January 3rd, 2012
I have been looking forward to updating the Blog because it is so easy to get out of the habit.
Unfortunately I have some not so happy news to share. Mrs. Paxton and I spoke with the students this morning to let them know that over the holiday their classmate T.J. lost his father to an accident at work. Sometimes there are no comforting words to say when a loss like this is so sudden, so devastating and so final. If you are reading this post T.J. please know that we are thinking of you and your family and we send you our love and our support..
G.A. another classmate lost his grandpa and is travelling to be with family. If you are reading the post G. know that we send our heartfelt empathy to you and your family too.
Sometimes life and death have a way of putting things into perspective. It makes me mindful of how careful we need to be as teachers when we make assumptions about happy holiday time- it has been a difficult season for many of my students and I need to be thoughtful about how we share our personal information.
I was very encouraged by the general student response to the information. Some did not know about it and it was timely to allow them to ask some questions. Mrs Paxton reminded us about the different stages of grief and we suggested some appropriate things to say and do for our grieving classmates.It was a rather sombre start to the new year but they handled it very well.
We had a good first day back.
Homework
Math 7 finish the last page of the Integer booklet
Socials reminder that there are two weeks and two weekends left to complete the project (due Jan. 16/17th) Grade six- Modern day country/Grade seven- Ancient civilization
Please bring all work back to class tomorrow!
Reminder
Our digital children are sporting lots of technological gadgets many which they have just received for Christmas. Please remember that we cannot be responsible for loss or misplacement of these expensive (and useful) devices. Our current guidelines for elementary school ask that these devices are off during the school day and kept out of sight in a safe place both for safety and for lessening the distraction they can cause in the classroom.
They must understand that they bring their new techno toys at their own risk.
General Day
Daily French
Spelling Test #3
Due to the cancellation of the Dec 15th spelling test, we updated all the dates for spelling tests until mid March. We analyzed the words on the test for this Thursday and I promised if they felt that we needed one more day we could always do the test Friday this week.
Language
Completed a couple of activities which required students to sort out and complete sentences with the correct form of a few easily confused words: are and our, your and you're, there and their and hear and here.
We reviewed the usage of nouns, verbs and pronouns, We completed, switched and corrected both activities in class today.
Novel: Word Nerd Chapter 16 in which Ambrose gets some self defence lessons from Cosmo. While I read, students set up their socials research for later in the day and ate their snacks.
Math 7
We reviewed where we had been (learning Outcomes for Term 1), what we managed to complete in December and I distributed an update on the learning outcomes for Term 2. Just let me know if you would like a copy for home- all the students have their own copy but if you are interested and would like your own I am happy to send one out.
Today we started an introduction to Integers starting with the ZERO principle - that opposite numerals value zero +2- 2=0, +3-3=0, +10-10=0
This is a simple but VERY important concept in adding and subtracting integers. The students seemed to think it was very easy which it is. However, sometimes when they see the math symbols on a page they tend to freeze up and forget that they really know how to do it already!
Today's work was in the form of a booklet that addressed the learning outcome of being able to recognize and represent integers in everyday uses concretely, pictorially and symbolically. We used weather charts, hockey stats, stock reports and golf scores. The last page which was about comparing and ordering integer values is for completion at home.
Silent Reading
Socials Research- time for continuing the note-taking and research work on the socials projects. I was able to monitor (and help) some students who have questions and/or need direction or assistance with different sections. We need to work on having a more 'library like' research time. I find that if I don't monitor the social chatting can take over the research chatter. I don't expect SILENCE but I do want to encourage a 'working atmosphere' in class.
Physical Education
10 minutes baskets and lay ups- game of 21 or Donkey
20 minutes 4 teams, split gym, two games and rotate games.
Finished up the day with more time for Social Studies (I can't do this every day but today everything was set
up today so it was an easy way to finish out the first day back.)
Before dismissal we reviewed the day, the technology guidelines and went over the work that students are expected to finish at home.
Have a decent Tuesday evening. See everyone (well most everyone) tomorrow.
Mrs. J.
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