Monday January 24th

Another Monday :) Bit grey to start the day ...
Had a great bonspeil this weekend won two of three games - trouble is when you stay in the 'A' division the games get steadily more difficult and we lost our third game which meant we were out of the competition. That's okay as I managed to get home on time to watch the pros curl as Kelly Scott defeated Kelly Law to win the Scott Tournament of Hearts. Skins were on too- good weekend for curling.

FYI
On Friday I had a nice compliment from one of our former students (Isaac) now in grade eight. He had just written his semester-end French exam and he came to tell me that what he had learned in Gr 7 was "really helpful"...Thanks, Isaac. I'll keep on keeping on with the French instruction- sometimes it just takes a quick acknowledgement to remind me that what I do is worthwhile for my students even if it doesn't seem to be useful right now.

Homework
no major homework
Spelling unit 15 test Thursday
still waiting for four projects for social studies (I have more homework than my students do tonight in continuing to assess the ones I have)
If students have access to the internet at home I would like to suggest they go to the BC Science 7 or the Math Links 7 websites which are accessible through the student resources section of the McGraw Hill Ryerson web site. There are many opportunities to practice and/or review the class topics at their own speed.
Reminders
UBC permission slip and $5 for the bus
boys and girls on the basketball teams need to bring in $5 for the transportation to Whistler
A school newsletter went home today

General Day
Spelling
returned unit 14 test results and  prepped Unit 15 with overview of vocabulary and a word find/message activity. I did a quick lesson about the history (necessity) for the McLean's handwriting rules due to the widespread use of nibbed pens and ink. I showed the students what they looked like as I have a selection that I still use for art and calligraphy. Guess what...I managed to get my hand covered in old ink!!!
Word Nerd  - our class novel- finish Ch11 and continue with 12 because students asked to hear the next installment- Ambrose is bullied once again by the 'three stooges' but this time Cosmo comes to his rescue and it seems like maybe he might even be able to help Ambrose learn some self-defense!!
Math early today due to the computer lab schedule for FSA
Algebra- we discussed the balance principle of ensuring that what you do on one side of an algebraic equation you do also on the other to 'balance'. I explained the importance of going through the 'working' computation of an algebraic equation because some students can do it in their head BUT that (even if answers are correct) doesn't really help them understand the step by step process especially when things become a bit more demanding say for polynominals at a later grade. To understand the balance of an algebraic equation is to understand the process of  step by step computation. Algebra is a beautiful thing- balance who doesn't need balance?
11-12 FSA reading e-exam on the computer screens- 6 reading passages including a couple of poems and 40 multiple choice questions. Thanks to Mr E. our techie for getting us through to where the exams were accessible and thank you to all the students who held onto their PENs (personal education numbers) that were needed for log in. I was very proud of all of the grade sevens because I know they did the best job they could and that is what it is all about :)

indoor lunch :(
DEAR time- took a while to settle but they did finally manage it :)

1:30- 2:30 pm Personal Planning- risk assessment continued - lots of interesting discussion today and it is VERY interesting to see the gender split in the thinking through of consequences for behaviours that can be considered or can lead to risk!! I wish all parents could have been with us as I think you would be amazed at the things that this age level consider no-risk or low risk and how they perceive higher risk behaviour as 'no big deal'. This lesson is an eye opener for everyone- we will finish the discussion part tomorrow and the activity is one that I think I will send home so you can see the perception of your son or daughter to the scenarios. Some topics are causing a bit of embarrassment I think but the scenarios leave a lot to the imagination. For example: what is the difference (is there a difference in risk) between kissing and/or lying down kissing? What about the difference in drinking alcohol and/or getting drunk?

Phys Ed. I changed the 'circle dodge' game to a number 'lay-up' for basketball skills so everyone in the class had the chance to go head to head against a classmate to make a basket- the sideline help could have been better - perhaps we will try again tomorrow and get the team assistance that is needed in this 'skill' game.

3pm Dismissal
Boy's basketball practice after school
Until Tuesday,
Mrs. J.