Spoken Word/Poetry Slam
A few people took a chance with sharing their writing today. I can not believe what came from you guys on just the first day! Amazing.
We discussed the letter writing format as a style that is often chosen for great spoken word pieces.
We took a look at some of my favourite samples and then started our own "Dear..." poem.
I can't wait to hear what you come to school with tomorrow.

Math

Today we did an exercise in experimental vs. theoretical probability.

Please make sure you have finished the experiment and the two questions that go with it.

It is your job to make sure you understand the difference between experimental and theoretical probability. Perhaps explain your understanding to the folks at home.

Test on probability - next Tuesday Dec. 5th.

Lots of work was returned today including the last math test. Share your assessments with your family.

We finished Orbiting Jupiter this morning.
It was a very emotional end.
Talk to your families about this very heavy ending.
A beautiful book with so much to learn from.
Remember your sketchnotes are due Tuesday.
I will give you some class time Friday and Monday, but in order to do it well you will need to spend some of your own time on this assignment.

We started on a new adventure today - Poetry Slam.
So exciting!!!
Today's writing prompt: If you had the attention of the whole world for three minutes what would you say? The whole world! What does the whole world need to know?
Here is an example from my all-time favourite spoken word artist:

Today started with a new team game called Fastball (beanbag). It seemed easy enough, but once we started we ran into a few snags. Some great brainstorming and idea "steeping"  lead us to set a best time of 58.5 seconds. Did you make it easier or harder for everyone else? How?

Math

Today we clarified a bit the work done yesterday while I was away. 

Please make sure you have completed 7.28.1, 7.29.1 and 7.29.2

Geography

Make sure you have summarized three points from each section of the handout from last class.

Literacy

Sketchnotes for Orbiting Jupiter will be due Monday.

Remember - everyone's will look different!

I'm looking for the parts of a story - intro, rising action etc...

Summarize the story using pictures and words. 

Here are a couple more examples:

Nature Buddies
We took what may be our last chance (sunny and 10 degrees!) to plant more milkweed. Some of you are really doing a wonderful job leading your buddies to think about the world around us.
We had an impromptu discovery/exploration of the frozen ice. So many great questions came out of it. Well done!

Many thanks to author Wesley King.
He gave a very inspiring (and funny!) talk.



I followed up his talk by reading this book:
Why?

Please remember that you have a music playing test on Tuesday.
If you wish to do your test privately, you need to make arrangements with me ahead of time.


Eco Team Challenge!
For "NO-vember",  the Stuart Scott Eco Team is encouraging everyone to have NO lights and NO electronics on when NO-one is in the room. Also we are encouraging everyone to observe Buy NOthing this Friday. Save big! this Black Friday by buying NOthing!

Progress reports went home today. Please return the signed envelope to indicate that you have received the report.

Orbiting Jupiter
Two amazing quotes from today:
"I guess that night at the pond, while my father and mother and I got colder and colder listening to Joseph, I guess that night unfroze him."
"When my father put his hand on Joseph's back, Joseph didn't even flinch."
Talk to your family about what you are learning from this story.
You can be working on:
1. Your sketchnote to show the parts of the story for Orbiting Jupiter
2. Your note on pathetic fallacy for Orbiting Jupiter

Math
 Please finish 7.27.1 for tomorrow if you haven't already. Show your thinking!

Dance
Expanding our repertoire of moves:

Voices from the Land
Tomorrow we will make our poetry presentations in response to the art we created.
Remember: I'm assessing your use of voice - clear, understandable, expressive

Orbiting Jupiter
We talked about the literary device Pathetic Fallacy. Start to notice how writers use this (and other devices) to enrich their description and paint a clear picture in words.
I read a small, but very intense, section of the book. Think about the fight. Was is simply a grade eight fight or is there more to it? What did Joseph carry with him into that fight?

Math
We had a raucous game of SKUNK today.
Homework:
1. Teach the people at home how to play.
2. Write down your strategy for the game - make sure you are using the probability vocabulary we have been working on.

