Wednesday, January 19th

Sorry bit later tonight folks- had a class then had to catch up on some correspondence before I got to the Blog. Then it took me at least five tries until I got my username and password correct- I keep being told to change usernames and passwords often for security but what if you can't remember all the new ones and then get them muddled up with the old ones??? Is this a sign of an aging brain or is it just the reality of the techno world we live in? One time I had my card kept at the ATM machine becuse I kept trying to put my photocopy code in as my PIN!! lol

Pretty good day today all in all.

Homework
Just the spelling tests and the redo for Unit 12 and 13
The actual weekly test is for Unit 14 words- a few studewnts still have the activity to hand in from Monday- I'll check tomorrow for that
I received another two projects today so I am now short only 4. Great hustle!

other than that...
a fieldtrip letter for our trip the UBC's Chan Centre went home today and just so you know, after school tonight I picked up at least 10 from desks and the floor so they won't be at home tonight!!! The good news is that they have until early February to return them but sooner is always better than later- the whol,e trip is going to cost only $5
Friday is PJ day and at 1pm we have the annual spelling bee in the gym- you are welcome to come and join us if you are available.

General Day
Started with French Quelle heure est-il? work book which we reviewed the patterns and vocabulary for Tuesday...I was having difficulty with the "moins le quart" phrase as the French pattern is to moins (minus) 15 minutes so if the time is 2:45pm (a quarter to three) en francais c'est trois heures moins le quart (3pm minus 15 minutes. I kept getting it confused!!!The students kept me correct - thanks :)

Chapter 8 of Word Nerd surprised us with the return from jail of Cosmo, Mrs E's (the landlord's) wayward son, Ambrose and he have a very dramatic introduction at the door one night as he is having dinner with Mr. and Mrs. E. More tomorrow.

We did a poem next reading the stanza to establish the poet's pattern and to see if we could figure out the central idea of the poem's intention. We discussed what would need to be included in an answer to a question about the relationship between the poet and the audience that included 'specific examples from the poem'.

For math we did a set of 5 multiple choice questions which challenged us to read the language of the problems over the math- i.e. it is crazy how many students mixed up the intention of a math question that asked for a simple subtraction but because the word 'difference' was used they did something else!! Good to review and show how sometimes language is more challenging than the math or arithmentic needed for the solution.

At our computer session today we spent some time at the Ministry of Education FSA website as I wanted the students to try the on-line reading and numeracy samples and wanted to ensure that each of them knew how to find and use the on-line calculator for the real thing in the next couple of weeks. I believe that it is important that the students know what the procedure is before they do it for the first time as a test to be assessed. Some students tried the 'eenie miny mo' experiment and guessed at all the answers just to see what they would get- I guess it was a good experiment as it did show quite clearly with results of 30% and 40% that perhaps guessing the answers was not very successful.

DEAR time was well done today- although many were late to class from lunch time practice- apparently it took 15 minutes for them to change!!

Took a bit of afternoon time to review the math questions in more deatil and it is apparent that we need to do a couple of circle formula math examples using pi (3.14). Good to know- the trouble with the FSA assessment which needs to be completed by Feb 25th, 2011 is that much of the math that is included has not been covered since last year in grade six and the students are asked to recall a great deal of math facts and retain knowledge about number systems although we are in January of the school year and with the time I have had in the past five months, I haven't been able (nor will I ever be able in January of any year) to review all of it for the students in time for the stupid assessment!!! So frustrating- that an assessment would set so many students up for failure! Peace out!

Back to computers for more practice the student were getting the hang of it by the afternoon session and it was quieter in the lab that it usually is as many were using their noodles :) That can't be bad :)

Interesting Phys. Ed. session today. Ms. Kislasko took the girls for a yoga class and they all said they 'loved it'. I took the boys to the gym for a floor hockey game and we did 5 minute games and changed out goalies and teams - we played most of the time - no whining, no complaing and no showing off! WOW. Thet 'loved it' too. Good way to end the day.
3pm Dismissal
Have a great evening- see you all tomorrow.
Mrs. J.