Week of December 19 - 23, 2016

Wednesday HW
1.  Secret Santa on Thursday
2.  Snacks (fruit, veggies, cookies, brownies -- no chips, popcorn, Doritos) and drinks for Thursday PM.  I suggest bringing your own plastic cup to reduce our waste footprint.
3.  Extended French forms sent home today.
4.  Math Quiz on Mean. Median and Mode on Thursday AM.

** The painted pages are done for the Dear World Letter.  Students had a period today to work on a formal letter to the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change after receiving some direct teaching about the structure and content of the letter and the addresses for the school and the Minister.  We should be nearly done tomorrow or at the latest on Friday.


Tuesday HW
1.  Secret Santa on Thursday
2.  Snacks (fruit, veggies, cookies, brownies -- no chips, popcorn, Doritos) and drinks for Thursday PM.  I suggest bringing your own plastic cup to reduce oor waste footprint.
3.  Classification chart due tomorrow in rough form.  We worked on it today for 40 minutes.
4.  Math Quiz on Mean. Median and Mode on Thursday AM.

** The Endangered Animal project was meant to be due tomorrow.  We are close, but not quite there, so the due date is shifted to Friday.  We will spend a day tomorrow wrapping up the narrative, the Dear World letter and the Classification tree.  We will introduce the formal letter tomorrow as well.   Students should make sure they have their bristle board or display board (I have no preference) in class tomorrow or Thursday for mounting.

Week of December 12 - 16, 2016

Tuesday HW
I assigned no homework again tonight in view of the Inquiry due date coming up on Thursday this week.  Students should be prepared to hand in their presentation in class on that day.  Most will submit their work in the Google classroom unless the presentation is a paper-media or otherwise not able to be uploaded there.  Presentations will begin shortly afterwards.

1.  Food and Toy Drive items.  We have had a steady flow of donations.
2.  Secret Santa choices.  $10 maximum.

Monday HW
I assigned no homework tonight in view of the Inquiry due date coming up on Thursday this week.  Students should be prepared to hand in their presentation in class on that day.  Presentations will begin shortly afterwards.

1.  Food and Toy Drive items.  We have had a steady flow of donations.
2.  Secret Santa choices.  $10 maximum.

Week of December 5 - 9, 2016

Thursday HW
1.  I will be collecting three inquiry organizer sheets tomorrow by the end of the end.
2.  Inquiry due December 15.
3.  Endangered Animal work due December 21.
4.  Food and Toy drive items.
5.  Secret Santa has been proposed by the students.  They suggested a $10 limit.  I reminded them that they need to run it by parents and that hard feelings have to be set aside. Please let me know via the agenda if there are any concerns you might have, or if you wish to withdraw your child from participating.  As of you nothing is finalized and no partners have been assigned.

Tuesday HW
1.  Book report due Thursday December 8.
2.  Inquiry due December 15.
3.  Endangered Animal work due December 21.
4.  Food and Toy drive items.
5.  MMS pages 70-71

Monday HW
1.  Book report due Thursday December 8.
2.  Inquiry due December 15.
3.  Endangered Animal work due December 21.
4.  Food and Toy drive items.

Week of November 28 - December 2, 2016

** Note:  Friday December 2 is PA day.  

There is no school for students that day.  

See you Monday, December 5! **

Thursday HW
1.  Book Report due on Thursday December 8.
2.  Student parliament Food and toy drive starts tomorrow.
3.  ABC Organizer on Space due in class on Monday.
4.  Scholastic forms were handed out today.  The orders are due on Friday December 9.
No cash please -- only cheques made out to Scholastic Canada Ltd.

Wednesday HW
1.  New Unit:  Data Management.  MMS pp 68-69
2.  Book Report due on Thursday December 8.
3.  Student parliament Food and toy drive starts tomorrow.
4.  Scholastic forms were handed out today.  The orders are due on Friday December 9.
No cash please -- only cheques made out to Scholastic Canada Ltd.

Tuesday HW
1.  Book Report due on Thursday December 8.
2.  Scholastic forms were handed out today.  The orders are due on Friday December 9.
No cash please -- only cheques made out to Scholastic Canada Ltd.

Still Missing eight Behind the Door Stories

Monday HW
1.  Geometry unit test tomorrow.  Use the study sheets you received earlier in the unit.
2.  Book Report due on Thursday December 8.
3.  "Behind The Door" writing due tomorrow, shared with me so that I can print it.
4.  Scholastic forms were handed out today.  The orders are due on Friday December 9.
No cash please -- only cheques made out to Scholastic Canada Ltd.

Week of November 21 - 25, 2016

Friday HW
1.  Book Report reading and planning -- due on December 8, 2016
2.  Endangered Animal research -- due on December 21.
3.  Spelling Dictation Monday, November 28
4.  Geometry Unit Test Tuesday, November 29

Thursday HW
1.  Book Report reading and planning -- due on December 8, 2016
2.  Endangered Animal research -- due on December 21.
3.  MMS pages 42-43.  We had small group Math conferences today with a focus on number talk, isometric drawing and homework correction.
4.  The "Behind the Door" story had a final writing day using laptops in class today.  The good copy, stored in each student's Google Drive, is due for printing by me on Tuesday, November 29.  Students can access their Drives from home by typing aw.tdsb.on.ca into their browsers and then logging in using their TDSB credentials (student number and password)
4.  Superhero hero dress-up day on Friday.
5.  Pizza Lunch on Friday.
6.  Electronics reward day on Friday afternoon (2 periods) for Terry Fox fundraising.  Please do not bring things you will regret losing or breaking.  The school cannot be responsible for lost, stolen, broken or misplaced items.  Social media use in class, unwelcome messaging or video recording of peers, and viewing questionable online videos/webpages are not permitted.  This afternoon is about reading e-books, playing games (that are not rated 'M for Mature'), or using apps.  If I see something questionable, I have to act on it.

Wednesday HW
1.  Book Report reading and planning -- due on December 8, 2016
2.  Endangered Animal research -- due on December 21.
3.  Superhero hero dress-up day on Friday.
4.  Pizza Lunch on Friday.
5.  Electronics reward day on Friday afternoon (2 periods) for Terry Fox fundraising.  Please do not bring things you will regret losing or breaking.  The school cannot be responsible for lost, stolen, broken or misplaced items.  Social media use in class, unwelcome messaging or video recording of peers, and viewing questionable online videos/webpages are not permitted.  This afternoon is about reading e-books, playing games (that are not rated 'M for Mature'), or using apps.  If I see something questionable, I have to act on it.

Tuesday HW
* Nine students stayed for homework club last night -- great!
** Eleven students did not have their 'Treasure Chest' Social Studies homework done or even in class.  These are checks that I use to help form Learning Skills scores.

1.  Book Report reading and planning -- due on December 8, 2016
2.  Endangered Animal research -- due on December 21.
3.  MMS pages 40-41.  Marking of Monday's quiz is ongoing.
4.  Superhero hero dress-up day on Friday.
5.  Pizza Lunch on Friday.
6.  Electronics reward day on Friday afternoon (2 periods) for Terry Fox fundraising.  Please do not bring things you will regret losing or breaking.  The school cannot be responsible for lost, stolen, broken or misplaced items.  Social media use in class, unwelcome messaging or video recording of peers, and viewing questionable online videos/webpages are not permitted.  This afternoon is about reading e-books, playing games (that are not rated 'M for Mature'), or using apps.  If I see something questionable, I have to act on it.


Monday HW
1.  Book Report reading and planning -- due on December 8, 2016
2.  Endangered Animal research -- due on December 21.
3.  Social Studies response in your Journal (double spaced, minimum half a page):
"Is it good to have connections with other countries?  Why, or why not?  Why should we know about these connections?"

Week of November 14 - 18, 2016

Notes:

• On Tuesday the Progress Report Card goes home.  I am ready to meet with all parents this term.
• Friday is a PA day for report card interviews.  There is no school for students on that day.

