Thursday, December 5th

Here comes the cold weather finally- rosy cheeks and frozen hands - everyone knows that onething teenagers think they are immune to, among other things, is the weather- wouldn't want to look uncool even if they are freezing.

May hosts of angels guide and protect Mr. Nelson Mandela as he leaves our earth - I just recently read his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, and I cried. It was one of the most inspirational stories I have read. I am encouraging my son to read it too.  RIP
Thank -you for your humanity and perseverance - the world knows in you the ability to forgive and understand real restitution.

This passage is from the end of his book
".... When I walked out of prison, that was my mission, to liberate the oppressed and the oppressor both. Some say that has now been achieved.  But I know that is not the case.   The truth is that we are not yet free; we have merely achieved the freedom to be free, the right not to be oppressed.  We have not taken the final step of our journey, but the first step on a longer and even more difficult road.  For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. The true test of our devotion to freedom is just beginning....with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended." (1994)

Well, now it has ended, Rolihlalha, and you have earned the world 's respect.
"Goodnight, sweet prince.  And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest."


Reminders
Spelling tests
The students requested a day more for spelling this week which is fine - we can do it tomorrow (I did check to ensure any student who wanted to test today had the opportunity but the few who said they wanted to, changed their minds at the last minute)

Read novel Touching Spirit Bear complete part 2

Christmas card writing day tomorrow

Our day

Language arts
Started the SRA reading program today and will judge the starting levels to ensure every student is at the right level other wise it is not really any use. Student work on their reading independently reading at their own level and self assess. Once a consistent level of success is reached the students progress to the next level- the 2C kit is leveled up to grade 9 reading samples.
Comprehension, vocabulary and word work are all components of the program.

Band class

WE day assembly

With the time left after the assembly before lunch we had a games session: cards, scrabble, poker, jigsaw puzzles, chess, coloring and Boggle were some of the games played and I have to say that I was proud of them and their ability to cooperate and stay engaged together playing all these different games in one class.  Well done (seriously if you had the choice of math or cooperative game play would you have to think about it for long?) lol

Read to Self
Record

Social studies
Civilization: Is the West history? Is a BBC series narrated by Niall Ferguson
Our BIG idea questions were:
What made the Western world the dominant economic and cultural 'leader'?
Are we still the global 'leader'?
What Eastern cultures are challenging us economically?
Can we assume we will always lead the global economy?

BIG ideas  and questions, indeed, and I was encouraged by the intellectual and general knowledge about our world the students offered today. Not only did they answer these questions in a discussion format but offered their own anecdotes about where we are headed in the future!
Are you impressed? I was...
I played on the digital overhead the first 20 minutes of the BBC Civilization series which takes these questions  and shares the history of how the west first became dominant historically.

To complete the day we worked on a geographic map of the countries of North America - with the exception of Canada and USA, many are very small and poor!

Thanks to the students who volunteered to help set up the tables for tomorrow's writing day.

Next thing you know the day had disappeared and it was time to bundle up for the trip home - according to the weather channel it is to get as cold as -20 tonight with the wind chill factor.
Brrrr
Stay warm
Have a Good night
Mrs. J.
P.S. A big thanks also to a couple of special parents who gifted me with much appreciated gestures of support. We love the poinsettia (JT) and the Americano from Starbucks (LE) really helped my drive down the highway last night, merci beaucoup.