English 8

Today students had a quiz on synonyms, antonyms, homonyms, homophones, prefixes, and suffixes.

Students then worked though contractions and compound words by playing class bingo.  They then completed the worksheets below:

Finally, Students completed winter haiku poems.  A haiku poem formula is as follows:

Line 1: 5 syllables

Line 2: 7 syllables

Line 3: 5 syllables

My winter haiku is as follows:

Drip, drop, wet and mild.

The west coast rainforest sleeps

with no covering.

Reading 8/9

Today students steady read for 30 minutes and then completed a journal entry.

Students then listened to the short story "The Sniper" by Liam O'Flaherty and created a comprehension web.

Senior Band

Today we practiced scales: Bb, Eb, F, Ab, and Chromatic

We then went through our whole program for this evening's concert.

We look forward to seeing you tonight at the show!!

Foods 11/12

Today students iced and melted chocolate to decorate their shortbread cookies.  There were some very professional looking treats!

I wish for you all to have a MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Socials 7

Students began by completing their homework question.

Students then worked on their inquiry projects.  Some students have begun to finish these up.  They will be due January 17th 2014.  January 15th will be the last day of class time that students will have to work on these.

HOMEWORK: Make sure to be familiar with the vocabulary words and find out 10 interesting facts about Iraq.  Due January 6th, 2014.

Socials 9

Students began with a homework question.

We then moved straight into inquiry questions.  Students are beginning to finish these up.  They will need to be completed by January 17th.  January 15th will be the last day of class time students will be able to use.

Finally, we watched the last portion of the dirty cities documentary.

HOMEWORK: Read p.80-85 in textbook and Review Package.  Test for the French Revolution Unit will be held on January 10th.

Language Arts 7

Today students completed their spelling tests.  I then handed out the new words.  Students will be tested on these words January 10th, when we return back from break.

We then read our script of Gluscabi and the Wind Eagle.  Students were split into groups and asked to turn a short aboriginal legend into a script.  Students then began cutting out cardboard characters to use as shadow puppets for when we return from the break.

HOMEWORK: Spelling word booklet and reading journals.  Due Monday, January 6th 2014.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

English 8

Today we did a journal write.

Students then worked through prefixes and suffixes.  We will have have a test on these terms of Thursday.

We next generated a list of adjectives to use for a descriptive paragraph next class.

Finally, we played a round of Scattergories.

Senior Band

Today we did Bb, Eb, and Chromatic Scales.

We then played through the concert songs.

Reading 8/9

Today students steady read and then completed a journal entry.

Socials 7

Today students answered their homework question.

We then went over again how to extract information from a textbook, deciphering which are the most important pieces of information.

We spent a lot of time discussing Mesopotamian law and how it is different from Canadian Law.

The class began watching a documentary on Mesopotamia:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on3cdN3iZqc

Some students wished to work on their inquiry projects while watching the documentary.

HOMEWORK: Read p.84 and focus on similarities and differences between Hammurabi's Law Code and Canadian Law.

Foods 11/12

Today students made shortbread cookies.  These will be decorated next class.

Language Arts 7

Today students began with a journal write.

Students then completed a practice spelling test… The spelling test will take place on Wednesday.

Next, four volunteers were chosen from the class.  Three went into the hallway, while the fourth, as well as the rest of the class, listened to a short aboriginal legend.  Once the story was told, one of the students from outside was invited back in and listened to the other student retell the story to the best of his/her ability.  After each retelling, another student was brought in to listen and then retell.  Students came to understand some of the benefits and drawbacks of a society using solely oral histories.

Students then listened to the stories in full and considered the moral of the legends retold.

Socials 9

Today students completed their homework question.

Students then watched another 20 minutes of the dirty cities documentary from last day.

Finally, students worked on their inquiry questions.

HOMEWORK: Read and take notes on p.76-78 - Focus on the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Reading 8/9

Today students began with a readers theatre exercise, from which I assessed their fluency.

Students then read their books and completed a journal entry.

English 8

Today students began with a quiz on synonyms, antonyms, homonyms, and homographs.

Students then watched the following clips and created class expository paragraph on how to pull off a prank.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xugcjLV-lX4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjGd1C6E4ys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpOdTnF8MGI

The first step was to create a list in order of events.  Once this was created, we used it to write the paragraph below:

      Have you ever wanted to play a funny prank?  This paragraph will tell you how.  First, you have to travel to a nearby waterpark.  Second make sure you have all of the equipment that you will need to complete the prank.  After that, insert the tube into your pants, hide behind a tree and wait for unexpected victims!  Spray away and hope the police don’t find you!