Thursday HW
1.  Math Geometry quiz on Monday November 21 -- Unit 3, Lessons 1, 2, and 4.  There is a study sheet that was shared with all students, in addition to the Quick Review in their MMS homework books.
2.  Literature Circles Monday -- Green group, and maybe the red group.
3.  Library book exchange on Monday.

Tuesday HW
1.  MMS pages 38-39.  It is a good idea to purchase your own compass for Math.  I provide board issued ones and they are very flimsy, creating significant frustration for those who can least manage it.
2.  Spelling text work:  page 35, # 1,2,3; page 36 # 4 and the Challenge; page 36 -- ABC organizer for Space.  The organizer should have illustrations for at least 11 of the 26 alphabet letters.  An entire period was allotted for this work today.
3.  Math Geometry quiz on Monday November 21 -- Unit 3, Lessons 1, 2, and 4.  There is a study sheet that was shared with all students, in addition to the Quick Review in their MMS homework books.
4.  Inquiry organizer # 2 is due for review tomorrow.

Monday HW
1.  MMS pages 36-37.
2.  Return any interview request forms.
Thank you very much for your generous poppy donations for the veterans of Canada's Armed Forces.  Our class continues to show their best side in every fundraising drive for people in need.

Week of November 7 - 11, 2016

Thursday HW
1.  Return Interview Request form to schedule a visit with me.  They were sent home Monday.  The times on Thursday from 5 to 7 PM are nearly full.  I have a large class so I am scheduling 10 minute visits.  I will do my best to keep to the timelines with your cooperation.
One extra bit of information was omitted from the letter regarding rotary teacher interview requests (e.g., French, PE, Band, Drama, Dance, Strings):
"If you would like a conference with one of your child’s rotary teachers, please contact the specific teacher by email. (TDSB email: Teacher’s First Name. Teacher’s Last Name@TDSB.ON.CA.)  Rotary Teachers will be available Thursday evening and Friday morning."
2.  Remembrance Day Poppy donations can be returned in the provided envelope.
3.  Organizer:  one page with the outlines of four paragraphs.  This is a second step in our critique of the play as a writing process activity.
4.  MMS pages 36-37.  Students all received a 180 degree protractor from me that they can use at school and at home.  I don't have enough to provide one for home and another for school so the kids have to bring them back each day.  We used 360 degree protractors in class, but I also showed them how to find and make reflex angles with a half size one as well.


Wednesday HW
1.  Return Interview Request form to schedule a visit with me.  They were sent home Monday.
One extra bit of information was omitted from the letter regarding rotary teacher interview requests (e.g., French, PE, Band, Drama, Dance, Strings):
"If you would like a conference with one of your child’s rotary teachers, please contact the specific teacher by email. (TDSB email: Teacher’s First Name. Teacher’s Last Name@TDSB.ON.CA.)  Rotary Teachers will be available Thursday evening and Friday morning."
2.  Remembrance Day Poppy donations can be returned in the provided envelope.
3.  Journal:  one page, double-spaced, on your reaction to yesterday's play.  We will be writing a four paragraph critique of the play as a writing process activity.  This journal is meant as first take on the subject.  We read five professional reviews of the production today in class to get a flavour of the tone of theatre review.  Students received a rubric, learning goals and success criteria for the assignment today.

We had a lively talk this morning about the American election results.  Your children have many opinions and just as many questions.  You may wish to continue our discussion at home tonight!

Monday HW
1.  Return Interview Request form to schedule a visit with me.  They were sent home today.  One extra bit of information was omitted from the letter regarding rotary teacher interview requests (e.g., French, PE, Band, Drama, Dance, Strings):
If you would like a conference with one of your child’s rotary teachers, please contact the specific teacher by email. (TDSB email: Teacher’s First Name. Teacher’s Last Name@TDSB.ON.CA.)  Rotary Teachers will be available Thursday evening and Friday morning. 
2.  Remembrance Day Poppy donations can be returned in the provided envelope.
3.  Test pack is due on Wednesday, November 9.
4.  MMS Unit 3, Lesson 1, on pages 34-35.

Tomorrow's trip to Stratford promises to be a lot of fun.  
Here are a few reminders:

• Pack a good lunch, snack and drink.  No eating in the theatre,
• Come to class at 8:10 AM for attendance and group making.  We board the bus at 8:30 AM
• Dress for the weather.  The forecast calls for a temperature of 13 degrees and some rain showers
• Please use bathrooms before school or at school before we board the bus.
• Electronics use is okay on the BUS ONLY.  I I see them elsewhere, they will be taken and held for the duration of the trip.  A camera is a fun item to bring -- Stratford is picturesque.  Please remember that you bring these electronic items at your own risk.  The school is not responsible for lost, damaged or stolen items.  If in doubt, leave it at home.

Week of October 31 - November 4, 2016

Thursday HW
1.  Test pack # 2 was handed out.  I ask that a parent or guardian sign the top page and that the student corrects it.  It should be returned by next Wednesday, November 9.
2.  Scholastic Orders due Monday November 7.
3.  Inquiry research at home as well as at school.
4.  Literature Circle presentations start tomorrow.  Because of Library and News Journal I anticipate that we will accomplish two at best.
5.  Tomorrow is Library Book exchange.
6.  Stratford is on Tuesday, November 8.  

• Be at school by 8:10 AM at the latest for departure.  
• Pack a lunch and drink -- there is very limited food service at the Avon Theatre and no time to accommodate the school crowd.  
• Dress warmly for the weather.  It is colder there than in Toronto.
• An adult or caregiver must be present to collect the students at return in the evening -- about 7 PM.  No notes to walk home unaccompanied are acceptable.

Wednesday HW
1.  Test pack # 2 was handed out yesterday.  I ask that a parent or guardian sign the top page and that the student corrects it.  It should be returned by next Wednesday, November 9.
2.  News Journals (today's and yesterday's) with summary and opinion.
3.  Scholastic Orders due Monday November 7.
4.  Spelling Text Work:  p. 31, #4,5; p.32 #8,10,11; p. 33 # 1,2,3,4.  and Challenges.
5.  Inquiry research at home as well as at school.

Tuesday HW
1.  Math Patterning Quiz tomorrow.  It is on Unit 1, Lessons 3,4, and 5.
2.  Spelling dictation #6 tomorrow.
3.  Test pack # 2 was handed out today.  I ask that a parent or guardian sign the top page and that the student corrects it.  It should be returned by next Wednesday, November 9.

Notes:

• The Inquiry project research is well underway.  We have had several class periods for research using internet devices.  That being said, students should absolutely be looking at other sources that they gather outside of school time.  Generous amounts of time are provided in class for feedback and research time but it will be difficult to complete if a student only works during those times.
• Our Stratford trip is coming up on Tuesday November 8.  We will arrive back well after dismissal.  It is necessary to have made arrangements to have someone of responsible age -- over 16 --  pick up your child from the bus in front of the school.  Children will not be permitted to walk home alone.
• Our next book report is due on December 8, 2016.  Students should be making plans to select a new book to read for it during this week.

Monday HW
There is no homework Monday.  I did remind students of the last Patterning quiz on Wednesday, and the Spelling dictation on Wednesday as well.

Week of October 24 - 28, 2016

Thursday HW
1.  Complete MMS pages 6 and 7 and pages 8 and 9.  Time was provided in class today.
2.  Patterning quiz 2 on Wednesday November 2.  (Unit 2, Lessons 3,4, and 5)
3.  Spelling dictation # 6 on Monday, October 31.

Wednesday HW
1.  Patterning Quiz 1 on Thursday October 27.  Unit 1, Lessons 1 and 2.
2.  Finish News Journal summary and reflection for today's presentation.
Today we introduced the Google Draw application and started to develop a collaborative brainstorm for the "Behind The Door" narrative that grows out of our Haunted Walk field trip.    We will continue to explore the assignment by co-creating success criteria as well.

Tuesday HW
1.  Patterning Quiz 1 on Thursday October 27.  Unit 1, Lessons 1 and 2.
2.  Finish News Journal summary and reflection for today's presentation.

