Happy Holidays are Here!

Dear Parents / Guardians of students in Room 201,

Thank you so much for the generous and thoughtful gifts the children gave me this week, and for your contributions to our classroom’s winter celebration.

It has been a wonderful year so far here at Vradenburg. I was very happy to meet with all of you and discuss your child’s progress so far. I have a fantastic group of students who make every day of teaching enjoyable for me. I am very proud of each and every student’s efforts this year.

During the winter break, I recommend that my students finish reading their novel study book, and complete the good copy of their Hockey Hall of Fame Writing Challenge essay. This is the only homework I am assigning for the break, as it is important that the children also use these two weeks to rest and recharge for the learning they will do in the new year.

Over the holidays, please remind your children to play safely, especially outside. There have been recent warnings for children to not play in snow banks, and stay away from the edges of streams and frozen lakes, as there will be higher temperatures causing melting and flooding. I look forward to seeing all of my students return safely to school on January 7, 2008.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU ALL!

Mr. G. Wood
Grade 5/6 Teacher
Vradenburg Jr. P.S.

Homework Assigned Wednesday December 12, 2007:
Grade 5
-Read 20 minutes
-Literature Circle reading & job due tomorrow!
-Drama Diary due Friday
-Math Text Chapter 4 review pages 122-123 # 1,2, 5-11, 13
-Math test tomorrow!
-Spelling Unit 13 due Friday
-Vradenburg Flag due Friday

Grade 6
-Read 20 minutes
-Literature Circle reading & job due tomorrow!
-Drama Diary due Friday
-Math Text Chapter 4 review pages 136-137 # 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14
-Math test tomorrow!
-Spelling Unit 13 due Friday
-Planet Project presentation on Friday

Thursday

Homework Assigned Thursday December 6, 2007:
Grade 5:
-Spelling test tomorrow
-RRJ due Monday
-Math: Text Page 109 # 3, 4 and Workbook page 36

Grade 6:
-Spelling Test tomorrow
-RRJ due Monday
-Math: Text page 123 # 4-6

Two More Sleeps Until Our Field Trip!

Homework Assigned Monday December 3, 2007:
Grade 5 & 6
-Read for 20 minutes
-Reading Response Journal due Monday
-Spelling Unit 12 due Friday
-Math: Hockey Stats sheet due tomorrow
-Find one interesting piece of information at www.hhof.com (if you have access to the internet)

Thursday and a Three Day Weekend

REMINDER: No school tomorrow, as it is a P.D. Day for students.

Homework Assigned Thursday November 29, 2007:
Grade 5
-Read 20 minutes
-Novel study reading done for Monday Z.D. to page 74, B.T. to page 76
-Science: Weather/Climate sheet due Monday
-Art: finish goalie mask for Monday

Grade 6
-Read 20 minutes
-Novel study reading done for Monday B.T. to page 76, S&J to page 73
-Science: Weather/Climate sheet due Monday
-Art: finish goalie mask for Monday

Tuesday

Homework Assigned Tuesday November 27, 2007:
Grade 5
-Read 20 minutes
-Novel Study reading completed for Monday
(Z.D. to page 74, B.T. to page 76)
-Spelling unit 11 done in Cursive Writing for Thursday
-4 Square done for tomorrow "Make Vradenburg Better"
-Math textbook page 103 # 4, 5, 6, 8
-Hockey Hall of Fame Trip forms + $6.00 by Thursday
-Report card page 3 & envelopes returned ASAP

Grade 6
-Read 20 minutes
-Novel Study reading completed for Monday
(B.T. to page 76, S. & J. to page 73)
-Spelling unit 11 done in Cursive Writing for Thursday
-4 Square done for tomorrow "Make Vradenburg Better"
-Math textbook page 116 # 6, 7, 8
-Hockey Hall of Fame Trip forms + $6.00 by Thursday
-Report card page 3 & envelopes returned ASAP

Frozen Friday

During our Media Literacy class in the Library, we learned more about primary and secondary sources for our Social Studies research projects. We continued our Novel Study, with a comic strip assignment, and had our unit 10 spelling tests.

In Math, we continued our new units on Addition and Subtraction, and are practising our Mental Math skills by estimating answers to questions in our heads using various strategies. At home, parents/guardians can support this learning by asking addition and subtraction questions, and making the children answer them without pencils, paper or calculators. Grade 5 students should be drilled using numbers from 0 to 1 000, while grade 6 students should practice with numbers from 0 to 100 000.

In Gym we continued developing our basketball skills. We have a number of skilled players in room 201. We ended our day with a finish-up period, working on any outstanding assignments from this week.

Homework Assigned Friday November 23, 2007:
Grade 5
-Read 20 minutes
-Novel Study Comic Strip due Monday
-Math Textbook page 99, #3, 4, 5

Grade 6
-Read 20 minutes
-Novel Study Comic Strip due Monday
-Math Textbook page 111, #3, 4, 5

A Snowy Thursday

What do these three things have in common:
Multiplication Problems
Treasure Maps
Roman Numerals
First person to hand Mr. Wood the correct answer Friday morning wins a prize.


Homework Assigned Thursday November 22, 2007:
Grade 5
-Read 20 minutes
-Novel study pages read for tomorrow
-Drama lines practised with feeling, emphasis and actions
-Spelling test tomorrow
-Math workbook page 31
-Weather Title Page & sheet due tomorrow
-Viking Pride nominations sheet
-PICTURES / PICTURE MONEY DUE TOMORROW!

Grade 6
-Read 20 minutes
-Novel study pages read for tomorrow
-Drama lines practised with feeling, emphasis and actions
-Spelling test tomorrow
-Math workbook page 32
-Space Title Page & sheet due tomorrow
-Viking Pride nominations sheet
-PICTURES / PICTURE MONEY DUE TOMORROW!

Wednesday homework

If you read this blog Wednesday Night,
On Thursday morning, come to class with the score of tonight's Raptors/Grizzlies basketball game

written down on a piece of paper,
and hand it to Mr. Wood first thing, to win a prize.

LETS GO RAPTORS!

(clap-clap-clapclapclap)

Homework Assigned Wednesday November 21, 2007:

Grade 5
-Read 20 minutes
-Spelling Unit 10 Friday
-Novel Study reading done for Friday
-Memorize drama lines
-Math cumulative review page in text #1-8
-Science title page & sheet due Friday
-Photos / Photo money due Friday

Grade 6
-Read 20 minutes
-Spelling Unit 10 Friday
-Novel Study reading done for Friday
-Memorize drama lines
-Math cumulative review page in text #1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14
-Science title page & sheet due Friday
-Photos / Photo money due Friday

If you read this blog...

If you read this blog Tuesday night...

On a piece of paper, write down the score of the

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins hockey game

played tonight (Tuesday November 20, 2007),

and hand it to Mr. Wood first thing

Wednesday morning for a prize.

GO LEAFS GO!

Homework Assigned Tuesday November 20, 2007:
Grade 5 & 6
-Read 20 minutes
-Spelling Unit 10
-Memorize lines for drama play
-Stormchaser presentation in the Gym tomorrow afternoon for science
-Bring Picture money or pictures back back Friday
-Scholastic Nov/Dec orders due next Friday

The Blog Weekly

Hey everyone,

The blog is back in town. Now, in a new and improved Weekly format. On Mondays or Fridays the blog will be updated with notes about what is happening in Mr. Wood's Grade 5/6 classroom at Vradenburg. I will, however, post the homework for each night on the blog, as I have been told that some students miss having that reminder.

For LANGUAGE, students have continued working in their Writing Folders, and most have completed at least one published draft. We also completed our Novel Study on Tuck Everlasting, and have started our new novels in three different reading groups. The three new novels are Zlata's Diary, The Broccoli Tapes, and Samir and Yonatan. These three novels are all written in the First Person - two of them are in diary form, while the other is one boy's account of his life.

In MATH, students are finishing their units on Data Management (Chapter 3), and will be having their Chapter Tests on Tuesday. We have done a lot of work with graphing data in various ways, and learned new terms such as Range, Intervals, Mean, Mode, and Median. The next unit will be Addition & Subtraction/Multiplication & Division.

