March 29th (Thursday)

Later entry tonight due to an Association meeting after school. I'll try to be quick tonight for all of us!

I'll continue response to the math article at another time. Too tired for writing more than I need to tonight.

Homework
Math 7 complete the Circle and Circumference worksheet 9.1 for tomorrow's class
Math 6 Mr. Parker has asked that you spend at least 20 minutes on the fractions work that he would like for tomorrow
Keep the great creative ideas for the Lit novel work coming in ") Good stuff
Reminders
I actually managed to remember to send home the hoodie letter tonight with the grade sevens (I am grateful for the proofreading that I did before I ran copies of it- I had made a very unfortunate typo twice on the word "shirt". Let me just say you wouldn't want to pay for what was being offered! At least it gave the students a big laugh!)
We did an earthquake drill this afternoon (see the observations below)

General Day
a 'running visit' from the Kindies looking for Mrs. Paxton
They found her in her office a little tied up by the leprachauns!

Spelling Unit 12 test

Literature circle writing, meeting and thinking time- some students are working independently and others together. Sometimes you just have to get out of their way and let them work and I have to report that I was VERY impressed with the working atmosphere in our class this morning. It was nice to see them get down to business. There are some really neat ideas and creative planning happening. You would have been proud of them too :)

Today and tomorrow we are completing the project we started before Spring Break- the new video game/ chocolate bar creation.  A couple of groups finished them this morning and everyone else has tomorrow to finish as much as they can. It becomes too difficult to concentrate on more than one project at a time and we have had a good run on this one so it is time to bring it to a respectful end.
Again I was impressed with the diligence now that they know they have until tomorrow. There is something to be said for a tight deadline!

Math 7
Yeah, we finally manged to complete the circle and circumference booklet that we started Monday!!!
Not unexpectedly, the application of the formula in finding solutions to 'everyday' problems (like how much would it be to replace the glass on a circular table)
Then we turned to worksheet 9.1 on the same skills on finding circumference using pi when the diameter or radius is known. This is the one that I have asked for completion of for tomorrow.
Some student completed it in class and are looking at an article about the 'new' Ferris wheel at the PNE which has a diameter of 27m.


Silent reading
Some students asked if they could work on their projects due tomorrow (I couldn't say no)

Personal Planning
I am in the process of planning the unit on the body science and changes during puberty. I asked a few questions as a pre-unit check on general knowledge about whether they were already familiar with the names of the pituitary gland and hormones, the average ages for the beginning of puberty, what they might expect etc. Their answers (which by the way will be recycled once I have made a check) will help me plan a unit that focuses on the gaps in their general knowledge. The thing is we sometimes over look some of the important things that students should know because we think they already understand (we did that in grade 5).
I will soon be drafting a letter to parents to let you know what is planned for that unit.

Phys Ed.
Same Ball Hockey activity as yesterday but I must apologize to my two girls who were #9 (Manisha and Roshni- I think, so sorry!) I kept missing number 9. I will start with them next time. How can you miss #9- next time can someone tell me?
Again good participation.

Back to class and we were just getting the groups for the projects organized when the earthquake drill rumble went on. I hadn't told my students (I actually forgot! 1st bad spelling then no #9 and now this?!)
My BOYS screamed- really!? Many students were having a difficult time fitting under their desks; some desks were balancing on heads. I tried to fit under a student desk myself- rather difficult. Then, we counted but some were yelling the count! It took a while for them to settle.
Once the drill was over it gave us a great opportunity to look at the reality of where we live and understand the importance of these drills. We discussed how we could respond better and more responsibly on the next one- I might just do one in my class to test their resolve.

Talking about that though general behaviour was much better today after our discussion yesterday. So that's a positive.

We finished the day with the group projects. It was a little noisy at the day's end but everyone managed to pull it together for a safe dismissal.

See you tomorrow. W here did the day go?
Mrs. J.