Tuesday, February 21st

"Another one bites the dust..."

Il pleut aujourd'hui. In day at lunch due to inclement weather- two Advil day!

Homework
Spelling (5 students missed the list 9 test last Friday- study for List ( and anyone who wants a redo)
List # 10 for Thursday this week
Reading- novel make a big effort to get to end of chapter 10 (quite a few have completed their novels :))
Math 7 # 13 and # 14 on worksheet p 20- solving equations- show the middle steps of the formula provided- show HOW to get the answer!
Reminders
Climate change workshop Thursday after safety drill
Pink Day anti-bullying campaign Feb 29th
Book recommendations for the school challenge Feb 29th (this day only comes around every four years so it's a special one!)

General Day
Daily French- regular 'whine' about the weather and today's day, date, month. I try to put up something that might introduce a new word or review a concept. Today it was a review of time.

Spelling practice on your own (list # 10)

SRA reading Lab we have after today's session 5 SRA sessions left. A couple have completed their SRA 'obligations' by completing successfully 6 activities at the Grade Nine level. Once complete those students will have the chance to read a novel suggested (or of their own choice) while we are working on SRA.
The good news is that all students have moved up at least one or two reading levels.

Introduction to a creative and artistic mini-project. I have always had fun with my student's creativity and ideas. They are to work independently or with a partner or in a group (not more than four) on the creation of a new candy bar OR a new video games concept. I was able to share some examples from previous years and, thanks to Nick Paxton, I could show the videos that he filmed for us last year and posted to You-Tube.
The students were inspired and immediately the class was a buzz with ideas and laughter (some a little OTT)
This afternoon there will be time to get started but this morning was time to select a group size and project.
I got myself out of their way and by morning recess there were individuals, partners and groups of three and four who had managed to agree to work on their own or together with a concept :)

Math p 20 - yesterday I gave the solutions to the p20 equations. Homework was to write the 'middle step' to prove the solutions were the correct solutions.
Two students did it a couple more said they 'tried' but...two of twenty eight!?
What to do? Quick homework lecture and move on?
Today we took 11-11:30 to review and specifically show the middle steps of p.20 # 6-12. We did them on the board and the students were asked to copy them into their math journals.
I have tried again. This time I asked for the students to complete the 'middle steps for the TWO that we didn't get done in class for tomorrow (#13 1nd 14). They now have lots of examples to draw on so, hopefully, two examples will not be overwhelming.
Hopefully, they'll learn the importance of making their own effort before they hit the hallowed halls of Junior High (or not). However, I don't think I seem to be making any impact on the homework front.
I really struggle with this...I have an hour to teach a class on a daily basis Monday to Friday (I see the students for math 5 hours in a week). I have a curriculum to follow and learning outcomes to cover. This is one subject of many.
I can get side tracked trying to get 'blood out of a stone' or I can 'suck it up' and provide practice time in class. It is important they try the work on their own - is it important that they try it at home? I'm 'old school' and I'd say yes; others would disagree (Alfie Kohn among them) but I can only control (and not always) what goes on in my classroom and the learning opportunities that I provide.
What to do with students who won't not because they can't but because they don't?

11:30-12 Physical Education was moved to the morning due to a presentation in the gym this afternoon.
Split gym. All grade sevens together today for either floor hockey or basketball. I was VERY impressed with the teamwork and fast play. Great job.

in day @ lunch

Silent reading took a bit to settle but they managed :)

French
Les sports and a look at reviewing les questions francais using the resource Aventures C
I am embarrassed to confess that the vocabulary that I was displaying for sports had an unusual phrase that I did not remember or recognize (taches de rousseur). It didn't belong with my sports vocabulaire but, oh, I made it fit, I said it was roller skates (FAIL!). Taches de rousseur is 'freckles' NOT roller skates. I have asked the students to find out roller skates en francais (patins a roulettes).
Gaelic anyone?

Group creative time: see morning concept and project. This afternoon student had 35-40 minutes to brainstorm and get their creative concepts underway. Some interesting ideas... more later when they have been fully formed. So far...radioactive muffins, bounty hunters (animals with special powers), candy bar for seniors that will be perfect for bingo nights, Greek wars, animee (Sonic) and let us not forget the Hunger Games on X-box. Methinks there might even be a market for some of these concepts... if only I had some contacts with the people who makes these kinds of things happen...

End of day, back together, share and clean up.
Shared some letters we have received for the Great Canadian Mail Race and had takers for writing back to Ontario and Mamquam Elementary. :)
Dismissal
Have a good evening.
Mrs. J.