In DRAMA, we have been working on our play, Lear Today, Gone Tomorrow, based on William Shakespeare's King Lear. Students are currently memorizing their lines, so we can begin working on our staging and choreography. We have a lot of work ahead of us.

In HEALTH, we just finished an assignment called, What IS Beautiful? We talked about the TV show Ugly Betty, and discussed why she is called “ugly”, when in fact, she is truly beautiful. This got us wondering, “WHO is responsible for telling us what is UGLY, and what is BEAUTIFUL?” Each student was responsible for completing a collage that respresents WHAT IS BEAUTIFUL. On one side of the collage, students cut out and pasted images from magazines, etc., which represent what “the MEDIA” classifies as beautiful (e.g., the media thinks that a perfect “10” model is beautiful). On the other side of the paper, students cut out and pasted images that THEY THEMSELVES think are beautiful (e.g., Mr. Wood thinks that a hot pepperoni pizza and an ice-cold glass of Coca-Cola is beautiful). On a separate piece of paper, students were responsible for writing a paragraph about each side of their collage, explaining why they chose each image as representing what is beautiful according to the media, and themselves. The finished collages are hanging on display in our classroom as a reminder that WE ultimately have the power to decide what is beautiful for OURSELVES.

In ART, I have been teaching the students how to draw more realistic faces. Students were shown how to start by dividing their page into four quarters, then use the mid-point as the centre of the face, and draw a symmetrical oval around it. The line across the centre of the oval is the Eye Line. The line halfway between the Eye Line and the Chin is the Nose Line. The line halfway between the Nose Line and the Chin is the Mouth Line. Horizontal lines below the Eye Line are curved downward, while horizontal lines above the Eye Line are curved upward in order to give the illusion of shape to the oval and make it look more spherical. Then, we determine the width of the eye with respect to the size of our oval, and use that measurement to plot out the points on our face drawing. Our face drawing proportions should be 5 eye widths across by 7 eye widths up/down. The nose is 1 eye width wide. The mouth is 2 eye widths wide. Ear Lines go just above the Eye Line and just below the Nose Line. Form there, studetns can look at someone's face, and draw it using this framework. Practice makes perfect, so draw as many faces as you can! Don't forget to add shading to give your drawing the illusion of form and depth. Also, pay attention to all of the small details that make each person's face unique.

In SOCIAL STUDIES, students have begun their research projects for their Canada's World Connections units. Grade 5 students are researching aspects of Canadian Citizenship - from what it takes to become a citizen, to our rights and responsibilities as a citizen of Canada. Grade 6 students are researching Canada's Relationship with the United States - with respect to trade, imports/exports, cultural influences, travel & tourism, media, etc.

In SCIENCE, students have finished their unit on MATTER & MATERIALS, and will be moving on to the EARTH AND SPACE SYSTEMS units this week. This unit was originally scheduled for Term 3, however, we have moved it up due to the fact that we have been fortunate enough to schedule presentations from experts on weather which will take place this week, as a kick off to this unit. The unit on STRUCTURES AND MECHANISMS will now be covered in Term 3 in its place.

Homework Assigned Monday November 19, 2007:

Grade 5

-Read for 20 minutes

-Memorize drama lines for play

-Math: do the chapter review questions to practice for the Test tomorrow

-Bring Pictures or Picture Money back by Friday

-Michael Koos from City TV visits Grade 5 students tomorrow at 9:30 am!

Grade 6
-Read for 20 minutes
-Memorize drama lines for play
-Math: do the chapter review questions to practice for the Test tomorrow
-Bring Pictures or Picture Money back by Friday

Freaky Friday

We had Media Literacy today with Ms. Poggi, where we learned about asking better questions when looking for information. Students are encouraged to ask questions that require more than a one-word response. In other words, questions should make people think, analyse and reflect before they answer.
Which question is better:
a) Where did the fire happen?
b) How might the people in the area affected by the fire find shelter?

We worked on our rough drafts of both our Winnie stories and Witches Brew recipes during Language today, and students wrote their weekly spelling test.

This afternoon, students went to an assembly about UNICEF in the gym. Matt from UNICEF spoke to us and showed us what life is like for students in countries like Rwanda and Malawi, which are in Africa. Did you know that many children go to schools that do not have classrooms, running water, or even washrooms? We are very fortunate to be able to come to Vradenburg Jr. P.S. where we have all of these necessities for our education. Students are encouraged to raise money to donate to UNICEF in the envelopes sent home earlier this week. Students can also bring $1.00 to buy a raffle ticket for their chance to win the "Be Principal For a Day" contest, with all money going to UNICEF. Let's try to do our best to help kids around who are less fortunate than ourselves. Every cent helps!

In Health, students started examining labels on food products that indicate allergens, nutrition infoormation, and nutritional claims. Grade 5 students are focussing on the labels themselves, while Grade 6 students are determining how they can use these labels to make healthy choices between food products.

Homework Assigned Friday October 26, 2007:
Grade 5
-Read 20 minutes, update log
-Reading Response Journal entry due Monday
-Published Draft of Winnie Story due Monday
-Health questions #1, 2 due next Friday

Grade 6
-Read 20 minutes, update log
-Published Draft of Winnie Story due Monday
-Math: textbook 3 Problem Bank questions + 3 Skills bank questions - UNIT 2 Test Tuesday
-Health questions #1, 2 due next Friday

Awful Adjectives and Nasty Nouns

Students worked on their Edited Drafts of their Winnie Stories today, after I checked that their Explore Draft was completed for homework. I also assigned a Witches Brew writing asignment which will be completed in class, and students are writing disgusting recipes using 6-8 nasty nouns as ingedients (e.g., rats, toe nails, etc.) that are described with stomach turning adjectives (e.g., thick, runny, etc.) to make their ingredients sound as gross as possible. Sure, fish guts are yucky, but juicy, festering fish guts are even worse. I can almost smell it because it is described in such detail. Students will be determining appropriate units of measure for their ingredients, and witing the recipe's procedure in 3-5 steps, using cooking/baking verbs (e.g., mix, chop, etc.) to tell the reader what they need to do in order to prepare and cook the disgusting Witches Brew recipe for themselves. Bone appetit!!!

In Math, the Grade 5 students had their final review session before their Unit 2 Numeracy Test tomorrow. We went over any difficult questions, and students were assigned specific Chapter 2 Review Questions from the textbook, which will be the type of questions they will see on tomorrow's test. Grade 6 students had a lesson on converting/rounding decimal thousandths to hundredths and tenths using grids, place value charts and number lines.

In Science, the Grade 5 students used their home-made balance scales to challenge store-bought balance scales, to see if their own were as accurate. Surprisingly, most of their home-made scales were pretty close (off by 1-2 grams only). We discussed what could be modified on our scales in order to improve their accuracy, whether it be the materials used for the fulcrum, arm and pans, or in some cases, the length of string used to suspend the pan from the arm. Grade 6 students presented their research on common products that use compressed air, and eaxplained how they worked. We heard about balloons, tires, fire extinguishers, scuba tanks, soda pop containers, airplanes, and more.

Homework Asigned Wednesday October 24, 2007:
Grade 5
-Read 20 minutes, update log
-Reading Response Journal entry due Monday
-Spelling Unit 7
-Winnie Story - Edited Draft due Friday, Published Draft due Monday
-Math: Chapter Review questions in textbook, UNIT 2 TEST TOMORROW!
-Detention letter signed by parents

Grade 6
-Read 20 minutes, update log
-Spelling Unit 7
-Winnie Story - Edited Draft due Friday, Published Draft due Monday
-Math: Textbook, page 55, # 3, 4, 7, 8

PICTURE DAY IS TOMORROW!

Tomorrow is Picture Day, so students are reminded to look their best for both individual and class photos. Practice your smiles!


In Drama today, students read-aloud the remaining parts of Lear Today, Gone Tomorrow, a student-friendly version of William Shakespeare's play, King Lear. Next week, they will break into smaller groups, and practice acting out one scene from the play.