Monday HW
1.  MMS pages 4-5.
2.  Annotated Superhero poster (9x12 white portion) done in good copy for tomorrow.  We've had four class periods to plan for this assignment.  Students shouyld be weel on their way to being done.

Today we met with Literature Circle groups  (three of the four before we ran out of time) and shared success criteria for the five week cycle as well as role assignments for the first day of presentation next week.  Students were given tips on what sorts of things a discussion director and connector should do.  There are detailed outlines in the packages for the other two roles as well (word wizard and summarizer).  All students take a turn doing each role.  In the final week all will be doing the illustrator role at the same time.
Today was our third homework club day after school.  Two students attended.  I am available for extra help during this time.

Week of October 17 - 21, 2016

Thursday HW
1.  Library Book Exchange tomorrow
2.  Spelling text page 25 # 1,3,4; page 26 #7,8,9
3.  Math Learning goal:  To identify and apply recursive pattern rules to find more terms in a sequence.  We do this by first looking at the differences between the terms presented and generalizing a first step rule.

Wednesday HW

1.  Spelling Dictation for cycle #5 tomorrow.

2.  Haunted Walk form and fee if coming.
3.  News Journal entry for today's presentation.  We discussed what a good paragraph looks like, and the fact that a one sentence paragraph is likely a Level One performance in most instances, while reviewing success criteria for it.
4.  Office Index cards.
5.  Book Report due October 20, next Thursday.

6.  Ongoing News Journal preparation for your unique due dates.

Tuesday HW

1.  3 Lists and 15 sentences for spelling cycle #5.

2.  Haunted Walk form and fee if coming.
3.  MMS Unit 1, Lesson 1 -- pages 2-3.
4.  Office Index cards.
5.  Book Report due October 20, next Thursday.

6.  Ongoing News Journal preparation for your unique due dates.

Monday HW

Today is our no homework day, as part of our Terry Fox fundraising reward.

The items below are not due tomorrow but are reminders for future activities.

1.  Test pack signed by a parent on the first/top page and corrected by student.  Return it to class by tomorrow,
2.  Haunted Walk form and fee if coming.
3.  Long Division quiz on Wednesday October 19.
4.  Office Index cards.
5.  Book Report due October 20, next Thursday.

6.  Ongoing News Journal preparation for your unique due dates.

Week of October 11 - 14, 2016

Friday HW
1.  Test pack signed by a parent on the first/top page and corrected by student.  Return it to class by next Tuesday October 18.
2.  Scholastic orders due Wednesday October 19.
3.  Haunted Walk form and fee if coming.
4.  Addition and Multiplication quiz on Monday October 17.
5.  Long Division quiz on Wednesday October 19.
6.  Office Index cards.
7.  Book Report due October 20, next Thursday.

Thursday HW
1.  Test pack signed by a parent on the first/top page and corrected by student.  Return it to class by next Tuesday October 18.
2.  Scholastic orders due Wednesday October 19.
3.  Haunted Walk form and fee if coming.
4.  Spelling Dictation #4 tomorrow.  As shown in many of the test packs, the third dictation marked a significant drop-off from the first two, which is probably an indication a that a little more review is required.
5.  Addition and Multiplication quiz on Monday October 17.
6.  Office Index cards.
7.  Book Report due October 20, next Thursday.
8.  Spelling text work:  page 21, # 1,2,4; page 22 # 6,7,8; page 23 -- copy the note.  We had about one hour of class time today to complete this work.  I assigned some notebook partners today for Spelling.  I noticed when I reviewed the notebooks that there were a considerable number of students not finishing their homework and not recording it in a clear way.  I have provided coaching verbally and in writing in all of these instances.  It is my idea that another voice from a peer may provide more incentive for some students to focus on their daily work more effectively.  I may expand this collaborative effort to other subjects in time, but for now it is a Spelling activity.  Feel free to ask your child for a look at their Spelling and Journal notebooks if you are curious about how they are doing.

Wednesday HW
1.  Test pack signed by a parent on the first/top page and corrected by student.  Return it to class by next Tuesday October 18.
2.  Scholastic orders due Wednesday October 19.
3.  Haunted Walk form and fee if coming.
4.  Complete your 2 paragraph news journal entry.  The first paragraph is a short summary of the article to which you were introduced, and the second paragraph is a reflection/response to the article.  The presenters asked a thought=provoking final question at the end of their presentations which can be used as a jumping off point for this reflection.  Students could also make connections (TTT, TTS, TTW) as well.  We had three excellent presentations today.  Students should have  a strong idea of what is required after these three and my two detailed introductions with samples.
5.  Order of Operations quiz on Thursday October 13.
6.  Office Index cards.

Tuesday HW
1.  Test pack signed by a parent on the first/top page and corrected by student.  Return it to class by next Tuesday October 18.
2.  Scholastic orders due Wednesday October 19.
3.  Haunted Walk form and fee if coming.
4.  Critter card due tomorrow.
5.  Order of Operations quiz on Thursday October 13.

Week of October 11 - 14, 2016

Wednesday HW
1.  Test pack signed by a parent on the first/top page and corrected by student.  Return it to class by next Tuesday October 18.
2.  Scholastic orders due Wednesday October 19.
3.  Haunted Walk form and fee if coming.
4.  Complete your 2 paragraph news journal entry.  The first paragraph is a short summary of the article to which you were introduced, and the second paragraph is a reflection/response to the article.  The presenters asked a thought=provoking final question at the end of their presentations which can be used as a jumping off point for this reflection.  Students could also make connections (TTT, TTS, TTW) as well.  We had three excellent presentations today.  Students should have  a strong idea of what is required after these three and my two detailed introductions with samples.
5.  Order of Operations quiz on Thursday October 13.
6.  Office Index cards.

Tuesday HW
1.  Test pack signed by a parent on the first/top page and corrected by student.  Return it to class by next Tuesday October 18.
2.  Scholastic orders due Wednesday October 19.
3.  Haunted Walk form and fee if coming.
4.  Critter card due tomorrow.
5.  Order of Operations quiz on Thursday October 13.

Week of October 3 - 7, 2016

Wednesday HW
1.  Office Record Cards returned to school, even if there is no change.
2.  Spelling Cycle 4:  complete the three lists based on the Word Up #4 list and write 15 good sentences, one for each of them.
3.  Haunted Walk field trip forms were handed out today.  This is an event that takes place after school in the evening.  Please read the form carefully, particularly with regard to pickup.  Please return it with your reply (and the fee, if your child will attend) by next Tuesday, October 11.

Tuesday HW
1.  Dictation tomorrow.  Study Word Up List # 3.
2.  Office Record Cards returned to school, even if there is no change.
3.  Library Book Exchange tomorrow, AM
4.  MMS pages 28-29 on multiplication.  Save the game for in class.
5.  Haunted Walk field trip forms were handed out today.  This is an event that takes place after school in the evening.  Please read the form carefully, particularly with regard to pickup.  Please return it with your reply (and the fee, if your child will attend) by next Tuesday, October 11.
6.  Once again, thank you so much for your generous support of the Terry Fox Run in our class.  We have raised a total of $666.50 to date in class and online!  That's amazing!

Week of October 3 - 7, 2016

Tuesday HW
1.  Dictation tomorrow.  Study Word Up List # 3.
2.  Office Record Cards returned to school, even if there is no change.
3.  Library Book Exchange tomorrow, AM
4.  MMS pages 28-29 on multiplication.  Save the game for in class.
5.  Haunted walk field trip forms were handed out today.  This is an event that takes place after school in the evening.  Please read the form carefully, particularly with regard to pickup.  Please return it with your reply (and the fee, if your child will attend) by next Tuesday, October 11.
6.  Once again, thank you so much for your generous support of the Terry Fox Run in our class.  We have raised a total of $666.50 to date in class and online!  That's amazing!

Week of September 26 - 30, 2016

Friday HW
We had a very successful Terry Fox fundraising effort in our class!  We raised $570!  Thanks for your generosity!

