CAT 4 growing pains

This is post #300.  Cool.


The majority of students in Room 52 have completed the CAT 4 assessment.  I feel as though I should be celebrating this post, but feeling a little anxious about getting back on track with the Language and Math program in our classroom.

We have been moving our discussion along about our upcoming assignment on creating a Myth in our class.  This assignment will combine elements of Storytelling and Drama, along with Writing.  To introduce this unit, I posted this picture in class to try and see who might figure out the mythology behind it:

The assignment sheet (which will be broken down into a more manageable size for the class... often known as "chunking") looks like this:

We will begin on Part A in class tomorrow and have Part B for homework on Wednesday night.

I have decided on trying to do Math separately with the Grade 7s and 8s.  Obviously, the Grade 8 work may be more challenging, but there will always be extra time for the students to ask questions and get clarification for things they don't understand.  There are times when the two groups will work together.  In a few photos below, they are working on an exercise which is a review of Multiples:

Also, we did a review of the multiplication table for Nine and used an interesting rule that I learned from the JUMP Math program:

Another interesting thing we began doing this week had to do with developing the skills of observation and inferring (using reason, evidence, and observation to explain)s.   of observation.  In the photo below, I asked the students the simple question of "What is going on in this photo?"  The idea for this exercise comes directly from the New York Times newspaper.  24 hours after the photo is posted, there is an explanation of what is going on in the photo.

Many other teachers have used this skill of showing pictures or drawings to a class and asking them to explain what is going on.  This idea is not exclusive to the New York Times.

I am not sure if this form made it home, but insurance is available for your son or daughter, if you are interested: 

Forms available in the class.  Please ask Mr. Proudfoot for one

Also, Scholastic books are available to order.  The current catalogue is available in Room 52. 

Available in the class on the side counter

Sorry for my delayed post.  I am also busy coaching the AMG Senior Cross Country team.  Please feel to write a note in the agenda if you wish to contact me or reach me at marc.proudfoot@tdsb.on.ca

Have a quiet remainder of your evening and a positive Wednesday.