We finished reading Tuck Everlasting today, and a writing assignment was given in which students must write the missing part of Winnie's life between the end of Chapter 25, and the beginning of the Epilogue. Your story needs to be written in first-person, from Winnie's perspective (point of view). Remember the suggestions I made for writing styles/genres you can use: diary entries, memoirs, chapters, etc. Make sure the details of your story coincide with what was written on Winnie's tombstone:

In Loving Memory

Winifred Foster Jackson

Dear Wife

Dear Mother

1870-1948

Your Explore Draft is due Wednesday, your Edited Draft is due Friday, and your Published Draft is due Monday. 3-5 pages minimum, front & back, double-spaced.

In the Computer Lab, students finished their flyers for our Magical Spring Water campaign, which will be presented to the Grade 5 students of room 206 tomorrow morning, along with the campaign debate between the Yellow Suit Water Company vs. Health Canada. Following this, Ms. Schwartz's class will vote for or against the legalization of the magic spring water.

In Math, the Grade 5 students did some drills to practice rounding decimals to whole numbers, then began their review work for their end of unit Math Test on Thursday. Grade 6 students worked on decimals to the thousandths (e.g., 0.235) using Thousandth Grids and Decimal Place Value Charts.

Homework Assigned Monday October 22, 2007:

Grade 5

-Read 20 minutes, update Log

-Spelling Unit 7 - test Friday

-Reading Response Journal entry due Monday

-Winnie story: Wed-Explore Draft, Fri.-Edited Draft, Mon.-Published Draft

-Math: Textbook Chapter 2 Skills Bank review questions - UNIT TEST Thursday!

-Science: Balance Scale due tomorrow with sheet B

-Hand-in your Art Ghost picture tomorrow if you forgot today

Grade 6
-Read 20 minutes, update Log
-Spelling Unit 7 - test Friday
-Winnie story: Wed-Explore Draft, Fri.-Edited Draft, Mon.-Published Draft
-Math: Textbook page 51, #3, 4

-Science: Air Compression research assignment (1 page) due tomorrow
-Hand-in your Art Ghost picture tomorrow if you forgot today

The Ghost with the Most

Today we took a look at ghosts for our Art assignment. Rogers is putting on a drawing contest for students to draw "the ghost that scares you the most" or "sketch a scene from Halloween", so we took on the challenge. Students viewed some photos (real, or at least really photo-shopped) of ghostsly images, to inspire their own artistic visions of what a ghostly image should look like. We also looked at the use of ghosts in classic literature, Like Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, and William Shakespeare's Hamlet, in which ghosts are used as messengers for the living characters to change their lives for the better, or to seek revenge for a wrongful action. Students were "dying" (sorry, I couldn't resist the pun) to share their own ghost stories with the class, and I was surprised by just how many of them had a story to tell. My grade 5 and 6 students then spent the rest of the art period drawing their own sketches. Students who wish to enter the Rogers contest need to hand-in their completed picture to me, with their contact information on the back, and have the orange contest rules and regulations form signed by their parent/guardian, which should be handed in to me as well on Monday October 22, 2007.

Homework Assigned Thursday October 18, 2007:
Grade 5:
-Read 20 Minutes, update log for tomorrow!
-Spelling test (50 words) tomorrow
-Media Literacy sheet due tomorrow
-Math, page 49 textbook
-Art, Ghost picture due Monday

Grade 6:
-Read 20 Minutes, update log for tomorrow!
-Media Literacy sheet due tomorrow
-Reading Response Journal entry due Monday
-Spelling test (50 words) tomorrow
-Math, page 49 textbook - mid chapter review - Quiz tomorrow!
-Art, Ghost picture due Monday

Stuck in the Middle of the Week

The Leafs Fitness Challenge continues, as we only have 2 more activities to measure our inital performance of. Then, it will be fitness-building exercises to improve for our 4th week re-measurment. We took some time today to finish-up some outstanding, incomplete work in art & writing. In Math, we continued our units in Numeracy, with lessons, and homework take-up. Science involved new assignments for the students to complete at home over the next week, and present next Tuesday. We also had our first Reading Buddies session with Ms. Wai-Hur's Grade 3 class today.

Homework Assigned Wednesday October 17, 2007:
Grade 5
-Read 20 minute and update reading log (remeber, if the log isn't updated every day, you will be assigned a novel study to do over the weekend).
-Spelling Unit 6 + 50 word test on Friday
-Science: Create a Homemade Balance Scale & complete Activity Sheet B - due Tuesday
-Art: One-Point Perspective picture due tomorrow

Grade 6
-Read 20 minute and update reading log (remeber, if the log isn't updated every day, you will be assigned a novel study to do over the weekend).
-Reading Response Journal entry due Monday (remember to apply my suggestions from your previous entries).
Math: Workbook page 15, Mid-Chapter Quiz on Friday
-Spelling Unit 6 + 50 word test on Friday
-Science: Air Compression Product 1 Page Research Paper - due Tuesday
-Art: One-Point Perspective picture due tomorrow

Catching up

Recently, my class has been keeping very busy with the following...

Art - Students have been given a lesson on drawing with One Point Perspective, in which we use a Vanishing Point (blue dot on diagram) in the middle of our paper, and draw a Horizon Line (red line on diagram), as well as a vertical line and several diagonal lines across the page, all crossing through the vanishing point. Once these lines are drawn, we draw several boxes from smaller (around the vanishing point), to larger (just inside the edge of our paper), which begins to give the Illusion of Depth on the drawing. Using this framework, we continue to draw indoor or outdoor scenes in which the objects closer to us are drawn larger, while the objects further away (closer to the vanishing point) are drawn smaller. For more information on drawing using One-Point Perspective, check out: http://www.olejarz.com/arted/perspective/

Language - Students have been continuing their Novel Study of Tuck Everlasting, and have read up to chapter 20. The class has been divided into two groups, and have been debating the issue of drinking the magical spring water that gives the drinker eternal life. The two groups have taken the positions of the Yellow Suit Water Company, who are for (PRO) magic spring water as they wish to bottle and sell it for huge profits, versus Health Canada, who are against (CON) the magic spring water because of the negative effects it will have on Canadians and the rest of the world. Students have made their arguments based on the 4 Square Writing Method, and are currently using computers to complete a Media Literacy assignment of creating flyers that effectively communicate their group's message about the magic spring water to their audience, Ms. Schwartz's Grade 5 students. Our audience will then vote on whether the use of this magic spring water should be legalized or not. The winning group of students will get a one-week supply of spring water!

Math - The Grade 5 and 6 students have been continuing their units on Numeracy. Grade 5 students had a mid-point quiz today, followed by a lesson on decimal points up to the hundredths column on a place value chart (e.g., 1.25). Grade 6 students Had a lesson on renaming numbers using place value concepts, which involves converting units like bytes to kilobytes to megabytes, or millimetres to centimetres to metres, and so on.

Daily Physical Activity - We have finished Chair Aerobics, and have started our Leafs Fitness Challenge (hopefully this helps us more than it has helped the Leafs so far this season). We are measuring our times and number of repetitions in eight challenges during week one:

1. Vertical Jump - measures the height that a student can jump while reaching upward

2. Standing Long Jump - measures the distance a students can jump from a standing position

3. 10m / 20m Sprint - measures the time it takes students to run 10m and 20m distances

4. Illinois Agility - measures the time it takes students to run a course around pylons

5. Line Test - measures the time it takes students to shuffle sideways from line to line

6. Push-Ups - an all time favourite, measuring the number of push-ups a student can do in a row

7. Wall-Ball-Toss - measures the number of repetitions students can throw and catch a ball

8. Sit and Reach - measures the flexibility and reach of students

Over the next four weeks, we will focus on performing exercises that increase our fitness levels in Power, Speed, Agility, Muscular Strength, Coordination, and Flexibility. At the end of week four, students will measure their times and number of repetitions again, to observe their improvement over time.