Once students had completed their paragraph and proof-read it, they handed them in and chose to steady read, or work on the class puzzle.

December 12: English 8

Today we began by reviewing homonyms and homographs.

Students then completed their antonym, synonym, homonym, homograph handout that they received last class.  Students will be quizzed on this content Friday.

Students then read along to Apparent Motives by David Lubar.  This story was a first person, fictitious narrative.

Students were then asked to write their own narratives.

Socials 9

Today students began by completing their homework question.

We then watched the first 20 minutes of a documentary called "Filthy Cities", which featured Paris during the revolution.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZszjfwVU_LY

Students then worked on their Inquiry projects.

HOMEWORK: Read p.73-75 - Focus on who made up the Estates General and what led to the fall of the Bastille.

Language Arts 7

Today students were given their new set of spelling words:

1. equator
2. delta
3. agricultural
4. silt
5. evaporated
6. fertile
7. reservoir
8. resource
9. industry
10. worship

They then worked through a package to familiarize themselves with the definitions of their spelling words.

Finally, students were asked to complete their totems.  These are now for homework.

HOMEWORK: On Monday, students must bring in their reading logs for inspection.  Between today and Monday, students are expected to have sixty minutes of reading complete.

Any students not finished their totems must do this for homework.

Foods 11/12

Today students finished both finished their gingerbread houses and made almond roca.

Socials 7

Today students began by completing Homework Question #3.

Students then worked on their Mesopotamian inquiry projects.

HOMEWORK: Read p.81-83 - Focus on the six Mesopotamian Innovations.

Senior Band

Today students played through scales and then added three new pieces to the repertoire:

Noel Nouvelet
Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer
A World of Christmas

Please come and get these pieces from me before next class if you were unable to attend the rehearsal.

REMINDER: Band Concert December 19th at 7:00pm!!

Reading 8/9

Today students completed a comprehension exercise.

When this was finished students were asked to steady read.

At the end of the class, we played one round of Scattergories.

English 8

Today students began by completing a journal entry.

They then completed the following exercises on the board as a review of synonyms and antonyms.

Students then completed their gangster story backdrops, which are now displayed in the classroom.

HOMEWORK:  Please remember to bring your reading logs to class for inspection on Thursday!

Language Arts 7

Students began class by completing their social studies homework question.

Once this was complete, students were asked to complete a journal entry.

Finally, students worked on their paper totem poles.

Socials 9

Today students began class by completing their homework question.

Students next watched the final half hour to the documentary on the French Revolution.

We then created a chart with similarities and differences between the French Revolution and the British Civil War.

Unfortunately, our internet was down all day and therefore, we could not work on our inquiry projects.  Instead, students began reading about the Enlightenment (p.68-69).

HOMEWORK:  Read pages 64-67 - Focus on how Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette infuriated the French public.

Socials 7

Today students went on a field trip to the Iris Griffith's Centre.

HOMEWORK:  Read p.78-80 and take notes.  Focus on why maps and chronologies are useful.  What is the chronology of Mesopotamia?

Foods 11/12

Today we began to put our gingerbread houses together.  These will be finished next class!

Socials 7

Students began by answering their homework question.

We then read through pages 74-75 together and discussed the information in the text.

Students then worked on their Mesopotamian inquiry questions.

HOMEWORK: p.76-77 - Conflict and Warfare--Focus on how artifacts can be used as evidence to prove their was warfare in Mesopotamia.

Foods 11/12

Students cut out and baked their gingerbread house pieces.  We will put them together on Monday.  Don't forget to bring some treats for your houses.

Language Arts 7

Students began by completing their spelling test.

We then read through Gluscabi and the Wind Eagle.

Students then chose a book for at home reading, if they didn't have one already.  Students will now be expected to read for 20 minutes five nights a week, or the equivalent of this time (100 minutes).  I am only asking students to read on school nights (Sunday-Thursday - the night before they wake up for school), however, if they would like to read for larger portions during other times of the week when a night is particularly busy, this is more than reasonable.  The purpose of this activity is to increase the number of minutes of reading for some students, and to install a sense of time management to help for future successful study skills.  Please make sure to have reading logs signed!

Students worked on their totem poles until the end of class.

Socials 9

Today students first completed their homework question.

We then watched 30 more minutes of the French Revolution documentary.

Lastly, students worked on their inquiry projects.

HOMEWORK:  Read p.64-The Brink of Disaster-- Focus on how wars (both political and religious) affected the economy of France.

English 8

Today students had a quiz on to, too, and two.

After the quiz, students chose a silent reading book.  Students were then given 15 minutes to silent read.

