Tuesday, 12 June

We began our day using the computers for our inquiry work.  Hmm, another teacher has booked our computers all week: how inconvenient.  We also had a chance to listen to Landseer's socials presentation.  That leaves just three students yet to present: Kassandra, Cody and Gage.

"The Rules"

After recess, most students cleaned out their desks, but the tidier ones read instead.  In Math 7, I gave the instruction for Lesson 7.4 and then set the class to finishing the practice for Lesson 7.3 from yesterday.  I'm trying to get a bit ahead in the math instruction because I will be in town on Thursday for (hopefully) my last thumb fracture appointment; and on Friday I'll be canoeing with the Aboriginal Ed program in Sechelt Inlet.  Here are today's notes:

After lunch we had 30 more minutes with the computers and then we had a discussion about who we might chose to speak as our class's valedictorian and how he or she might be selected.  In the end, it was decided that tomorrow all students (both grade 6s and 7s) will select three people each and those names will be counted.  The three students with whose names are counted most will then go into a second ballot where each student will be able to select one name from the three.  The person whose name is selected the most will speak on behalf of the "grads" at the leaving ceremony on June 25th. , Here are some notes from our discussion:

Next we did a French pre-test in advance of tomorrow's test.  There we four sections:

a) listen to French and copy in French (3 phrases) ex. "Je suis un homme" = Je suis un homme
b) listen to English and copy in French (3 phrases) ex. "I like the boy" =J'aime le garcon (add accent)
c) match (7) English vocabulary words with their French translation ex. les enfants = children
d) read in English and translate to French (5 phrases) ex. We are calm = Nous sommes calmes

Note: there will be no questions from the most recent "food/eating" lessons,  just the "people" lessons we did first.

We ended the day with two chin-ups (or flexed-arm hangs) as an exit ticket to a three-minute early dismissal.  Thanks for a great day

Remember that tomorrow is art with Joanna - dress appropriately.  So far, four students have remembered to bring in $10 for the art supplies.

Please remember runners and shorts for p.e.

Monday, 10 June

PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE SHORTS AND RUNNERS (NOT FLATS OR SANDALS OR BOOTS) FOR EVERY P.E. CLASS FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.  STUDENTS SHOULD EXPECT TO BE RUNNING IN SOME FORM EVERY DAY.

I am requesting two parent drivers to volunteer to drive the students who are going to the Chatelech orientation meeting.  I think one of the mums from Division One has already indicated she is available.  I will be staying with the Chatelech-bound students, and Mr. Pond will be going with the Elphi-bound students (they get a bus because there are so many more of them).  A consent form for both groups will go home tomorrow.

Also, please try to remember to bring $10 for art supplies as soon as you can.

I hope you all had an enjoyable weekend.  Mine was quite busy with house guests here to see my eldest daughter in the Dance Academy's show at the Raven's Cry Theatre.  We began our day debriefing the class's most recent paragraph writing assignment.  Without a doubt, the most common writing flaw was run-on sentences, so we reviewed how to avoid them.  Many students commented that they will try to spice up their next piece of writing with some juicy words.  Others noted the need to more effectively employ transition words (signposts) to guide their readers through the twists and turns of their writing.  Here are the notes we created on the board:

Remember to follow the punctuation
recipe for things such as commas.

Next, the class went to band.  I noted that on this report card fine arts will again be separated into "art" (with Joanna) and "band" (with Mr. Grice).

After recess we read for for ten minutes and then started math.  In Math 7 I gave instruction in how to assess numbers in a set of numbers to see if there are any outliers.  We then started the practice set for Lesson 7.3: there is no homework today.

After lunch we read for 15 minutes and then began our inquiry work.  Goldney and Kiah volunteered to use some of their inquiry time to help prime the art "canvasses."  Thanks, girls.  The inquiry projects are due to be finished at the end of Monday, 17 June.  The 7s have their secondary school orientations that day, so the 6s will have one extra class day to work on their projects.  That might be time used to practice the presentations so we get fewer students "reading" their presentations.

We ended the day with some running.  We each also tried to do one chin-up/pull-up.  We'll be doing more of that sort of thing as we get ready for the year-end fitness test.

Tomorrow I will be giving a French pre-test and on Wednesday, after art, we'll have the real test.  Remember to study your notes (or, check the notes posted to the blog - all test questions will be things we've practiced in class).

Yippee, it's Friday: 7 June

Today was a real departure from out usual routine.  Since 30% of the class was away at the District Track and Field Meet at Elphinstone, I chose to give the other students a break from the normal rigor as well.  I met with Mr. Pond and we decided to collaborate in a team-building activity that we did back on the first day of school: the spider web challenge.  It demands collaboration, communication, concentration and critical thinking (not to mention teamwork, trust and agility).  In the morning we pitted the two divisions against one another, and then had a whole-group debrief of the experience.  In the afternoon, (after math, lunch and then reading) we had another round of the spider web challenge with three new teams.  In the morning the times were both over 20 minutes; in the afternoon the fastest group completed the challenge in under four minutes.  Now that is learning.

There is no homework.  Please remember your instruments on Monday.

Also, please try to remember to bring $10 for the year-end art supplies. Thanks, and enjoy the weekend.

