Happy Friday: March 21, 2014

Following in the UN footsteps, declaring yesterday to be the International Day of Happiness (you have to check this link:  http://24hoursofhappiness.com/), we look at today's important date marking the need to end racial discrimination.  I will post some more information on this today, or over the weekend, but I will introduce the topic to the class by sharing my draft Prezi presentation.

A few weeks ago, I posted an example of a Prezi presentation on Herb Carnegie, a late pioneer of Hockey in Canada. I updated the presentation to give the students a sense of today's UN date and how the presentation could look and sound, in relation to the Success Criteria we developed in class.  Here is the link:

http://prezi.com/m1_dqxfxppwa/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

In light of this, I am postponing the presentations until Tuesday to ensure that all students are ready to present.  We only completed the Storytelling yesterday and some students may need time to update or edit their Prezi because they may not have access to a computer at home.  I would suggest booking some time at the public library to use a computer or making use of one in the AMG Library.  It is always available and often underused.

Here are a few images I took of some draft 1 Point Perspective pieces:

HOMEWORK

As for this weekend's homework, it is a Reading Response for the following article:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/social-media-affecting-teens-concepts-of-friendship-intimacy-1.2543158

The Reading Response looks like this:

The Success Criteria for this exercise is this:

A sample Reading Response was posted by me a weeks ago.  It was from Thursday, March 6.  Please use this as a guide. 

Enjoy your weekend.

Thursday, May 20

Happy First Day of Spring
Happy International Day of Happiness.

"Happiness may have different meanings for different people. But we can all agree that it means working to end conflict, poverty and other unfortunate conditions in which so many of our fellow human beings live."

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Message for the International Day of Happiness, 20 March 2014

I hope today, and other days, bring joy  and happiness to you.  Without happiness, a sense of optimism and curiosity, it is very hard to learn.  Do your best to remain open, curious, and optimistic about yourself and things you do everyday in the community circles you move in.

This is a documentary film that I think  I will share, at some time, with the class.  It is simply called, Happy.  Here is the Youtube trailer:

I was very happy to come across this page:

http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/consecutive-interior-angles.html

It has some interactive elements on angles that the Grade 8s might enjoy before taking up the homework.  Before looking at that, we'll look  at another Youtube video, which I posted earlier, but is a review of last night's homework.

 

There are Storytellers who are waiting to bring closure to our creative adventure, but we are now embarking on some other creative elements of One Point Perspective drawing.  I am not sure if that is something that should be capitalized, but I have such a high regard for artists and designers, I thought I would.  

The following images illustrate the concept of the Vanishing Point and One Point Perspective.

I will upload some rough shots of the work the students are doing as we get more into this work.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

This page will come in handy for what we are doing in Grade 8 Math:

http://rumblingsfrom52.blogspot.ca/2014_02_01_archive.html

After watching some of the videos, I gave the students a handout (less the writing by me on it) illustrating some of these angle relationships:

This was posted back in early February and we are only ready to explore some of the angle relationships right now.  The Grade 8s recently completed a Math test with most students scoring above a Level 3.  This is work at Grade level and the group should be pleased with the hard work they put into the Study sheets they did in preparation for the test. 

 If students were not pleased with their mark and scored below a Level 3 (less than 70%),  doing a Rewrite is always an option.

As for the Grade 7s, I decided to hold off on introducing the new concept of Area until the Re-tests are completed for Perimeter.  The last of our review was from today.  I will post some images of the work we did today:

This question proved to be a bit of a challenge for the class.  It involved figuring out the different dimensions of a rectangle that has the same perimeter.  I posted a similar example on yesterday's blog post.

Megan helped figure out the ascending and descending pattern of the width and length of the rectangle in question (it had a perimeter of 20).  To demonstrate this, I used one of the games we used a few weeks ago to prepare for the test.  It is basically a virtual geoboard.  The link for it is from the list of games I re-posted yesterday, I believe.  Note:  the perimeter is the same, but the dimensions of the rectangles are different.

