Tuesday for Japanese earthquake relief.
1. Write 1 of the two pages of your constellation story in rough draft form for your Space assignment. Remember that a good story includes characters, a setting and a problem with a solution.
2. Earth Rangers toonie. Presentation is on April 6. I need to submit our class fee by April 5.
3. Test pack signed and corrected for Friday.
4. Book Report due on April 7.
5. Grade 6 Feeder School Internet Safety and Parent Information Session on Thursday April 14, 2011 at 7 PM in the Runnymede Public School library. Flyer went home on Tuesday March 29th.
Thursday ended in a bit of a whirlwind with our Drama leadership presentation after lunch. We did not have time to write an agenda since the students had to get to a French test as quickly as possible. I delivered the homework assignment verbally.
I thought the students performed well in the workshop. Further to that I also received positive feedback from our VP Mr. Kanalec and Ms. Ballanger this week regarding our class's behaviour in the halls and elsewhere which is always good to hear. Way to go boys and girls!
Wednesday HW
1. Earth Rangers toonie. Presentation is on April 6. I need to submit our class fee by April 5.
2. Test pack signed and corrected for Friday.
3. Math Unit 6 test on Thursday, March 31.
4. Book Report due on April 7.
5. Language Power pages 29-31. We had 15 minutes to start this in class today.
6. Social Studies booklet page 6.
7. Grade 6 Feeder School Internet Safety and Parent Information Session on Thursday April 14, 2011 at 7 PM in the Runnymede Public School library. Flyer went home on Tuesday March 29th.
8. Math Text book page 251 # 3,4,5,6. We worked through most of number 3 in class. Nearly a dozen students did not complete their homework book fully from Tuesday night.
Tuesday HW
1. Earth Rangers toonie. Presentation is on April 6. I need to submit our class fee by April 5.
2. Test pack signed and corrected for Friday.
3. Math Unit 6 test on Thursday, March 31.
4. Book Report due on April 7.
5. Language Power pages 24-28. We had 20 minutes to start this in class today.
6. Math HW book pages 96-97.
7. Grade 6 Feeder School Internet Safety and Parent Information Session on Thursday April 14, 2011 at 7 PM in the Runnymede Public School library. Flyer went home on Tuesday March 29th.
Monday HW
1. Main and Supporting Details quiz tomorrow.
2. Test pack signed and corrected for Friday.
3. Math Unit 6 Test on Thursday March 31.
4. Book Report due Thursday April 7.
5. Toonie Tuesday for Japanese earthquake relief.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Week of March 21-25, 2011
Thursday HW
1. Japan Earthquake relief efforts:
a) Toonie Tuesday March 29
b) Cookie sale, $2.00 each, from April 6 to April 8
2. There is an Earth Rangers performance on April 6. Students are asked to contribute $2.00 as a donation to the organization. Please bring in your donation on Thursday April 1.
3. Planet powerpoint due in class on Friday. Each student had opportunities to use computers in class today. Please hand it in to me digitally when you have completed it. We will have had generous time in class which has come to an end today. Students who have not finished will have to make arrangements to complete the work at home. We will bvegin presented them to the class on the Smart board beginning next week.
4. Main and supporting details quiz on Tuesday March 30. Students had in-class highlighter work corrected today and received a quiz practice sheet which they completed in class today as well. Any unfinished work or quiz practice is considered homework. This activity represents our fourth follow-up activity on Main Idea and Inferences since "The Other Side" diagnostic activity was returned to students.
Wednesday HW
1. Japan Earthquake relief efforts:
a) Toonie Tuesday March 29
b) Cookie sale, $2 from April 6 to April 8
2. Diamante poem good copy is due in class tomorrow.
3. Planet powerpoint due in class on Friday. Each student had opportunities to use computers in class today. Please hand it in to me digitally if you have completed it. We will have a large time period tomorrow to work on it as well.
Tuesday HW
1. Japan Earthquake relief efforts:
a) Toonie Tuesday March 29
b) Cookie sale, $2 from April 6 to April 8
2. Five Sense poem and haiku good copies are due in class tomorrow.
3. Rough Draft of Diamante poem in class for tomorrow.
4. Planet powerpoint due in class on Friday. Each student had opportunities to use computers in class today and during the homework club at lunch. Please hand it in to me digitally if you have completed it.
