I am not too sure about the new seating arrangement as the students seemed to be chattier than ever today!!! Maybe it's just me but they seem to be more social together than they were before Christmas break!! They got visibly taller and broader and I just got a little older!!
Anyway, I had too much planned for today and then I became a bit frazzled that we couldn't get through it all- the students' logical answer was to plan less :) Simple, huh!!
Homework
students are to focus entirely on their socials project this weekend with two goals in mind
a) complete their note-taking and get started (or continue) writing paragraphs and b) decide the 'depth' of their special interest topic and whether or not you are going to do something 'hands-on'
FYI
there is only one more full week of class time (two weekends) to get it done- some students need to get a move on.
General Day
We began our day with DPA in which we practiced some basketball passes and played the game of 21 shooting baskets in groups of 5
Socials time was offered next- it has been very challenging trying to keep 28 students on task and a progress check made it very clear that the students who seem to be having the most trouble settling down have made the least progress. The frustration is that even although they know they have a lot to do and have been very honest about their lack of progress it doesn't seem to change their general work ethic- I find that odd. Any ideas?
After recess we looked at test-taking skills and answered the government exam questions to a reading selection we read on Thursday. The written section (paragraph) worth 4 marks needed to have specific information to be awarded top marks and the students need to be familiar with this particular test skill. In other words- answering a question with a "yes' or "no" is only going to give one mark of four possible.
I abandoned math today prefering instead to give organizational time as some students are really having a difficult time finding their work each day. Those more organized had some personal reading time!!
DEAR reading time after lunch helped settle them back into the classroom after a lunch time of basketball for the girls and tag for the boys!!
I tried some science but will need to follow it up Monday- we looked at the 'ring of fire'- the volcanic plates which ring the Pacific Ocean from the Oceania islands (Fiji, New Guinea, Samoa, Vanuatu etc.) past Asia, Japan, the Bering Straight, Alaska, B.C. The U.S.A. , Mexico and right down the coast of South America. It truly is facsinating to realize that the mountains, trenches and volcanos rivel anything found on the earth's surface and that the volcanic activity under the ocean is where the most action is taking place on a daily basis right under our noses- of course, this starts the students getting worried and fearful about catastrophes that might befall us!! Help. 2012 is on their minds- probably due to the Hollywoodified version of events depicted by James Cameron- thanks buddy!! The students have lots to say which is encouraging but I also only have so much time to get through things so I feel that sometimes I have to shut down their questions and comments and it is not always because they are trying to waste time (at least I don't think so!!)
Remember how we did that when we were trying to sidetrack the teacher????? LOL
I gave the students some art time next and interrupted it with a quick visit to computers which had to be recalled due to the fact that I messed up my Friday time with our Monday time and the Kindergarten class were getting ready to use the lab- I'll make the lab time up on Monday- next week for sure. Oops-sorry guys and gals.
The day just flew by. You should see some of their creative 'twists' on the art project parameters- it never ceases to amaze me how difficult it is to give directions that mean the same thing to all students :) Actually I am fascinated by how they take the instructions and make them their own even when I have to negotiate with students to get it somewhat 'back on track"!! Don't ask!!
Another FYI
I tried some music in class during lunch but quickly realized there will have to be some basic ground rules about behaviour and 'appropriateness' while music is playing and until I do that, no music. If you wonder whether the risque videos have any impact on our young men and women... wow, you should see the bump and grind that passes for dancing. Fortunately today it was only a couple of boys dancing together that made me do a double take and shut it down!!
A playlist would also help- they just need some direction- lots of energy which needs a safe method for venting.
So, what a week... Have a great weekend and see everyone Monday.
Mrs.J.
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