Thursday HW
1.  Tomorrow is Pizza Day lunch.
2.Math Quiz tomorrow:  Unit 2, Lessons 5 and 7 (Prime/Composite Numbers; Mental Math).  Students should study their MMS homework books and try redoing sample problems from our in-class practice.
3.  Terry Fox Reflection Journal done tonight and due in class tomorrow.
4.  Terry Fox Donations:  We have collected $488.oo in cash and online.
5.  French Quiz tomorrow.

Wednesday HW
1.  MMS Lesson 2.8, pages 24-25
2.  Math Quiz on Unit 2, Lessons five and seven (Prime/Composite, Mental Math) on Friday, September 30.  Students should study their MMS homework books and try redoing sample problems from our in-class practice.
3.  Spelling:  3 lists from the Word Up List word set #3.
4.  Have a news journal article in class for next Tuesday.
5.  Terry Fox Run tomorrow -- rain or shine.

I did a class homework check yesterday for the MMS and the Spelling I assigned on Monday.  Both assignments were worked on in class to some degree before going home.  I noticed some habits developing that concern me to greater and lesser degrees:

• Almost half my class did not do any (or all) of the assigned work/practice. It's hard to improve based solely on in-class repetition.
• The standard of written work was really lacking.  I know the kids can write more neatly and at greater length, using the lines and margins provided.  What seems to be taking hold is that daily work can be done with minimal effort that isn't reflective of the better efforts on their submitted work for marks.
• Titles, dates and margin numbering may seem like a quaint preoccupation, but the student work without these is worthless for later review and study.  There is no way to make head or tail of the practice in a notebook when a student looks back at his/her own work that looks like that.  I have put to the test several times -- "Can you read for me what you wrote here?" is a question that is rarely answerable for a growing number of learners.  Modeling is provided and a rationale for it as well.  I need some buy-in from some students at this point.  Computer networks have failed already once this year at Runnymede.  Paper and pencil are reliable and cheap and will be used in the near and later future in our class.  

Thanks for having an informal chat with your students if you can to reinforce my messages.

Sorry to Tuesday's late posting -- I had to run out for Slow Pitch Practice.  The kids were given time to write the items in their agendas.

Tuesday HW
1.  Dictation on Word Up #2 tomorrow.
2.  MMS page 23-23
3.  Stratford fees and forms were due today.
4.  Terry Fox donations -- we have $76 today.
5.  15 Sentences for spelling.

Monday HW
1.  Math Quiz tomorrow:  Unit 2, Lessons 1,2 and 3.
2.  MMS 2.5 page 20 and p. 21, except for the game.
3.  Spelling text work:  p. 13, # 2,3, and 4; p. 15 # 5,6; and p. 15 #1.
4.  Terry Fox Money.  Our class total is #25.  The run is this Thursday.
5.  Stratford form and fee are due tomorrow.

Week of September 19 - 23, 2016

Thursday HW
1.  Stratford field trip form and fee returned for September 27.  I have space for up to four volunteers (who unfortunately have to pay) that I will select by lottery if there are more than four offering.
2.  Book report novel should be in class Monday.  We had our first Library book exchange period today and students were invited to select up to three books each time.  As always, keeping track of them for return is an important part of the book exchange.  Book exchange times occur every second Day 2 (week A), which I am updating in the class calendar now.  Start reading if you already have a book.
3.  Tomorrow is Picture Day.

Wednesday HW
1.  Stratford field trip form and fee returned for September 27.  I have space for up to four volunteers (who unfortunately have to pay) that I will select by lottery if there are more than four offering.
2.  Spelling cycle #2:  use the second Word Up list made today to complete an Alpha Order list, a Syllables list and a Derivatives list.
3.  Book report novel should be in class Monday.  We had our first Library book exchange period today and students were invited to select up to three books each time.  As always, keeping track of them for return is an important part of the book exchange.  Book exchange times occur every second Day 2 (week A), which I am updating in the class calendar now.

Tuesday HW
1.  Stratford field trip form and fee returned for September 27.  I have space for up to four volunteers (who unfortunately have to pay) that I will select by lottery if there are more than four offering.
2.  MMS lesson 2.4, pages 18-19
3.  Summer Reverie rough draft complete and edited for tomorrow.  It should contain three or more distinct paragraphs and be about a page long, single spaced.
4.  Book report novel should be in class Monday. We have our first Library book exchange period tomorrow, which should help.

Monday HW
1.  Spelling Dictation tomorrow.  Students should study their Word Up Lists.  I asked the class if they understood what that was today during agenda time.
2.  Spelling:  15 sentences (underline the Word Up word, write a sentence that explains the meaning of the word); textbook p. 9 # 1,2; p. 10 # 4,6,7; and p. 11 # 1.  This work was started in class today for a full period already.
3.  Book report package signed.  Pay special attention the first due date on the front cover.  We will review styles for reports in class in the near future.  In the meantime students should ensure they have an appropriate book for the report by Friday.

We had our first Homework Club night today after school.  No one attended.  Some students felt they shouldn't stay if their day's homework was done.  I noted that there are several other things that can be done besides the day's homework (times table practice, Inquiry project research) which are listed on a large chart posted in class.

Of special note:  

• I need to have at least 2 students stay to conduct it.  
• Students should decide before 3:15 that they are planning to stay and make arrangements with caregivers, RAC or parents.

Week of September 12 - 16, 2016

Wednesday HW
1.  (MMS) Math Makes Sense HW practice booklet pages 14-15.
2.  Paper towel and kleenex box.
3.  Curriculum night is on Thursday September 15 at two times:  6:00 PM and 6:50 PM.  I will be presenting twice.

Tuesday HW
1.  Spelling Cycle activities:  Alpha Order, Syllables, Derivatives.
2.  Paper towel and kleenex box.
3.  Curriculum night is on Thursday September 15 at two times:  6:00 PM and 6:50 PM.  I will be presenting twice.

Monday HW
1.  (MMS) Math Makes Sense HW practice booklet pages 12-13.
2.  Complete journal from class today about the ways of getting to school, based on imagery found at this site:  http://www.boredpanda.com/dangerous-journey-to-school/
3.  Paper towel roll and kleenex box for class use.

Welcome to the 2016-17 School Year!

Thursday HW

1.  Math Operations 3.0 sheet.  There is a quiz on Monday next week on all four.  We are practicing the techniques for this work in class.  Today we spent a lesson working through the algorithm for multiplication with 2 digit by 2 digit numbers and reviewed long division for a third day. We have corrected two already and will do two more before the Quiz on Monday September 12.  Students that still have trouble with long division can generate extra problems using online sources, checking them with a calculator where necessary.  We will revisit long division again on Friday.
2.  Parental forms package and agenda $

3.  Have a novel in class for Monday, September 12 to read during DEAR time:  90 pages or longer, no graphics for this one please.

4.  One roll of paper towel and one box of facial tissue for class use.  I appreciate your generosity.
5.  Complete family tree to the best of your ability in the Inquiry Booklet.  Return the booklet to school tomorrow.

Wednesday HW

1.  Math Operations 2.0 sheet.  There is a quiz on Monday next week on all four.  We are practicing the techniques for this work in class.  This is work that is meant to be covered by the end of Grade 5.  We are taking it slow, but must make daily progress.  We will do four of these, correcting each the next day before having a quiz next Monday.

2.  Parental forms package completed, signed and returned.

3.  Agenda cost is $7.00.

4.  One roll of paper towel and one box of facial tissue for class use.  I appreciate your generosity.

5.  Select an inquiry question for your personal research project.  We practiced forming such questions today with a look at ways kids get to school, why fingers get 'pruny', and why the moon appears in the sky with the sun sometimes.  The questions should be rich enough that they can sustain an inquiry Ii.e., not answered simply) and be able to be presented visually in some way.  I'll work with each student to refine a question but they should come up with some starting points.

Tuesday HW
1.  Math Operations 1.0 sheet.  We are practicing the techniques for this work in class.  This is work that is meant to be covered by the end of Grade 5.  We are taking it slow, but must make daily progress.  We will do four of these, correcting each the next day before having a quiz next Monday.
2.  Parental forms package completed, signed and returned.
3.  Agenda cost is $7.00.
4.  One roll of paper towel and one box of facial tissue for class use.  I appreciate your generosity.


