Thursday May 5th

Thanks, Tamara, for my gift of the poster that made me laugh at the Scholastic book fair - I am thrilled with it even though I wonder if that is how my students really perceive me in the classroom!! It is a cat- one of those elongated body and crazy face kind of cats that is all wrapped up in a ball of yarn with a crazy toothy smile. The caption says "I could SNAP at any moment" lol. I love it and put it right up above the board in class :) I will add that to the coasters that tell me "I am not a nag; I am a motivational speaker" that I was gifted for Christmas. Merci.

Homework same as the rest of the week

Novel- end of novel activities- some amazing creative assignments coming in - enjoying the newspapers and the ABC statements. Keep on keeping on :)
Science (have most reports now- thanks)
Socials travelogue- I am encouraging the students to do their journal on the computer
Math  I have challenged the class to try one or two more of the Pythagorus sample problems and encouraged students to complete the last page of the booklet we worked through today on area and perimeter.
Tomorrow Friday 6th
Hot Lunch
UBC permssion forms due
Track and field at lunch break shot put and long jump practice
Reminders
Camp info commitment forms due next Friday 13th (letters went home today)
pizza with the principal anyone?

General Day
Started with distributing and taking the time to read over and explain the camp commitment form for this June. Once this form is returned the permission and safety waivers will be next- we need commited numbers to begin to plan our schedule. Due Friday 13th!!

Our parent group asked for student input into the kinds of playground equipment and toys that our student would like to order- our PAC group has some $$$ to purchase new 'stuff'- what a worthwhile topic to brainstorm with the students. They were very modest 'wants' too- I was impressed- the older students wanted new nets on the basketball and outdoor hockey nets, new balls and a 'court' to play a game called 'gaga ball' which is a ball tag game played in a square court.

Novel time- in class provided time and direction for the novel work which is underway. Was a bit noisy today but I am seeing progress and have been receiving assignments- now I just have to get caught up with them!

Band

Math- instead of giving the solutions to the Pythagorus problems, I decided to challenge any student who wishes to try a couple more to see how they managed. Had a few take me up (a few! guess that's better than none!)
Today we reviewed the metric measurement system and its inter-relationships 1ml = 1mg = 1cm
We then set about reviewing the formula for perimeter, area and volume and completed activities for practice.

DEAR pretty good today- with the buddy readers for Gr 5 out of class (5) it sure provides more space!!

Socials Ancient Greece- textual reading regarding the Greeks obsession and celebration of physical activity since 776BCE. Nearly 3000 years later we are still holding Olympic games which is quite incredible. The session today was challenging for some students!! I did the reading and tried to conduct the student discussion. After our session I asked the students for 6 things they learned that they didn't know before and that seemed to ground them. It is a neat way to make them accountable for listening despite some interruptions!! Also had some great responses...

• that the ancient Greeks would postpone war until after the games were completed
• the men competed naked probably so they couldn't hide weapons! (kid logic)lol
• women were not invited but had their own games (we discussed at this point the Women Ski Jumpers who were denied competition at the 2010 Winter Games in Whistler but have fought for and won the right to compete in Russia 2014)
• the pentathlon is one of the original events that are still included in track and field (etc)

See some great learning in little 'bites' or is that bytes?

We did a quick slide show presentation for Day 4 on our 'virtual trip'. This time we left the ancient Port of Pireus (still the port to this day) and set sail for the islands of the Saronic Gulf (Aegina, Poros and Hydra)- the students were invited to either listen and/or listen and take brief notes from the slides and commentary. Again some good responses to the differences from the city of Athens tour to the day trip to the Islands. The things they seemed to like was the open market at the harbour where Greek natives and tourists alike browsed the produce and bought fresh squid and fish, shrimp and prawn, just picked pistachios, blood oranges, lemons and limes that smelled heavenly (still warm from the trees). No grocery stores, no motorized vehicles (except mopeds) and no frantic running around on the islands- everything is leisurely and calm. One thing I remember though was how many ferile cats lived in the harbour areas!! 'Taxi' service is by donkey!!!

Art
Shhhh - Mother's Day projects
Hopefully some will make it home for delivery!!! Great way to end the day despite the chaos of materials (which will remain secret). Some very talented crafters in my class (they are better than I am). It was a very energetic way to end the day. I had to scrape them off the rafters to clean up and dismiss but we got there:)

3pm+ Dismissal
Nice evening it seems- enjoy and send the Canucks some 'Bonne Chance' for tonight's hockey game (#4 in the series with Nashville) Go, Canucks, Go!
Mrs. J.