June 2nd, 2011

The planets aligned and everyone who had to bring in permission forms did....yeah!!...happy dance :)

Homework
Again - nothing new
practice math skills- adding fractions (website IXL)
travelogue for Socials due tomorrow (last blast at computers tomorrow afternoon)
Reminder
Add swimgear to the packing list for camp and pray for sunshine

General Day
Students generally happy with the Canucks win of the first game of the SC series

French: Vive Le Rap - we read and worked on the comprehension of the next comic book story in the collection Bandes dessinees (junior). I really like how the visual and the language support each other to allow comprehension of a story line en francais. C'est formidable!
I also have observed that the students seems to have greater understanding of the language (and story plot) even if they do end a little cheesily!! (the stories not the students)

Band

Math: EXPERIMENT in learning Part 1
6 groups using 4 confident peer 'tutors' (Matt, Jas, Tony and Nav) and two teachers (myself and Mrs. K.)were team leaders/instructors.
We continued work on the adding fractions booklet but instead of being in the classroom altogether we went to designated spots and worked in groups of 4 or 5 with a designated team leader/instructor.
Research says that students who teach a concept to another learn it better themselves AND that their peers tend to learn better from them. Leap of faith...trust and hope!

I was really encouraged by the feeback 'results' as I had mostly positive reports from everyone BUT I have not had time to assess anything en masse that took place today from a 'was the work correct' standpoint. I do know that at least one group and one individual from another group did the wrong work (I haven't yet taught the 'borrowing' concept for the subtraction of fractions) incorrectly! So I need to fix that issue.

I also need to be able to 'peek' in on the group's productivity if we are going to do this kind of learning procedure so I need to be a 'floating' inssructor- perhaps I can have smaller groups or more peer leaders once some more students feel confident about teaching someone else. Really it is just PRACTICE and obviously undersatnding the procedure but the venture seemed to be a (semi-)success. I know that I haven't heard students encouraging one another in math like I heard them today and I aslo know that there was genuine excitement in the progress whrn students finally had an "aha' moment and their peers congratulated them. (there were two groups in class, two groups in the resource room, two groups in the hall)
It was enough to bring a tear to a glass eye!! LOL
For the first time with the fractions unit I have felt like we had a solid learning experience. One student made a point of saying thank you and giving me a grateful hug (unexpected) which was very appreciated and made my day. Small groups seem to be what might work right now. Need to try more of that.

DEAR time was a bit shorter today- difficulty settling apparently!!

Art:  Dream House or Crazy Characters 'that inhabit our class' project- a few are completed and are very funny- one shows a cartoon of me sitting at my desk with a coffee in one hand and a bottle of Advil in the other wondering if Starbucks is hiring !!! Bit chaotic and noisy but there were productive moments!! I let the creative juices flow (extended art time) instead of trying to squeeze in another subject this afternoon. Had to manage some silliness but for the most part things were positive.

Completed the last 20 minutes of the movie Eragon which we started this time last week- some of the students were upset that we hadn't finished it and wanted to know when we were going to complete it- so under pressure I wheeled in the TV and , honestly, a handful of students pretended to watch it while really getting silly with one another. Too bad but at least it is now DONE.
So much for a 'treat'- it used to be a movie was on and I could have a bit of an organizing break as the class watched but not so much any more as the whole concept of watching a movie these days is very different and seems to be much more 'social' than it ever has been due to access anywhere, anytime.
I remember reminding myself NOT to ever have a fieldtrip to a movie theatre like the one we had to see The Golden Compass a few years ago (we were reading it at the time it came into the theatres) BAD IDEA for so many reasons that I won't get into JUST remind me not to 'go there'!

Cleaned up and dismissed at 3pm after I had the 'cattle call' (they were pretty loud and my microphone went on the fritz so I had to get their attention somehow!!)
 Students seated and quiet at a cleaned (clear) desk got to leave first those still kibuttzing in the cloakroom took a while to realize the time to leave had come and gone :)
Thanks to Samatha and Brooke who did a cloakroom clean out before the flies start to visit. Much appreciated (some science experiments of lost lunch containers had to be thrown out (barf) for safety reasons- sorry but...)

Have a dry evening
Mrs. J
Sharing time
Greatness poem by Tamara
I would be the greatest teacher the world has ever seen
If only I could help kids realize their dream
If I could be helpful when they are having a hard time
I'd like them to remember
set goals
work hard and
 me.

Thanks, Tamara, it brought a lump to my throat. Merci.