Monday HW
1. Math quiz tomorrow on Unit 6 Lessons 8 and 9 ( capacity/volume and relating units of mass). This is mostly a conversion quiz. The two main conversions we did focussed on multiplying a given unit by 1000 or by 0.001 depending on which direction the conversion was going. Calculators are permitted but recall that these calculations are mental math from an earlier unit. We also focussed on memorizing three baseline conversions found at the bottom of page 233 of the math text and repeated on page 92 of the homework book.
2. Gather some colourful magazine pictures for your nature-based Haiku poem.
3. Planet powerpoint due on Friday. Each student had a period today to work on the computers and will receive more time each day until Friday.
1. Japan Earthquake relief efforts:
a) Toonie Tuesday March 29
b) Cookie sale, $2.00 each, from April 6 to April 8
2. There is an Earth Rangers performance on April 6. Students are asked to contribute $2.00 as a donation to the organization. Please bring in your donation on Thursday April 1.
3. Planet powerpoint due in class on Friday. Each student had opportunities to use computers in class today. Please hand it in to me digitally when you have completed it. We will have had generous time in class which has come to an end today. Students who have not finished will have to make arrangements to complete the work at home. We will bvegin presented them to the class on the Smart board beginning next week.
4. Main and supporting details quiz on Tuesday March 30. Students had in-class highlighter work corrected today and received a quiz practice sheet which they completed in class today as well. Any unfinished work or quiz practice is considered homework. This activity represents our fourth follow-up activity on Main Idea and Inferences since "The Other Side" diagnostic activity was returned to students.
Wednesday HW
1. Japan Earthquake relief efforts:
a) Toonie Tuesday March 29
b) Cookie sale, $2 from April 6 to April 8
2. Diamante poem good copy is due in class tomorrow.
3. Planet powerpoint due in class on Friday. Each student had opportunities to use computers in class today. Please hand it in to me digitally if you have completed it. We will have a large time period tomorrow to work on it as well.
Tuesday HW
1. Japan Earthquake relief efforts:
a) Toonie Tuesday March 29
b) Cookie sale, $2 from April 6 to April 8
2. Five Sense poem and haiku good copies are due in class tomorrow.
3. Rough Draft of Diamante poem in class for tomorrow.
4. Planet powerpoint due in class on Friday. Each student had opportunities to use computers in class today and during the homework club at lunch. Please hand it in to me digitally if you have completed it.
Monday HW
1. Math quiz tomorrow on Unit 6 Lessons 8 and 9 ( capacity/volume and relating units of mass). This is mostly a conversion quiz. The two main conversions we did focussed on multiplying a given unit by 1000 or by 0.001 depending on which direction the conversion was going. Calculators are permitted but recall that these calculations are mental math from an earlier unit. We also focussed on memorizing three baseline conversions found at the bottom of page 233 of the math text and repeated on page 92 of the homework book.
2. Gather some colourful magazine pictures for your nature-based Haiku poem.
3. Planet powerpoint due on Friday. Each student had a period today to work on the computers and will receive more time each day until Friday.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Week of March 7 - 11, 2011
(Please see last week's archived blog post on the right for the projected week of work if you are leaving early for March break.)
Friday HW:
1. Measurement 4 quiz on Tuesday March 22. Study lessons 8 and 9 (Capacity and Relating units of mass). You should memorize a few of the baseline conversions we highlighted in class.
2. Planet research for Powerpoint. Due Friday, March 25. We will have several in class periods to use both the laptops and desktops to complete this work. Homework club time and recess is also avaialble for those who need extra time.
3. On Monday March 21 in the afternoon we will have a Scientists in School presentation on Electricity.
Today during one of our indoor recess times a pillow we use for carpet reading comfort burst open due to some inappropriate behaviour. I can accept that accidents happen. However I did want to know how it happened but no one would own up to their actions. After inviting students to approach me discreetly I still had no serious takers on my offer. As a character education moment for honesty and respect I think the students should revisit the event in discussion with their parents over the break, as we did in class today. I would appreciate it. Thank you.
Thursday HW
1. Measurement 4 quiz on Tuesday March 22. Study lessons 8 and 9 (Capacity and Relating units of mass). You should memorize a few of the baseline conversions we highlighted in class.\
2. Math HW book pages 94-95.
3. Finish Main and Supporting details practice sheet.
4. Planet research for Powerpoint. Due Friday, March 25.
5. Sign and correct test pack # 1 for term 2 and return by Friday March 11.
Wednesday HW
1. Planet research for Powerpoint. Due Friday March 25.
2. Sign and correct test pack # 1 for term 2 and return by Friday March 11.
3. Measurement 4 quiz on Tuesday March 22. Study lessons 8 and 9 (Capacity and Relating units of mass). You should memorize a few of the baseline conversions we highlighted in class.
