OMG The classroom looks like a 'messy bomb' went off !! It is mostly my paper and files that I had a difficult time organizing today! The students actually left things looking pretty clean on their desk tops!!
Today was one of those crazy whirlwind kind of days when everything seemed to be moving much faster than I could keep up with!!! My brain feels a bit fuzzy even now!
It was the first day of new seating and I'm not too sure what to make of it- it looks okay when their are no students in the desks BUT add 30 students and all of a sudden there is less room than I thought especially as I tripped over and knocked into elbows and chairs- clumsy me. Now imagine that with a bunch of chemicals being transported to desk tops- need to do a bit more rearranging for safety before that gets underway!
Homework
**A classroom newsletter was sent home regarding a unique and exciting opportunity for the grade seven students to be a part of an upcoming CBC documentary about adolescence (it won't air until next year) - please read and fill in the form that asks if you can make it to a meeting Thursday April 7th at 7pm to meet the director, Maureen Palmer. She will be visiting our class that day and is willing to stay and meet any parents who would like to meet her and ask any questions about the planned documentary.
Novel: (Tuck Everlasting OR Surviving the Applewhites) READ the book to at least the end of chapter 5 for tomorrow's assignment - the activities were given out today for the students to peruse and choose depending what novel they are reading. Tomorrow class and computer time will be available to start the activities.
Still need 8 registration forms for DRSS- students have been reminded (and reminded and...)Due: asap
Any more reflection forms for Term 2 that were sent with the Report Card?
Public Speaking speeches are due (completed!) tomorrow- the Public Speaking forum is this Friday at 1pm.
General Day
Novel follow up - the students were a bit sheepish when I shared the information about how many had actually read the required chapters!! The assignments for chapters 1-5 were distributed and we looked over them together to ensure they understood what was required of them as readers.
Band- the students are keen and working hard to be ready for an upcoming concet next Tuesday April, 5th.
To that end Mrs Sorben and I have discussed the need for a couple more Band practice sessions which will take place on Friday, April 1st at 9:45am and Monday, April 4th at 9:45am.
The students must remember to bring their instruments on those days!
Math- you know when you think something is really straightforward and it turns out to be the most confusing thing ever? That was today's lesson! It was on the Language of Geometry- easy right? NOT
First I kept calling it geomogry (a bad spelling of geography or geology!), then I mixed up the geometric symbols for a line and a line segment and the students giggled at the implications of the names of the angles like Angle BAG or Angle BOP. Yeah- like I said my BUSTED points are at 22 now (the students get a point every time they correct my math errors correctly) They can start to cash in at 25!!
We have been counting BUSTED points since February this year. Sometimes what I think I'm teaching isn't what they are hearing... "what you think you said isn't what I think I heard" However, they have caught me 22 times so at least they are listening (somewhat).
Let's just say I was grateful for lunch break.
DEAR time was great although I really am struggling with how to encourage those reluctant readers to use this time to their advantage- a stalwart few continue to doodle away the reading time and do just about anything other than read. What to do?
I try to encourage them with the reading draw each month for a book of their choice but it's not really an incentive if they are not recording their reading because they are not reading ! Catch-22.
Any ideas out there?
Science groups - today we discussed the roles I need the students to agree to being responsible for in the experiment groups. Tomorrow I will ask for decisions about who would be best suited to the following responsibilities...
1. Team sequence coordinator- ensures the group members follow the experiment steps as instructed (ensures successful results)
2. Team safety coordinator- ensures the group is wearing safety glasses- will be trained in basic 1st aid and how to use the WCB eye station
3. Team resource coordinator- responsible for coming to the trolley for the necessarty items, chemicals and resources needed for the given experiment
4. Team apparatus coordinator- responsible for accounting for the equipment care and clean up at the end of the experiment ans is allowed access to the sink and cleaning materials
5. Team laborotory report 'supervisor'- responsible to ensure the team is cooperating in the write up of the lab report for the exeriment conducted- signs off the team reprot with me once it is complete
We will be working with a Grade 11 biology class from HSSS to conduct a bacteria growing experiment Friday April 8th and 15th. It should be a fun way to learn about experiental design and controls.
Phys. Ed. continuation of the line hockey play- only managed approx. 20 minutes of play due to challenges with organization and listening to direction- once the students are on court and playing things are great- it is just getting there- quite the challenge. My philosophy is just to wait as patiently as possible because eventually, they 'get it' and settle down- no point in me adding my voice to the general din so I just wait :)
Back in class we read over the class newsletter together, I reminded the 8 who need to return the Gr8 registration forms and we packed up for the day. We had 10 minutes to play a class game- an old favourite- 'Thumbs up- Seven up" only I chose five students instead of 7. Truthfully, I don't really understand why they like this game so much but they do and they all seemed to enjoy it too so I am not complaining just wondering.
Dismissal 3pm
look for Satisfaction Survey letters tomorrow- the students in grade 4 and 7 will be doing their version in the computer lab on Thursday.
We have been invited to HSSS to watch the Drama Department's production of "The Outsiders" on April 12th.
Told you, it is going to be a busy third term. Hang onto your hats!!!!
Have a good night.
Mrs. J.
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