Thursday Jan 31st/ Friday Feb 1st

I just was not in the right frame of mind to post an entry to this blog after school on Thursday- I had to put things back into perspective before I could communicate effectively.
It can be such a draining job when everyone is tired and needy and that includes me...
we put our heads and ideas together today and we solved or discussed possible solutions for the on-going issues we are dealing with in class. The students were very forthcoming and helpful and I really appreciated their ideas and perspective...

They did not like the seating plan I had drawn up (just this week) and today, with their input, we changed it yet again (and even though it was agreed before we did the seating 'draw' there were still a couple of students in tears before we reorganized some 'personalities'). To me it isn't a big deal- it is a seat or a desk; what's the big deal? To the grade six/sevens, however, it is a HUGE deal and a tricky thing to balance.
I swear I can see a degree in classroom seating management (or at least a course- I'll get right on that)- maybe I should try it as a line of professional inquiry!

to our day(s) and some homework...
Homework
10 students have not turned in any work for their socials projects
those students have the weekend to get their project together or hand in what they have done on Monday
I did not redo the A's spelling test yet (I forgot) studying might be a good idea for those who need to redo (ya think?)
Reminders
camp permission forms
hoodie orders
Purdy's fundraiser catalogues for Easter have been sent home
New seating plan (#312) Monday be prepared


Today...
quick daily French

Band class

Class meeting: we discussed what I need the students to help me with and I listened to what they needed from me. It was very worthwhile because it has been a stressful week with FSA assessments and many students are not feeling well. Five were away today. Figures the governement would choose to do major assessment during flu season...another black mark for this flawed assessment.
The students had some interesting ideas which I think are a poosible solution to some of our on-going concerns
I wanted

• more cooperation in class activites and in following directions less chat and time wasting

they wanted me

• to follow through with class/group rules that we all agreed to earlier last term and to stop repeating instructions over and over (especially when I get louder and louder in the sound system!)

I wanted

• more self reliance and organization (self regulation)

They wanted

• me to stop nagging them about it and then doing it for them!! Also, they don't like it when I try to help a student and I talk through or interrupt quiet time (I agree, for shame!)

I wanted

• more on-task behaviour

They wanted

• a mixed, smaller unit seating plan (which they set about planning right away)

Good stuff :)

Math 7
returned the redo operations with integers quizzes. 15 did the redo and 8 passed, meaning that I still have approx. 7 students struggling with that particular concept- it will be followed up in grade eight. My intention for including it this year (it is not in the grade 7 curriculum) was to assist with any integers that may show up on algebraic equations.
We worked though a couple of problems together.

silent reading - it was amazing today (still a couple who just can't help themselves trying to be social and silly)

read aloud novel called Payback is now finished. I think the students enjoyed it. They may have read between the lines and seen the dramatic ending coming but it was still unexpectedly dramatic but with a happy ending at least!
On Monday the students are going to chose from the top two of a selection for our next novel
The Book Thief or George Clooney Please Marry my Mother
Both are good reads but very different. One made me laugh the other made me cry. I'll let you know what the choice is next week.

new seating draw and negotiation (like the United Nations)

Art
I have observed that art seems to be laissez-faire and I really need to work to find a creative solution. The completed card art projects look amazing but I only have 6!!
The clothing design project for French seems to be in stasis- some were trying madly to colour a title page for their socials project. Some were out of class with their high school mentors.

dismissal
Have a great weekend
I redid the class seating plan using the students' plan

Thursday Jan 31st
daily French
no spelling today
Writing longer composition. How to plan and create an effective draft.
Brainstorming topics
Writing time
FSA assessment literary paragraph section (computer lab)
Silent reading - not effective
French cancelled due to so many being away and four more out to 'spot' for the Kindies at a gymnastics session
tried some art time but things became very difficult to manage and I called that to a close too and became completely flustered and had a mini-melt down before we headed sown to our primary buddy class for a reading session.
The reading session was what we all needed to get away from one another and I must say I was impressed at how well the students managed with the little ones because at the end of a school day they can be a handful too.
Back in class I had the opportunity to get us all back into a balance (even keel) and let the students know we would follow up with a class meeting tomorrow before we headed home.
Me to a meeting and them to basketball.
Yeah, glad Thursday was over!
Mrs. J.