Students provided the option of continuing to read, or work on a word search or crossword puzzle and while this was happening, they were assessed individually for their reading accuracy.

Students have been given a new reading requirement.  Their job is to read 20 minutes every school night, the equivalent of 1 hour and 40 minutes per week.  Parents, please sign your child's reading log to prove that reading has taken place at home for the required minutes.  Students may choose to divide up their reading minutes as they choose, but the expectation is that 1 hour and 40 minutes of reading take place per week.

Reading 8/9

Today students were assessed for their reading accuracy.  Students worked on word searched or crossword puzzles while this was done.  Students then had steady reading time.

Senior Band

Today we worked through concert Bb, Eb, F, and Chromatic scales.

We then worked through our pieces for the upcoming concert.

Foods 11/12

Today students made the dough for their gingerbread houses.

Socials 7

Students had a bit of class time to finish their lunches since their exciting field trip took up most of their lunch time.

Students then got down to business.  They began by recording essential questions for their next social studies unit  on Mesopotamia.

Students then took some time to read through the many books on Mesopotamia, so that a topic list could be generated together.

Students then completed another KWL chart.

Students were assigned note taking for homework.  They are expected to take some notes of pages 72-73 on Mesopotamian economy and trade groups.  We were able to practice taking notes in class.

Finally, students were able to spend some time on their inquiry projects.

Socials 7

Today students began by recording the essential questions that they will be able to answer by the end of the unit.

Students then completed a KWL chart, jotting down facts they already knew about the French Revolution and five wonders they still have.  The learning portion will be filled out at a later date when more learning has occurred.

We then watched a documentary for 30 minutes on the French Revolution.

As students will now be assigned homework in Social Studies (regardless of efficient class time use), students were shown how to take effective notes from the textbook.  Students were then assigned notes from p.61 under the heading The Bourgeoisie.  These will be used to answer a question in class on Friday.

Students were left with little time (10 minutes) to focus on their inquiry projects.

Language Arts 7

Today students began by working through the last page of their spelling word booklet.  The spelling test will be on Friday, December 6th.

Next, students recorded the essential questions that they will be able to answer by the end of the unit.

Students then filled in a KWL chart to show both what they know about aboriginal cultures and five wonders they still have.  We will fill out the learning portion of the chart once more learning has taken place.

Students were then provided an animal spirit guide handout.  From this they were asked to choose four of the animals that represent themselves, as well as create a symbol that represents a trait or quality only known to the student.  From theses symbols, students were asked to create a totem pole on paper.

Students were then given the chance to have a mock spelling test in preparation of this Friday.

English 8

Students began by completing a journal entry.  They were asked to focus on the MADD presentation from yesterday as well as discuss why they celebrate Christmas.

We then looked at the history of our names.  Each student was provided a handout about their name from the following website:  http://www.behindthename.com

Students were then asked to answer the following questions in point form:

Students listened to my own name history before beginning:

Students then shared their findings with a partner.

Next, students reviewed the usage of to, too, and two.  There will be a quiz on this information on Thursday.

Finally, students played a round of Scattergories.

Senior Band

Today we worked through concert Bb, Eb, F, and Chromatic scales.

Students then rehearsed Baby It's Cold Outside, Santa Baby, Charlie Brown Christmas, and The Grinch.

There are certain students who NEED to practice their parts.  We must not subject our audience to mistakes!

Reading 8/9

This morning students steady read for 35 minutes and then completed a comprehension journal entry.

We then worked through a crossword puzzle.

Socials 7

Students began class by reading through non-fiction books on ancient mesopotamia and modern day Iraq, Iran, and Afganistan.

Students then began watching the documentary "Fires of Kuwait".

Foods 11/12

Today students made templates for their gingerbread houses, which we will be making in parts within the next couple of weeks.

Language Arts 7

Students began by writing a journal entry based upon the MADD presentation that they watched first block this morning.

Many of our classmates were away at volleyball today.  As a result, we took some time to refresh our music literacy.  Students discussed treble and bass clef, as well as different rhythmic patterns (using ti-ti, tika-tika, and ta).  We went over the letter names of the lines in the treble clef and bass clef by using two acronyms (treble: every good boy deserves fudge, and bass: good boys deserve fudge always).

Students then took a tour of some instruments they might try out.

Socials 9

Today students watched the MADD presentation that was brought to the school by Ms Dimond.

Our class spent a bit of time after the presentation to debrief the sad reality that is impaired driving.  Students seem to have taken the message to heart.

After our discussion, students either researched their inquiry projects or took some down time to work on the class puzzle.