4. Scientist in School on Monday March 21.
Tuesday HW
1. Planet research for Powerpoint. 10 students had a very good opportunity today during the Tafelmusik outing to work on this in class. This means there wil be more access available when the class returns.
2. There is a pizza lunch tomorrow for our class for Engineering month. We eat early at about 11:10 in the primary cafeteria. Students have a regular lunch break and can go home for lunchas well or stay in the cafeteria.
3. Today's quiz went better than the previous ones. Students still however are reluctant to organize their work in the manner they are being taught. Lots of shortcuts are in evidence. I think we caught that during the quiz. The previous quizzes are not going to be re-tested. I will review the concepts and correct with the students, but they will not be re-quizzed. There is a unit test where they can show their improved comprehension.
4. Sign and correct test pack # 1 for term 2 and return by Friday March 11.
Monday HW
1. Planet research for Powerpoint work.
2. Measurement quiz #3 tomorrow on Lessons 6 and 7 of Unit six. Students should review questions on Volume (including knowing the formula) and on the Cubic Metre (expecially concerning the correct units).
3. Sign and correct test pack # 1 for term 2 and return by Friday March 11. The test pack contains two reading activities: one on space and a diagnostic on inferencing. It also contains the two recent Measurement quizzes which were a struggle for parts of the class and will result in some reteaching on spot sections at recess for individual groups of students. I expected the surface area work to be a bit soft, but the time zone and 24 h clock results took me aback somewhat.
4. Correction for "The Other Side" diagnostic. This material is in the test pack along with descriptive feedback. We are focussing on Success Criteria for inferencing as a school. Students are expected to discern the author's message, make a conclusion, cite proof (quote or paraphrase) and make a connection. All four elements are required to meet the standard.
We have had direct teaching about it this year (the APE strategy and today's Powerpoint work for example) and this arc represents more efforts to move the class forward in their "reading for meaning" responses. Students are expected to put to use the techniques introduced in this arc of lessons on subsequent marked materials.
Friday HW:
1. Measurement 4 quiz on Tuesday March 22. Study lessons 8 and 9 (Capacity and Relating units of mass). You should memorize a few of the baseline conversions we highlighted in class.
2. Planet research for Powerpoint. Due Friday, March 25. We will have several in class periods to use both the laptops and desktops to complete this work. Homework club time and recess is also avaialble for those who need extra time.
3. On Monday March 21 in the afternoon we will have a Scientists in School presentation on Electricity.
Today during one of our indoor recess times a pillow we use for carpet reading comfort burst open due to some inappropriate behaviour. I can accept that accidents happen. However I did want to know how it happened but no one would own up to their actions. After inviting students to approach me discreetly I still had no serious takers on my offer. As a character education moment for honesty and respect I think the students should revisit the event in discussion with their parents over the break, as we did in class today. I would appreciate it. Thank you.
Thursday HW
1. Measurement 4 quiz on Tuesday March 22. Study lessons 8 and 9 (Capacity and Relating units of mass). You should memorize a few of the baseline conversions we highlighted in class.\
2. Math HW book pages 94-95.
3. Finish Main and Supporting details practice sheet.
4. Planet research for Powerpoint. Due Friday, March 25.
5. Sign and correct test pack # 1 for term 2 and return by Friday March 11.
Wednesday HW
1. Planet research for Powerpoint. Due Friday March 25.
2. Sign and correct test pack # 1 for term 2 and return by Friday March 11.
3. Measurement 4 quiz on Tuesday March 22. Study lessons 8 and 9 (Capacity and Relating units of mass). You should memorize a few of the baseline conversions we highlighted in class.
4. Scientist in School on Monday March 21.
Tuesday HW
1. Planet research for Powerpoint. 10 students had a very good opportunity today during the Tafelmusik outing to work on this in class. This means there wil be more access available when the class returns.
2. There is a pizza lunch tomorrow for our class for Engineering month. We eat early at about 11:10 in the primary cafeteria. Students have a regular lunch break and can go home for lunchas well or stay in the cafeteria.
