Friday, 8 March

Today we began with a character sketch in English.  Students typed their responses.  Some tried to write without first doing a mind-map or some other type of planning and then got stuck.  There's nothing wrong with shortcuts if they work, but most young writers need some sort of guide before they begin.  After recess we did math.  The 7s worked on the unit summary on pp. 213-214.  Try to complete up to #10 or so.  We will be doing a unit test next week!

After lunch we got the computers again and worked on our inquiry projects.  Some students have chosen to redefine their initial questions, and that is fine: it is all a part of the process.  I thought everyone worked well for a Friday afternoon with the sun shining in a way it hasn't shone in a long time.

We spent time with our little buddies in Ms. L's class for the last hour of the day.  In the spirit of International Women's Day, Ms. L. worked with the girls and I worked with the boys.  The girls did reading and crafts, the boys went outside and did sports and then went to the gym for a game of dodge ball.

We ended the day with report cards being issued.  You will note that the Fine Arts mark on the cover sheet is for the visual art work we've done with Joanna, and the Band mark and comment are separate (recorded at the foot of the Term 2 comment box on page two).  If you feel there is a need for us to speak further, I've included a teacher conference sign-up sheet in the report card package.  PLEASE SIGN THE COVER SHEET AND RETURN IT TO ME IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED.

Note: I failed to include the Aboriginal Ed insert in two students' folders and will correct that on Monday.

Enjoy your weekend.  I'm off to Vancouver Island on the 06:20 ferry to look at sailboats with a buddy of mine :)

Thursday, 7 March

Today, we began by selecting the production teams for our film projects.  It would have been easy for me to select the teams, and that is what some students wanted to happen, but I thought it would be better for us to take individual ownership of the process.  In the past, some students have been made to feel left out during the selection of groups.  Other students have been unwilling to venture outside of their comfort zones and so have always worked with their close friends.  My goal this time was to have mixed-gender groups formed in such a way that everyone in class felt included.  It took an hour, but I think we achieved that.  I'd like to thank those girls who took a leap and were first to volunteer to leave their groups when the class met an impasse.  It is sometimes difficult to satisfy our need to be a team player and still keep ourselves content.  I didn't want to create any martyrs, but there are occasions in life when someone has to be the first to budge.  I hope you feel this was a good learning opportunity - I do.

Next the class had band.  Mr. Grice had to take time to complete his remaining 1:1 music tests.

After recess we did math.  The 7s had a quick lesson on subtracting mixed numbers and then got right to work.  I've been very pleased with the work ethic in math for the past number of weeks.  There is very little wasted time and lots of cooperation as students support one another during their practice sets.  This model has allowed me great flexibility to work 1:1 or in small groups.  I have really been enjoying math, and look forward to it every day.  Most people were going to try to complete the problem set on pp. 207-208 for homework.

After lunch I shared some information about food selection for the snowshoe trips.  I talked about go food, grow food, and glow food.  I find this a more meaningful way to discuss carbohydrates, proteins, fats and "treats."  We discussed the types of menu choices that would fit into each category and what specific meal choices could be.  I espoused the virtue of the bagel as the perfect backpack food and instant oatmeal as my preferred backcountry breakfast.  Nevertheless, please remember that you have to eat it, so my spartan menu choices might not be best for you.

We ended the day with some volleyball in the gym.  Thanks for another good day.

Tomorrow I've booked the computers so we can a) write a character sketch; b) do some science inquiry; and, c) play with iMovie in preparation for our editing.

Wednesday, 6 March

 Fire Logs

Joanna doing her thing

Today we began by examining some film shorts by a young Canadian named Sean Quigley.  See the post below to find the links and read the class' comment.  Next we had a lesson on film production with Joanna.  It was neat to see her planning maps because they incorporate many of the visual elements we've been examining in our other coursework.  I find that those kind of visual maps really make organizing and digesting and recalling information much easier.  We watched a short that she produced and Bjorn shot called "Fire Logs."  I learned something about how west coast loggers keep themselves warm when in the bush.  Click the link under the photo to view the video.

After recess we read for ten minutes and then did math.  The 7s reviewed yesterday's homework and then blasted ahead with more practice subtracting fractions.  They finished #9-12 on page 194, then dashed on to complete page 197.  I said that if people found they were really understanding the process, they had only to do every second question - I trust the students to gauge their learning.  Please try to complete that for homework if you didn't finish in class, but don't spend more than about 15 minutes on it.  Please ensure that you show the n/n fractions if you multiply to change a denominator - you can use mental math, but record your thinking.

After lunch we read for ten minutes and then worked on our science inquiry projects.  I was able to help many students navigate PowerPoint (I wish I was that proficient with iMovie).  I was much more satisfied with the way everyone worked this afternoon.  Folks got to work quickly and there was no wasted time like yesterday.  Way to go you guys!  We stopped at 2:00 to discuss our art project film teams and discussed a variety of points: the need for flexibility, having enough people to have a variety of actors available, ensuring that everyone is included FROM THE START and allowing people to still have fun so that the whole experience in enjoyable.  We will make our decisions first thing tomorrow, before band.  During our discussion we had a short visit from Mrs. Rive and our school superintendent, Mr. Bocking.  It was nice that they were able to see the class engaged in a mature discussion that showcased all of the collaboration skills that students have developed so far this year.  I'm sure our guests were impressed with the respectful, orderly conduct and thoughtful ideas displayed our students.  I was certainly proud and it wasn't staged, honestly.

We ended the day with an introduction to volleyball.  Thanks to Amber and Goldney who, on a moment's notice,  demonstrated sound volleying technique to the class.  I thought that the pointers they gave helped to make it easy for those students who are inexperienced in the game, move forward.  I know others who also are experienced helped as well - thanks.  Tomorrow we'll try to be more successful getting the nets up quickly so we can play some mini-games at the end of the lesson.

