Thursday, 22 November

These types of lessons are so easy with
the interactive whiteboard!

We started the day reconnecting to our cursive writing practice.  We have now confirmed the lower case letters from a to k.  My goal is to have all students fluent in cursive writing by the time they leave in June. As a secondary teacher I found it frustrating to have senior high students who couldn't read cursive writing.  This forced me to print since there wasn't time in the secondary curriculum to review this skill.

Frequently Misspelled Words

After writing practice we did our first spelling test.  At the beginning of the year I said I wouldn't have spelling tests, but I've since found that a number of students need support in this area, so we're starting with words "commonly misspelled" and will move on from there.  Today we tested column one (after an earlier pre-test) and now we'll review column two.  From spelling, the class moved to band.

Mid-unit review #1-2

Mid-unit review #3-5

Mid-unit review #7-8

Mid-unit review #6

Mid-unit review #9

After recess we had 15 minutes of reading and then started math.  In Math 7 we reviewed the homework from the mid-unit review and then learned how to use algebra tiles to subtract integers.  Everyone has quickly grasped how to use the interactive whiteboard and this has allowed me to get more students involved with the lessons, rather than having them sit passively at their desks.

We learned that if we subtract integers, it is sometimes necessary to add zero pairs to give us the opposite integer (positive or negative) so we can complete the operation.  We can do this because if we add zero to something, we do not change its value.  Its tricky, but just ask this: "Are there enough tiles of the type I'm being asked to subtract in the first integer in the equation.  If there aren't, add zero pairs until there are."  Complete #1-2 on page 69 for homework.  We'll do the rest in class tomorrow.

After lunch we read for ten minutes and then started a new socials unit on Egypt.  Some students studied Egypt last year, so I'm going to allow a level of independent/choice inquiry in this unit so that people can't say, "But we did this last year."

We read p. 86 and revisited the map on p. 87 of the text.  I also talked about the wealth of information on the Internet in general and on YouTube specifically.  I introduced the notion of bias and point of view, and how easy it is to publish matter on the Internet.  That means we "consumers" must be selective and wary of misinformation, whether it is by honest mistake or by design.  Here is a link to the video - we'll finish it in class but you may watch it if you were absent:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syV5MVbIRr8&feature=relmfu

Don't forget to post a comment or a question to the blog with reference to today's documentary - your post-viewing check-in showed you were all paying attention.  Good work and thanks for another good day.  Today is the last "early dismissal" day (but Monday is a pro-d day so you get a long weekend).


Thank you for sending all of the pennies.  We are off to a good start. Tomorrow is the last day to bring in pennies - please try to donate if you are able and haven't done so already.