3. Today's quiz went better than the previous ones. Students still however are reluctant to organize their work in the manner they are being taught. Lots of shortcuts are in evidence. I think we caught that during the quiz. The previous quizzes are not going to be re-tested. I will review the concepts and correct with the students, but they will not be re-quizzed. There is a unit test where they can show their improved comprehension.
4. Sign and correct test pack # 1 for term 2 and return by Friday March 11.
Monday HW
1. Planet research for Powerpoint work.
2. Measurement quiz #3 tomorrow on Lessons 6 and 7 of Unit six. Students should review questions on Volume (including knowing the formula) and on the Cubic Metre (expecially concerning the correct units).
3. Sign and correct test pack # 1 for term 2 and return by Friday March 11. The test pack contains two reading activities: one on space and a diagnostic on inferencing. It also contains the two recent Measurement quizzes which were a struggle for parts of the class and will result in some reteaching on spot sections at recess for individual groups of students. I expected the surface area work to be a bit soft, but the time zone and 24 h clock results took me aback somewhat.
4. Correction for "The Other Side" diagnostic. This material is in the test pack along with descriptive feedback. We are focussing on Success Criteria for inferencing as a school. Students are expected to discern the author's message, make a conclusion, cite proof (quote or paraphrase) and make a connection. All four elements are required to meet the standard.
We have had direct teaching about it this year (the APE strategy and today's Powerpoint work for example) and this arc represents more efforts to move the class forward in their "reading for meaning" responses. Students are expected to put to use the techniques introduced in this arc of lessons on subsequent marked materials.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Week of February 28 - March 4, 2011
Work for students who are leaving early for March Break (week of March 7-11):
Below is a list of things we will start and hopefully complete next week. Specific days are not assigned to each activity -- this represents my best guess as to how much of my long range plan will be achieved next week. Some handouts are available. Other activities are unique to the classroom experience.
Math:
a) Finish pages 234-35 # 1-7; b) Quiz on Tuesday; c) Lesson 9 'Relating Units of Mass' introduced and practice questions assigned on text pages 240-41 #1-11 and in the the HW book pp. 94-95 (we have balance scales in class); d) quiz on Lessons 8 and 9 on Tuesday March 22.
Science:
a) Space Planet powerpoint (notetaking and assembly); b) Booklet pages 12 and 13.
Language:
a) Poetry activities from our orange books; b) nature haiku poem; c) opposites diamante poem; d) 'Diary of an Astronaut' writing; e) main and supporting details study; f) inferencing activities using modelled responses based on "The Other Side" reading passage.
Art:
a) Norval Morrisseau First Nations art enlargement.
Friday HW
1. Math Quiz Measurement 3.0 on Lessons 6 and 7 (Volume and the Cubic Metre) on Tuesday March 8.
2. We have a Scientists in School presentation on March 21 after the break.
3. Tafelmusik forms.
4. Gather jot notes about the planet you were assigned for the Space Powerpoint assignment.
1. Math HW Book pages 92-93.
2. Tafelmusik forms.
3. Pourquoi tale due tomorrow in good copy form (in pen or typed) by 10:35 AM. We have 2 periods in the morning to finish it off.
4. Math Measurement Quiz 3.0 on Lessons 6 and 7 ( Volume and the Cubic Metre) on Tuesday March 8.
5. We have a Scientists in School presentation on electricity in class on Monday March 21.
Wednesday HW
1. Math Journal: half a page on today's capacity demo and a list of three conversions from page 233 at the bottom.
2. Math Quiz Unit 6 lessons 3 and 5 on money and surface area. Students should be prepared to add and subtract money using concepts such as balances, deposits and withdrawals. They should also be able to construct a net for a solid and calculate its surface area with the step by step process that uses subtitles, formulas and correct unts.
3. Space booklet page 12.
4. We have a Scientists in School presentation on Electricity on March 21.
Tuesday HW
1. Good copy of Space Free Verse poem due in class for tomorrow. It can be in pen or typed.
2. Unit 6 Lessons 3 and 5 Quiz on Thursday March 3. (Money and Surface Area).
3. Cubic Metre Homework:
Text page 230 #1 to 6.
HW Book pages 90-91.