Parents: I handed out the interview confirmation slips with the date and time that I have booked for you. I tried my very best to connect with other teachers and align with other family interviews. I did my best to accommodate all requests. I look forward to meeting you all this Thursday and Friday.

We spent a chilly morning outside with our nature buddies.
Well done everyone!

Reminders:

• Your next Ringo task is due Thursday (as Friday is a PA Day)
• Music playing test next Tuesday

Math

Today we began discussing probability with some vocabulary. I'll be looking and listening for this vocabulary as we explore probability

Please finish the game we played by writing down the different ways you can get each of the numbers 1-12 by rolling two six sided dice.

Example: You can get a 3 two ways (2,1) (1,2)

Orbiting Jupiter
I read a very heavy chapter today.
You might want to share with your family how you are feeling about it.

Canada 150 Video Dome
How cool was this?

Here is the video and a "making of" as well.
Use the navigator at the top left to see the 360 view.

What a great day!!!
I am so grateful for your open minds and hearts and your positive participation.
Thank you everyone!

We started today with a game called "Telegraph". Tell your family about it.

We made connections to the Story of the Two Wolves. Talk to your family about that too.

Orbiting Jupiter
I delivered the cliffhanger that I promised.
Please complete the prediction sheet for Monday.
As I told you, I will not accept this assignment late, as you will hear the "everything" on Monday.

Geography
Today we posed more questions that we have coming out of the presentation on the wetlands yesterday. Keep wondering and thinking!!!
Each person received an article today about the "harvesting of water" for the bottled water industry.
Your job is to understand the article and explain the article to your group next Geography class. Practice at home - tell your family what your article is about.

Voices from the Land
We are responding, through poetry, to the art we created in the wetlands.
Next week we will present to the class.

WWI Trench Exhibit.
Wow! What an afternoon. This excellent exhibit is well worth the trip to the Old Town Hall.
Many thanks to the Newmarket Historical Society.
Take your family there! It is up until Sunday.
I am so proud of how we represented Stuart Scott.
You were amazing.

Many many thanks to Jenn Slykhuis (Sr. Engineer from the Town of Newmarket) for sharing with us the plans and process that went into creating our wetlands. Share with your family what you learned.

Reminders:
- Music playing test - Tuesday Nov. 28th
- Next Ringo task - Thursday Nov. 23rd
- We are walking to the Old Town Hall tomorrow after lunch

Hello everyone.
A couple of things for the end of this week.
1. Tomorrow morning Jen Slykhuis (Sr. Environmental Coordinator Climate Change Adaptation Engineering Services  - Town of Newmarket- wow that's a long title!) will be joining us to talk about our wetlands. Come with questions!

2. Friday after lunch we will be walking to the Old Town Hall to see a really great WWI Trench exhibit. Its only up for a short time so Friday is our last chance. Any parents that want to join us are most welcome. It is really worth seeing.

Today I'm at the YRDSB Quest Conference and I wanted to share with you a few of the things that I have learned so far. We will talk about them further when I return.
Some food for thought:

"Anxiety is good - it gives us a warning signal to do something different."
That being said, there are three levels of stress and anxiety.
1. Positive - keeps us "on our toes" and moving forward.
2. Tolerable - can be helped by positive relationships with the people you surround yourself with.
3. Toxic - can create barriers to learning and function
Do you agree? What level are you at?

First Ringo assignments were returned today.
Next task is due November 23rd.

Book orders - Thursday at the latest.

Math test - Thursday!

Today I introduced what a sketchnote is.
We will be doing one for the parts of the story of Orbiting Jupiter.
Here is a sample.

Voices from the Land
Today we did some outdoor ephemeral art.
Some really wonderful art was created in a very short time.
Next step is to respond to our work in poetry.
We'll do that together on Friday.
We will be creating a book of our work together.

Book orders are due Wednesday.

Tomorrow please come dressed to work outside for a good part of the day. Dress in layers. We will be having an outdoor art adventure!

Friday - I have booked a time for us to see the WWI trench exhibit at the Old Town Hall. We will walk over after lunch (1:20). If there are any parents that could accompany us - it would be much appreciated.