 This example shows how Junior used the correct formula for calculating the Perimeter of a rectangle.  Instead of using the typical formula of P=2(l+w) -- which means that calculating the Perimeter happens when you multiply the sum of length plus width by 2 -- Junior used something called the Distributive Property to calculate the answers for part a + c.  He multiplied the length and width by 2, but did it separately.

For part a, he could have done it like this:  P = 2 (3+2)
                                                                P = 2 (5)
                                                                P = 10 cm

Great thinking, Junior!

Onto a different subject.  The Success Criteria for Mr. Beaupre's Geography Prezi assignment is here.  Actually, it is more of the evaluation form, but this is how the students will be graded:

And, yet another Success Criteria chart!  This one is for the Prezi research assignment.

HOMEWORK:

Grade 7:  Final Perimeter test tomorrow, IPRC letters returned
Grade 8 : Math textbook homework
Both:  Tracey, Trine, Alyssa, Caleb to present their stories 

 

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

The results for the Grade 7 Math test were not as grave as I thought.  We are still spending some time reviewing the questions and using the correct student responses as a launching point. I had a sample question answered by Junior that I did not post from before:

He was one of the few students who used the correct formula for calculating the perimeter of a rectangle.

There is one more section of the test that will be reviewed tomorrow morning for the Grade 7s.  I will be giving them some group work to encourage peer support in understanding some of the more challenging concepts.

Here is an image from a bit of review we did this morning:

This image emphasizes the point that a shape may have different dimensions, but have the same perimeter.  I used the original image from Megan's test to show how she got this question right.  I highlighted in green to make it easier to read.  There will be another question, that I will upload either tonight or tomorrow which demonstrates this concept.

One of the review activities that both grades did involved a review and play of the numerous Math games I posted on the blog.  The students were given ample time to "play" and then record specific notes on what they learned.  As I looked over what they wrote, I noticed that some of the examples were not specific enough.  So, I reviewed 2 of the games and then posted my own response.

Something used during the Grade 8 Math lesson:

Here is an image from Google image of a map near my house.  It illustrates how you may see Parallel and Perpendicular lines on the streets of Toronto.

There is homework from the textbook tonight for the Grade 8s.

The final group of Storytellers should finish up this lengthy project, by Thursday.  Two students were scheduled to present today and did not.  I gave them an extension until tomorrow.  The expectations around this presentation have been explained to the students on more than one occasion.  

Here area couple of images from today's group of presenters:

Have a good evening.  The Grade 7s will be back on for having "official" homework, although they do have Prezi presentations due tomorrow, some have Storytelling to present, and any review of the blog (playing Math games) may help prepare for the upcoming Math Re-test.

Thursday: Happy March Break!!

I believe that I may need to go back and re-teach some concepts for Perimeter for the Grade 7s.  That`s okay; it is a part of the assessment cycle.  

When I looked over the test, there were areas of strengths for some students across the entire test.  I am going to use those parts to review the test when we return on March 17.  Here are some highlights from a few students in class:

This means, that if something is not working, we may need to rethink and try another approach and looking at a problem or challenge.

For those enthusiastic students, I have reposted the links to the Math games some of the students played earlier this week and last week.  We will most likely revisit the games once we move forward with the new Math in both Grade 7 and 8.

Grade 7:  There are enough links here to help you review some of the work we have done so far.

This Funbrain website activity is probably the best place to start because you can select the level of difficulty for either Perimeter or Area of both:  http://www.funbrain.com/poly/index.html

Another solid review of Perimeter and Area.  You may either select from Area or Perimeter when you click on the link:  http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/maths/perimeter_and_area/index.html

An Area and Perimeter game that uses a grid.  You can check your answers, once you are done:
http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/ShapeExplorer/

This is a virtual version of the activity we used with Geoboard and elastic bands:
http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/frames_asid_281_g_2_t_4.html

A Geoboard like activity that looks at both area and Perimeter from PBS Kids:  http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/media/games/perimeterarea/perimeterarea.swf