Monday HW
1. Math Quiz Unit 6 Lessons 1 and 2 (Time Zones and the 24 hour clock). Tuesday March 1.
2. Math Quiz 2 Unit 6 lessons 3 and 5 ( Money and Surface Area). Thursday March 3.
3. Finish your organizer for the free verse poem. Write a 12-20 line rough draft of the poem in your Writing notebook.
4. Danceathon is tomorrow at 2:15 to 3:00.
Below is a list of things we will start and hopefully complete next week. Specific days are not assigned to each activity -- this represents my best guess as to how much of my long range plan will be achieved next week. Some handouts are available. Other activities are unique to the classroom experience.
Math:
a) Finish pages 234-35 # 1-7; b) Quiz on Tuesday; c) Lesson 9 'Relating Units of Mass' introduced and practice questions assigned on text pages 240-41 #1-11 and in the the HW book pp. 94-95 (we have balance scales in class); d) quiz on Lessons 8 and 9 on Tuesday March 22.
Science:
a) Space Planet powerpoint (notetaking and assembly); b) Booklet pages 12 and 13.
Language:
a) Poetry activities from our orange books; b) nature haiku poem; c) opposites diamante poem; d) 'Diary of an Astronaut' writing; e) main and supporting details study; f) inferencing activities using modelled responses based on "The Other Side" reading passage.
Art:
a) Norval Morrisseau First Nations art enlargement.
Friday HW
1. Math Quiz Measurement 3.0 on Lessons 6 and 7 (Volume and the Cubic Metre) on Tuesday March 8.
2. We have a Scientists in School presentation on March 21 after the break.
3. Tafelmusik forms.
4. Gather jot notes about the planet you were assigned for the Space Powerpoint assignment.
- Students have access to my web page links at http://www.areynolds.org/ and can record notes on the Space booklet on pages 15 and 17 which is right after the topic sheet on page 14.
- The topic sheet should provide the on requirements and detail needed to start work on information gathering. The only major change is that we are using Powerpoint rather than Hyperstudio. Students had access to computers today to do research and will have access to computers to complete the Powerpoint in class. Students who work very slowly will likely have to do additional work on their own time or during homework club times. A USB stick would be useful to have in class during this time.
- The due date has not yet been set, but I am looking at about one week after the March Break.
1. Math HW Book pages 92-93.
2. Tafelmusik forms.
3. Pourquoi tale due tomorrow in good copy form (in pen or typed) by 10:35 AM. We have 2 periods in the morning to finish it off.
4. Math Measurement Quiz 3.0 on Lessons 6 and 7 ( Volume and the Cubic Metre) on Tuesday March 8.
5. We have a Scientists in School presentation on electricity in class on Monday March 21.
1. Math Journal: half a page on today's capacity demo and a list of three conversions from page 233 at the bottom.
2. Math Quiz Unit 6 lessons 3 and 5 on money and surface area. Students should be prepared to add and subtract money using concepts such as balances, deposits and withdrawals. They should also be able to construct a net for a solid and calculate its surface area with the step by step process that uses subtitles, formulas and correct unts.
3. Space booklet page 12.
4. We have a Scientists in School presentation on Electricity on March 21.
1. Good copy of Space Free Verse poem due in class for tomorrow. It can be in pen or typed.
2. Unit 6 Lessons 3 and 5 Quiz on Thursday March 3. (Money and Surface Area).
3. Cubic Metre Homework:
Text page 230 #1 to 6.
HW Book pages 90-91.
1. Math Quiz Unit 6 Lessons 1 and 2 (Time Zones and the 24 hour clock). Tuesday March 1.
2. Math Quiz 2 Unit 6 lessons 3 and 5 ( Money and Surface Area). Thursday March 3.
3. Finish your organizer for the free verse poem. Write a 12-20 line rough draft of the poem in your Writing notebook.
4. Danceathon is tomorrow at 2:15 to 3:00.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Week of February 22-25, 2011
Friday HW
1. Find out the meaning of the Space word you selected today. Be ready to write about it in a free verse poem on Monday. Pay attention to the use of strong verbs and adjectives when you are drafting the poem Monday.
2. Measurement Quiz on Tuesday March 1. Unit 6, Lessons 1 and 2 (Time Zones and the 24 h clock).
Thursday HW
Today's Cross Country ski day was very successful! Every student I spoke had a strongly favourable response and we received many compliments from the Hardwood staff about our students and their great behaviour. Well done boys and girls!
Wednesday HW
1. Book report due on Friday.
2. Ski Trip tomorrow. Please arrive at school dressed for the trip at 7:30 AM. Meet the class outside Ms. McGill's room at the benches.
