Mrs. Middleton's Class Website Nurturing Life-Long Learners

Friday

1/30/2015

There was a lot of learning in Science today! We were introduced to the PH scale and looked at how acids and bases differ. We also examined common household liquids and made hypotheses about whether we thought they were acids or bases. After the students made their predictions, they tested the liquids with litmus paper to reveal whether their predictions were correct. There were definitely some surprises!

Grade 7s and grade 7 parents: The Foundation Skills Assessment will be taking place in about a week at Hillcrest. If you wish to see what the on-line exam will look like you hav an opportunity to see a practise test in all areas, reading, writing and math. Please click the e-FSA link and follow the instructions. Select the Surrey School District, scroll down and begin reading how the exams will be set up and some sample questions.

Homework
1) Math - Grade 7s - pg. 77/78 #3-15
Mr. Hong - worksheet
Mrs. Van - worksheet
2) L.A. - Concrete poem - topic chosen for Monday
3) French - Worksheet due Tuesday (grade 6's only)
4) Science - Quiz on Monday

Important Upcoming Events
1) Water Polo - Monday - leaving at 1:00 PM , RETURNING AFTER 3:00 PM
2) Twin Day - Tuesday
3) Think We - Candy Gram Orders -

Comment: Overall, what was your major learning today? What was your biggest takeaway?

3 Comments

Wednesday

1/28/2015

32 Comments

Further development of inferencing skills was the focus for much of the Language Arts session this morning. Using Chris Van Allsburg's art work, students worked in small groups debating and discussing the possibilities of what was actually happening in the images. Not only did students have a chance to make guesses using evidence and background knowledge but they also focused on their oral language skills - both listening and speaking.I was very engaged in the conversations that were taking place during this activity.
Homework
1) LA - Found Poems due on Friday
2) Math - grade 7s - pg 59/60 #6,8,10, 12, 14
grade 6s - no homework
3) French - worksheet due Tuesday - grade 6s only
4) Science - quiz on Tuesday

Comment: Look carefully at the image above. What inferences can you make about this image? What is happening? Remember to include your pieces of evidence in the explanation. Writer's mumble please!

32 Comments

Tuesday

1/27/2015

26 Comments

Great feedback session for students today in Language Arts. Reviewing what students feel makes a good feedback giver was the base of this session. The Found poems improved due to the feedback of peers and myself.
Homework
1) Math grade 7s - pg 58/58 2.3 Subtracting fractions #3,5,7
grade 6s - please see your teachers' website
2) LA - Found Poem - continue to find the final words needed for your poem

Comment: Feedback is an essential step in learning. What went well for you and your group during the feedback session? How did the feedback improve your poem?

26 Comments

Monday

1/26/2015

27 Comments

Water Polo - tons of fun! It was a great afternoon in the pool. Students demonstrated their skills before heading to the deep end. Once there, they practised some basic strokes, worked to throw and catch with one hand and then played a short game. Next time most of the session will be spent in game play which the students are very excited about.
We welcomed Mr. Fourchalk back to our class today. He will be re-immersing himself as the classroom teacher over the next couple of weeks and then he will be taking over 80% of the teaching time for 6 weeks. This opportunity will allow Mr. Fourchalk the chance to fine tune his skills as an educator. The students were excited to see him back in our room.
Homework
1) LA - FOUND poem - continue to develop your poems. Many of you did not have a clear theme to your poem. Use the modelling I did today to help guide you this afternoon/tonight when you find the words to complete your poem. Remember - complete sentences and proper grammar are not part of the rules when writing poetry.

Comments: Video Link Men's Water Polo Quarter Final This is a lengthy clip but watch some or all of this to see how the game is played. Comment on how water polo went for you today. What went well for you and what would you like to improve? What are you looking forward to? Please make sure you read your comments as some of you are once again rushing and forgetting the criteria. Check for spelling, grammar and punctuation as well!

27 Comments

Thursday

1/23/2015

29 Comments

Homework
1) LA - Found Poem - complete cutting out words from magazines (or sources of your choice) to create a poem that has one theme and conveys meaning through form and word choice. My suggestion: write the poem on paper to see it clearly, play with spacing of words, arrangement of words, and words still needed or words not needed. DO NOT GLUE WORDS DOWN! Be ready for peer feedback on Monday.
Just as a reminder:
What is a Found Poem? It is a poem created from pre-existing words taken from sources that were not intended for poetry (words from newspapers, magazines, journals, etc) and rearranged to create a poem; essentially a word collage
Learning Intentions:

I can express feelings and ideas through written presentation.
I can use language in playful ways to develop style, voice and artistry.

2) Math - Grade 7s 2.3 adding fractions #4,5,7,9
- grade 6s Mr. Hong pg. 232 #2,4,6,8
Mrs. Van pg 232 #2 - 8
3) Water Polo on Monday - bring all your gear. Lunch will be eaten before we go. Leaving school at 12:00.

