Very proud of my student family!

I am very proud of my students!  They worked hard to plan meaningful conferences to share their learning with the people that matter the most:  their parents.  It was a privilege to hear all the honest self-reflection in the main subject areas.  This skill truly leads one towards improvement or further success if put into action.  Thank you for all the positive comments and your willingness to do something new to allow more communication time with your child. 

The juggles continue!

Yesterday Mr. Wahl asked our class to do a Knights of Columbus poster for our church.  It is a contest poster.  All posters are due:  December 11 for submission to Mr. Wahl.

Upcoming dates:

Nov. 26 - Holodomor Religion Question due
Nov. 26 - Math sheets 34/35
Nov. 25/26 - Book Fair shopping, bring money
Nov. 30 - Science Famous People in electricity chart due
Dec. 1 - Return report card envelope signed by parent
Dec. 2 - Social Quiz
Dec. 4 - Growing up Essay
Dec. 9 - All cleaning pails, rags, and shovels at school
Dec. 10 - Class Advent Project:  Cleaning our church (bring lunch)
Dec. 15 - Dec. 15 Decimals Unit Quiz & Dec. 17 Decimals Unit Test (TBD by class on Dec. 9)

Reminder:
I provide plenty of class time to work on assignments if time is used with working stamina.  In term #1 I daily reminded students of what assignments were late and also had them write an agenda list (usually on Wed. or Thurs.) of their late assignments for parents to see.  In term #2 I do not do reminders of late assignments or noon late lists as it is expected that students demonstrate responsibility for their learning which involves completion of assignments by the given due dates.  If issues arise with numerous late assignments,  I will continue to send home a School Concern Form to address issues.

Just a reminder that our school goals are to demonstrate working stamina and follow procedures throughout the day.  Please review your list of procedures as you should know them by heart to automatically put them into practice when required. 

SELF-REFLECT TO CHANGE OR IMPROVE UPON YOUR LEARNING.

Another short Week!

FYI

Please see past blog posts for shared information as I will not be doing re-typing.

Nov. 30 - Science Famous People chart due
Dec. 4 - Growing Up Essay shared with Mrs. B by 9 am then paperwork handed in with 2 rubrics at 9:30 am

Dec. 9 - Pails, rags, shovels at school for Church cleaning Advent Project
Dec. 10 - Class Advent Project: cleaning our church (we will be walking to church so dress appropriately for the weather, bring a lunch as we will be eating at church)

Dec. 15 - Decimal Unit Quiz
Dec. 17 - Decimal Unit Test
(The class and I had a discussion regarding when the Math assessments could be done.  They are currently scheduled for the above dates.  The students and I both know that December is a busy month with Advent activities and other unforeseen interruptions resulting in lost class time.   Unfortunately these assessments occur within this time frame.  The students made a decision about what to do to achieve success on these Math assessments.  They decided, with my support,  to see how the timeline goes as we might be too rushed to do them in December.  If necessary to insure success, they will be moved into January.  The class will confirm the decision to be made closer to mid - December.


Dec. 18- Last day of school in 2015 (Early dismissal of 1 hour, I will share the actual time when I receive it)

I recently read a great article by Andrew Miller about the power of student self-reflection to achieve/improve one's goals. He re-affirms what I have been talking to the class about self-reflection is a powerful daily tool to use.

We need to take responsibility for our learning and self-reflection is a key step towards achieving it.  Empower oneself by using your self-reflection information and direct it into action to move forward in skill development.  "Work towards hopefulness not helplessness!"

Another Long Weekend!

Social
Mr. Brodner wants the questions on Pearson E-text page 157 due for next class. 

Writing
Today was another busy day in the grade 6 room.  Lots of source research done with Mrs. B in conference groups and pairs for those who have a cleared essay organizer with Mrs. B.  Several students also started and cleared their Figurative Language sentences. 

There are still a few students who need to finish their organizer components first before going onto source research for additional information and text features. 

The complete organizer with all components is due on Nov23.  Students are not to start drafting until these components are cleared with the teacher.  Remember:  Plan well to write well!

Students who have not completed their level 1 AR goals will stay in for breaks until they complete their team AR commitment.  The majority of the class has been waiting 6 weeks for their teammates to fulfill this expectation.

FYI

Fit Club Fridays starting Dec. 4@8:00 - 8:45 am, parent permission Form due:  Nov. 30
Nov. 25 - $0.50 Cupcake sale
Dec. 10/11 - Santa Shop  ($1-$2)
PE note signed for Ms. Engle
Dec.10 - Church cleaning for class Advent Project

Working Hard after a Long Break!

Writing

We worked on creating a clear, interesting introductory paragraph.  The focus was on wording of the sentences, what words should appear and sequencing.  Paragraph #1 jot notes were also worked on.  These components are due tomorrow. 

Math

 Coordinate sheets due tomorrow at the end of the 30 min continued work period.

Arts Ed

 We started creating our class Christmas cards.

FYI

Nov. 17 - Growing essay:  all planning work completed up to Par. #2.
Nov. 17 - Jr Tech Club for those with late Portfolio components.  (3:30 - 5:00 pm)  If not completed, paper copies will be done.