Today we worked on inferencing skills and summarizing in an analysis of "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening". We also continued our discussion of types of measurement (linear, square, cubic) and built a model of a cubic metre using newspapers. In the afternoon we introduced a new Bitstrips assignment on Jazz Giants.
Tuesday HW
1. Math text pages 226-27 # 1 - 7.
2. Math HW book page 89.
3. Language: Complex sentences pages 3,4,5,and 6 from the booklet. Please return this booklet to class for corrections.
4. Book report is due on Friday this week.
Monday HW
No School today -- Family Day holiday.
1. Find out the meaning of the Space word you selected today. Be ready to write about it in a free verse poem on Monday. Pay attention to the use of strong verbs and adjectives when you are drafting the poem Monday.
2. Measurement Quiz on Tuesday March 1. Unit 6, Lessons 1 and 2 (Time Zones and the 24 h clock).
Thursday HW
Today's Cross Country ski day was very successful! Every student I spoke had a strongly favourable response and we received many compliments from the Hardwood staff about our students and their great behaviour. Well done boys and girls!
Wednesday HW
1. Book report due on Friday.
2. Ski Trip tomorrow. Please arrive at school dressed for the trip at 7:30 AM. Meet the class outside Ms. McGill's room at the benches.
Today we worked on inferencing skills and summarizing in an analysis of "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening". We also continued our discussion of types of measurement (linear, square, cubic) and built a model of a cubic metre using newspapers. In the afternoon we introduced a new Bitstrips assignment on Jazz Giants.
Tuesday HW
1. Math text pages 226-27 # 1 - 7.
2. Math HW book page 89.
3. Language: Complex sentences pages 3,4,5,and 6 from the booklet. Please return this booklet to class for corrections.
4. Book report is due on Friday this week.
Monday HW
No School today -- Family Day holiday.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Week of February 14-18, 2011
Wednesday HW
1. Interview requests, parent/student response slips and envelopes returned ASAP. Thanks!
2. Dance presented in gym class tomorrow afternoon.
3. Math HW Book page 87. More than 80% of the group did not show work in their HW book problem last night. I strongly encourage students to use a clear problem solving strategy and record it, either by using my model or by using chart models shown in the texts.
4. Math Text pages 222-223 # 2 to 8. We've worked on these in class for 2.5 periods. They should be complete by Tuesday morning.
5. Book report due on February 25.
6. Space Booklet page 8.
7. First Nations booklet page 5.
8. Pledgelopes for danceathon are being collected by parent volunteers on an ongoing basis.
Tuesday HW
1. Interview Request and parent/student response slips back ASAP.
2. Envelopes for report cards should also be returned.
3. Math HW Book page 86 only. This is a challenging concept. Students should follow a structured solution process of the sort we practiced in class today. They may need an extra piece of paper to fully record their work.
4. Science Space booklet page 7. Started in class today.
Monday HW
1. Report Cards go home today. Please return interview requests ASAP. Thanks! PD day for interviews on Friday Feb. 18. No school that day.
2. Book Reports due February 25. Work on reading/rough draft work.
3. Teamwork or Fairness Bitstrip cartoon due next day 2 (Tuesday February 22).
1. Interview requests, parent/student response slips and envelopes returned ASAP. Thanks!
2. Dance presented in gym class tomorrow afternoon.
3. Math HW Book page 87. More than 80% of the group did not show work in their HW book problem last night. I strongly encourage students to use a clear problem solving strategy and record it, either by using my model or by using chart models shown in the texts.
4. Math Text pages 222-223 # 2 to 8. We've worked on these in class for 2.5 periods. They should be complete by Tuesday morning.
5. Book report due on February 25.
6. Space Booklet page 8.
7. First Nations booklet page 5.
8. Pledgelopes for danceathon are being collected by parent volunteers on an ongoing basis.
Tuesday HW
1. Interview Request and parent/student response slips back ASAP.
2. Envelopes for report cards should also be returned.
3. Math HW Book page 86 only. This is a challenging concept. Students should follow a structured solution process of the sort we practiced in class today. They may need an extra piece of paper to fully record their work.
4. Science Space booklet page 7. Started in class today.
Monday HW
1. Report Cards go home today. Please return interview requests ASAP. Thanks! PD day for interviews on Friday Feb. 18. No school that day.
2. Book Reports due February 25. Work on reading/rough draft work.
3. Teamwork or Fairness Bitstrip cartoon due next day 2 (Tuesday February 22).