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