Wednesday, 13 February

Today we began by reading Scroll 16 from the Ostia novel.  The cycle of the action is starting to become predictable but it is still keeping my interest.  I enjoy the way the students read; I'm really glad that we choose different students to act as voice actors, reading the different characters' parts - that was a good idea (not mine).  We had a short discussion about how the action of a story rises and falls and spoke specifically about the importance of falling action in allowing the plot to relax between scenes.

Next, Joanna introduced us to Ben Ged Low, a local filmmaker who comes from a family of filmmakers.  I learned that his father was the first to use what is now called the Kens Burns effect while making Canadian documentaries in the 1950s.  Mr. Low's two brothers are also filmmakers.  We saw a short film about Sunshine Coast musician Lowry Olafson - a film Ben shot in a day and completed in less than a week.  We learned to differentiate between story and subject.  Hey, these were terms that Bjorn Enga introduced last week.  Ben explained how we should be able to turn a film into one sentence and how all the parts (image, sound, music and narration) must fit together or a film won't "click."  I left the room feeling very blessed to have just had another world-class artist come to teach us.  Thanks, Ben; and thanks, Joanna!

Mr. Low's website

After recess, the 7s got right to the short written section of their math FSA while the 6s read before leaving for their math instruction.  After the FSA, I reviewed percent problems briefly and then the 7s had some time to work on their Egypt inquiry projects.  They have missed a few hours of in-class inquiry to the FSA, so I wanted to give them a break.  The Monday deadline is fast approaching so we need to slow our research as we start preparing the projects that "will show our learning."

After lunch, the 6s worked on their inquiry in our class while the 7s went across the hall to write their "long" response for the FSA.  As the 7s finished, they too transitioned (briefly) to inquiry.  We ended the day with a game of person-hunt in the forest. Yes, I managed to wipe out and get muddy knees, AGAIN (but I got 'em)!

Remember, tomorrow is band so you will need your instruments.

Friday is yoga - so bring comfortable clothes (and a new spine for me).