Wednesday, 26 September

We started the day with a "practice" re-test of the grammar (parts of speech) test we did last week.  We we reviewed the answers we broke down the sentences in Part 2 for extra practice - we won't do that on the real test. Tomorrow we will have the real test so please study.

After recess we completed the math assessments.  Three students have more work to do so we'll arrange a quiet space for them to work next class.

After lunch we completed our rubrics activity using paper airplanes to understand how this for of assessment works.

We ended the day with a short session of "camouflage" behind the school.

I was unsatisfied with the number of times I had to wait for the class's attention while some chose to hold side conversations.  I'd like to have a talking circle tomorrow after lunch to address this issue.

Thank you to the many parents who were able to come to the school tonight.  If anyone who was unable to come would like to meet me, or would like to discuss his or her child's year, please feel free to arrange to see me at a time that is more convenient.  My e-mail address is at the top of the blog.

Terry Fox Run tomorrow 10:45-12:00 - bring your runners and a toonie.  Parents are most welcome (but be careful, we may ask you to assist by being on the route as a guide/helper/supervisor.  Here is the route:


As always - try to read a few pages from the novel.

Tuesday, 25 September

Today we began with a writing activity designed to re-enforce the concepts we've be developing about the parts of a sentence.  Students built sentences given details in a table, and then extended their thinking buy adding further examples to the table.  They concluded by building sentences for the details they added.


After recess we did a math assessment so I could get a better idea of where students are in terms of their mastery of last year's curriculum.  This exercise is diagnostic and does not count towards their term math grade.  There was no time limit and some students will finish tomorrow.

After lunch I introduced the class to the idea of using special tables (called rubrics) for the assessment of their work.  Together, we built a rubric that could be used to judge the construction of paper airplanes.  First, we decided what categories we should use to judge our planes and then we filled in the criteria for the different performance levels of each category. Tomorrow, we will build the planes and use the rubric to assess them.  It should be fun.

We closed the day with an hour of work to prepare for Thursday's Terry Fox Run.  Students are being asked to donate a "toonie for Terry," if possible.  There will also be hot dogs/veggie dogs on sale after the run.  They will be $1.50.  The prices of drinks, et cetra will be announced tomorrow.  All students should bring runners tomorrow and Thursday.

The only homework is to ensure everyone has read the novel Crash up to page 48.  

Please remember tomorrow's meeting at 6 p.m.

Friday, Sept 21

Today we began by reviewing our grammar test and then I gave some sheets for extra practice in separating sentences into their subjects and predicates and then identifying their parts of speech.  We also watched the Steve Nash documentary on Terry Fox and we each copied ten facts, quotations or reflections from the film.  After lunch we worked with our little buddies in reading and a scavenger hunt.  Next I modeled writing a socials paragraph and then we wrote our own "first sample paragraph" using the points we copied from the film.

I issued a notice inviting parents and guardians to a classroom information session to occur Wednesday at 6 p.m.

There is no homework EXCEPT please read up to page 48 in your novel.  Remember Monday is a pro-d day: enjoy your long weekend.

Link to the video we watched:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPrSNRQG6o4&feature=related

Thursday, 20 Sept

First, I'm sorry for yesterday's late post.

Today we began by welcoming the riders from the Cops for Cancer tour, and spent the rest of the day looking at the blinking LED lights that they gave the students.  Thanks to those members of Division 2 who gave up their extra lights so that younger students who had missing of broken toys could go home happy.

We did our first grammar test so I could determine how strong the class's mastery of the parts of speech is.  We still have some work to do; students shouldn't worry if they felt their performance was weak; we will be doing another test and re-tests are always an option.

We did a math lesson on variables and then the grades did level-appropriate work: Grade 7: pp. 18-19; and Grade 6: pp. 22-23.  There is no homework.

After lunch we did a Terry Fox Run planning session with Division 1 and then some more math.  We ended the day with some P.E.

Tomorrow at lunch the parents facilitating the grade 7 hoodie orders will offer the last chance for students to be sized.  On Tuesday at lunch, the 7s will add their signatures to the class logo and FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH IS THE LAST DAY TO GET MONEY IN TO SECURE YOUR ORDER.

Finally, Mr. Pond and I would like to extend an invitation to meet with us next Wednesday evening for about an hour.  Here is a preview of the notice I'll be sending home tomorrow:

Wed., 19 September

Today we started with a talking circle and I was glad to report that Braeden's skateboard had been located.  Next we did a grammar exercise to practice editing run-on sentences (including a group review of the answers).  After recess we did a mini-lesson and a second worksheet: a math exercise on order of operations.  After lunch we finished the math work sheet.  Anyone who didn't finish should complete down to the "try this" section.  Our last task was to start work on the "so-what" paragraph writing for socials.  Thanks, Kassandra, for the smart phone pic.

