monday, december 13

hi everyone... I hope we're all getting ready for the break, finishing up missing work, etc.

this is a special message for my grade eights: please remember that I will not accept your who's who projects late. you must hand in your project on wednesday, december 15, or you will receive a zero (excepting, of course, an excused absence). this project is fairly far-reaching, and will account for a substantial chunk of your term two mark, so please make sure to hand it in on wednesday, december 15.

reminder: renaissance "timed exercise" on wednesday, december 15. the terms are linked under your class's "to do" section.

*7-09 your fur trade timelines and maps are due tomorrow, tuesday. we will be having a in-class response to winners and a "timed exercise" on canadian first nations and the fur trade on wednesday, december 15.

***8-04 winter gift exchange is on friday, december 17, after the talent show. you are also welcome to bring treats if you like for after the talent show, when we have our "winter break celebration."

;-)

thursday, december 9

so close to the end, but still so much to do!

* 7-09 you will hand in your winners responses and your epilogue on monday, december 13. you will hand in your fur trade maps and timelines of tuesday, december 14.

I have linked a list of terms under "7-09 to do." please familiarize yourself with definitions and significance.

* 8-04 and 8-hec we will continue to work on our who's who assignments tomorrow, monday, and tuesday. please bring everything you need to work on it to class on those days.

please continue working on your reading response journals for this week and next; we will take winter break off, though.

the terms for your renaissance "timed exercise" are linked under your class title.

:D

monday, december 6

we are into the home stretch for winter break - very exciting! :D we still have a couple of days to raise money for the christmas hamper, 8-04. keep giving if you can!

* 7-09 please complete phase 4 on your map and timeline, and chapter 20 response for winners for tomorrow.

* 8-04 and 8-hec we will be having our in/formal "debate/mock trial" tomorrow - please be ready with your evidence. also, stay on top of your who's who project; I would suggest that you are complete your rough copy by thursday or friday of this week.

*** wikipedia is never an acceptable source for a research assignment. do not use it.

have a great monday night!

:)

wednesday, december 1

we started our christmas hamper campaign today. with funds raised for each pod, we will purchase gifts for a designated family in need so that children in our community enjoy a happy christmas. please donate if you can and want to - remember that we are working on establishing our reputation as the best homeroom in the school... I'm just saying.

* 7-09 please finish the responses for chapters 15 and 16 - wrestlers, that goes for you, too.

* 8-04 and 8-hec no specific homework tonight - just make sure you are staying on top of your reading responses and your who's who project. I would suggest that you finish researching this week so you can begin your rough copy next week.

:)

monday, movember 29

a reminder to all students that you can vote by donation for your favourite staff moustache tomorrow at lunch at centre court. tomorrow is the last day of movember!

* 7-09 please complete phase one of the fur trade on your timeline, and also read and respond to chapter 14 of winners for tomorrow.

advance warning: we will be having an "in-class review exercise" on first nations and the fur trade on december 15.

* 8-04 and 8-hec because I haven't yet returned your reading response journals, you will only be required to complete two entries this week - you should have your journals back tomorrow or wednesday.

your "who's who" will be due on wednesday, december 15 - no excuses. we will have class time (for sure 7 periods to work in school), but you will most likely have to work at home as well.

heads up: we will be having an "in-class review exercise" on the renaissance (just major terms and individuals) and one on literary terms and definitions on december 15.

:)

wednesday, movember 24

lucky kids, four day weekend, AGAIN.

next tuesday, november 30, we will be having a november movember moustache fundraiser in centre court at lunch. you will be able to vote for your favourite staff 'stache by donating to fighting men's cancers (prostate in particular).

*7-09 please read and respond to chapters 12 and 13 for monday.

*** please do not work ahead, as we read aloud in class and are working at the same pace as a class. if you want to read at home, take out a book from our learning commons or the public library ;) ***

*8-04 you are encouraged to start thinking about/planning/researching for your "who's who," but aside from that, no homework over the weekend. you get this week off for reading responses because I have your journals... :)

:-D

friday, movember 19

so yesterday we received our first progress reports. although I know we had some issues with uploading marks into D2L and consequently were not able to make progress known as early as we had hoped, your marks have been updated on D2L for quite some time now - there should not have been too many surprises in your term one marks.

reminder: parent-teacher interviews will be held late next week - check your progress reports for dates and times.