Outdoor Ed - Nature Buddies
We did "Just Like Us!" with our nature buddies. Ms. U-Ming was commenting on how the conversations with your buddies are really improving. Some good discussion happening. Keep giving them room to discover!

Orbiting Jupiter
Today we talked about the parts of a story (introduction, rising action, climax, solution/wrap-up). As I read Orbiting Jupiter, it is each person's responsibility to track the parts of the story with details specific to Orbiting Jupiter. After I finish the book, we will be making a sketchnote that gives a description of the book based on those parts of the story. I'll be explaining what a sketchnote is tomorrow.


Music
Your next playing test is on Tuesday Nov. 28th.
You choose the piece that you will play (out of the book).
Level 3 - Correct notes and correct rhythm
Level 4 - Level 3 plus great posture and proper tonguing

Math
Today we worked on finding the whole given a percent.
Please make sure you have finished 7.23.4
Math test Thursday:
- fractions, decimals and percents

I forgot!

1. Book orders are due by Wednesday.

2. Math test will be on Thursday.

Have a great weekend!

Please remember! The snow coming will not stop our regular outdoor ed time.
Monday is day 2 and we will be outside.

We had a wonderful debate and vote for our next read aloud!
Here are the results:

We will be reading Orbiting Jupiter.
This was last year's Global Read Aloud and a book that I LOVE!
I also love the other two and they are just on hold for now.
Tell your families what we know so far.

Your Venn diagram from the article on the lost boys is due Monday.

Math
No homework - you are welcome!
BUT! there will be a test next week on fractions, decimals and percents.
Take the time to make sure you are ready.

Art 
Our latest art project is called Hair Today.
We are creating a self portrait - but from the back.
Here is the assignment outline.
So far, we should have finished the appetizers and the rough draft of the main dish.

Hair Today

Menu

Appetizers (choose one)

• Practice drawing your own hair using a mirror or a photograph.
• Practice drawing someone else’s hair in the class while they draw yours.
• Look for pictures in a magazine and practice drawing different hair styles.

The Main Dish (choose one)

• Create a large self-portrait with your back to the viewer. How will you choose to portray yourself through your hair? Play with your gaze – what are you looking at? How can you effectively tell this story to your audience?
• Create a series of small self-portraits - filmstrip style, again with your back to the audience. How will you choose to portray yourself through your hair?

Play with your gaze – What are you looking at? Does it change? Do you change?

Side Dishes (choose two)

• Choose a word or a few words to describe or respond to your piece – include them on the piece. Be very thoughtful and purposeful with your word choices and font.
• Have a critique with a classmate. Record both your comments and suggestions and theirs.
• Write an artist’s statement for your piece. Use words to describe the story you are telling in your portrait.
• Write about hair today. What role does hair play in our culture?

Desserts (optional – above and beyond)

• Choose a piece of art you like and write about it in terms of Gaze.
• Make your final piece public. (“gallery ready” and hung in the school)

Learning Expectation

“Use elements of art (in this case, gaze) to communicate ideas, messages and understandings.”

“Create works of art that express feelings, ideas, issues, and points of view.”

Reflection

Talk about your use of gazing in this piece. How did you control what the audience sees or doesn’t see? What ideas or stories were you trying to communicate with (or express to) your audience? How did you do that? Were you successful?

A complete project includes:

• One appetizer
• One main dish planning/rough copy
• One main dish final piece – including a title
• Two side dishes
• A well thought out reflection

Reminders:

- Your first Ringo task is due Friday

- You should have shared you online discussion document with me by Friday at the latest
- Fresh from the Farm pick-up is tomorrow

Dance
Another great day of dance!
We contrasted rhythm and beat within our dances today.

Math
Difficult question today!
Please go over the jeans with taxes question (7.20.2) with your family.
Make sure you fully understand the process.

Feel like this today?