Greetings to the new and returning students in my class for 2016-17!  I'm looking forward to meeting and reconnecting with 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.  

This blog, which is entering its seventh continuous year, will function as a daily homework listing and be archived as each week ends.  Be sure to check out my class web page at  http://areynolds.org/ all year long.  My current updates are in progress but should be complete by next week.  Plenty of useful stuff is posted, including downloads of class handouts which you should use to replace lost work.  As part of my Eco-Schools effort I am reducing the number of extra photocopies I am producing.  Usually the document can be downloaded and printed by students, using my web page as needed, by students.

At the bottom of this blog page is a calendar for the year.  I have updated it for the year.  I also use the calendar to make note of tests, field trips and other school events.  I urge you to subscribe to the blog posts to receive daily updates of your child's activity.  I do make time each day for agenda writing by the students and you should ask to see that book on a daily basis, but this page is a useful complement to that routine.  I will not be signing agendas each day, but you are welcome to do so and include any notes in it that you would like to have me look over. Please have your child alert me to the note in the morning.  

Let's have a great year!

Week of June 13 - 17, 2016

Friday Notes:

1.  I handed out the final test pack of the year today.  It is not necessary to return it.  I will also be sending home the year's portfolio in the final eight days of the year.

2.  On Tuesday, June 21 I will take the class to Yogourty's on Bloor Street for an end of the year treat.  Students should bring no more than $7.00 to $10.00.  One dessert should be enough -- I want to avoid having them get stomach aches.  After wards we'll walk over to the park space behind the Public Library to relax a bit and play.  We should be back near PM recess.  If any parent has an hour or two that afternoon to help chaperone that would be great.

3.  Several students have school Library book issues to resolve:  either they have a book to bring in, they've lost it and must settle up with Ms. Edgar (the school librarian) or they have returned it and need to sort that out with Ms. Edgar.  We are running out of runway on the year and I encourage students to use the daily reminders from me to resolve their book issues.

4.  We continue to pursue Google Apps for Education activities in the class.  I have marked the students's online work with comment and rubrics as well as a detailed grammar check for writing.  I modeled the method for checking these grades online with students in the classroom thusly:

a)  They have to log in at aw.tdsb.on.ca using their school credentials and then open their Google Drives.

b)  They will find files labelled as "Marked" in either their personal Google Drives or the shared folder, depending on where they left it.

c) When the file is open they will see the comment, the rubric and the grade above the written work they submitted.  Since it is paperless the feedback can be lengthy and more detailed.

d)  To open the grammar and conventions feedback the students need to launch "JoeZoo Express", a Google Drive add-on extension.  It is found in the "Add-Ons" tab at the top of the Google Doc window and I have included a screen shot to show where it is in the opening comment from me.  After installing and enabling it (it's free) they provide their own names in the field and then it should appear with grammatical feedback in a pie chart.  If not, you may have to reopen the file after installing it.  I'm eager to develop my use of this method of evaluation and I think my learning curve is flattening out with it.

e) School-generated gmail addresses exist for each student.  They follow this pattern:
firstname.lastname@student.tdsb.on.ca
You may have a momentary conflict if you have other gmail or google drive accounts operating on the same computer already but I find that the browser usually offers you a chance to select the relevant gmail account from a list.

Wek of June 6 - 9. 2016

** Friday June 10 is a PA Day.  There is no school that day.

Monday HW
1.  Math quiz Tuesday afternoon on Measurement: Unit 9, Lessons 9 and 10 on Perimeter and Area.  We reviewed proper formatting for Area and perimeter solutions today in class and I reminded the students that the correct units must be shown in their answers.
2.  Story of Stuff presentations continue.
3.  Engineering workshop tomorrow morning, presented by U of T students.
4.  All Library books should be returned to class by Wednesday June 8.

May 30 - June 3, 2016

Thursday HW
1.  Oral presentations on Story of Stuff into tomorrow and next week.  A significant omission from the topic sheet I am noticing is that student's have not made a judgement about the product they have researched -- should it continue to be produced or is it not worth the environmental impact?
2.  Engineering Workshop on Tuesday in the morning.
3.  Math Quiz on Measurement #2:  Tuesday, June 7 in the afternoon.

Wednesday HW
1.  MMS 6.10
2.  Quiz on Unit 9, Lessons 2,5,6,7,8 tomorrow.
3.  Oral presentations on Story of Stuff begin tomorrow afternoon.
4.  Engineering Workshop on Tuesday in the morning.
5.  Math Quiz on Measurement #2:  Tuesday, June 7 in the afternoon.

Tuesday HW
None assigned.

Monday HW
1.  MMS 6.6 and 6.7.  The students had generous amounts of tie to work on these in class today.
2.  Math Quiz on Unit 9, Lessons 2,5,6,7, and 8 on Thursday June 2.

Student Centennial movies are available for download on the class Dropbox.  The account details are available at school.  I am also able to transfer the file to a USB stick of a student brings one in.

Week of May 24- 27, 2016

Thursday HW
1.  Pizza Lunch tomorrow.
2.  Orange and Black Spirit day tomorrow.
3.  The French teacher asked for students to bring and advertisement to school tomorrow that has a focus on recycling. if possible.
4.  Centennial Fun Fair wrist bands were handed out today at the end of the day.


Wednesday HW

1.  MMS 9.10

2.  Filming ended yesterday for the Centennial day in the Life films we are making.  Students will be continuing to assemble their finished products over the next few days in time for Saturday's open house.  I am available on Thursday and Friday morning this week from 8:15 to 8:50 for those students who did not complete filming during the allotted regular class time. 

3.  There will be an engineering workshop presented by the University of Toronto on June 7 for the first three periods of the day in our classroom.

Tuesday HW

1.  MMS 9.9

2.  Filming ended today for the Centennial day in the Life films we are making.  Students will be assembling their finished products over the next few days in time for Saturday's open house.

3.  There will be an engineering workshop presented by the University of Toronto on June 7 for the first three periods of the day in our classroom.

Week of May 16 - 20, 2016

Thursday HW
1.  Props, costuming, for filming.  Tuesday will be the final day for filming.  That means the students have one 40 minute period left in which to film the scenes they want to use.  After today we've had approximately seven periods for each group to date, totaling eight periods by the end of Tuesday.  This seems like enough time when the groups had a story and story boards from which to work already.  Starting next Wednesday we will be making the movie using the clips each group has gathered (titles, transitions, credits, etc...) so that they will be ready for their world premieres in our class on Saturday, May 28 at the Centennial Fun Fair
2.  MMS 9.8

Wednesday HW
1.  Props, costuming, for filming.  Tuesday will be the final day for filming.  That means the students have two 40 minutes periods left in which to film the scenes they want to use.  We've had approximately six periods for each group to date, totaling eight.  This seems like enough time when the groups had a story and story boards from which to work already.  Starting next Wednesday we will be making the movie using the clips each group has gathered (titles, transitions, credits, etc...) so that they will be ready for their world premieres in our class on Saturday, May 28 at the Centennial Fun Fair
2.  Wrist Band orders still accepted.  Tomorrow is the due date.
3.  MMS 9.7

Wednesday HW
1.  Props, costuming, for filming.
2.  Wrist Band orders still accepted.
3.  MMS 9.6

Tuesday HW
1.  Props, costuming, for filming.
2.  Wrist Band orders still accepted.
3.  MMS 9.3

Monday HW
1.  Props, costuming, for filming.
2.  Wrist Band orders still accepted.

Week of May 9 - 13, 2016

Thursday HW
1.  Quiz 3.0 on Math Unit 8, Lessons 5 and 6.
2.  MMS 9.2
3.  Bring props, costumes for filming.

Wednesday HW
1.  Quiz 3.0 on Math Unit 8, Lessons 5 and 6.
2.  MMS 9.1
3.  Bring props, costumes for filming.

