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