It took me longer than I thought after school to get to the Blog- I had pulled out a selection of former projects of different caliber to share and visually explain expectations for the students' Literature Circle novel assignments and just the simple act of returning them to where I might find them again was a process that sent me into a domino effect clean up frenzy!! Now, my desk needs help but will have to wait...
Anyway, I'm here now...
Homework
Math 7 complete the booklet on the circumference (circle) values
Math 6 started a new unit Monday on fractions (parts and wholes) complete INC classwork
[Hannah, how is the weather there? I am picking up all your math sheets and have started a new duotang for you]
Novel work: Students have been asked to think about the choices offered to them for the literature circle novels (see further into the Blog for details) and come prepared to start that assignment tomorrow.
Reminders
tomorrow is hot lunch day if you ordered remember you do not need a lunch
Grade seven hoodies are being ordered soon look for a letter tomorrow
General Day
Daily French
Spelling Unit 12- practice
Vocabulary activity on homophones and heteronyms which are Greek root words (not Latin as I erroneously stated yesterday). This activity was more challenging for the students than I had anticipated but we worked diligently on it and more time was provided during the afternoon reading time. Evryone managed to complete it.
I remembered to send the students interested in a library visit down to get their books today. They went in groups of 4 while we worked on this activity. Thanks to Mrs. Blackwell for accommodating us this morning.
Map of the countries of Europe
Did you know there are 12 countries that are landlocked in Europe? Can you name them? Can your darling son or daughter? They should be able to remember at least six or seven:
Andorra, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Austria, Vatican City, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Macaedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Belarus and Switzerland.
It was like another spelling lesson!!
Presentation of some novel projects done by previous groups of students. I was able to show the students good/better and best examples of a Thematic Poster.
I was able to share some epilogue and prologue ideas for the novels in question.
We were able to analyze what a good review and or comparison article might include- this option (I have suggested) would be the best for students who haven't to date finished reading the set Lit Circle novel!!)
The other options are creative writing of an additional character or a re-telling of the story different point of view which might perhaps be in the form of a diagram, chapter, poem, power point or, if a few students would lke to team up, a novel 'newsletter' or newspaper.
[I had to continue the presentation of the ideas and provide time for the students to meet in their literature circles to discuss and decide which options suited them after silent reading today]
Math7
today we looked at the textual introduction to Circle Geometry Chapter 8 (p266) I once again had underestimated how much time that it takes to review and provide resources and time for students to use compasses and rulers to create circles of different sizes and do an 'investigation of how the radius and diameter are connected. However, time is not the issue, accuracy of measurement and patience with the tools is a required and important part of being successful with geometry. It is hands on.
This will prove to be important for the students to understand where the formula come from for finding the circumference and area of circles.
Once the practical creating of circles was completed, we turned our attention (well most did) to the booklet distributed yesterday.
We reviewed the answers on the first page of the booklet together and I asked for the booklet to be completed for tomorrow's class. I live in hope.
By the way, below I have provided a link for parents interested in the McLean's article that I mentioned in yesterday's Blog regarding teaching children math. If you can spend a bit of time reading it, I would be grateful becuse then I can share with you my reactions from a personal, a mother's and a teacher's perspetive but want to give you the chance to read it first.
Silent Reading
during this time I did request that students complete incomplete activities like the morning's vocabulary assignment, yesterday's journal write, maps of Europe and their novels for the literature circles!!
completed the presentation for the novel assignments (see above)
Phys Ed Ball hockey- stick handling skills
Huge difference between the boys and the girls ball/stick handling and I do confess that I am not the teacher to teach it but I do have some talented hockey players in class who can fill that gap and perhaps teach me too. We did a set of drills today in groups of 5 which included: passing in circles, zig-zag figure eights, shooting on net (no goalie), moving with sticks in a safe way and passing the ball without slapping it out of play. I was pleasantly surprised that everyone participated and seemed to be having some fun.
I'm not sure where the last 20 minutes of the day went but before I was able to give out an activity the students were grumbling that it was time to get ready for dismissal and what did I think I was doing giving something to them so close to the end of the day!!!! Excuse me!?
I think the discussion about Term 3 Phys Ed might have been longer than I thought or maybe it was the question about seating arrangement and when Easter was - really? You are just back and now you want to know when the next break is. Oh boy!
Anyway I held onto my puzzle sheets for another day. It was going to be a fun activity anyway. They might have even enjoyed it for 5 minutes!!
Thanks to Jack O. (my clock hero) who always manages to reach the spot above the door every time we have to change the clock time or battery- he is my ladder legs and makes it look so easy. He once watched me struggle and then asked me what I was doing. Then, he took over and in a snap it was up and secure. I am in awe of the little guy that I first met when he and my son were in daycare together.
Dismissal
See everyone Wednesday
Mrs. J.
FYI here is the link I promised. See what you make of it and I'll weigh in later :)
www2.macleans.ca/201203/13/have-you-finished-your-homework-mom
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