Remember that you will need your instruments for band tomorrow.

Thanks for a great day!

Sean Quigley Response

This morning, in advance of Joanna's lesson on film production, I showed three videos by a young Canadian musician/humanitarian named Sean Quigley.  I explained how he burst on the Canadian music scene a couple of years ago with a video he and his sister shot in Winnipeg for a musical arrangement he composed for the song "Little Drummer Boy."  The film was made in one day and submitted to one of his high school teachers - it went viral on YouTube.  When you realize that he did the arrangement, the vocals and played all of the instrumental tracks himself, it is a pretty impressive story.  Certainly, it gives us something to think about as we venture into the production of our own short films.  Students were asked to respond to what they saw and what we discussed.  Please find their comments below.

Sean Quigley's "Little Drummer Boy"

Making Sean Quigley's "Little Drummer Boy"

Sean Quigley's "Our Generation"

Tuesday, 5 March

Today, I was a few minutes late because of a serious traffic incident in Selma Park.  I wasn't often interrupted that way during the years I drove to Pender Harbour.  Mrs.Taggert did "Bon-Bon Bingo," a number game to practice French, while the class waited for me to arrive.  Thanks, Mrs. T!  Next we practiced our knots and I introduced the class to the idea of mechanical advantage when I taught them how to tie a trucker's hitch.  We'll have to wait until next time to practice it because at 09:45 we left for the gym and the key-word assembly to showcase "COOPERATION."  I have really enjoyed these assemblies, especially the stories that get read.  This time, Mr.Paish also showed some terriffic film shorts that quickly had many of our students wondering if they could do similar things in their upcoming productions!  Do a YouTube search on Honda, The Cog.

After recess we read for 15 minutes and then did math.  In Math 7, we learned how to subtract fractions.  I covered three lessons in one and went right into the process of how to "borrow" from the whole number when necessary in a mixed number pair.  I made sure the class saw how to do it symbolically (with numbers) and also concretely (with models/shapes).  Please complete # 1-8 on page 193 for homework if you didn't get through it in class.  In you find you understand a question well, you may skip every second practice item ( ie. do 1a and 1c; skip 1b and 1d).

After lunch we read for another 15 minutes and then we did a desk/room tidy and got ready for tomorrow's art lesson and the upcoming Gibson's Public Art Gallery young artists "Shout Out" show. By participating the students will gain a wider audience for their work and a gift certificate that we'd like them to use to purchase brushes for our return to painting after our film unit.

We ended the day with a talking circle where we welcomed Thane back to class after his time away, and I took some time to share some of my thoughts about the inquiry approach to learning.  I want the class to always understand why we do what we do.  I want them to be informed and empowered to question if they feel the need.

Tomorrow is the deadline to submit the Grade 7 year-end celebration questionnaires.

I'm still tracking down my medical questionnaire for the snowshoe trip - I'll send it out ASAP.

Monday, 4 March

Today we began the day by quickly reviewing the elements of characterization and then used Lupus from The Thieves of Ostia to practice writing a short paragraph sketch.  Tomorrow we'll hear some of the practice examples and then move on to another character.  Next the class went to band.

After recess we read for ten minutes and then transitioned to math.  The  Math 7 did an overall review of the addition of fractions and a quick intro to mixed numbers and then jumped right into the problem set on page 202. Most students finished in class (doing every second question)  If you didn't, please try to do so for homework because tomorrow I'd like to start subtraction of fractions.

After lunch we read for another 10-15 minutes and then we did research and other work for our science inquiry projects.  I noted that some students took almost 20 minutes to settle themselves to quiet work.  I hope that we can avoid that waste of time tomorrow.  As we wrapped up, some students noted that they are finding this inquiry harder than the Egypt inquiry.  Others said that there is not as much interesting information available on environmental topics.  That may be true, on first inspection, but if they go to sites such as the SCRD site, there is a wealth of detailed information out there.  I was trying to persuade people to avoid attempting to "report" their learning too early.  I'd like them to spend more time researching and then share only the juicy bits of learning rather than the material found mere inches below the surface.  I realize that we may be grade 6 and 7 students, but I know that we have it in us to do really good work and so I'm going to be pushing a bit more this time.

We ended the day with a game of outdoor soccer - the sun was wonderful!

Tomorrow is our key words assembly at 09:45.

Please remember your recording devices for Wednesday's art/film class.

Thursday is band: bring your instruments.

Some grade 7s have yet to return there year-end celebration questionnaires.

Please return your snowshoe forms if you still have them.

TODAY EVERYONE WAS PRESENT IN CLASS - THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN!

Friday, 1 March

Today we reviewed the parts of story and then looked at how we might write a character sketch as we prepare to start writing about the Ostia novel.  That took us to recess. After recess we read and then transitioned to math.  The grade 7 students completed p. 189, and some went on to do the mid-unit review on page 190.  Page 189 is for homework if you didn't finish.

After lunch we watched a short TED talk that discussed the Pacific Gyre and the amount of plastic that is accumulating as pollution in our oceans.  Next, we met with Mr. Pond's class and went to the Roberts Creek Beach to try to help the situation by collecting garbage.  Some students were more focused on collecting garbage than others, but I think that it was a very useful exercise. Thank you Mr. Pond, for inviting our class to come with you.  We did get a little bit wet, but I think that everyone had fun.  When we returned from the beach we took a little bit of time to separate the garbage from the things that could be recycled. We ended the day with a few games of dodge ball in the gym.

Please remember that we have band on Monday so do not forget your instruments.

Also, those of you who borrowed science text books are requested to bring them back on Monday.

I hope everybody has a good weekend. If you have not returned your snowshoe trip forms, please do so on Monday.