Homework Assigned Monday October 15, 2007:

Grade 5

-Read 20 minutes & Update Reading Log

-Bookmatch sheet

-Spelling Unit 6 + 50 Word test this Friday

-Math Textbook page 43, # 6-9

-Science: 3 chart pages due tomorrow

-Art: One Point Perspective Drawing due Thursday

Grade 6
-Read 20 minutes & Update Reading Log
-Bookmatch sheet

-Reading Response Journal entry due Monday
-Spelling Unit 6 + 50 Word test this Friday
-Math Textbook page 45, # 6-9
-Science: Experiment pages due tomorrow
-Art: One Point Perspective Drawing due Thursday

Wet Wednesday

Our morning started with Ms. Poggi in the Library, fo rour Media Literacy unit. Students examined different forms of media (e.g., DVDs, VHS tapes, newspapers, flyers, brochures, magazines, etc.) and analyzed their different characteristics. We had a discussion about why different types of media are used in order to have the message reach different target audiences.

Grade 5 and 6 students each received independent reading time (D.E.A.R. - Drop Everything And Read), as well as some time to continue working in their writing folders today.

In Math, the Grade 5 students took-up their homework, and we went over the difficulties students were having with rounding numbers to the nearest hundreds, thousands, and ten-thousands, using both Number Lines, and Place Value Charts. The Grade 6 students went over their homework with me, and had a lesson on using Place Value Charts to represent numbers up to one million (1 000 000).

During Science, the Grade 5 students did an assignment involving reading notes about States of Matter and organizing the information onto three charts for Solids, Liquids and Gases, including definitions, diagrams, explanations, and examples. Following this, they had a short quiz about the main points they came across today. The Grade 6 students observed an experiement I conducted today, involving the expansion and contraction of gases. I attached an empty balloon to the top of an empty 2L plastic bottle of pop. This bottle was first held in a bowl of boiling water, and afterward, it was held in cold water. Students predicted, observed, and recorded the results of this experiment. Following this, they drew diagrams and wrote explanations behind why things happened in this experiment.

REMINDER: While we have been fortunate enough to enjoy prolonged summer temperatures up to last week, it appears that autumn has finally decided to join us. It was a cold and wet day out there today, and students need to start bringing warmer outdoor clothes every day, so they are dressed properly for the weather. I wished I had a tuque and gloves on me, this afternoon during yard duty! I won't make that mistake again.

Homework Assigned Wednesday October 10, 2007:
Grade 5
-Read 20 minutes, update log
-Reading Response Journal entry due Monday
-Math Workbook page 12, # 1, 2, 3, 4
-Social Studies: Government Leaders sheet & title page due tomorrow
-Science: 3 chart pages due Tuesday

Grade 6
-Read 20 minutes, update log
-Math Textbook page 41, # 4, 6, 8
-Social Studies: Coutries in the News sheet & title page due tomorrow
-Science: pop bottle/balloon experiment pages due Tuesday

Turkey Tuesday

Daily Physical Activity started our day with student group 4 leading the routine, to the upbeat music of Green Day. Group 5 leads tomorrow and group 6 leads Thursday, so have your music and routine ready! We will be moving on to the Leafs Fitness Challenge next week.

I taught a lesson on the BOOKMATCH checklist today, which my students will be using to help them find books to read independently that are right for them.
Each letter in B-O-O-K-M-A-T-C-H stands for a different item on the checklist.
Book length:
- Is this book a good length for me?
- Is it too little, just right, or too much?
- Do I feel like committing to this book?
Ordinary language:
- Turn to any page and read aloud.
- Does it sound natural?
- Does it flow? Does it make sense?
Organization:
- How is the book structured (e.g., chapters / sections).
- Am I comfortable with the print size and number of words on a page?
- Are chapters short or long?
Knowledge prior to the book:
- Read the title, view the cover page.
- Read the summary on the back of the book.
- What do I already know about this topic, author, or illustrator?
Manageable text:
- Begin reading the book.
- Are the words in the book easy, just right or too hard?
- Do I understand what I read?
Appeal to genre:
- What is the genre?
- Have I read this genre before?
- Do I like or expect to like this genre?
Topic appropriateness:
- Am I comfortable with the topic of this book?
- Do I fell like I am ready to read about this topic?
Connection:
- Can I relate to this book?
- Does this book remind me of anything or anyone?
High interest:
- Am I interested in the topic of this book?
- Am I interested in the author or illustrator?
- Do others recommend this book?

Students have a copy of this in their Reading Log duotangs, and should get into the habit of referring to this checklist when deciding on a new book to read independently. In the coming weeks, I will post a recommended reading list for different levels of readers in my class.

In Math, the Grade 6 students received their Unit One Tests back, to be signed by a parent and returned to me. Grade 6 students who received less than 70% are required to come to my Grade 6 Math Club Thursdays at 12 noon in room 201, for extra help. Grade 6 students that received 71% to 80% are encouraged to attend, i fthey would like to improve their skills. Grade 6 students also received a lesson on Exploring Greater Numbers, involving estimating and comparing numbers up to 1 000 000.

Math for the Grade 5 students involved a lesson on rounding whole numbers to the nearest hundreds, thousands, or ten-thousands. Remember 5+ gets rounded UP in the next place value column to the left, while 4- gets rounded DOWN.

In Social Studies, the Grade 5 students reviewed their work from last week, and completed an activity sheet on Canada's Government Leaders and their responsibilities at the Federal, Provincial, and Municipal levels of Government. Grade 6 students worke din groups of three to examine newspaper articles from the Toronto Star and Globe and Mail, and find articles that refer to different countries around the world, listing them in a chart for future discussion and comparison with other groups of students. Students from both grades were asked to complete a Canada's World Connections title page for their Social Studies duotangs as homework. Remember your titles:
Grade 5 - Aspects of Citizenship and Government in Canada
Grade 6 - Canada's Links to the World

Homework Assigned Tuesday October 9, 2007:
Grade 5
-Read 20 minutes, UPDATE READING LOG in duotang
-Reading Response Journal entry due Monday (read over the notes I wrote and apply my suggestions to your next written entry)
-Spelling Unit 5 due Friday (skip Observing Patterns this week)
-Math Textbook page 37, # 3, 4, 5
-Social Studies: Government Leaders sheet & Titlepage due Thursday

Grade 6
-Read 20 minutes, UPDATE READING LOG in duotang
-Spelling Unit 5 due Friday (skip Observing Patterns this week)
-Math Workbook page 11, # 1, 2, 3
-Math Test signed and returned
-Social Studies: Countries in the News sheet & Titlepage due Thursday

Thanksgiving Weekend is here!

Thank you to all of the parents who came to Curriculum night last night. I hope you all now have a better idea of what is in store for your child's school year. For parents who were unable to attend last night, I sent home copies of my curriculum outline with your children today.

We continued our Novel Study this morning, and students summarized what happened in chapters 15 and 16 of Tuck Everlasting, and listed the 3 main points from what they read. Students are now reading chapters 17 and 18, and are listing any unfamiliar words they come across, and writing their meanings.

Students finished their CASI reading diagnostic tests today, and continued working on their descriptive paragraphs about the things they are thankful for, using the Four Square Writing Method. We also continued working on our Ripped Paper Art, to illustrate our paragraphs.

In Math, the Grade 5 and 6 students continued their Numeracy units, and will both have short quizzes at the end of next week. In Gym, we participated in different soccer drills and activities, and we ended our day with our Grade 2 Reading Buddies, reading them picture books, and having them retell what happened as we wrote it down.

Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving weekend, and remember to take a moment to reflect on all of the things you are thankful for... like long weekends!

Homework Assigned Friday October 5, 2007:
Grade 5
-Read 20 minutes per day
-Read Tuck Everlasting chapters 17 and 18, list unfamiliar words and their meanings
-Math Textbook page 35 # 4, 6, 7
-Music written test October 9th

Grade 6
-Read 20 minutes per day
-Read Tuck Everlasting chapters 17 and 18, list unfamiliar words and their meanings
-Reading Response Journal entry due Tuesday
-Music written test October 9th

Testing, testing...

We started our day in the Library for our Media Literacy study. Students finished their activities about the different types of messages and media forms that we encounter every day. Print media is the text we read, Oral media is the words we hear, and electronic media uses technology to deliver messages. Tomorrow, students will be assigned a Media Literacy activity for homework, which will involve watching a commercial on television at home and reflecting on the message and media form delivering it.

