Monday, September 26th

Wet one today...

Homework and Reminders
Spelling list #1 study any 4 of the 12 words for Thursday's test (4 a day ensures readiness for the test Thursday)- all students finished today's spelling activity in class :)
Math 7 do your best to follow the step by step instructions and place the whole numbers written out on the puzzle into the place value chart and ten into the crossword (if you are confident with place values, you don't necessarily need to use both the chart and the crossword (one or the other will do) the chart is meant to assist students who are not sure about place value
Math 6 complete the multiplication maze and the worksheet on t-charts
Socials- ask your parents (mom or dad or both) what recollections they have about the year you were born (parents sometimes have funny ways of rememebering) and what you were like as a baby  (1999 or 2000)

Reminders
Tom Lee music will be at the school from 3-6pm for instrument rental agreements after school this evening
Verifications forms anyone?

General Day
Daily French: today we learned the phrase une coupure de courant (power outage)

Spelling activity #1
12 words from our novel (chapters 1 and 2) and the students' writing samples were analyzed and discussed for study purposes. A puzzle activity 'double puzzle' asked the students to find a 'hidden' message using the letters from the spelling words.
I suggest the students study 4 each day- in any order and then review them all on Wednesday after school to study for the test on Thursday morning. The list is challenging but I perceive the study of spelling to be as much about study skills as it is being perceptive about word formation so if students can only manage half of the list, that gives me a base line marker for spelling improvement strategies.
Spelling is an opportunity to analyze word  formation, expand word knowledge and in turn improve writing skills.

Band with Ms. Sorban

Math 7
new seating today! (necessary)
once settled review the mulitplication skills we introduced on Friday (anyone who wanted a new 12x table puzzle had the chance to redo it- some were upset that they had 'messed up'!! I am happy to provide new worksheets for a second go :)
Today we looked at place value and writing numbers in place value charts for placement in a cross number puzzle. I find that if students write out the numerals into proper placement first that they build confidence with the activity accuracy as they are practising their knowledge of the Place Value System up to trillions (or 10 to the power of 12).
Sometimes the explanation for an activity is more difficult than actually doing it!! I provided the student with three examples and a step by step guideline.
This is a preliminary skill before the introduction to Scientific Notation - writing huge numerals as a decimal with a power of ten.

Silent reading
It took a while to settle everyone to productive reading after the busy lunch time activites.

Personal Planning- finally, our finished version of the Class Charter that we have been engaged in for the last couple of weeks. As we work together, we agree to the following:

We hereby agree to uphold the class rules: Listen, Respond, Respect and Enjoy.
We will work together to create a safe, happy classroom for each other which will be a comfortable and exciting place to learn. We will treat each other as equals and make our best effort to get along despite our differences.
By supporting each other we will create a classroom that we feel safe in, can be proud of and in which we can be confident about making our best personal effort. Our intention is to be 'bucket-fillers' throughout the year.

I am very proud of the work and thought that was expended on this Class Charter wording and I hope we can use it to guide us and remind us that we are a unique community in the school. Great job everyone. :)


Socials on-line today web creation about what was going on in the world the year (and month) we were born, We used a Time Capsule website called www.d'marie.com
you should check it out- very interesting although it is American based). Then we fired up our school program called Inspiration and the students started to create webs of the information for the year they were born.
I had to laugh when I explained that the president of the USA when I was born was JF Kennedy in 1961 and a couple of students looked at me in awe and said "you are SO old!" lol
Thanks, but I guess that is old when you are born in 2000!
Anyway - the students seemed to enjoy the activity- we will be following up by analyzing how we are very much a part of history and that our 'social history' is very much influenced by where we live, when we live and how we live.

Library book time- Mrs. Hoyrup met students at the school library for a look at 'what's new' for future library times.

Back in class we reviewed the homework, did planners, discussed the opportunities for Student leadership and Student Forum and finished with a quick review of the different weather phrases in French.

Dismissal time already- sheesh- where did the time go today?
Have a warm, dry evening!
Mrs. J.