Sorry the Blog entry is so late- I had a meeting (another one!) after school anmd when I got home I realized I had to go back out to get some groceries as I didn't do the shopping this weekend!! I feel like the EverReady bunny but I'm afraid to stop in case my batteries don't holdup!!
Anyway interesting day- right from the get-go there was a vibration- an undercurrent of energy that was difficut to contain today - new seating plan- can't say it is a success yet! There were a few students away.
Homework
Unit 16 spelling for Thursday (complete crossword activity for Unit 16)
Redo tests tomorrow for other spelling units either missed or needing an improvement
new activity is the persuasive writing assignment that we got started on in class- some completed it in class but others just had to write a paragraph to express their opinion about the topic they chose (all different)
UBC letter and bus cost $5- still have approx 10 students who have not returned permission slips
General Day
Returned Unit 15 spelling test and prepped Unit 16 - students worked on a crossword puzzle for the unit words and just to throw a bit of a twist, I added a few words from previous units.
Students generally did a good job- some have difficulty getting these activities completed but not because of difficulty more due to lack of focus on the task at had thus some may have it for homework!!
Novel Ch 17 Word Nerd Ambrose takes full advantage of Cosmo while on the bowling date and sets him up to take them both to the climbing centre the following Friday!! Ambrose gets taken to task by Amanda for being a sore loser and being rude to other memebers of the club. He was told to behave appropriately or leave the club- a message, in my opinion, that many young people need to hear!
Next we began work on the persuasive writing activity that we started thinking and prepping for on Friday of last week. After recess we did a step by step stuctural type of activity that explained to students how to structure a persuasive writing piece that gives reasons and details that fully support the reasons to develop the topic. A paragraph structure for a persuasive piece needs to give a statement of opinion first (topic sentence) then the following sentences need to provide reasons for and information to support that opinion (main idea & supporting details) and a concluding sentence that either sets up another reason for the opinion or concludes the writing by restating the original opinion.
We [racticed with a couple of set-up topics about the importance of wearing bike helmets and why it woulf be a good idea to make the school year LONGER (they had some excellent ideas to support that one- I was surprised!)
I was truly impressed with the topics the students were chosing to write their opinion piece about:
- women's rights around the world- need to be improved
- why dogs are better pets than cats!
- making the school year shorter!
- skateboarding is the ultimate workout
- the benefits of video games
- the need for a faster acting emergency system in B.C.
- why short people have more advantages that taller people!
- the marketing practices of CocaCola are more effective than those of the Pepsi company
- why buying Brand clothing is a waste of money
- why soccer is the best team game on the planet
DEAR time was okay- I was busy trying to get a few students caught up with missing work. Today was the last day for the January reading record. I collected the records. Each student who has completed the record will get an entry into the TRC (Teen Reading Club) draw for a free book from the February catalogue. I would like every student to complete the reading record so I can accurately assess the use of the daily reading time for the assessment in March.
Personal Planning was suppopsed to be an introduction to the changes that puberty would bring about in body, mind and spirit.
The lesson and activity took much longer than I anticipated; however, I believe that today we hit a raw nerve in the daily relationships of the students in this class and that rather than interrupt the procedings I decided that we would compelte the activity which actually took until the end of the day!!!
The activity was a group discussion about the difficulties each gender felt they were facing growing up in today's society- the girls met and talked to the girls and the boys with the boys- I did this separation on purpose the intention being to have the students compare the 'difficulties' identified and realize that they are actually the same issues!!
We met and then we tried our best to 'report out' but there were many interruptions although I (we) persevered. I find that the students who are problematic are the very students who need to have some kind of apprecaition and understanding of the information and perceprtions of peers.
It was a good session despite the interruptions and it brought to light the mutual feelings of disrespect that both the boys and the girls in grade seven feel that they are subjected to at school. Ouch!
We have a lot of work to do together but we need to clear up these beliefs by meeting some socially responsible behaviours not the least of which is to recognize one's own part in the on-going disrespect and start to make an effort to change it.
You can see how similar the feedback for each group was in the following summary.
The boys said that
- the girls were very judgmental of them
- the media had a lot of stereotypes of males
- the girls were bossy and 'used' them (need to explore that one a bit more)
- the girls got away with things that they could not (i.e. 'hitting' physically- again I need to explore that further)
- girls were disrespectful
- boys were disrespectful of them and to them
- that they felt objectified
- the boys often verbally used put downs to make them feel bad about themselves and their looks
- that the topic of harrassement (physical/sexual) was a big joke to them
Whew- things ended amicably and I think we have made a class decision to be more thoughtful and realize how both boys and girls feel but I need to plan around better communication by, foe and between each of my students. Hormones are popping now and this is the right time to address the issues.
3pm Dismissal
Have a good evening from what's left of it!!
More fun and excitement tomorrow.
Mrs. J.
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