Week of May 2 - 6, 2016

Thursday HW
1.  The Story of Stuff project will begin the good copy phase early next week.
2.   MMS 8.5
3.  Change 4 Change -- thank you for your generosity!
4.  Quiz tomorrow in Math on Unit 8, Lessons 1 and 2.


Wednesday HW
1.  The Story of Stuff project will begin the good copy phase early next week.  We have had several in-class periods for research, using technology resources, to this point.  If a student feels that he/she does not have sufficient notes to start a good copy Google Doc in class next week, then this would be the homework for tonight, tomorrow and the weekend.  I try to make as little impact as possible on home life with project work but this assignment might result in some extra effort for students who find they have not used their time as effectively as possible.
If students want to use photographs, those would have to be printed at home.  I would be happy to see hand-drawn work.  Models have been on display for three weeks showing just that sort of hand done work. Black and white photocopies can also work if they are coloured with marker or pencil crayon.
2.  Change for Change fundraiser continues.

Tuesday HW
1.  MMS 8.3
2.  Change for Change fundraiser continues.


Monday HW
1.  MMS 8.3
2.  Fun Fair Open House wristband order forms went home today.  Please send any orders and money/cheques in a baggie or envelope so they will stay together.
3.  Change for Change fundraiser continues.
4.  Bring materials for French tomorrow.

Week of April 25 - 29, 2016

Thursday HW
1.  MMS 8.1
2.  Test Pack, handed out last Thursday, is due tomorrow with parent signature and corrections.
3.  Pizza Lunch tomorrow.
4.  Change for Change fundraiser for Women's Habitat shelter.  This is a school-wide followup "Social Justice League" activity after the successful conclusion of the diaper drive.  Students are invited to contribute spare change (perhaps not pennies?) which will be counted and donated.
5.  Tomorrow is a "Hat and Tie" spirit day.

During the week of the Centennial Musical homework assignments will be relaxed.  Students can read at home for pleasure, look for costume ideas for their Centennial "Day in the Life" films and continue to gather research materials for their "Story of Stuff" projects.  The details of the Story of Stuff have been outlined on this blog in previous weeks but are also available in print in the Changes in Matter unit booklet.

Week of April 18 - 22, 2016

Thursday HW
1.  Math Unit 7 test Friday AM.  I handed out a study sheet yesterday which students can use along with their MMS booklets and the results of their first two quizzes to study.  Remembering and using unit-specific vocabulary (e.g., mira, tracing paper, align, match, coincide, irregular polygon, and others) is important when explaining thinking.
2.  Scholastic orders due Friday.  Cheques only please.
3.  There will be an outdoor excursion this Friday afternoon.  It is on foot.  Dress for the weather.
4.  Test pack handed out today.  Signature from parents, along with corrections is due for next Friday. The pack does not include some items which will be marked using online feedback (trickster tale, See-think-wonder inquiries, mind maps and plans for stories) on the Google Docs and Draw pages that I assigned.  Those are in-progress for me, but I will have them done in the near future.

I'm very proud to note that our class donated the greatest amount of diapers to the Women's habitat shelter drive -- nearly 1400 of them!  With some encouragement and talk we applied the pizza party award money toward the purchase of more supplies for the shelter.  I really want to thank the students and families for their generous response.  It was very heartening.

Wednesday HW
1.  Math Unit 7 test Friday AM.  I handed out a study sheet today
2.  Scholastic orders due Friday.  Cheques only please.
3.  There will be an outdoor excursion this Friday afternoon.  It is on foot.  Dress for the weather.

Tuesday HW
1.  Math Unit 7 test Friday AM
2.  MMS Unit 8.1
3.  Scholastic orders due Friday.  Cheques only please.
4.  There will be an outdoor excursion this Friday afternoon.  It is on foot.  Dress for the weather.

Monday HW
1.  Math Unit 7 Test this Friday AM
2.  No HW Club tomorrow after school.
3.  There will be an outdoor excursion this Friday afternoon.  It is on foot.  Dress for the weather.

Week of April 11 - 15, 2016

There is a PA Day on Friday and there is no school.

Tuesday HW
1.  Day of Pink tomorrow.  Wear pink (or red) if you can.
2.  Add some more ideas to your own story Doc for your shared Centennial writing
3.  Math Unit 7 test next Friday, April 22.

Monday HW:
1.  Finish the tiling (and colouring for it) by tomorrow.  We had three class periods to do this work.
2.  MMS 7.6.  We are finished the Transformations unit as of tomorrow.
3.  Math Unit 7 test next Friday, April 22.
4.  Mind Map for your Centennial Writing story.
Visit Google Draw using this address "aw.tdsb.on.ca" to log in to your account.

Week of April 4 -8, 2016

Thursday HW
1.  Math Geometry Quiz 2.0 on Line Symmetry and Congruent Figures..
2.  Think of three topics you wonder about and might be interested in researching to do a "Story Of Stuff" project on.  We viewed the Story of Stuff video online today.  It can be a controversial film -- Annie Leonard has some strong opinions.  We talked about perspectives before, during, and after the film, and I reinforced that it is possible to disagree with some of her conclusions.  She does present some persuasive ideas and the practice of inquiry strongly lends itself to this topic.   showed some samples of finished projects today and we will keep going over the topic until students have a good understanding of what is required and how to produce it.  As yet there is no firm due date.
3.  Diapers or donations.  We have contributed 662 items so far, and I received over $100 today in donations to buy more.  Amazing!  I am reinforcing the notion with students that the reward for the effort is secondary to the altruism of doing a good deed for someone in need.  This activity has had some real traction with our class.  Many thanks again.

Wednesday HW
1.  Math Geometry Quiz 2.0 on Line Symmetry and Congruent Figures..
2.  Book Report due tomorrow.
3.  Diapers or donations.  We have contributed 596 items so far, which is an amazing total!  Thank you -- very proud of the students' effort!

Tuesday HW
1.  Fill in page 2 of the Adventure Historical Fiction story planner.  Bring it back to school tomorrow.
2.  Book Report due April 7.
3.  Diapers or donations.  We have contributed three packages and have $5.00 towards another one.

Monday HW
1.  Math Quiz tomorrow.  Unit 7, Lessons 1, 2, and 3.
2.  Fill in page 1 of the Adventure Historical Fiction story planner.  Bring it back to school tomorrow.
3.  Book Report due April 7.
4.  Diapers or donations.  We have contributed three packages and have $5.00 towards another one.

Week of March 28 - April 2.2016

Friday HW
1.  Diapers, or donations to buy them.
2.  Book report is due on April 7.
3.  MMS pages 100-101, lesson 7.4.  I don't usually assign weekend homework but the band and strings symposia cost us a couple of mornings of class time.  That said, I think most students were able to catch up in the afternoons and only a few students seemed unfinished.
4.  Math Quiz on Tuesday, April 5.  This is on Unit 7, Lessons 1, 2, and 3.

Thursday HW
1.  Diapers, or donations to buy them.
2.  Book report is due on April 7.
3.  MMS pages 98-99, lesson 7.3
4.  Trickster Tale is due, shared to the teacher, by Friday of this week.  All criteria for the Tale have been shared with the class, with particular practice on using dialogue and the punctuation that goes along with it.  Parents are welcome to read their children's tales online.  Type "http://aw.tdsb.on.ca" into any browser and then input individual student password credentials to view and complete work at home.

Wednesday HW
1.  Diapers, or donations to buy them.
2.  Book report is due on April 7.
3.  Draw your halves sheets due tomorrow in class.  We worked on these for two periods and then again this morning.  There are three pages in all.  Students are reminded to include TAD when describing the transformation (Type, Amount, and Direction).
4.  Trickster Tale is due, shared to the teacher, by Friday of this week.  All criteria for the Tale have been shared with the class, with particular practice on using dialogue and the punctuation that goes along with it.  Parents are welcome to read their children's tales online.  Type "http://aw.tdsb.on.ca" into any browser and then input individual student password credentials to view and complete work at home.

