December 18, 2015

Am I the only one missing this right now?


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ENGLISH: 
1.  I have given a copy of The Giver to each student. Should your child ever appear morose, or complain of boredom, suggest: "Hey, why don't you read that book M. Le Moine gave you before the winter break?"  On a side note, if you have a copy of The Giver at home, please have your child bring it to school as we are short copies.

2. The summative book talk rubrics came home a couple of days ago.  



MATH: After the break we will begin a new unit on Data Management.  Here are some key terms that will be discussed: validity, reliability, bias, correlation (positive and negative), histogram, pie chart.  All excellent conversation starters.  Here's a sample: "Hey, (insert name of child), can you pass me the gravy? I wonder if there is a correlation between eating turkey and elevated moods...What do you think?"

CAREER CRUISING: Once again, it's time to log in and get comfortable with the program.  We will be making course selections in January, so it would be best if everyone can navigate the pages with relative ease.

POETRY CLUB: Don't forget to finish your Personification Poem.  There has been some talk about re-scheduling our meetings to another day (conflicts with Eco-Team).  Please approach me in the new year with days that work for you.

DA: Please spend some time practising the Impediment Jinx.  We will be duelling in the new year and I want smooth wand movements.


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ENGLISH: I have given a copy of The Outsiders to each student. Should your child ever appear morose, or complain of boredom, suggest the line stated above under grade 8 English.

MATH: We didn't quite finish our data management project, though most students submitted their surveys to their peers.  If your child is watching paint dry, suggest they select a graph and begin represent their findings.

Thursday, December 17th, 2015

The end of the calendar year is approaching quickly, and tomorrow we'll be off for the break.  7T and 8L: I wish you and your families the very best time together over the next two weeks.

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Math
1. Test 7.4-7.6  tomorrow.  Two book talks left.  One more MTWI challenge: can M. Le Moine be de-throned?  

Wednesday, December 16th, 2015

Though your child didn't look EXACTLY like this kid during today's Minute to Win It challenge, there was a resemblance in the feverishly-intense look.  The winner for today? Mr. Marc "Stack Attack" Le Moine.  Tomorrow, we attempt to defy gravity.

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Math: 
1.  7.6 due tomorrow (you have had 2 days to do it.  Make sure it's done!)

2.  Test on Friday 7.4 - 7.6.  This will be largely a performance task - so you have time to practise at home.  Can you make the following angles with a compass?  7.5, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 105...?

3.  One last Math task: look up the difference between "incenter of a triangle" and "circumcenter of a triangle." We will be exploring these concepts tomorrow and it will be a real time-saver should you do this pre-emptive strike.

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Math: 
1.  Using Google Forms, please try to finish typing your survey questions tonight. We have the computers for only 40 minutes tomorrow, so time will be tight.

English:
1. Context and commentary test.  We took up any final questions today in class, and everyone seems pretty confident and ready to go.  Tonight, I advise all students to re-read the stories so they are comfortable with the main events and characters' names.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Second Minute to Win it challenge for the grade 8s today!  Big winner: 


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Math
1. page 305 #1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9.  THIS WORK IS DUE THURSDAY
2. Test: 7.4 - 7.6 on Friday

English
1. Summative Context and Commentary: Wednesday

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Math
1. We are working on a Data Management project this week.  Tonight: create at least three questions on Google Forms.  Have them ready for tomorrow.

English
1. Book talks continue tomorrow.
2. Context and Commentary test on Thursday

First Minute to Win it challenge for the grade 8s today!  Big winner: KIMIA!


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Math
1. page 302 #1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8
2. Test: 7.4 - 7.6 on Friday

English
1. Summative Context and Commentary: Wednesday

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Math
1. We are working on a Data Management project this week.  Ask your child about how he or she plans to monetize his/her results.  Finish the questions tonight (the writing)

English
1. Book talks begin tomorrow
2. Context and Commentary test on Thursday

Friday, December 11, 2015

Progress reports went home today.  Please take some time to read it through with your child.  As well, please return the envelope on Monday.  There shouldn't be any surprises regarding your child's progress, as I have been updating the blog regularly, especially when summative tasks have been handed back.


Dates for next week: 
Summative context and commentary: grade 8: Wednesday.  Grade 7: Thursday
Grade 8 Math test (7.1-7.6) Thursday/Friday
Grade 8 Math: 7.5 is due Monday (they have had all week).  
Book talks grade 7: we begin on Tuesday.

Grade 8

By next Wednesday, please hand back the Quebec permission form, and select from the School Cash Online the Quebec trip (you may pay in instalments).  The form went home today!

Math: 
1. Final day of coding tomorrow
2.  Geometry re-test tomorrow.  Please make sure your child takes at least a 1/2 hour to review the definitions tonight.

English:
1. Book talks are almost done.  Two beauties today; what a treat.


Grade 7

Math: 
1. Test done!  We will begin a Data Management project in the coming days

English:
1. Formative context and commentary tomorrow 

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

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The final two periods of the day were some of the funniest moments I have had in teaching: from Yasmin reading her uber-cheesy story, to a very long list of humourous book talks (and in-between commentary), you had me in stitches.  You make teaching the most enjoyable job on the planet.

Math: We continue to code.

English: Summative book talks are almost done!   Context and commentary test will be early next week.  I will try to have the formative c+c done by the end of the day tomorrow.  As the c+c went home, I will not be putting a grade on the formative task - just feedback.


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Math: Test tomorrow!  Just to be clear, I had workroom today at lunch and no one from 7T came, so I'm assuming all is well...5.1 - 5.6.  Remember to look at primary data, secondary data, detecting bias, calculating mean+median+mode, and making stem-and-leaf plots.  That's all folks!