Team AR goals need to be worked on by everyone.  Some students still need to fulfill goal 1 & 2.
Tues/Thurs. - Pizza for a $2 being served
Nov. 18 - Electricity Review due
Nov. 19 - Chili Luncheon 
Nov. 25 - $0.50 for cupcake sale
Dec. 4 - Growing Up Expository due (shared with Mrs. B by 9am and all paperwork submitted)
Nov. 26 pm & Nov. 27 am - 3 Way Student - Led Conference (sign up is online, see office letter)
Dec. 10 - Class Advent Project:  cleaning/shoveling at St. Cecilia Church

A big congratulations to our Safety Patrol for being chosen Regina Patrol of the Month.  See the picks below of our class patrollers.  I wonder if you can figure out who is who?

Memories are strong in our hearts and minds if we pay homage to them!

One must remember those who have sacrificed before us. 

I hope all took the time to attend or watch a Remembrance Day service.  I was quite moved at all the Canadians willing to stand in long lines to place their own poppies on the monument in Ottawa and on the tomb of our Canadian unknown soldier.

Please ask your children to tell you the story I told them in class about the teacher who started the year with no classroom desks and how it relates to remembrance. 


Term 2 has now started. 

In writing we started a new essay on Monday.  Most students have their 2 part brainstorming completed on their planning organizer along with the 3 paragraph idea topics accurately recorded.  As discussed in class, if you are not completed this component, it needs to be finished by Nov. 16. 

All students were also sent a reminder email to do some research over the long weekend on their expository essay topic about growing up.  They are to do research on their 3 paragraph topics and need to record the sources following the proper setup.  Please do not forget to include your jot notes of information to be used in your paragraphs.  (use loose leaf to do this work if you forgot to take your planning organizer home)  Lastly, take the time to research a few allowable text features for your essay.  (Pictures are not on the rubric list) If you cannot find more than 1 from the rubric list, look for information you could make into a fact box. 


Home skill practice
Work on Mathletics.  Remember what Mr. Wahl said in the assembly, kids cannot take off these many days without losing some skill in reading and other areas.  Please develop a home routine to work on AR reading goals where you practice using your reading strategies and Mathletics to work on strengthening/improving skill level. 


3 Way Conferences
Self-reflection is a vital component of learning.  It allows one to examine what one did, what one could of done, what needs to be done  and what to put into action next for academic growth or skill attainment.  Without self-reflection one stays in the same place without moving forward.  The e-portfolio is our major tech project this year used in conjunction with our self - reflection skills.  We have been developing this portfolio since early September.  A big thank you to all who have shown responsibility in completing your components by the given due dates.  You have shown great working stamina and have strengthen your step by step problem - solving skills. 

This portfolio will be used at the 3 Way Conference to showcase one's responsibility for learning by self-reflecting learning strengths/challenges, goal setting, EE self-reflection videos in Reading/Writing/Math.  The students have also designed a cover page and they look fantastic!  Again, I am very proud of their team work and independent problem-solving skills which are needed to do things differently if a computer program presents information differently to them. 

Only a few students need to complete these portfolio requirements.  On Nov. 10 pm I provided the whole afternoon to a small group of students needing to complete this late work.  Only a few remain so I will provide 1 more Jr Tech session to complete this work as time needs to be given to presentation conferencing skills. This tech session will occur on Tuesday, Nov. 17 from 3:30 - 5:00 pm.  Unfortunately if all electronic components are not completed at the end of this session, students will have to do the paper copy versions as future class time is needed for conferencing.  (I mentioned this to the group on Nov. 10)  Please make arrangements and set up rides with your parents ahead of time.

Throw back Thursday moment!

We sure had a throw back Thursday moment:  the class and I re-lived our lively grade 5 discussion on King Henry VIII!  Good time had by all!

Please see previous posts for information/due dates as I will not be repeating them in each post.

New information:

Nov. 6 - Term 1 cutoff date:  any late assignments will be assigned a zero
Nov. 6 - Fully Alive connections due
Nov. 6 - Portfolio pictures at school on jump drive for future use in Portfolio cover page
Nov. 16 - Chili lunch order due
Nov. 19 - Hot Chili Lunch

Today I sent home with each student the school's 3 Way Conference online booking letter.  Please do this as soon as the calendar is open to insure you get the time/day wanted.  I also sent home with the students a letter explaining how we will be doing our 3 Way Conferences.  It is a new format so please familiarize yourself with the process. 

Term 1 Winding Down!

A prayer service was held today for All Souls Day.  Please take time to pray for those you have lost as they will always be in our memories.

Today in our assembly we had technical difficulties so were unable to see the parody videos in the gym.  Please see them below. 

Math

Today we did a Math review for tomorrow's quiz on Patterns.  Hopefully all will review their assignments and use Mathletics to strengthen memory skills. 

Writing
Students were asked to start making draft paragraphs using the removal of Tonsils jot notes.  This is an in-class assignment to work on maximizing class work time so please do not do any work at home.

FYI

Nov. 3/4 - Math Patterns Quiz
Nov. 3 - Write paragraph #1 using Removal of Tonsils jot notes
Nov. 3 - Song Parody group performance
Do Mathletics program 2X/week
AR team goals - please do your reading as others are waiting to earn a reward
Every Tues/Thurs. for the next while:  Grade 7/8 selling $2/slice cheese pizza at lunch
Nov. 6 - Term 1 Cutoff date.  Any outstanding assignments will be assigned a zero.

 

Costume Parody video on "Old McDonald had a Farm"

McBobby Parody video on "Old McDonald had a Farm"