Sept, 11th

I have to get to a meeting at HSSS tonight so I'll post the homework and reminders and if I have time later tonight (I should) I will complete the Blog post about the day's learning.

Homework
Math 6 complete the class worksheet if not already done (patterns)
Math 7 please give your parents the communication information form to fill in and return
another night for thinking about a suitable class motto (we didn't get to it today)
Reminders
Please bring supplies and thanks to those who have already
$10 planner and thanks to those who paid today

Our day began with some housekeeping which is typical of the first week getting everything up and running.

Daily French

Opinions about Reading: I asked the students to wrtie between three and five sentences abut what they think is the BEST thing about reading.

I tried to conduct a disussion about the 11th anniversary of the 9-11 terrorist attacks but it kind of fell flat - these students were born the year it happened and were not as moved by it as I am. I found a web site that provided up to the minute detail about the Freedom Tower and the construction that is in place of the WTC towers that were destroyed. I showed them a short clip of the construction but there was nothing that the students wanted to add or share. Maybe it's the topic- what is there left to say?

More later...okay- meeting over and dinner done- where was I...

The next activity for everyone was an inventory which helps each student identify the type or learner that they are- some students are more auditory- they like to hear things and listen to things, others are stronger visual learners and prefer to see things and watch and many are tactile or need to get their hands-on things and flip them around and about before they fully understand a concept. By tomorrow we will have the three types of leaning scored and your child should be able to report what kind of learning suits them. One thing I have discovered over the years is that some students are not a single type but can cross over their learning types dependent on the opportunities presented. Once I know I can provide a general class report- state of the class learning styles.

Next was Math 6 and 7
I had to laugh today as I heard one of the grade sevens leaving the class after math saying "Boy, she's grumpy today!"
Math 7 skills diagnostic covering basic arithmetic skills from Grade 3-7
It was difficult to get some of my students to stop talking and make a bit of serious effort. It is obvious one of the first things we need to review is the skill of dividing. That will be tomorrow's class. The diagnostic will give me an informal idea of who can do basic skills and who needs more practice and review.
We continued the text book scavenger hunt while students were still writing the review test. We have work to do in understanding how to conduct ourselves respectfully during tests. I think that's why I was seen to be 'grumpy' today, I kept reminding them that there were students still writing and that we had to be considerate of their need for quiet. There are certain protocals that need to be respected and I want to be clear what they are!

Silent reading

Novel: Dragon Keeper by Carole Wilkinson- I read the majority of the first chapter but Hannah M. assisited. No one esle chose to read! We'll work on that too!

Art I decided to give a choice of project. The students made a great start on their chosen projects. Logo letters or name acrostics- we are using hot and cool colours to make them 'pop'.

Agenda and dismissal
Hope yopu are having a good evening. I'm off to Brennan Park now to pick up my son!!!
Mrs. J.