whacky Wednesday

January 11th
(Do you ever say a date and wonder what it is about that date that is significant? For some reason I feel that I should be remembering something about January 11th!! I'll let you know as for the life of me I can't remember if it is all in my head or if someone is going to call and be upset that I forgot!)

Posting a bit after school tonight as I reluctantly attended a fitness class after school- I feel like a big marshmallow but I am glad I went as I was trying to talk myself out of it.

Stuff for Home
Spell test for List #4 (and redo for list #3)
Math 7 2nd page of the subtraction of integers booklet
Socials project (the end is nigh) make like an egg and get cracking

Reminders
Please be advised that this is the time of the year for the itchy and scratchy scalp- we have had some cases of the 'scalp visitors' and (as a mom myself, I know) a quick check might offset a lot of work later. Tomorrow I will remind the students about how not to be 'visited'
- not sharing or wearing each others hats, hoodies, coats and scarves
- not sharing or using each others hair bands, earphones, combs etc.
- not sitting on top of each other during snack and lunch or class activities and getting yourself entwined in your friends (yes, they do!) etc.

Oh, oh, I think my head is itchy now. I hate that. It's like yawning and setting everyone else off yawning too. Talk about these scalp visitors and instantly your mind start playing tricks - still I'd check!

Class spelling bee Monday for the top three spellers to go forward to the annual spelling bee Thursday Jan 19th@ 1pm

This is the last week for social studies project time in class and at the lab (computers)

General Day
daily French

writing planning longer structures ( a pep rally class for teaching extended writing)
soon our writing has to become extended from 1-2 paragraphs to 4-5 paragraphs in length. Students tend to 'freak out' when asked to write longer pieces so I thought about how to show them that it really isn't a BIG deal.
We looked at how having a plan helps with the unity and flow of a writing piece. We discussed structures for different writing (narrative, expository, persuasive and descriptive).
Yesterday everyone wrote a paragraph with specific details which were designed to focus on unity (and we will be doing more of those; the results were very encouraging.)
Today, I shared a biography of J.K. Rowling which alluded to how she managed to create sequel after sequel for the Harry Potter series. In her head she maintained that she always had another story plot on the go and she would take notes that she would store until she could use them somewhere. The story originated on  a train journey (in the UK train travel is much more common and everyday- a chore almost - than here in Canada).
Harry Potter had many 'maps' and plans and scenarios that didn't all work. She even thought about killing his character off but couldn't do it when the time in the story came so Dumbledore was chosen instead. Characters, she said, take on a 'life' of their own. She was initially rejected as a writer for publication (I bet those publishing housed are kicking themselves now!) but Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. agreed to 'take a chance' given that there might be 'more to come'. I don't think anyone had any clue of how much of a worldwide phenomenon that the Harry Potter sereis would become back in 1997 and, now that the books have been forever captured on film, they are very likey to stand the 'test of time' like J.R. Tokein  and R. Dhal.

So from our class this morning we decided to write anything BIG we needed
imagination ans creativity
perseverance
writing skills and knowledge
a good word processing program AND
a plan\

This made the process of the thought of us advancing from one or two paragraph to 4 or 5 look like it was child's play- no big deal (and it isn't). However, plan and structural knowledge of how a story hangs together and what keeps readers interested are our next hurdles.
 I have always had a fear of student stories that are 20-30 pages in length and have no logical plot turns and no ending or conclusion in sight (they do exist). We will be using some short stories to analyze how authors manage it.

Band

Socials time and time at the computer lab for same (socials and science)

silent reading

Art:
Egyptian profiles. I had a ton of posters for ancient Egypt which we analysed for dress, make up use, hairstyles and jewelery and each student was provided with a profile for creating an Egyptian profile- we will be scribing our names in Egyptian Hieroglyphics and adding a cartouche to the profile so we can all play the song "Walk like an Egyptian" and show off our creative skills to each other (by the way they already look fabulous)
While the students sketched and coloured, and did their creative best, I read the next couple of chapters of our class novel, Word Nerd. When I finished one chapter they simply requested the next :) I couldn't help myself and now we are at Ch 22.
Ambrose is defying his mom about the scrabble club he is attending. The students are wondering when that is going to come back and bite him just like Cosmo's 'white lies' to Amanda did. I love it when the students start to second guess and predict the plot.

Phys Ed: split gym: basketball and floor hockey
everyone seemed to be involved and participating- what's not to like?

Back in class (we had about 10 extra gym minutes :))
more time on the Egyptian profiles because most students are on a roll and one thing that does drive me to distraction in our school day is that there never seems to be enough time to complete things as well as we can - sometimes I instruct and the students get started and are doing a great job and there is interruption to the work process sometimes unavoidable. C'est la vie.

Clean up, prep for dismissal and overview of stuff going home.
 STUDY for Spelling people. I challenge you all to a better average than last week.

Have a great evening. I think I need an early night :)
Mrs. J.