Wednesday, Feb 15th

Sorry so late tonight- I had some family business to take care of first. Thanks for understanding.

Homework
Math 7 p16 the last page of the pre-algebra booklet
List # 9 for Friday test
Reminders
For everyone to have a good night's sleep! No kidding- there have been some frayed nerves and testy responses in our general behaviour. We need to work together a bit better and be kinder to each other.

General Day
daily French


Spelling practice list #9


Language/grammar: eight parts of speech review in crossword format and a noun worksheet recognizing a noun from a bank of words when given a definition.

Novel Idol
Possible new read aloud, Dragon Keeper, I managed to read to p8 of chapter 1 today. Its success as our new read aloud will depend on the students' reviews of the first two chapters- if it doesn't make the cut, I must find another possible Novel Idol contestant.

Band

Math 7
Pre-algebra: recognizing algebraic expressions from English wording.
i.e. one number added to another number = x+y
Learning to gather like terms.
i.e. 3x + 6y+ 2y = 3x+8y
Evaluating expressions when value of variable is given.
i.e. 2x+y when x=3 and y=7
2(3)+7 = 6+7 = 13
I think some parents would be surprised to see how students can shut down in class and make the decision ,without really making any effort, that they can not/will not be successful because it is algebra!  It is all about fear and lack of confidence. My challenge is how to build the confidence of students who are not trying very hard without becoming frustrated and growly. Like algebra it is an equation worth balancing but it is a difficult balance to find. I like to old adage that,  you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. Hopefully, if I can introduce the basics, they will remember enough when their brains are ready to kick in (or not).

Silent reading
I have been quietly impressed by how the students have taken to the novels of their own choosing- I haven't assigned any work for them and guess what? Nearly a third of the class have completed the novels- in a week!! How do you like them apples?
The Giver seems to be the run away favourite for completion.


Next we did a group observation activity and I was impressed how many things (items) they discovered (found) in the picture. It was a picture which used everyday items and disguised them as other objects. For example the roof of the room in the picture was made of the patterned backs of playing cards, the back of the chair was a hair comb, a sink plug stood in for a light hanging from the ceiling etc.
Most (not all) students were engaged as a team and of the five groups, two found over 75 of 150 items which is pretty impressive for 20 minutes work :)

Phys Ed.
Basketball 4 teams 5 minute games (20 minutes total)
Elimination Dodgeball 10 minutes
Good fast play today. Some nice teamwork and PASSING- what a difference from the beginning of the unit! Dodgeball still makes me nervous!

To finish the day, I did a terrible job of a brain worksheet- how ironic- I was using a borrowed worksheet from the community Drug and Alcohol Program and misplaced the answer key. I managed to mix up the limbic system and the cerebellum (How could I?) and from there I caused confusion among the students which upset some who wanted new worksheets because I had made them mess up their answers.
So I did the best I could to distract them from my mistake(s) by trying to get them to discuss the death of Whitney Houston and the students said they had heard but didn't know who she was! I gave up at 2:55pm
Honestly I would have been better to read them the rest of the chapter 1 of the Dragon Keeper!!
Live and learn. Live to learn. Learning helps you live better :)

Dismissal
Have a good what's left of the evening.
Mrs. J.