Tuesday HW
1.  Diapers, or donations to buy them.
2.  Book report is due on April 7.

Week of March 21 - 25, 2016

Thursday HW
1.  Please bring diapers to school for our Social Justice League initiative to benefit a Women's Shelter.  We had one bundle brought in today -- thank you!
2.  Next book report due on Thursday April 7, 2016.
Have a happy Easter long weekend!


Wednesday HW
1.  Please bring diapers to school for our Social Justice League initiative to benefit a Women's Shelter.
2.  Next book report due on Thursday April 7, 2016.
3.  Tomorrow is Pizza Lunch.
4.  Tomorrow is a "Jersey Day" Spirit day.  Students can wear sports jerseys for teams of their liking or Runnymede t-shirts if they wish.

Tuesday HW
1.  MMS Lesson 7.2, pages 96-97.  Students who bring home their tracing paper should be sure to return it tomorrow.  We had five of 28 students that did not finish their home practice from yesterday.  It is really a short amount a practice.  I would like to ask that you check your child's work nightly so we can make the most of our correction time the next day.
2.  Next book report due on Thursday April 7, 2016.
3.  Library Book Exchange tomorrow at 10:05.

Monday HW
1.  MMS Lesson 7.1, pages 94-95.  We started a new unit on Transformation geometry today.
2.  Next book report due on Thursday April 7, 2016.

Week of March 7 - 11, 2016

Thursday HW
1.  Finish Illustrator image for Literature Circle group.  Return it to school tomorrow since we are assembling them on a display.
2.  A test pack was handed out yesterday.  Please return it with a parent signature by Friday of this week.  No corrections are necessary.

Wednesday HW
1.  Math unit four test tomorrow.  To study, use:

• Study sheets we made in class and at home
• "Show What You Know" text book practice questions on pages 148-49.
• 'Quick Review' in MMS book
• 'Connect' in textbook
• Corrected quizzes in the test pack handed out today.

2.  A test pack was handed out today.  Please return it with a parent signature by Friday of this week.  No corrections are necessary.

Tuesday HW
1.  Complete Math Study Sheet for Lessons 2 and 3 of unit four.  We modeled a Lesson 1 example in class today that includes three headings:  Big Idea / Techniques learned / Example for practice.
Looking at the textbook 'Connect' and MMS 'Quick Review' sections would be good starting points.
2.  Math unit four test on Thursday.

Monday HW
1.  MMS Lesson 4.9 (dividing decimals by 10)
2.  Math Unit 4 Unit test on Thursday this week.
3.  Literature Circle illustrator work is due also on Thursday.

Week of February 29 - March 4, 2016

Tuesday HW
1.  Literature Circles reading and note-taking for Thursday meeting.
2.  Math quiz on Wednesday March 2 -- Unit 4, Lessons 4, 6 and 7. (Rounding, Adding and Subtracting Decimals)
3.  Finish your rough draft for a formal letter to the editor of a newspaper about conserving energy.  We have introduced the formal letter format in class, students have a printed note with the characteristics of formal letters, and we brainstormed the structure and subject matter of the paragraphs in class yesterday and today.  We also had more than 20 minutes in class to work on the draft.  Students can make up the name of the editor and the newspaper.  These are less important details.  The main thrust is to follow semi-block style and to come up with real ideas to pitch to the editor.  The rough copy should appear in the Science booklet.  The good copy will be typed in class using Google Docs.
3.  Log on to aw.tdsb.on.ca.  Visit Google Drive and open the "Shared With Me" folder.  Add your comment to the Google Doc titled "Monday HW".  Fourteen students tried it out yesterday.  I encourage families to have a look together and give it a go.  See bottom of post for further information.

Monday HW
1.  Math HW:  MMS Lesson 4.6, pages 52-53 on adding decimals.
2.  Math quiz on Wednesday March 2 -- Unit 4, Lessons 4, 6 and 7. (Rounding, Adding and Subtracting Decimals)
3.  Log on to aw.tdsb.on.ca.  Visit Google Drive and open the "Shared With Me" folder.  Add your comment to the Google Doc titled "Monday HW".  See below for further information.

Today I introduced the Google Apps for Education to our class.  We logged in and opened the Google Drive associated with the email account that the TDSB has already created for students.  the email accounts follow a pattern:  firstname.lastname@student.tdsb.on.ca .  If your child's name is Bart Simpson his school email is bart.simpson@student.tdsb.on.ca which is all in lower case and with no spaces.  This online account will allow us to use Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, Forms and Drawings both individually or collaboratively at school and at home.  The log in instructions take some getting used to.  Bear with us if it doesn't work on the first few tries.  We will learn to endure the process I hope.

We introduced login names and passwords back in November.  At this point in the year I expect students to have memorized their student numbers (which I typed out on stickers for the inside cover of their agendas) and know how to update their unique passwords, which only last 42 days.  We have practiced a simple system to change them each month to ensure that they don't expire.  Password changes or simple forgetting are the single biggest barrier to using this system.  Fixing the problem takes more than 10 minutes which are often not available in class, so it is best that students stay on top on this.

The key gateway is to type aw.tdsb.on.ca into the address bar of the browser, then log in using the login name and password used at school.  From there, students arrive at the AW homepage where they can access the Google Apps -- a button near the top right corner.  Since these are Google products, I imagine that the Chrome browser might work best rather than Explorer, Safari or Firefox.  You are welcome to try any other these based on your comfort level at home.

Two features are really important to know:
a) I can see who has made any comment in this forum.  It is easy to track back to the original poster of any inappropriate remarks.  All student signed an online code of conduct at the beginning of the year and I expect them to abide by it.  If the shared drive is a space for silly remarks the user(s) will be dealt with individually and may be excluded for some, or all, of future online collaboration.
b) I would respectfully ask parents to supervise their child's use of the internet during these times at home.  Responsible digital citizenship isn't learned in one day and must be reinforced with ongoing scrutiny as students learn the values that foster a safe, respectful and useful online community.  Please review these ideas with your children and reinforce the necessity of keeping their account number and password private so that they alone are accessing their accounts under their own names.

I look forward to seeing how much we can use this collaboration space in our class as the year progresses.  We're taking it slow but it shows much promise!

Week of February 22 - 26, 2016

Thursday HW
1.  MMS HW book lesson 4.4, pages 52-53.
2.  Tomorrow is Pizza Lunch.

Wednesday HW
1. Reading and note-taking for Literature Circle meeting on Thursday, February 24.
We had a fire alarm yesterday at 3:00 so I neglected to update the blog.

Tuesday HW
1.  Math quiz on Unit 4, Lessons 1,2, and 3 on Wednesday February 24.
2. Reading and note-taking for Literature Circle meeting on Thursday, February 24.

Monday HW
1.  Math quiz on Unit 4, Lessons 1,2, and 3 on Wednesday February 24.
2.  MMS pages 50-51, Lesson 4.3.
3.  Reading and note-taking for Literature Circle meeting on Thursday, February 24.

Week of February 15 - 19, 2016

Thursday HW
1.  Literature Circle notes and reading for next Thursday.
2.  Math Quiz on Unit 4, lessons 1,2, and 3 next Wednesday February 24.
3.  Tonight might be a good time to try the RAZ Kids site to do some self directed reading and a quiz if you haven't visited yet this week.

Wednesday HW
1.  Literature Circle notes and reading for next Thursday.
2.  Raven cartoon is due in good copy form by Thursday.  We've had several class periods to develop success criteria together, see samples, work on drafts, and create the polished copy.
3.  Math Quiz on Unit 4, lessons 1,2, and 3 next Wednesday February 24.

Tuesday HW
Today we did our Big Bag Check which we will continue for about two weeks to help set habits in place to bring home and return homework each day.  It took a little longer at dismissal but will likely be more efficient as the days pass.
I was on outdoor duty at lunch today and I must compliment our class on their outdoor behaviour on a day with many temptations.  Bravo!

1.  Literature Circle notes and reading for next Wednesday.
2.  Raven cartoon is due in good copy form by Thursday.  We've had several class periods to develop success criteria together, see samples, work on drafts, and create the polished copy.
3.  Tomorrow is a Library book exchange.

