Thursday, 28 February

First of all, I would like to acknowledge Nicholas who quietly improves his ability on a Rubik's cube every day.  When I was scanning Twitter today, one of the educators I follow posted the link to this guy: it takes a while, but if you watch carefully, you can see his technique - impressive! juggling the cube

We started our day by reading two chapters in the Ostia novel.  We had a chance to examine the role of dreams as vehicles of symbolism in literature.  Next, we had band.  After recess we finished the last couple of pages from the Ostia chapter and then transitioned to math.  The 7s went right onto the problem set on pp. 188 - 189.  Those pages should be completed for homework.  And just like that, we're getting ready for a mid-unit review.

After lunch we read the rest of the Ostia novel.  Now we will be able to do some whole-novel discussions and discuss character development and the other elements of the story.  We did some whole-class reading as well as some small-group reading and some individual reading.  As people finished, they moved on to their science inquiry.  This inquiry is more open than the last.  I'm giving the students more choice, and because that's new to some of them, and because inquiry is new to them, they are struggling with where to go to get deep into an aspect of each topic. I've advised the following: "At this point you're doing research. It might take a while to find out enough about a chapter's topic before you know exactly which angle you wish to approach it from. Only after you know a bit about the topic will you be able to pose a question.  Still, it's never too soon to start reading and collecting data because its all part of the process to be able to answer your question."

Ex. In the pollution chapter you might ask specifically: what is the most dangerous effect of landfills?

This project will take a few weeks and I want the students to avoid the "rush and get it done so we can move on" mentality - I want this inquiry to be more authentic and less like an "assignment."

We ended the day with a game of indoor soccer.  Please think about what I said before we left for the gym.

Tomorrow we have been invited by Mr. Pond to go to the beach to do a little clean-up work.  Please wear clothes that are suitable in case we go - some sort of a rain jacket might be good.  And now I must rush off to the dentist.