Today the afternoon temperature was much more comfortable than it has been so that was a bonus...lots to share
Homework
Math 7 a few students who have been away have some whole number work to catch up other than that I have asked that students go on-line tonight to the Mathlinks7 website (access through Google) and try the Chapter 2 quiz as a pre-test
Math 6 working on t-chart patterns- finish today's class worksheet and make an effort to play addition snap at home
Socials most students (16) completed in class - there are 7 students who have the text analysis to complete (titles, headings and visual examples)
Derek and Dylan have the novel paragraph to hand in tomorrow (see last week). I have spoken to both of them
Reminders
- immunization forms due from Adrian and Derek (2)
- verification forms still to be returned by:Adrian, Derek, Aiden, Bailey, Eduardo, Hannah Mag., Dylan and Ray (8)
- class communication forms due from: Aiden, Derek and Dylan (3) and from Mr. Parker's grade sevens to whom I teach Math 7 : Hunter, Thomas and Isaiah (3)
- Planner $$ asap and bring the rest of supplies or let me know what you need
- Cross Country running forms due back Tuesday if you want to attend the meet on Wednesday this week
- Tom Lee music is here this evening for instrument rental/renewal
- please return comfort kits for our disaster plan drills
- Scholastic book fair all week
- Pot Luck supper on Thursday evening
- Terry Fox Run Friday (donations being collected all week)
Our day included:
Spelling - I returned the tests that we did on Thursday and I have a BIG dilemma of 23 students 12 bombed the test with between 0 and 5 of the 15 words and 11 did amazingly well with between 10-15 of the 15 words (no one in the middle!)
So we had a class discussion and I had the students answer a few questions like a) did you study? b) are the words too challenging? c) are you hearing the sounds? [I have a Scottish accent!!] and choose one of the following scenarios
1. We re-do the same list on Thursday of this week and use the first one as a pre-test (students who aced it will be exempt) OR
2. I create a Grade six list and a grade seven list separately allowing grade six students who are strong spellers to use the grade seven list and grade seven spellers who are weaker to use the grade six list OR
3. I create a brand new list that is at the grade 5,6,7 level and provide everyone a new list of words for spelling.
Voting was not unanimous- the students had difficulty choosing a solution. I wondered if parents had any feedback- the list I gave is challenging and ambitious- I created it partly because I had a strong group of spellers last year. I am happy to accommodate success- I do not want students to struggle and fail every week because I have created an overly challenging spelling list- the spelling program is intended to help students with vocabulary and word development as well as set up a study routine. The study itself is the intention not the list of words which can easily be changed. If you have an opinion please feel free to comment on the Blog OR e-mail me at sjohnston@sd48.bc.ca
I will see what the students tell me on the answers to the questions I asked and make a decision soon. For this week spelling list #2 is on hold.
We also did an editing skills together (finding 10 COPS errors in a paragraph about the Olympics)and the first page of looking at suffix and prefix of words in our language that are derived from Latin and Greek - we will complete the second page tomorrow.
Math 7 today was an organization day- too bad 5 students did not bring their texts or binders! We will be keeping an organized binder using an index and tracking work handed in and completed. I provided some loaner binders and have asked everyone to have everything they need for tomorrow's class.
We went over six organizational procedures and tomorrow I will provide each student with their own individual organizational list for them to stay up-to-date. Please know that I have asked them to be responsible for any missed work and classes and gave set up an easy system in class for them to pick up missed assignments. This Blog will also provide class information if a day or two is missed- just log on and read, pick up the work if possible and try it at home.
Each student did a journal entry for math today answering a question about their confidence level and showing me that they were able to multiply and divide. I used examples that we did in class last week.
I showed a PowerPoint on the history of the numerals that we use today- how the numbers were used in the ancient world for trade of goods based on the cuneiform (reed in clay representations) method using angles- 1 angle for the number 1, two angles for the number 2 and so on. My favourite id the 0- no angles.
I had them hand in the weekend homework and asked them to go to the text website Mathlinks 7 to try the on-line quiz for chapter 2. Tomorrow we begin the Ch2 operations with decimals in the text.
Silent reading- getting better (the students can eat as they read if lunch is not completed)
Socials I distributed texts and introduced the concept of THIEVES for analysing a content area text
Today the students completed an activity using their text to discover what the book information is by analysing
T titles of chapters
H headings (not all only one per chapter)
I illustrations photos and pictures (clip art ,cartoons etc.)
E - we didn't do today. It stands for every first sentence- topic sentences.
V visuals- charts, webs, maps and graphs
E end of chapter questions
S end of chapter summary
This method is a really neat way of finding general information before you start to read for details.
Finally today I managed to fit in an introduction to the MindUp program. We started Lesson 1 learning about the different functions and parts of the brain: PFC (pre frontal cortex), the hippocampus and the amygdyla and the power of a deep lung filling breath before you react to something stressful.
Then it was time to write in planners and prepare for home. FYI
I lead the writing of the homework but I do not always have time to check everyone has actually completed it- perhaps you could help me by checking at home and asking why they have not written in their planner!! There are lots of things going on and I hope you are getting the information somehow!
Have a great Monday night.
Mrs. J.
Remember not to be shy about commenting on any posts.
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