Grade 5 and 6 students did a CASI reading diagnostic test this morning, and are completing their responses to the questions about the text they read. Grade 6 students had a Math unit test today. We also started our Social Studies units, with the Grade 5 students learning about the three levels of Goverment (Federal, Provincial, and Municipal), and their responsibilities, while the Grade 6 students examined maps of the world, and made connections about the countries they are already familiar with.

The Vradenburg Cross Country Team participated in a competition this afternoon, and I was proud to hear that our school finished FIRST overall. Way to go runners! That Kilometre Club participation sure paid off! Congratulations!

TOMORROW NIGHT is CURRICULUM NIGHT FOR PARENTS, from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Please meet in the Vradenburg Gym at 6:30pm for a brief word from our Principal, Paul Grogan, after which, I look forward to meeting all of my students' parents in our clasromm, Room 201. See you there!

Homework Assigned Wednesday October 3, 2007:
Grade 5
-Read 20 minutes, update log
-Spelling Unit 4 due Friday, Spelling test Friday
-Problem of the Week due Friday
-Social Studies pages due tomorrow
-Music Written tests on October 9th and 16th
-Book Orders due tomorrow

Grade 6
-Read 20 minutes, update log
-Reading Response Journal due Tuesday
-Spelling Unit 4 due Friday, Spelling test Friday
-Problem of the Week due Friday
-Social Studies pages due tomorrow
-Music Written tests on October 9th and 16th
-Book Orders due tomorrow

2sday

Daily Physical Activity student group number one lead the class in a Chair Aerobics workout to get the day started. Group two is responsible for tomorrow's workout, and should remember to be fully prepared with their music and exercise sheets.

I taught a Problem Solving lesson today, to help students with their Problem of the Week.
The 4 step problem solving method consists of:

1. FIND OUT
-Look at the Problem
-Have you seen a similar problem before?
-If so, how is this problem similar? How is it different?
-What facts do you have?
-What do you know that is not stated in the problem?

2. CHOOSE A STRATEGY
-How have you solved similar problems in the past?
-What strategies do you know?
-Try a strategy that seems as if it will work.
-If it doesn't, it may lead you to one that will.

3. SOLVE IT
-Use the strategy you selected and work the problem.

4. LOOK BACK
-Reread the question.
-Did you answer the question asked?
-Is your answer in the correct units?
-Does your answer seem reasonable?

Students will have a lot of practise with this method over the year, and should be encouraged to use these problem solving skills at home.

I read chapter 13 of Tuck Everlasting to the class today, an ddiscussed the other 6 Literature Circle task requirements with the class. Students were asked to read chapter 14 on their own, and complete the Connector task sheet. This involves reading the text, and making connections to their own lives, other stories they have read or watched, or things that happen in the real world. Students should always be encouraged to make these types of connections everytime they read something new, in order to build their reading comprehension level. I also recommend that parents ask their children to make connections between what they watch on television or in movies, with their own lives or things that they are reading.

The Grade 5 and 6 students spent some more time with their Writing Folders today, and I began havign one-on-one Reading Conferences with students, in order to track what they are currently reading, and set goals with them individually as to how they can choose books that will help them improve their reading levels. We will be doing our CASI Reading Diagnostic testing this week, in order to get a baseline for each student as to what reading level they are currently at, so I can recommend books that will be appropriate for each student.

In Math, the Grade Fives and I took up their homework, and had to take time working with base-ten blocks in order to understand whole number place values. The Grade Sixes and I took up the Patterning chapter review questions, and went over the trickier ones that they will encounter on their unit test tomorrow. The Test Yourself pages of their workbook were assigned for studying purposes tonight.

TOMORROW is BLUE & WHITE DAY at Vradenburg. Students can wear blue & white clothing to support the Toronto Maple Leafs for their season opener against the dreaded Ottawa Senators. Maybe this year!!! For more information about the Leafs, visit: http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/
GO LEAFS GO!!!

Homework Assigned Tuseday October 2, 2007:
Grade 5
-Read 20 minutes, update log
-Read chapter 14 of Tuck Everlasting and complete Connector sheet
-Spelling Unit 4 due Friday
-Problem of the Week due Friday
-Music Written Tests with Ms. Lee October 9 and October 16
-October Book Order due Thursday

Grade 6
-Read 20 minutes, update log
-Read chapter 14 of Tuck Everlasting and complete Connector sheet
-Spelling Unit 4 due Friday
-Reading Response Journal due Tuesday
-Problem of the Week due Friday
-Math Unit Test tomorrow - Patterning (Study Workbook Test Yourself pages)
-Music Written Tests with Ms. Lee October 9 and October 16
-October Book Order due Thursday

Doth thou know what is thine homework?

Shakespeare?! Thou dost protest too much me thinks! This morning I introduced a shortened kid-friendly version of William Shakespeare's King Lear to my students during Drama class. We talked about theatres during the 1600s and how they compare to entertainment venues of today. While reading the different parts of scene 1, students began asking questions about unfamiliar words such as, "doth", "thou", "thine", and "thee". I explained that this was the language of that time period, and compared it to giving someone from the 1600s a cell phone or MSN Messenger, and sending them a text message with language of today like, "lol", "ttyl", "bff", and "brb". This also came in handy when describing the dramatic symbols of the comedy and tragedy masks, which could be represented in text messages as :) and :( respectively. We discussed stage directions as they appeared in the script in parantheses (brackets), as well as the use of "(aside)" in scripts to indicate what a character should mutter under their breath, so the audience hears it, but the other characters do not.

Spelling Unit 4 was assigned today, followed by our continued Novel Study of Tuck Everlasting. Students worked in their groups to make connections and comment on each others' illustrations based on chapters 10-12. Grade 5 and 6 students also received time to continue working independently on their writing folders, and some students are starting to reach the editing phase for some of their works.

In the Computer Lab today, students worked on a new 4 Square Writing box, with a topic of their choice, and began typing their paragraphs using Apple Works software. Students have saved their work, and we will continue building on our basic paragpahs over the next few weeks to increase their use of detail in their writing.

In Math, the Grade 5 students coninued their Numeration unit, having a new lesson and working on problems involving reading and writing 5-digit numbers. The Grade 6 students began their Patterning unit review, as they will be having their unit test on Wednesday. 11 review questions were assigned, which we will go over tomorrow, and I will provide extra help to any students who are still having difficulty. A shorter review will be assigned Tuesday for homework, in order to help students study the night before the test.

REMINDER: Grade 5 students should come to room 201 Wednesday at lunch for our Math Club if they are interestin gin bringing their marks up from their Patterning tests.

CURRICULUM NIGHT FOR PARENTS is this Thursday October 4, 2007 from 6:30pm - 7:30pm. Parents should meet in the Gym for a brief word from our Principal, Paul Grogan, followed by 15 minute presentations by their childrens' teachers in the classrooms. I hope to meet all of my students' parents there, and ensure we are all on the same page with respect to what will be covered in class each term this school year.

Homework Assigned Monday October 1, 2007:
Grade 5
-Read 20 minutes, update log
-Spelling Unit 4 due Friday
-Math Textbook page 30, #4-7 (if not finished during class time)
-Math Workbook page 9, #1-4 (assigned for homework)
-Book orders for October are due Thursday October 4, 2007

Grade 6
-Read 20 minutes, update log
-Spelling Unit 4 due Friday
-Math Textbook page 28-29, Skills Bank # 4, 7, 8, 12
-Math Textbook page 30-31, Problem Bank # 4, 6, 7, 10
-Math Textbook page 33, Chapter Review #2, 6, 7
-MATH TEST WEDNESDAY - Patterning
-Reading Response Journal entry due Monday
-Book orders for October are due Thursday October 4, 2007

Three Day Weekend

Today, I assigned the days that each group of four students will be responsible for leading the rest of the class in Chair Aerobics during our Daily Physical Activity times over the next two weeks.

For our Novel study of Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt, we are beginning an introduction to Literature Circles, which will be used for future novel studies as a class. Students will be reading assigned chapters of this book on their own, after which they will be responsible for completing specific activities based on what they have read.