* 7-09 please make sure that you have read and responded up to and including chapter 8 of winners for monday.

* grade 8s the rough copies of your stories are due on monday - no exceptions. if you cannot meet up with your group over the weekend to finish the draft (because you did not make wise use of class time), have one group member type it up and email it out for other group members to change/add to/delete from/approve/etc.

* also, grade 8s, I might collect your reading response journals this coming monday... if I were to collect them, how many responses should you have? do you have all of them completed?

have a wonderful weekend, and stay safe on the icy roads and in the snowy coldness...

;-)

tuesday, movember 16

* 7-09 the good copies of your new setting comic are due thursday (no class time to work on it tomorrow).

* 8-04 and 8-hec the good copies of your black plague stories are due on thursday. please make sure to have your interview, questions, and rough copies ready to hand in as well as your typed good copy.

enjoy the snow!

:)

monday, november 15

* 8-04 and 8-hec your human interest stories are due on wednesday, november 17 - you will not have any class time to work on it tomorrow (tuesday).

wednesday, november 10

8-04 these are the questions we generated during life skills today... please respond on your life skills blog through mr. hicks' website.

1. Do extreme actions change people in positive or negative ways?

2. How do I train someone to treat me the way I want to be treated? Can you "train" someone?

3. Are there situations where one person's opinion is more important that another's?

4. Many say that violence is a learned cycle. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your answer.

5. If you are complicit in an abuse of power, and you responsible for the abuse of power? (look up the word "complicit")

have fun!!

:-)

tuesday, november 9

* 7-09 please read and respond to chapters 3, 4, and 5 of winners for monday, november 15.

* 8-04 and 8-hec please complete the rough copies of your human interest pieces for monday, november 15.

have a great long weekend!

;)

monday, november 8

* 8-04 and 8-hec no specific homework tonight - just make sure to stay on top of your reading responses.

* 7-09 your response for chapter two of winners is due tomorrow - I will be checking for chapters one and two.

:)

7-09 winners responses

hi kids. here is the information you will include for each of your winners responses:

* vocabulary (at least 5 words you do not know or you find interesting - please include your own definition of each word);
* prediction (what do you think will happen? what makes you think that?)
* question (about setting, character, plot, etc.)
* reflection on previous prediction (were you right? what clues made you think what happened would happen?)

you will complete one response for each chapter (please only work on the chapter assigned).

:-)

friday, november 5

happy weekend, everyone!

8-04 and 8-hec this is what we are looking for with our characters:

* where in europe? (rural? urban? village? town? city?)
* who is your character? age, gender, family situation, etc.
* socioeconomic status (class, income)
* personality (what is your character's attitude? expression?)

7-09 no homework!

tuesday, november 2

hi everyone. hopefully, the online marks are now visible to anyone. please see me if there are any inconsistencies or if you have any questions about anything. none of it should be a surprise to anyone.

reminder to all that term one ends on friday, november 5. I will accept assignments up until friday. please check the white board in class to see if your name is among those with missing assignments.

no reading responses this week, 7-09, because I still have your journals.

8-04 and 8-hec please stay on top of your reading response journals.

:)

thursday, october 28

* 7-09 please complete your good copies of your monologues for monday. also, remember the you will be handing in your reading response journals on monday, november 1 as well.

* 8-04 and 8-hec we are for sure presenting our plays/puppet shows on monday, november 1; you must be ready to present - no excuses.

have a great weekend, and happy halloween!

:o

tuesday, october 26

* 7-09 please have the rough copies of your monologues ready for tomorrow's class. in addition, stay on top of your reading responses; when I collect your journals on monday, november 1, you should have 9 entries.

* 8-04 and 8-hec we will be presenting our plays/puppet shows on thursday - please be ready to go!

also, 8-04, we will be carving our pumpkin at lunch. please make sure to be there and be ready to carve!

:-)

monday, october 25

* 7-09 please be ready to write or continue writing the rough copies of your monologues tomorrow. we will begin workshopping our writing on wednesday. also, I will be collecting your reading response journals next monday, november 1; you will need to have 9 entries completed at that time.

* 8-04 and 8-hec we will be presenting our plays this thursday, october 28. we will spend tomorrow's and wednesday's classes finishing up our rough copies, editing, and working on our good copies. please consult the handout and script sample linked to my blog (on the right-hand side under your class title) if you would like to catch up or work ahead at home.