I was very pleased with everyone's effort today.  We ended the day with some intense elimination tag to get the heart rates up.

Tomorrow in P.E. we will be running in preparation for the Terry Fox Run so please bring running shoes for the next few days.  We'll also be doing some more Run planning/prep work with Division 1.

I'd like to offer to have a one hour parents' information meeting for anyone interested next Wednesday, (September 26).  Because I'm new to Roberts Creek, I'd like to share my philosophical approaches to classroom teaching including a discussion about technology,  communication, and assessment.  I'd also like to create a parents' e-mail contact list and start a discussion to see if parents would like to volunteer to raise funds for potential special events/projects.  I think a 6 p.m. meeting time would be best to allow folks to get home from work and make their way to the school.  I hope to see you all but would ask that you arrange to meet privately at a different time if you'd like to have a more personal discussion about your child's year.

Tuesday, 18 Sept.

Today we began by doing a group practice of identifying parts of speech in sample sentences.  Then I gave some new instruction about run-on sentences.  Afterwords I issued a worksheet and students had an opportunity to test their knowledge identifying p.o.s. on their own.  The most common sticking points came around adverbs and prepositions.  All-in-all, I thought people coped well and I was pleased with the effort the class gave.

After recess we did a group lesson aimed at introducing the concept of using variables (like n) to write generalized pattern rules to summarize what was happening in some tables of values we looked at.  However, before we could finish the lesson, we had to stop and review/introduce the concept of the "order of operations."  Tomorrow I'll have a work sheet to re-enforce the work we did with order of operations (multiplication/division before addition/subtraction) before we reattempt to understand variables.
Click the link to go to an interactive game if you think you already understand order of operations:
http://cemc2.math.uwaterloo.ca/mathfrog/english/kidz/order.shtml

After lunch we had a Terry Fox Run planning session with both Div 1 and 2.  Tomorrow morning students will sign up for the planning/prep activity they are interested in.  The run will be next Thursday (Sept 27).  Afterwords we went outside to play a couple of games and we ended the day with an activity in the forest with our Grade 2 little buddies.  It was a bit unsettling to hear upon our return that there was a cougar sighting in the area.

For homework, students are asked to ensure they have read up to about page 30 in the novel Crash.

Tomorrow we will start the day with a talking circle to see if we can develop a way to help recover Braedon's skateboard that was taken from our hallway this morning.

Monday, 17 September

We came to school in warm sun again and the weather reports say we can expect the same all week.  Our day began with a friendly reminder to get the "walking" forms back with a parent's or guardian's signature; I re-issued forms to students who needed them.  Next we did our first parts of speech quiz together on the board.  I noted that students have the best chance at getting all of the words correct if they use the identification system that we've been practicing in class:

1. Separate the subject (the part that names) from the predicate (the part that tells more).
2. Identify the simple subject in the part that names (it will be a noun or pronoun).
3. Identify the simple predicate in the part that tells more (it will be a verb).
4. Identify any other nouns, pronouns or verbs in the sentence.
5. Look at each noun, pronoun and verb and ask if they have any modifiers.
6. Identify the connectors (conjunctions).
7. Identify the coordinators (prepositions).
8. Finally, check for interjections at the beginning of the sentence.

Warning: many words are used as more than one part of speech, so memorizing examples can be hazardous.  ex.  I like to run home. (verb)  I went for a run. (noun) There is no grammar homework.

After band we visited the library to borrow books and then did a group math lesson.  Both the 6 and 7 curriculum include work around recognizing symbolic (number) and concrete (shape) patterns.  We looked at the difference between what the text calls an "input/output machine" and a "table of values."  We then constructed some concrete patterns using different tables of values.  Finally, we created new patterns for previously given tables to show how those concrete patterns can vary even if the symbols (numbers) stay the same.

After lunch we had our first lesson for the novel Crash (that we started reading last week).  We began to examine the basic components of a novel: setting, character, plot and conflict.  We took "plot" apart, and introduced its parts (things such as exposition, inciting incident and rising action).  Next we made connections to Crash.  Afterwords, we went outside and read in the sun. It would be good if students read to the end of Chapter 5 (page 20) for homework.  

We ended the day by revisiting the four river civilizations worksheet in order to learn how to write a "what/so-what" summarizing paragraph.  We did two main points together and students should do a third for homework.  HINT: the questions on the worksheet act as good focus cues.