Thursday, 6 June

We began the day with a special guest: Ms. Meredith Thomson came and taught us how to play Uno in French.  We tried to play without and English and I thought it went very well for a first try.  It is hard not to slip into English when you're searching for that elusive word in French.  Ms. Thomsom gave us a script that helped immensely with most of the game-play phrases necessary to play.  A big merci, Ms. Thomson.  After Uno, the class had band (some of our grade 6 students worked with our other Ms. Thomson (Bronwyn) to prepare a special math activity for the grade 1 students she works with).

After recess we read for ten minutes and then started math.  In Math 7 we added to yesterday's lesson on mean and mode, and learned about median and range.  With these four terms we can speak better about questions involving averages or measures of central tendency.  We didn't get to begin the practice set on pp. 264-66 as we were interrupted by the fire drill.

Reviewing mode and mean

Learning median

After lunch we worked on our passion inquiries, heard one of the final social studies inquiry sharings, and then went outside for a "personal choice" p.e. session with Division 1.  Some played basketball, some played soccer, some other less organized activities.

Remember that the high jump competition is being held after school at Chatelech and the meet is scheduled to be held tomorrow at Elphinstone.  Good luck to all of our Division 2 athletes. 

Art Day! Wednesday, 5 June

We got to do art today and it was a blast.  I did not want to come in at recess when the bell rang and I know the students felt the same.  Our room is now awash in colour as we've surrounded ourselves with our Matisse-inspired paintings.  Thank you, Joanna, for once again hitting it out of the park with a wonderfully inspiring lesson.  We are asking that each student bring in $10 to offset the cost of the four 2' x 2' plywood canvasses that we are using for the remaining classes.  I don't like asking folks for money and I hope that this request isn't an issue, but if it is, please let me know.  A big thank-you to Carol for her support today (and every art class) in managing the supplies distribution and for taking the photos (because I was too engrossed in my own masterpiece).  Here are some of her pics of our resident artists in action:

Joanna doing her thing!

After recess we finished cleaning up and then did math.  The 7s started a new unit and learned about mean and mode.  We used bingo chips to experience these two concepts and then worked to complete the text book practice set on pp. 260-61.  Most students completed the work in class.  If you needed an extra few minutes, please try to come to class tomorrow with it completed.

After lunch we heard two inquiry sharings and worked on our passion inquiries.  We ended the day with a game of soccer that I totally manipulated by telling the class that I was doing my p.e. marks soon and needed to see them running and sweating today if they wanted to try for the A.  I felt a bit guilty, but the game was certainly a high-tempo one.  Enjoy the sun and I'll see you all tomorrow.

Tuesday, 4 June

1. For tomorrow's en plein air (outdoor) painting lesson (and all sessions left in the year) we'd like you to bring the following to class:

black felt/Sharpi
black oil pastel
pencil
pencil sharpener
sun hat
any acrylic paints you have at home
any brushes you have at home

2. Tomorrow is Neon Day - prizes at noon.

3. Also, remember that tomorrow is the Appreciation Tea at 3:00 - we hope to see you there.



We began the day with the DART reading assessment.  The students read a passage and answered questions and then did an oral reading monitored by a teacher.  This assessment is just a snapshot of the students' reading on one day, but it is a piece that will help identifying how to best serve each student next year.  Once students finished their assessments, theyused any extra time to work on their passion inquiries.

After recess we read for ten minutes and then started math.  In Math 7 I returned the unit tests and then reviewed the one area where many students had difficulty: showing the "check" after solving their equations.  Study packages will not be required to rewrite this test.  There is no homework.

After lunch we listened to three student inquiry presentations on ancient civilizations, worked on our passion projects for 20 minutes and then had a game of Person Hunt in the forest.  I spite of the upset to the morning routine, it was a great day today.  Thanks for all of your cooperation and effort.

Monday, June 3

Heads up: we are hosting an Appreciation Tea for all parents, guardians and caregivers in the library at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 5th.  I hope you can all attend.  You've been so supportive of us all year and this is our chance to honour you in a small but sincere way.

The students have also planned a NEON DAY for Wednesday, June 5th: there will be prizes, so dig out your brightest clothes!  (Guests of the Appreciation Tea need not wear neon, but should feel free to do so if they wish).

We began the day with a short French quiz as we waited for the Elphinstone jazz band to get set up for their performance in the gym.  At this point, the phrases connected to food should be quite familiar and students should be anticipating a test soon.  The band sounded good with some talented soloists but they had a student vocalist who really made the experience memorable.  I've never heard a school band accompanied in that way before.  What a great way to begin the day.

After recess we read for ten minutes and then the students had math.  In Math 7 we did the equations unit test.  I'll try to get those marked this evening so you can see the results tomorrow.  There is no math homework.

After lunch we worked on our passion inquiry projects.  I suggested that a good place to start is by asking these questions: 1) What do I already know? 2) What don't I know? and, 3) What do i wonder?  This will help to define where the inquiry should go.  In the end, students will be able to say, I discovered... ; 2) I now know... ; and, 3) I now/still wonder....  I'm hoping that the students will discover that in real life one question/inquiry often leads to another.  I see this as part of the shift away from old school where the focus may have seemed to be about finding a series of "right answers."  There is a balance that needs to be found between facts and finding, and I hope that we can put some of  the wonder back into learning for older students.

We ended the day with a game of capture the flag against Division 1.  We did much better than last time we met them.  I think Thane's pre-game cheers has a lot to do with our success.  Have a nice afternoon.

Please remember that tomorrow night is the Elphinstone parent information night for the families of grade 7 students: it starts at 6:30 p.m.