Manic Monday

Jan 23rd
Welcome back, Geozua.

Either Mondays are 'flat' and kind of non-events or Mondays are energetic and crazy fun. Today was the latter :)

We had a First Nations workshop from 2-3pm led by Deanna Lewis - she taught us how to play the traditional game called Bones or Slahal (a betting game). The students were easily excited about taunting each other with the song that is intended to bring your team luck, "We've got the Bones and you can't take them away", while the other team makes a scooping gesture with the hands which is intended to bring the other team's luck and the bones back to them. It was fun, loud and competitive. We were amazed to discover some of the old stories about what individuals and sometimes villages lost playing this game in the past: weaved baskets, their shoes, canoes, longhouses and (believe it or not) children!!! I suggested that I could barter with a few students but my students didn't appreciate it much (it was a joke, people!).

Homework
The new spelling list was analyzed today List # 6 for testing Jan 26th
some students will be redoing List #5 on Wednesday afternoon (need to separate the word study)
6 students have socials projects now a week overdue- they know who they are and so do I :)
Math 7 nothing new
Math 6 (thank you Tesla) Geometry worksheets 1 and 2 for Unit 6 on Classifying triangles- according to Mr. Parker most students completed this in class and had no homework :)
Reminders
No math class tomorrow
Spelling Redo Wed
Spell test Thurs


General Day
Daily French: Chinese New Year

Spelling return Unit 5 and analyze Unit 6 words for study
study time in class

We used the overhead to find a website that provided Chinese horoscopes for the Dragons (our grade 6's were born in the Year of the Dragon. It was interestingly accurate and explains a few things about their flamboyancy and free spirits!! Of course, that sent the grade sevens (Rabbits) into a frenzy of need to know their horoscope. I told them I was a Cow and got a good laugh but it is referred to usually as the Ox. Again it was surprisingly accurate. You should take a few minutes to look up your Chinese sign- you might learn something about your personality. It was fun to read, share and consider the accuracy (or lack thereof)!

Band

Math 7
I returned the Math 7 reviews for the Integers Unit and was very encouraged by the general results. There a re a few (handful of) students who need more practice subtracting but generally the averages were good
L.O. recognizing, ordering and adding integers: class average 88%
L.O.subtracting integers and finding missing integer : class average 65%
L.O. using add and subtract skills together 68%
L.O. problem solving with integers 78%
We did two samples from each page in class today as well as allow students to individually find out their own averages and compare them to the general class.
The usefulness of the statistics is in seeing where the need for more work is and it is clear from these results that the students' self assessments were spot on because the general confidence for the skill of subtracting was lower.
So I get to see that the students understand where the weaknesses are and now our job together is to encourage more work and study BUT I can't do that for them- they need to see the importance of improving their performance. Approx. 6 students of 28 need more assistance and practice.
Wednesday we will start into an algebra (really pre-algebra) unit as we need a scenery change.

Silent Reading

Between Silent Reading and our 2-3pm workshop, we used about 20 minutes to do some organization and looking to the week's plans for class. I would like the students to begin presenting their power point presentations for science (virtual pet project) using the classroom overhead.

We will be beginning a personal planning unit on making decisions about personal safety and boundaries for peers pressure including drugs and alcohol. With the tragic loss of life to street drugs of recent weeks it seems timely that this age group who still think that 'it won't happen to me' have some idea about the kind of decisions they will be challenged with in the near future and how to navigate the social waters of adolescence (coming to a classroom near me!!).
[I recently read the National Geographic (October 2011) he new understanding of the teenage brain and it was interesting (and scary) to have confirmed by experts that their (young people's) sense of risk is completely different from adults so they really don't 'get' us at all when we suggest 'danger' because for them the 'danger' or thrill is what it's all about!
Consider these passages:

"These studies help explain why teens behave with such vexing inconsistency: beguiling at breakfast,disgusting at dinner; masterful on Monday, sleepwalking on Saturday. Along with lacking experience generally, they're still learning to use their brain's new networks. Stress, fatigue, or challenges can cause a misfire."
page 48

" Teens take more risks not because they don't understand the dangers but because they weigh risk versus reward differently....In situations where risk can get them something they want, they value the reward more heavily than adults do"
page 54]

"Excellent Smithers"
Who wants to try guiding and nurturing 28 of them on a daily basis for 6 hours a day? Oh, come on now it can be fun as long as you are prepared!

2-3pm First nations workshop- game Slahal
It was good fun.

Dismissal after review of homework and clean up :)
Have a good evening
Mrs. J.