Today we finished A Long Walk to Water.
Salva teaches us to use hope and perseverance to get through tough times.
"Just keep walking."
How can you apply this to your life?
Here is the Ted Talk from Salva Dut:

Geography
I handed back marked assignments today.
Great discussion on the graphs that I gave you.
Please share these graphs with your family at home.
Here are the questions we asked:

Remembrance Day Ceremony - Friday
Here is the part of In Flanders Field that we need to recite:
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw
The torch: be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields

Here are the words to Maple Leaf Forever:

In Days of yore,

From distant shores

Our forefathers here did come

And planted firm brave freedom’s ways

On Canada's fair domain.

Here may they thrive,

Our boast or pride

And joined with love together,

The peoples of this far flung realm

The Maple Leaf Forever.

 

[CHORUS]

The Maple Leaf

Our Emblem Dear,

The Maple Leaf Forever.

God save our Queen and heaven bless,

The Maple Leaf Forever.

 

At Vimy Ridge and Juno Beach

Our brave fathers side by side

For freedom's home and loved ones dear,

Firmly fought and nobly died.

And those dear rights which they maintained,

We swear to yield them never.

Our watchword ever more shall be

The Maple Leaf Forever

 

[CHORUS]

 

Our own dear nation now extends

From Cape Race to Nootka Sound

May peace forever be our lot

And plenty abound for all

May every tie of love be ours

Which discord cannot sever

And waving proud o’er freedom’s home

The Maple Leaf Forever

 

[CHORUS]

 

Notes went home today to book parent teacher interviews. Please return those as soon as possible.

We started the day with our nature buddies and helping them with some tree identification. This is a great forum for you to show me some of your learning skills (or as I like to call them - life skills)  like responsibility, self regulation, and collaboration.

Literacy
I will be finishing A Long Walk to Water tomorrow. Remember your online discussion assignment will be due after we finish the book. (see blog Mon.Oct. 16th) Please have your top three discussion contributions copied and pasted into a google document and shared with me by Friday at the latest. Could you lease out your nae as the first word in the document title?
Example Michelle - online discussions.

Your first Ringo task is due this Friday.

Math
We are working on making sure once we have an answer to a question that we are convinced that we are right. This is part of the thinking and communication pieces to math assessment. Use estimation of friendly numbers to make sure your answer makes sense.
Please finish the questions on 7.16.1

Great day today everyone! Thank you!

RINGO!
Remember - your first Ringo task is due next Friday - November 10th.
Please remember that you don't have to have finished a book to complete a task. It could be a response to a certain set of chapters.

A Long Walk to Water
Today we read chapter 16.
There is a new discussion on Chalkup for this chapter.

Geography
Great discussion today about access to clean water around the world.
Talk to your family about what you learned from the discussion.

Math
Please finish the dividing with decimals sheet we began.

Tin Can Pass
Talk to your families about this challenge.
Why did we do it?

Have a great weekend!

Presentations on our Kenyan research project began today and we will finish them up tomorrow. Reminder - if your bibliography was not on your media work please get that to me asap.

Math
Please complete work on 7.14.2 and 7.14.3.

Please remember what we talked about today.
Let's keep helping each other learn.

Extra Help Sessions

Today we talked about taking control and responsibility for our own learning. This includes communicating with teachers when we have a problem and asking for help when we need it. I am offering first recess every day 1,3 and 5 for extra help sessions - in anything. Also know that if your are struggling with something at any time - I am willing to help - you just have to ask.

Literacy

We continued with chapters 13 and 14 of A Long Walk to Water.

Two new discussions are on Chalk up.

Here is a new Padlet for discussion options as well:

https://padlet.com/jsm6/7k6c6pupnaa2

Tomorrow we begin presentations for our Kenya projects.

Today we had some time to practice in preparation for tomorrow.

For presentation order I will put everyone's name in a basket and just start pulling.

Math
Checkpoints were discussed and returned today.
We also talked about different tools to use when multiplying decimals - area models and the distributive property. Remember to use your estimation skills to be sure you are in the right ballpark. How can you convince yourself you are right?

Dance
Awesome job today in dance!!!
We focused on space (levels and pathways) and body (locomotor/non-locomotor and isolation of body parts). Tell the folks at home about your dance.
Here is the music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPdEpSf6-MA