*** 8-04 and 8-hec you may either present your play as a play with real people, or you can make puppets and act out your script as a puppet show. this is a recent change to the project, but our goal is still to be ready to present on thursday.

:)

friday, october 22

* 8-04 and 8-hec you have this week off from your reading response journals, but please be ready to begin or continue composing the script for your diseases sketch on monday.

* 7-09 your monologue project is not for homework for the weekend, but you should be staying on top of your reading response journals. if I were to collect your journals this coming monday, you should have six entries, right? stay on top of it!

:-)

monday, october 18

good news, everyone - my "marks" link on d2l under "contacts" is finally active! that means you can look at the assignments we have handed in thus far - please make sure to check your marks this week to make sure that a) you can log in, and b) that your marks are accurate.

* 7-09 please make sure to complete the planning, rough, and good copies of your canada fair paragraph(s) for tomorrow's (tuesday's) class. I know you are going to the landfill, but you will be back in time for periods 6 and 7, which are hum.

* 8-04 and 8-hec if you were absent on friday for the video entitled everyday life in the renaissance, please come to my room at lunch tomorrow in order to view the video.

:)

thursday, october 7

hi kids...

7-09 canada fair will for sure take place next thursday... if you wish to bring any edibles or to dress up in costume, next thursday (14th) is the day to do it. for groups who are interested in improving their tri-folds or adding brochures, handouts, etc. to their presentations, you may do so, but I will take into consideration those who put in the effort to have their work completed to a high standard by the due date (last monday) when it comes time to mark.

7-09 please make sure that your first nations charts are complete for next class (which is next wednesday).

8-04 and 8-hec all of you should be continuing to work on your reading responses at home. I will collect your journals on monday, october 18, at which time 8-hec members should have 10 entries, and 8-04 members should have 9 entries.

8-04 and 8-hec please complete your section of the jigsaw for our next class together.

have a great looooong weekend!

:-)

friday, october 1

7-09 we will begin presentations promptly on monday. please have everything ready to go as soon as class starts, as we will not have time to organize/glue things on/cut things out etc.

8-04 and 8-hec a reminder that you are to bring a novel to every class (you can work on your reading responses if you finish your work early). you are responsible for completing three entries per week - I will collect your journals periodically, so stay on top of it. also, you will have time to work on your reading responses every friday (provided we have class).

8-04 here is the info for your life skills journal entries:

for each we are asking you to:

* highlight the key concepts discussed/presented
* reflect on your personal experiences/opinions etc. while making connections to the key concepts
* compose 2 inquiry questions based on the concepts and your reflection

september 24 - learning styles, multiple intelligences, gregorc inventory (abstract, concrete, random, sequential)

september 30 - bloom's taxonomy (levels of learning and engagement); engaged learning v. compliant learning

have a great weekend, kiddies!!

:o

monday, september 27

reminder to 8-04 that your acknowledgement of risk forms for the terry fox run on thursday are due any time - if you do not hand in your form, you will be running laps around the field. also, remember that although lunch is provided, you will need to provide your own beverage.

8-04 and 8-hec please make sure to complete three entries in your reading response journals for this week (you will have time to complete one during class on friday).

7-09 we will share our province presentations on friday, october 1. you will need to have your tri-fold, handout, and puzzle piece ready to go for friday's class. also, be prepared if you are planning on dressing up or bringing edible products.

:)

wednesday, september 22

* 8-04 please remember to bring your signed acknowledgement of risk forms and donations for the terry fox run. also, your picture orders are due this friday.

* 7-09 we will continue working on our canadafair project for the next several classes; please ensure that all group members are completing their share of the work.

:)

friday, september 17

* 8-04 the good copies of your posters are due on monday, september 20; we will begin presentations on monday and finish on wednesday if necessary.
* 8-hec your posters are due on tuesday, september 21; we will begin presentations on tuesday.
* 7-09 please make sure to have the good copies of your "I am a Canadian" poems for monday, september 20 - we will begin presentations on monday.

both 8-04 and 8-hec, please remember to bring all of your rough copies as well, because you will hand all of it in.

:)

venn diagram

step three...