English: we finished the commentary game, and now it's time for the formative task: on Friday, students will be given a choice of 3 quotes, and they will surround one of them with c + c.  They can easily review their notes before Friday.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

In gym class today we learned how to set up tents.  Fion, the mighty bear, was unable to reach the food packs we strung up from the basketball nets.  

Rest assured, we did not light open fires in the gym. 

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English: Book talks (summative) begin on the 15th.  Deadline is approaching - get a sense of how prepared your child is for the final task.

Math: we will have the 5.1 - 5.6 test on Thursday.  We took one part out of the test and did it today (making misleading graphs).  


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Math
1. Geometry re-do test will take place on Friday.  A number of students came to workroom today - kudos to them.
2. We continue coding: Minecraft, Elsa, and Star Wars.

English
1. Summative book talks are on-going.  As well, we continue our study of context and commentary (test will be next week).

Monday, December December 7, 2015

On Turning Ten

The whole idea of it makes me feel
like I'm coming down with something,
something worse than any stomach ache
or the headaches I get from reading in bad light--
a kind of measles of the spirit,
a mumps of the psyche,
a disfiguring chicken pox of the soul.

You tell me it is too early to be looking back,
but that is because you have forgotten
the perfect simplicity of being one
and the beautiful complexity introduced by two.
But I can lie on my bed and remember every digit.
At four I was an Arabian wizard.
I could make myself invisible
by drinking a glass of milk a certain way.
At seven I was a soldier, at nine a prince.

But now I am mostly at the window
watching the late afternoon light.
Back then it never fell so solemnly
against the side of my tree house,
and my bicycle never leaned against the garage
as it does today,
all the dark blue speed drained out of it.

This is the beginning of sadness, I say to myself,
as I walk through the universe in my sneakers.
It is time to say good-bye to my imaginary friends,
time to turn the first big number.

It seems only yesterday I used to believe
there was nothing under my skin but light.
If you cut me I could shine.
But now when I fall upon the sidewalks of life,
I skin my knees. I bleed. 

Billy Collins

Grade 7 + 8: I will be starting a poetry club this week, and as a means of launching the initiative, I thought I would share one of my favorite poems by Billy Collins.  If you have an interest in writing poetry, and would like to hone your skills, come see me this Tuesday at lunch (12:05).

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Math: p. 204, 5.6, #1, 2, 4, 5, 6

English: prepare for tomorrow's continued Commentary game ("A large account, I presume.")

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English: Book talks continue tomorrow.

Friday, December 4th, 2015

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1.  10/26 students did not do their English homework last night.  Not impressed.  Please ask your child if he or she did his/her homework.  

2.  Book talk rubrics came home today (formative).  PLease take a look at it with your child this weekend.

3. Summative book talks begin December 15


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1.  Hour of Code: don't forget your devices this coming Monday.

2.  Math: p. 296 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11.  Please bring back the compass you borrowed on Monday.  This homework is due FRIDAY.

3.  Book talks begin Monday.  Beef up your commentary.

Thursday, December 3rd, 2015

CONGRATULATIONS to our boys' volleyball team for winning 7 straight games at the area tournament.  Though we lost in the final, you showed character, determination, and heart - all hallmarks of a true team.    On a side note, I can still hear Vincent's block ringing in my head.  


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ENGLISH1.  Summative book talks tomorrow.  Bring both the new and improved blank rubric as well as the completed formative rubric.

2. Select a quote from one of the short stories read in class and write the context and commentary.  In addition to the basic commentary (character, theme, or society), try one of the following: double-duty, temporal juggling, or connection (not to the time when you had a pet rabbit named Mr. Fluffy)

MATH
1. We will be doing Hour of Code next week, so if you have a device at home and would like to bring it, please do so.  To be clear, by "device" I do not mean an electric hand mixer; I mean a laptop or tablet.  

2. We are working on bisecting angles right now, and it takes some practise to get used to the compass.  I recommend you take some time drawing arcs and circles at home to perfect your skills (remember the angle of the compass, 85% of pressure on the point, and spin the paper with one finger)


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ENGLISH
1. Select a quote from one of the short stories read in class and write the context and commentary.  

2.  Book talk: summative book talks will begin on December 15th.  It must be a book you have read for the first time since this past summer until now.  Bring your book to class on Monday so I may approve the choice (reading at grade level).  The revised rubric and the blank outline were given out today.

MATH
1.  Working with mean, median, and mode.  Homework: p. 200-201: 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7.  + answer the question I had on the board: Mr. Le Moine received the following grades on his first four tests in Advanced Yak Riding class: 78%, 79%, 80%, 76%.  What score does he need to achieve on his 5th test to have an overall average (mean) of 81%?   If you're stuck, remember that the fifth test is the unknown....hmmm....sounds like alGebra!

2.  There is a flipped learning video on Math of the Titans for 5.5 (it's one of those: "How much does Cathy have to score on her final test to get an overall average of 100%?")

"Recipe for disaster: an overdose of confidence, and an underdose of ability."
- Le Moine




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ENGLISH
1. The context formative work was handed back today.
2. Book talks (summative) begin this Friday.  If your child isn't speaking to himself/herself in the mirror, you should start asking some questions.


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MATH: 
1. 5.3 (page 182) Questions 1, 2, 3, and 5.  
2. Practise the mean, median, and mode on the following sets of data: ESTIMATE FIRST!  Use a calculator and triple check your answers.  I don't want anyone fired!
a. 25, 24, 26, 28, 32, 33, 25, 15, 18, 21
b. 90, 100, 101, 103, 106, 28, 150, 72, 81, 85
c. 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 55, 58, 40