Monday, 10 December

Today we began the day with a double block of band with Division One.  It is clear that some players are practicing and giving band an honest effort, but others are just going through the motions.  Many instruments are being left at school and are not being practiced.  Some instruments are going home, but are forgotten on class day.  Parents, please do what you can to encourage your students to practice before the big day.  Also, keep an eye out for those black and white outfits for concert day.

After recess we had fifteen minutes of silent reading and then we did math.  The 7s had an integers test.  While we were waiting for students to finish their test, I allowed others to work on any outstanding assignments.  We ended the block with a review of place values as we get ready to examine decimal fractions and common fractions in the next unit.  There is no math homework.

We listened to Episode 9: Egypt

After lunch we investigated ways to use a podcast.  If you don't know, podcasts are simply audio files, sometimes of essays, sometimes of discussions or interviews, sometimes the audio portion of a video presentation.  In essence, it's like listening to the radio on the Internet.  It is possible to download podcasts and listen to them whenever, where ever.  We listened to one that introduced ancient Egypt.  I showed the students how to use Google to search for images and other content while listening.  I also showed how a list of content can be previewed and then uploaded for review while the podcast is playing.  I used PowerPoint to store my images.  This is all part of social studies skill building, but it also supports the listening elements of the English curriculum.  Here is a link to the blog of the speaker in today's podcast (I downloaded the episodes on my iPad last night and I found the speaker easy to listen to and not monotone or boring):

Podcast History of Our World

After socials we had cookies that Sam made for us and then we tried to go to p.e.  Things didn't go very satisfactorily, and we ended up writing self-reflection paragraphs.  Here is the link to the one I wrote:

Mr. Marshall's self-reflection on Google Docs

Students who didn't turn in their paragraph before they left at 2:45 will need to finish at home.  PLEASE REMEMBER THAT YOUR COMPLETED PARAGRAPH IS YOUR TICKET IN TO CLASS TOMORROW MORNING.  Anyone who isn't able to finish at home will have an opportunity to do so first thing tomorrow in the library with Mr. Clements.

Only 2 days left for our Elves' Club Hamper - thanks to everyone who has been able to give so far.