- choose three elements of worldview from our handout
- create a rough venn diagram (with differences on the sides and similarities in the middle) with your worldview on the left side and your research subject's worldview on the right side
- fill in the rough venn diagram with information from your research and auto/biopoems


* 8-04 and 8-hec please complete the rough copy of the biopoem on your research subject

:)

monday, september 13

* 8-04 and 8-hec please complete your notes for your biopoem for tomorrow (remember to consult at least two sources, and to properly cite your sources using APA format - Google "Son of Citation")

* 7-09 no homework!


:)

friday, september 10

* 7-09 please finish your "who am I?" posters for monday, so we can start presentations.

* 8-04 and 8-hec feel free to begin looking at information about your person online over the weekend. we will continue working on our biopoems next week, but it might be a good idea to get a head start if you want.

:-)

born on my birthday biopoem

now that we have written our autobiopoems, it's time to write about someone else. for the second part of this assignment, you will use write a biopoem (same format) for a "famous person" who shares your birthday.

* get out a sheet of lined paper for your notes
* write your name and birth date at the top of the page
* click this link
* enter your birthday beside where it says "Who was born on your birthday?"
* study the list, doing preliminary web research if necessary, before deciding who you will write about
* write your person's name and birth date under your name and birth date on your notes paper

* research your person, consulting at least two sources (both can be web based, but YOU MUST PROPERLY FORMAT YOUR SOURCES)
* take point-form notes in your own words
* compose a biopoem about your person, using the same criteria we used for the autobiopoem

then you will be ready for the next step...


:)

wednesday, september 8

* 7-09 please complete the rough copy of your autobiopoem for tomorrow

* 8-04 and 8-hec I hope you can all see this!

picture day!

just a reminder that this coming tuesday is our picture day. please remember to bring in your completed form if you have not already done so. enjoy your long weekend!

:)

september 2010

welcome back to school, kids! this blog will be how we communicate online.

8-04 please remember to bring back all of your signed paperwork no later than friday, september 10, 2010. also, please remember to bring in your school fees.

planning for the end

we should have completed these steps already:

1. answer the digital citizen questions
2. proof of character or citizenship - what we already do
3. decide an issue and plan for project
4. end statement - character or citizenship
5. timeline for completing project

steps to complete:

1. finish our awareness-raising project (poster, Facebook group, etc.) - and create a new timeline
2. prove we did what we said we would do (photo, video, comments, etc.) on our blogs
3. small group sharing
4. get external input - poll or peer evaluation
5. self-evaluation - did I do what I said I would do? was my project successful? how did I prove what I did?

class timeline:

- Monday, June 7: steps one and two completed
- Monday, June 7: small group sharing and peer evaluations
- Tuesday, June 8: self-evaluations (project evaluation?)

:-P

posters/fundraising

we've had the word from upstairs (mr. mah) about fundraising for our projects in the school: we can't do it. however, you might be able to hang posters up around the school, as long as they are small and appropriate. banners will have to be run by mr. mah before they will be considered.

:)

next week

thanks, kiddies, for sharing your families' histories with us today, and again on monday. we will be working on our blogs during period 6 on monday, and then again later in the week. have a great weekend!

;)

timeline

I should be able to go to each of your blogs and see your timelines by now, kiddies. that is, unfortunately, not the case... where are your timelines? be specific, and get started!

:-)

next on the agenda

okay... so now we have our issues and project ideas - I hope people are giving valuable comments to their peers. our next step is to create a timeline to implement our projects. I would advise you to keep it short - maybe a couple of days as a target. what will you do to make a difference? poster? audio commercial? short film? video commercial? leaflets? an info booth in the pod area at lunch?

it's up to you - now, get crackin'!

:)

get caught up

for homework tonight, please make sure that you have the following entries on your blogs:

1. digital citizen questions
2. my project brainstorm (what issues do I care about?)
3. my ends statement (citizenship or character)
4. evidence of what I do already (ex. Stephanie's school in Africa)
5. my project (what will I actually do?)

:)

cbe ends statements

Citizenship: Each student will be a responsible citizen by being an informed and involved member in his or her local, national and global communities.

Character: Each student will possess the character to do what is right, act morally with wisdom, and balance individual concerns with the rights and needs of others.

welcome!

we will be using this blog site as the meeting place for our digital citizen project. on the left is a list of links to all of the blogs 7-art has created. please feel free to visit your classmates' blogs, and to comment on their posts :)