Math quizzes and tests have been handed back to the students for review and I have asked that parents go over the tests with their children, then sign and return the tests to me. Students who are in need of some extra time with me to improve their math comprehension, have been asked to join me every Wednesday at lunchtime, for our class Math Club. During this time, I will be providing extra help to small groups of students who require more direct teaching of new math concepts and problem solving strategies. I will always make time to assist my students in whatever areas they are having difficulty. I encourage both students and parents to contact me regarding any areas of concern this year. I am here to help.

This afternoon our whole school participated in the Terry Fox Walk for Cancer Research. It was a very proud moment to see all of Vradenburg's staff and sudents joined together for a great cause. If you forgot to bring a Toonie for Terry today, you can still bring $2.00 on Monday to donate.

Well, it's a P.D. Day tomorrow, so students do not come to school. I will see you all Monday morning. Have a safe long weekend!

Homework Assigned Thursday September 27, 2007:
Grade 5
-Read at least 20 minutes each day (not including your novel study book)
-Reading Response Journal entry due Monday
-Read Tuck Everlasting Chapters 10, 11, 12, and complete Illustrator sheet
-Book Order due Thursday

Grade 6
-Read at least 20 minutes each day (not including your novel study book)
-Read Tuck Everlasting Chapters 10, 11, 12, and complete Illustrator sheet
-Book Order due Thursday
-Lego Robotics essay due Monday for students interested in applying for this club

Toasty Tuesday

It was a warm one today, and chair aerobics first thing this morning sure didn't help to cool us down. Students worked in groups of four today, creating their own chair aerobics routines, with 4 warm-up, 8 main workout and 4 cool-down exercises. In their groups, students will also decide which two songs that they will bring in on CD to play during their workout routine. The groups of 4 will lead the rest of the class through the exercises, during our Daily Physical Activity times starting this Thursday. Just another way students are staying active here at Vradenburg.

We continued reading chapter 9 of Tuck Everlasting, and had a class discussion to reflect on what had happened in this novel so far, and make predictions about what each of the characters will do next. Grade 5 students also had some Writing Workshop time today.

In Math, Grade 5 students began their unit on Numeration, with a new lesson and textbook problems. We reviewed the use of Place Value Charts (breaking whole numbers down into which digit goes in the Ones, Tens, Hundreds, Thousands, Ten-thousands, and Hundred-thousands columns of the chart). We also reviewed writing whole numbers in Expanded Form
(e.g. 7423 = 7000 + 400 + 20 +3). Grade 6 students continued their Patterning unit, with a lesson on Equal Expressions (e.g. 4 + 5 = 1 + 8, in other words 9 = 9).

During Social Studies, students got back into their political party groups, and began writing the main facts they found about their party onto chart paper. Any information that was missing, needs to be found by each group for homework, as we will be comparing the 9 political parties tomorrow. The information needed is:
Party Name & Logo
Name of Party's Provincial Leader (not Federal)
Number of candidates running in October 10th Provincial election
Party priorities
Party platform / main issues
Links to the politcal parties' websites can be found online at http://www.elections.on.ca/

A letter was sent home today regarding Vradenburg's Annual Terry Fox Walk this Thursday afternoon. Students are asked to donate a Toonie for Terry this Thursday, to help raise money for the school to donate to the Terry Fox Foundation. This is a very good cause, and if every student and staff member at Vradenburg donates $2.00, we are hoping to raise $800.00 in total. WE CAN DO IT! Parents are also encouraged to come out and join us in our walk, so if you can make it, we would love to see you there!

Homework Assigned Tuesday September 25, 2007:
Grade 5
-Read 20 minutes, update log
-Spelling Unit 3 due Thursday, Spelling Test Thursday
-Reading Response Journal entry due Monday
-Math Textbook page 25, #1-4
-Problem of the Week due Thursday
-Find missing political party info

Grade 6
-Read 20 minutes, update log
-Spelling Unit 3 due Thursday, Spelling Test Thursday
-Math Workbook page 7, #1-3
-Problem of the Week due Thursday
-Find missing political party info

REMINDER: This FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2007 is a PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY, so students do not come to school this day.

Writing Right

Today we started off with a Drama exercise that involved talking about ourselves in the third person. Students pretended that they were someone else in their family (i.e. a parent, sibling, or other relative), and described themselves from that person's perspective. For example, I pretended to be my mom, and described myself in ways that she would describe me, using "he" instead of "I". This activity will also help students in writing narratives this year.

Unit 3 of the Grade 5 and 6 spelling programs was assigned today. We continued reading chapter 8 of Tuck Everlasting, but for a change today, students sketched Minute Mini Pics (tiny drawings done quickly in 60 seconds to illustrate what they had just read on that page). This strategy may help students having difficulty picturing in their heads, what they just read. By the end of the chapter, each student had 8 small snapshots of what had occured, at which point I asked them to write a brief description of each picture, in order to retell the story.

During our Writing Workshop time today, I introduced the Four-Square writing strategy. In the middle of the page, students write the topic of their sentence (e.g. My favourite food is spaghetti and meatballs). in three boxes around this topic, students write one reason in each box explaining why spaghetti and meatballs is their favourite food (e.g. Box 1: It is easy to cook, Box 2: It is fun to eat, Box 3: It is delicious). Under each of these 3 reasons, students write 3 more explanations for each:
e.g.
Box 1: It is easy to cook- a) roll meat into balls, b) put noodles into boiling water, c) pour store-bought sauce into pan.
Box 2: It is fun to eat- a) twirl it on a fork, b) slurp it, c) splatter sauce
Box 3: It is delicious- a) tomatoes, b) italian spices, c) filling meat
Once students have completed their notes in the first three boxes, they can write their topic sentence in the fourth box, followed by three supporting sentences to explain it, in order to make one detailed paragraph.
e.g.
My favourite food is spaghetti and meatballs because it is easy to cook, fun to eat, and tastes delicious. I find this meal easy to cook because you just have to roll the meat into balls, put the noodles into boiling water, and then pour the store-bought sauce into the pan. When I eat spaghetti and meatballs, I love to have fun twirrling it on my fork, slurping up the noodles, and splattering sauce everywhere. This meal is so delicious because I love the taste of tomatoes and italian spices, while the meatballs fill me up.

I hope to see some very detailed writing assignments handed-in, as my students get used to following this strategy.

During our Computer Lab time, we shifted our focus to Social Studies today, and students broke into groups, each group visiting a different Ontario political party's website, and researching information about their party leader, logo, number of candidates, priorities, platforms and campaign issues, for the coming October 10th election. This is our introduction to Canadian politics, with a focus on cerrent events. Students will take the information they found and use it to compare and contrast the different political parties in Ontario. More information about these parties can be found at http://www.elections.on.ca/
Grade 5 students will take this information as a starting point for their unit on Canadian Government, while Grade 6 students will move toward Canada's Connections to the World.

In Math, the Grade 5 students wrote their Patternign Unit Test, while the Grade 6 students wrote a quiz to assess how they are doing so far. Grade 6's should be finished their Patterning unit by the end of this week, with their Unit Test to follow.

Homework Assigned Monday September 24, 2007:
Grade 5
-Read 20 minutes, update log
-Spelling Unit 3 due Thursday
-Reading Response Journal entry due Monday
-Four Square writing sheet + 1 detailed paragraph due tomorrow
-Science: Sponge experiement due tomorrow

Grade 6
-Read 20 minutes, update log
-Spelling Unit 3 due Thursday
-Four Square writing sheet + 1 detailed paragraph due tomorrow
-Science: Paper Airplane experiement due tomorrow

For Whom the Pie Tolls.

Well, we did it! Room 201 won the Golden Shoe award for participation in Kilometre Club. Last week we broke the Vradenburg school record, with 74% of Room 201's students running on average each day. I also won the challenge with Ms. Schwartz, and ran a total of 33 laps last week, while she ran 31 laps. She was a great sport, and honoured our bet, by eating a coconut cream pie with NO HANDS (hence, her whipped-cream covered face). I couldn't let her be the only one to partake in the pie eating, and I also ate as much of a chocolat ecream pie as I could with no hands (unfortunately, our digital camera ran out of batteries and we were unable to get a shot of my face afterward). Congratulations to both Room 201 and 206 for showing such enthusiasm about Kilometre Club! 2 more weeks to go...