Week of February 8 - 12 , 2016

PA Day Friday for interviews -- no school.

Thursday HW
This is a long weekend that includes a PA Day so I am breaking from my usual practice of not assigning any homework at all.  The main item to finish is the Literature Circle presentation that is due on Tuesday.  We've had ample time to work on it on Wednesday and Thursday in class.  Most students are done.  We do meet in our groups on Tuesday so all students must be ready on that day.  It shouldn't take long to finish so that everyone can present a 3-4 minute talk of that section of the novel.
Have a great holiday!

Wednesday HW
1.  Literature Circles reading and notes for next week's meeting on Tuesday.
2.  Good copy of today's Literature Circle presentation due in your duo-tang for next Tuesday.
3.  Be sure to return your Report card and page 3/4 signed slip.
4.  Book report is due on Thursday.
5.  MMS page 48-49, Lesson 4.2

Tuesday HW
1.  Literature Circles reading and notes for next week's meeting on Tuesday.
2.  Good copy of today's Literature Circle presentation due in your duo-tang for next Tuesday.
3.  Be sure to return your Report card and page 3/4 signed slip.
4.  Book report is due on Thursday.

Week of February 1 - 5, 2015

Friday HW
1.  Book Report due February 11.
2.  Literature Circles novel reading and note taking.  The presentations take place on Tuesday next week.
3.  Interview requests returned ASAP.

Wednesday HW
1.  Book Report due on February 11
2.  Literature Circle reading and note taking for week one.  Please note that books must be returned to school every day.  I have no extra copies.  If your child leaves the book at home they have no option but to do other subject work.  The novel must be at school every day.
3.  Black "Runnymede 100" t-shirts for Friday's assembly.  If you do not have one, any Runnymede shirt will do.  If you have no Runnymede shirts wear a black T-shirt.

Tuesday HW
1.  Try Reading A-Z online tonight.  Login information is below.
2.  Book report is due on February 11.
3.  Black "Runnymede 100" t-shirts for Friday's assembly.  If you do not have one, any Runnymede shirt will do.  If you have no Runnymede shirts wear a black T-shirt.
4.  Literature Circle reading and notes for next Tuesday's presentations.  All students that were at school today received a new novel and duo-tang material.  They were also assigned roles for next Tuesday's meetings.  Each student received time to copy out the page reading targets for each of the five weeks we will spend on this cycle.

Monday HW
1.  Our class is set up to use RAZ Kids (Reading A to Z).  Students can access the program at school  or at home.  In both locations you can use either a computer or a tablet.  The tablet is even simpler if you download the free app.  Our class code is areynolds15.  Each student received their 2 factor icon login from me today.  I wrote it in the agenda.  The webpage to access it through a browser is www.kidsa-z.com.  If you use an app, search for "Kids A-Z".  The symbol is a robot head.

I set up the class to explore and read on their own.  At times I may request they refrain from reading a certain passage which I may use for assessment.  The stories can read traditionally (silently) or be read aloud to the student.  If students wish to use the read-aloud option at Runnymede they would have to bring earbuds of their own to school.  Please ensure they are inexpensive so that if they are damaged or lost it isn't a big deal.

2.  Today we celebrated the official 100th birthday of Runnymede School.  We had mini-cupcakes and sang happy birthday as a school.  It was pretty cool, especially since our class is one of the older rooms.  it was interesting to imagine how the view out our window has changed over 100 years.

Week of January 25 - 29, 2016

Thursday HW
1. Tell me your Book Report topic choice tomorrow.
2.  Survey for Math due in good copy form tomorrow.  We have been working on it in class for five periods.
3.  Test pack is due tomorrow with a parent signature and corrections.
4.  Book Report is due February 11.
5.  Tomorrow is Pizza Lunch.

Wednesday HW
1. Dictation #12. tomorrow.
2.  Tell me the style of style of the book report you are doing on Friday.
3.  Sign and correct test pack for Friday.
4.  Book report is due February 11.

Tuesday HW
1.  Book Report due February 11.  Tell me your novel title tomorrow.
2.  Test pack due with parent signature, and corrections on Friday of this week.

Monday HW
1.  MMS HW book pages 74 -75.  These are the last pages in the duotang.
2.  The Genres poster must be handed in tomorrow.  After several class periods of partner work, the students had a final class today to complete it.  Any unfinished work must be wrapped up by one of the partners tonight.  Two indoor recess times were also offered today.

We had a talk today in class about the school shooting in Saskatchewan today.  The main points were that Runnymede is a safe place, that violence is an unacceptable way to deal with problems, and a reminder about pantomime 'gunplay' in the yard and halls.  No one is getting suspended or receiving detentions for that last item, but it is in questionable taste given the reality of modern school life.

Week of January 18 - 21, 2016

(Note:  Friday January 22 is  PA Day and there is no school.)

Thursday HW
1.  Finish World Above/Below art.  It should be handed in on Monday.
2.  Finish the Literature Circle "Illustrator" image and provide the written reasoning for its importance in the novel in a few sentences on the back (i.e., "This scene represents the moment in the novel when ________ on page _____.  It's important and I chose it because ____________.)  This picture is also due in class on Monday.
3.  Keep thinking up clever , interesting and unique survey questions which would let you collect data and find the mean, mode and range.

Wednesday HW
1.  MMS pages 72-73
2.  Start thinking about a clever, interesting, unique survey question you can write and then gather data for.  Remember that it has to be a question that gathers data you can find the mean and mode and range for.  The activity is to be done in class, but the thinking can be done at home.  In class we discussed why the "What is your favourite...." style of question is uninteresting and not age -appropriate.

Tuesday HW
1.  Spelling Cycle for List 12 and fifteen sentences.  This is the last Spelling cycle for a while as we turn to other language activities.

Monday HW
1.  MMS HW duotang, pages 70-71.

Week of January 11 - 15, 2016

Thursday HW
1.  Study for math quiz on Bar Graphs and Pictographs tomorrow.  It would be good to review the "Quick Review" sections of the homework duotang and the the "Connect" sections if you wish to carry the text home.  Make a list of the special vocabulary (In Bold Print) and definitions to help yourself in understanding the questions.  Practice a couple of problems that you've already done without looking at your original work and then compare your results.  All this is to say that preparing for a quiz would entail more than turning the pages of your homework book in order to be effective, worthwhile practice.
2.  Dictation for Word Up # 12 on Monday.

Wednesday HW
1.  MMS HW Lesson 5.3, pages 68-69.
2.  Math Quiz Friday -- Bar Graphs.
3.  Scholastic Orders due tomorrow.

Monday HW

1.  MMS HW Lesson 5.2, pages 66-67.

2.  Quiz on Bar Graphs on Friday, January 15.

3.  Gather some images or pictures connected to your genre poster.

4.  Scholastic orders due on Thursday this week rather than Friday.

Week of January 4 - 8, 2016

Thursday HW
1.  Settings placemat is due tomorrow.
2.  Scholastic orders due Friday January 15.
3.  Dictation #11 tomorrow.  Spelling homework checked tomorrow...
4.  Health assignments from Mr. Kula today.

Wednesday HW
1.  Spelling cycle lists and 15 sentences for Word Up #11.
2.  Scholastic orders due Friday January 15, 2016.
We had 62 kids attend the first day of Chess Club and about 20 were from our class!  Wow!  We meet each Wednesday at lunch going forward.

Tuesday HW
We had seven students at homework club today after school.  We got some useful math help and practice done in that time.
1.  MMS Lesson 5.1, pages 64-65
2.  Scholastic Orders are due on Friday, January 15, 2016.  Cheques only please.

Monday HW
It was wonderful to see all the boys and girls once more.  They've really grown in just 2 weeks!  It was a terrific day of reconnecting and more than one student said how happy they were to be back at school.
1.  Spelling text work started in class today (p. 46 #1; p. 47 Acrostic; p. 48 # 2-7; and p. 49 #1-2.)