Tuesday 27th September

It was one of THOSE days- rushed morning, lunch time meeting and 3pm before you know it...
I'm feeling dizzy as I sit down to this post just because everything today seems to have whizzed past me...

Homework &Reminders
Spelling study 4 more words (we did spend some time in class but follow up always helps) Spelling Test #1 Thursday
Math 7 complete the rounding review worksheet (the whole number cross puzzle needs to be completed and handed in by Geozua, Tayo, Cassidy, Amrit, Nicole and Johnny)
Math 6 next worksheet on t-tables to finish
Novel Chapter 3 novel questions Ashley and Brody

Reminders
Bring instruments for band tomorrow
verification forms
approx. 5 students to pay for planner

General Day
daily French- n'est ce pas? today's new phrase

Spelling Study 4 spelling words for Thursday's test

Novel Chapter three- I read and the students then completed an activity that followed the QAR strategy of asking students to find the answers to 2 literal questions, 2 inferential and 1 critical
Did a quick review of the Story Plot Graph

Socials
In an effort to give the students in both 6 and 7 a bit of a grounding in how we are part of living or everyday 'history', we used a metaphor from Ch 1 in Ancient Worlds
The roots of the present are deep in the past
We discussed the meaning of this metaphor using the visual of a tree and thinking of the roots underground as our ancestors, extended family and culture, the ground as our immediate family that helps us grow and become the present (branches and leaves) but that also has within it the 'future' (what we might become).
We are creating webs about the day we were born and I have asked students to ask about their first years of life and what parents and guardians might remember about the formative years so students can add the information to their web.

Math 7
collected the whole number puzzle (value placement for whole numbers)- good show of homework (have 6 to get tomorrow!)
today we learned and practiced the place value chart for decimal numbers
a review of the Rounding rules in a worksheet form was started in class- many are almost finished - students were asked to complete it for tomorrow's class (worksheet 1.4 Rounding Numbers- mental math)
I have been collating the information about student prefered learning styles (we did an inventory last week) and will give parents a heads up once I have them all in.

Silent reading - pretty good today- still have a few I need to convince about the advantages of having a quiet 20 minutes to read

French- les mois et la meteo (months and weather)
We started the posters last Thursday. Today we reviewed the different types of weather phrases and the students started to add the French to their drawings. They look amazing- the posters too!! lol

Phys Ed.
WOW! Challenging today...communication skills need a 'tweak', listening is part of that especially in the 'echoey' (? is that a word?) gym, competition or a competitive spirit is great as long as it doesn't become agression and defensiveness which spoils the enjoyment. Come on people - remember our charter? It extends to the gym too. Sheesh!
We played Four Quad Dodge and managed to get through three quarters of the game (which is better than we managed last week) but I stopped the game and for the last 5 minutes we played silent ball :) with 9 volleyballs- the students had to actually look at each other and throw/recieve without any noise- it was heaven. Guess what - they can and they did ....so we'll be having less screaming communication from here on in!
You'd be suprised how many students don't understand - a space by yourself- we are working on it :)

Back in class we used the time left for the posters (see above) before we cleaned up, did planners, organized the class equipment and prepared for dismissal.

Have a great evening. See everyone Wednesday.
Mrs. J.