Comment: In class on Thursday we had a chance to practise inferencing skills. Pointing out that we use this skill every day when we observe the world around us (such as how students could inferred that I had an important meeting after school based on how I was dressed) helped students understand this skill and how it can be applied to what we read. In class you all practised writing statements to show your understanding. Create two new examples using two indication sentences and inference conclusion as per the following examples.

Susannah's co-worker took off the day before and comes in with a sunburn. Susannah can infer that her co-worker was at the local beach.
Julia works at a pet store and owns four cats, a lizard, a dog and a rabbit. It can be inferred that Julia is a pet lover.

29 Comments

Wednesday

1/21/2015

25 Comments

Making thinking visible.

Homework
1) Math - Grade 6s - please see your teachers' website
- grade 7s - assigned questions on adding fractions (use the resource from Khan academy to help)
2) Art - complete revisions to draft of art incorporating the feedback from today
3) PE tomorrow
Important Dates
Friday Jan. 23 is a professional day, students not in school
Monday, Jan. 6 - Water Polo (We will leave the school at 12:00.)

Comment: In the Novel Approach today, the focus was on inferencing. Explain how using this strategy helped you gain a better understanding of what you read. What was the main meaning for you on this reading? Of all the strategies introduced so far which ones are you using the most when you read?

25 Comments

Monday

1/19/2015

38 Comments

Using the reading strategy "say something".

Water Polo was introduced today in two sessions. First we had the coach come to our class and give students a brief overview of the game. After recess the students practised throwing and catching with one hand as well as attempted the egg beater, which is the leg movement needed to stay up in the water. It will be exciting to have the first in-pool session next Monday.

Homework
1) Math - Grade 6 and 7s - here is a valuable link that Mr. Hong has put together to help you with all fraction concepts. Fractions (this link can also be found on the right side bar under Subjects)
Grade 7s - a) equivalent fractions worksheet: b) watch the video on Comparing Fractions 2 (go to the link and scroll down to the video options)
grade 6s - homework from last Thursday
2) LA - bring magazines for Wednesday for Found poem if you have one you wish to use (and can cut up).
3) Art - Roy Lichenstein - Look up the following terms. Draw quick examples. Look up a variety of Lichenstein's art. Determine which of the strategies he used in making his art. Look closely, take your time! - Wednesday

Comment: In Science today we set a purpose of finding information and then used a strategy called 'say something' to help with understanding the concepts. Which strategies did you use (think about the Monitoring Comprehension activity we did on Friday) to help you deepen your understanding of what was read? What helped you the most to better understand the information in the textbook on Classifying Mixtures?

38 Comments

Friday

1/16/2015

30 Comments

It was the third session of building reading strategies today. After working with setting a purpose and background knowledge/connections today's focus was monitoring comprehension. It was great to hear students share their thinking by using evidence in our discussion. They are starting to dig deeper into the meaning of what they are reading.
During buddies students had a chance to bring a little winter into the class by creating fun snowmen. Students in division 1 are great big buddies!
Homework
1) Math - please check your teacher's website
2) Art - draft of the onomatopoeia art - due Monday

Comment: Of all the strategies that you have learned over the past few days which one(s) have been the most helpful for you to better understand what you read? Have you used any of these strategies in your own reading (novels)? If so which ones and how did they help?

30 Comments

Thursday

1/15/2015

38 Comments

Homework
1) Math - grade 6s Mr. Hong - pg 228 # 1 -
Mrs. Van -
- grade 7s review equivalent fractions and reducing to lowest terms
2) Water Polo notice - due Friday

Comment: Today a new reading strategy was introduced - Using Background Knowledge and Making Connections. How did using these strategies help you deepen your thinking with the activity? Think about the novel you are currently reading, how does this strategy help you deepen your understanding of the story. Remember to use evidence to explain. Think about the criteria we built today in class as you write your comment.

38 Comments

Wednesday

1/14/2015

26 Comments

Student sample of making thinking visible.

After the first session of the Novel Approach yesterday it was clear that a number of students were unsure of what the task was and what the purpose was for the lesson. This was great feedback for the teachers as too often things are assumed and some students are left wondering what the end goal is. So today we revisited the lesson, sharing the purpose of learning strategies for reading - to help build comprehension rather than just reading the words. Tomorrow a new strategy will be added to the Setting a Purpose strategy. We are building a tool box of strategies.
Homework
1) LA - Poetic Device quiz tomorrow
2) Math - Mr. Hong pg 224 #1-10
- Mrs. Van pg 221 # 1- 8
3) Book orders due tomorrow
4) Water Polo notices due on Friday
5) Think We raffle - $1
Comment: Today we had a second session of the Novel Approach. We reviewed the point to why Setting a Purpose is a good strategy then you had the chance to try your own setting a purpose before reading. It was a great lesson and you all worked really hard making your thinking visible. List different purposes we might have for reading? How does setting a purpose help you to become a more proficient reader? What did you think about todays reading lesson? (give helpful feedback)

26 Comments

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