Thursday's Thoughts

Today we read chapter 7 of Tuck Everlasting, and discussed some of the students' answers to their homework question about this novel. Students were also given 20 minutes of Drop Everything And Read (D.E.A.R.) time, to independently read a book of their choice. Grade 6 students also spent some time working on their writing folders.

In Math, Grade 5 students began their Patterning chapter review for their test on Monday. They completed six review questions of their choosing in class, so they could focus on the types of questions giving them difficulty. I was happy to see many students using the hands-on manipulatives at the front of the class (linking blocks and counters), to help them solve the questions they were working on. I also assigned 4 specific review questions for homework, which will help students to practice the types of questions that they will find on the unit test. Grade 6 students and I went over their homework questions, and received a new lesson to continue their Patterning unit.

In Art class, we began working on Tessellation Patterns (repeating designs). Students made their own designs using a square piece of bristol board, and traced it again and again onto different coloured pieces of construction paper. These colourful pieces are then glued onto a large piece of white paper. Students who take this art technique and make it their own by adding their unique and creative twists, will be demonstrating the artistic process appropriate for their grade level.


The final Soccer tryout for the Junior team took place today after school. The final list of students who made the team this year will be posted by Mr. Stone before lunch. Good luck to everyone who went out there and gave it their best! Remember, if you do not get selected for this team, houseleague soccer is still here for you to participate in, and there are several other teams you will be able to tryout for throughout the rest of the year. I am proud of all of my students who go out there and give it their best, no matter what.

Homework Assigned Thursday September 20, 2007:
Grade 5
-Read 20 minutes, update log
-Spelling Unit 2 due tomorrow, and Spelling test tomorrow
-Math: Textbook page 20-21, #3, 5, 6, 9, and Math test Monday
-Science: Sponge experiment due Tuesday

Grade 6
-Read 20 minutes, update log
-Spelling Unit 2 due tomorrow, and Spelling test tomorrow
-Math: Textbook page 23, #3, 4
-Reading Response Journal entry due Monday
-Science: Papaer Airplane experiment due Tuesday

Workload Wednesday...

Today we started in the Computer Lab, and worked on Patterning problems using spreadsheets. Students examined different cells on the spreadsheet, and found patterns in the cell formula bar at the top of the screen. During Math class this afternoon, students continued the written component of this lesson, which was assigned as homework if not completed during class time.

We continued reading Chapter 6 of Tuck Everlasting, and a Novel Study written assignment is due tomorrow. Students must write 6 paragraphs weighing the positive and negative aspects of drinking the magic spring water that gave the Tuck family eternal life. They must also consider the consequences if the secret of this spring water gets out. Students who go one step further and consider additional factors, such as the age a person gets stuck at forever when they drink the spring water, and any other interesting ideas, will be demonstrating the quality of reading reflection skills appropriate for their grade level.

For Science today we went outside, as our experiments required it. The Grade 5 students performed an experiment to examine solids, liquids and gases, by wetting a sponge, tying it to a metre stick, and hanging the metre stick so that it balanced level. Students then observed the changes that occurred every 5 minutes, as the sponge began to dry in the sun. The Grade 6 students had made various forms of paper airplanes yesterday, and put them to the test today. Students ran 4 different experiments using their planes, examining air and the properties of flight. They threw the planes and recorded the distance travelled, accuracy in hitting a target, length of time it remained in the air, and stunts the plane could perform. Students who took the experiments one step further and ran each of these tests twice, manipulating the variable of wind, will have demonstrated the application of their knowledge appropriate for their grade level.

Our Kilometre Club efforts are bringing tremendous results! As of this morning, it looks as though room 201 has run over 80 more laps than our friendly rivals in room 206. I have also run 2 more laps than Ms. Schwartz for our side-competition. I hope she likes blueberry pie! I am very proud of all of my students for their participation in keeping active and on the move!
2-0-1! 2-0-1! 2-0-1!

I will be running a Comic Book Art Club starting next Tuesday September 25, 2007, and meeting every Tuesday from 3:30pm to 4:00pm until December 18, 2007. This club will focus on learning various drawing techniques used not only in comic book art, but in all types of drawing. Students will learn how to use drawing pencils of different leads (lighter and darker) to transform lines, shapes, and shading into detailed pictures of comic book characters. I held an information session about this club today at recess, and permission forms were sent home, due back tomorrow. Space is limited, but I will do my best to accomodate all students who are interested.

Homework Assigned Wednesday September 19, 2007:
Grade 5
-Read 20 minutes, update reading log (I will be checking this week)
-Novel Study writing assignment (6 paragraphs answering questions) due tomorrow.
-Spelling Unit 2 due Friday, Spelling Test Friday
-Math: Finish spreadsheet questions from handout/text
-Science: Sponge experiment due next Tuesday

Grade 6
-Read 20 minutes, update reading log (I will be checking this week)
-Novel Study writing assignment (6 paragraphs answering questions) due tomorrow.
-Reading Response Journal entry due Monday
-Spelling Unit 2 due Friday, Spelling Test Friday
-Math: Finish spreadsheet questions from handout/text
-Science: Paper Airplane experiment due next Tuesday

Monday & Tuesday Blogs

Hi everyone,

Okay, I missed a blog yesterday, as I had intended to write it at home, but my internet connection was down last night. So, I have combined both days into this blog.

So far this week, we have done some drama exercises with words, sounds and motions. This will help students when they have to play a role, as they will remember not to simply stand still and say their lines. Acting also involves movement to onvey meaning and emotion, and keep things interesting for the audience.

Writing folders were given to all of my students. These folders will be used during class time each day, to provide students with time to write independently about topics they choose, using any genre they would like. I will be monitoring their progress as students develop their Writing Ideas into Explore Drafts (first stage), Edited Drafts (second stage), and their final Published Drafts (third stage). Writing folders will not be sent home for homework, however, students may wish to type up their finished works on home computers. Students will continue to receive writing homework in the form of their Reading Response Journal entries, and several assignments for other curriculum subject areas.

Our Computer Lab time consisted of an online information scavenger hunt. Students started at the Library homepage, and I asked them to find different things - pictures of vikings, information about Natalie Babbitt (the author of Tuck Everlasting, which we are reading for our novel study), and math/science activities dealing with variables. It always amazes me just how knowledgeable children are at using the internet to find information. I wish the world wide web was around when I was in elementary school, as it is such a fantastic tool for students.

In Math, we are continuing our units on Patterning, with each new lesson building on the previous one. We should be moving onto the Numeration unit for Grade 5 and 6 next week.

In Science, the Grade 5 students are examining the different characteristics of the states of matter (solids, liquids, and gases). Grade 6 students are designing paper airplanes in order to determine what variables they can change on it in order to affect its properties of flight.

What is in store for my students for the rest of this week? Stay tuned.

Homework assigned Tuesday September 18, 2007:
Grade 5
-Read 20 minutes, update reading log
-Spelling Unit 2 due Friday
-Math Workbook page 4

Grade 6
-Read 20 minutes, update reading log
-Spelling Unit 2 due Friday
-Reading Response Journal entry due Monday
-Math Workbook page 4

Friday's Finished

Spelling tests were given first thing this morning, to all students, and we continued reading Tuck Everlasting, Chapter 5. Students continued working on their Genres of Literature posters, and anything else they needed to complete from this week, before lunch.

In Math, the Grade 5 students had a Patterning quiz today, which took up the majority of the period. Grade 6 students had a lesson about using variables in their pattern rules, and worked in groups to finish the textbook questions during class time.

Gym class saw us playing round 2 of Powerball, and we will be continuing Mr. Stone's Soccer unit next week. During Gym, it was announced over the P.A. system, that Mr. Wood's class finished in 2nd place this week for participation in the Kilometre Club - beaten only by our rivals, Ms. Schwartz's Grade 5 class. WE WILL ALL DO OUR BEST TO PARTICIPATE AND RUN AS MANY KILOMETRES AS WE CAN NEXT WEEK, in order to win the golden shoe award. Remember, even if you do 1 lap before school and 1 lap at lunch, it counts as participation for the day! I will be striving to beat my personal best for number of kilometres I can run next week, and I encourage all of my students to do the same!

We ended the day with a visit from our Grade 2 Reading Buddies in Ms. Chang's class. Students finished their drawings from last week, and began reading picture books with their Grade 2 buddies today.

During lunch, I co-supervised The Vradenburg World Cup Of Soccer house league games with Mr. Stone. We had a great turn out, and all of the students had a great time getting involved and playing to the best of their abilities. I will be co-supervising try-outs for the Vradenburg Vikings Soccer Team, which begin next week. A permission form was sent home today, and needs to be signed and returned Monday morning to allow each student to come to the try-outs.

I am also looking at starting a Comic Book Art Club in the next couple of weeks, and will provide students with information forms during a meeting one day next week.

Homework Assigned Friday September 14, 2007:
Grade 5
-Read at least 20 minutes each day, update reading log

Grade 6
-Read at least 20 minutes each day, update reading log

(I went easy on the homework this weekend)

That's Thursday

We had another round of Chair Aerobics today, and next week we will try Workout 2, to learn more exercises we can do in our chairs. Then it will be up to the students to create a Chair Aerobics routine, and bring in their own music for us to move to the beat of.

We did shared reading of Tuck Everlasting, chapters 3 and 4, during which we focussed on the dark/evil/mysterious description of the stranger who came to the Foster's Gate and started talking to Winnie. We also discussed how authors sometimes have their characters speak to an animal or inanimate object, which cannot answer back, yet the character has an entire conversation with it. This lets the reader hear and understand the thoughts and feelings that character has, which they may not be expressing to other characters in the book. This lets the reader know something that the other characters don't.

We did a lot of work focussing on different genres of literature today. Students were put into pairs, with each pair reviewing one type of genre:
Non-Fiction
Fiction
Historical Fiction
Myths & Legends
Folk Tales, Fairy Tales, Fables, Tall Tales
Autobiography
Biography
Diary
Mystery
Poetry
Science Fiction
Realistic Fiction
We explored our classroom library, and re-organized misplaced titles, so we can now more easily find books based on their genres.

In Math, the Grade 5 students went over their homework with me, and began their Patterning mid-unit review. They will have a short quiz tomorrow. The Grade 6 students took-up their homework with me, then they completed some assigned workbook questions in class and we examined the questions that gave them some difficulty, in more depth.

Art class ended our day, and we continued our work with literature genres. The students worked in their pairs, designing eye-catching and informative posters about their genre. These finished posters will be presented to the class next week and the presentations will include students choosing some books from our classroom library to provide examples of that genre to the rest of the class.

Homework Assigned Thursday September 13, 2007:
Grade 5
-Read 20 minutes, update reading log
-Spelling Unit 1 due tomorrow, and Spelling test tomorrow
-Math Review Textbook page 10 - Short Quiz tomorrow!
-Science experiment (Glue) finished by next Tuesday

Grade 6
-Read 20 minutes, update reading log
-Spelling Unit 1 due tomorrow, and Spelling test tomorrow
-Science experiment (Aerodynamics) finished by next Tuesday

Wednesday's What's What

Wow! We had all 24 of my students participate in Kilometre Club today, and even I ran 5 km myself! Ms. Schwartz's class doesn't stand a chance against us if we keep up this pace!

Students took turns reading parts of Chapter 2 of Tuck Everlasting, and we had a class discussion about the positive and negative aspects of having eternal life - like the family in this novel received after they drank water from the magical spring in the forest. Some of the family members view this power as a blessing while the others regard it as a curse.

We also took some time to proof read each others' Reading Response Journal entries - the good copies of which are due tomorrow.

Math consisted of new lessons for both the Grade 5 and 6 students, after which, they worked on textbook problems in class. Whatever questions were not completed in class, are to be finished for homework. The Grade 5 students were also assigned some extra practice questions in their Math Workbook.

In Science, the Grade 5 students performed an experiment to determine which type of glue was the best at sticking popsicle sticks together, while the Grade 6 students experimented with how two objects of similar size and different weight moved through the air as they were dropped from the same height. Both experiments involved the scientific process:
Purpose
Hypothesis
Materials
Method
Diagram (Grade 6)
Results
Conclusion
Application
Science Vocabulary Terms (Grade 6)
These steps above will be followed in all of our experimentations throughout the year.

Homework Assigned Wednesday September 12, 2007:
Grade 5
-Read 20 minutes, update reading log
-Reading Response Journal entry due tomorrow (5 paragraphs answering 3 questions)
-Spelling Unit 1 due Friday, Spelling Test Friday morning
-Math Workbook page 3, # 1-3
-Science experiment (Glue) due next Tuesday
-Arrow Book Order due tomorrow

Grade 6
-Read 20 minutes, update reading log
-Reading Response Journal entry due tomorrow (5 paragraphs answering 3 questions)
-Spelling Unit 1 due Friday, Spelling Test Friday morning
-Math Textbook pg. 10 # 4, 5, 7, 8
-Science experiment (Aerodynamics) due next Tuesday
-Arrow Book Order due tomorrow

Tuesday's Gone

Chair Aerobics started our day with some Daily Physical Activity (DPA), as we worked out to some music by K-OS (from Toronto) and the Bloc Party (from the United Kingdom). Let's all be sure to do our best to come out for Kilometre Club each morning at 8:20am, and lunchtime at 12:15pm, to run as many laps and get as manny popsicle sticks as we can each day. WE NEED TO WIN OUR BET WITH MS. SCHWARTZ'S CLASS, so that they will have to come sing us a song. Every popsicle stick counts toward half a kilometre, and EVERY KILOMETRE COUNTS! I will be lacing-up my runners to join you tomorrow!

We began reading Tuck Everlasting in class for our novel study. Today I read the Prologue and Chapter One aloud to the class, explaining some of the author's descriptive imagery with drawings on the chalkboard. The Prologue hinted to us that 3 events will take place which seem unconnected at first, but these things will come together in the end. Tomorrow, we will do some shared reading of Chapter Two and Three, where the students can take turns reading parts, followed by a classroom discussion. The students and I went over expectations for Reading Response Journal entries, and how to fill out their Reading Log sheets in order to keep them updated. I have pushed this week's Reading Response Journal entry due date back to Thursday, so students will have a chance to peer-edit each other's work, and I will also do some editing with them.

In Math, the Grade 5 students took up their homework, and went over the problems in detail with me. The Grade 6 students worked in pairs, extending a pattern t-chart from design #1 up to design #20 of a pattern, in order to determine perimter of the 20th design. Homework was assigned (see bottom of this blog entry).

Science class had the Grade 5 students were introduced to their unit, Properties of and Changes in Matter, by examing three different types of glue (white glue, glue sticks, and clear glue) to compare their characteristics and determine their states of matter (solid, liquid or gas). Tomorrow, they will experiment with these glues to determine which types work the best. Grade 6 students began their unit, Properties of Air and Characteristics of Flight, with a review of the new Science Vocabulary that they will encounter. Grade 6 students must keep an updated list of Science Vocabulary terms, definitions and diagrams in their duotangs, as we come across them. This vocabulary page needs to be complete prior to the unit test, as it will help students when they study. The Grade 6 students then began working on listing characteristics of plant and animals that move through fluids (air and water/liquids) in a chart.

Our class ends the day each Tuesday with Music in Ms. Lee's room.

Homework Assigned Tuesday September 11, 2007:
Grade 5
-Read 20 minutes and fill-out Reading Log
-Finish Rough Copy of Reading Response Journal Entry for editing in class tomorrow (Good Copy is now due Thursday)
-Spelling Unit 1 is due Friday (do one section per night)
-Science: Finish Chart - Examining Glue

Grade 6
-Read 20 minutes and fill-out Reading Log
-Finish Rough Copy of Reading Response Journal Entry for editing in class tomorrow (Good Copy is now due Thursday)
-Spelling Unit 1 is due Friday (do one section per night)
-Math: Workbook page 2
-Science: Finish Chart - Moving Through Air & Water