A game that involves an understanding of both Perimeter and Area.  You are in charge of designing the layout for a party:  http://www.mathplayground.com/PartyDesigner/PartyDesigner.html

Grade 8: There are not as many "fun" games for this part of Geometry, but I think you will find the interaction engaging.
 This is an angles game in the spirit of Jeopardy.  You have played a game like this before for another strand of Math:  http://www.math-play.com/Angles-Jeopardy/Angles-Jeopardy.html

Not so much a game, but more of a review of angles:  http://www.ixl.com/math/grade-6/complementary-and-supplementary-angles  
 
This is more of a game concerning Complementary and Supplementary angles:  http://www.lessonpaths.com/learn/i/angles-2/xp-math-math-games-arcade-complementary-and-supplementary-angle-pairs-practice-free

I think Trine will like this game.  It has the word Manga in it!!
http://www.mangahigh.com/en/maths_games/shape/angles/opposite_angles

Here are some shots of the initial group of Storytellers:

Some advice, from a friend, to a presenter.

On the front board, I posted sample of work, what I will call Mr. P`s samples, that I have modeled for the class.  They can serve as guides and models for the class to look at, in case they forget what is expected of them.  Usually, I provide them with descriptive feedback of how they can improve their work, or make suggestions that they should use the Success Criteria charts to guide their thinking.

 Here is the New York Times response to an article about the former Olympic athlete, Oscar Pisorius.

homework

In following TDSB homework policy, I am not assigning any homework for the March Break.  Still:

- the Prezi research projects will be due on Wednesday, March 19

- storytelling will continue for those students who have not performed yet

Have a wonderful March Break, you deserved it!!

 

Mr. Proudfoot's draft Prezi on Herb Carnegie

This link will take you to my "work in progress" Prezi on Hockey legend, Herb Carnegie.  I need to do some more research and use the Success Criteria chart (I need to photograph this) to develop my project more, but I wanted you to have a sense of what a draft project looks like.

Be sure to use this chart, as well, to help guide you along.

Here is the link to my draft Prezi:  http://prezi.com/m1_dqxfxppwa/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

Tuesday and some notes on homework before March Break

It has been a long period of not posting and I believe it has something to do with the weather and feeling quite tired.  Although I do not always sign off on the agenda after school, the students may have homework.

For example, this is an image I took of the Homework chart from last week.  The majority of students typically complete work, but a number of students are falling into the trap of not completing there work.  Although it is the responsibility of the students to do their homework, please ask your son or daughter if they have homework to complete.






An image of the Homework chart as of today:

I am quite happy to report that 14/15 students complete Study Sheets for yesterday's Math test.  When it is marked, we will see how that worked for the class!  The Grade 7s had an open book test and able to look at their notes and homework to help them along.  I am a bit disappointed to see that some students are not correcting their homework, when we take it up in class.  By correcting their work, they take the responsibility to ensure they are completing and understanding the work.  If they are not understanding it, they have many opportunities to ask for help (in class or after school).

The Grade 8s just completed a Unit in Science that had them looking at some of the questions they will see in high school.  I was quite pleased to see them working through some of the shortcuts I offered them.  They has a test last week and should be receiving the results soon:

 















We are coming up to a natural break in the school year (school ends this Thursday until March 17) and won't be getting into new material.  We are aiming to bring closure to the units we are currently working on.  This includes the final presentations for Storytelling (another reminder that has been on the board) and the completion of the research project on African Canadians.

I am pleased to report that most students have submitted jot notes for this assignment.  This is mandatory.  I want to ensure that the students are not copying work directly from the Internet (plagiarizing) or having other people complete the assignment for them.  With the remaining three days of school, I am going to have the students devote a larger portion of time putting the research together in the form of a Prezi presentation.  on the person they are researching.  I picked up on this idea from Ms. DaSilva and Mr. Beaupre.












To guide the research, the Success Criteria has been outlined for the assignment.  I will change in slightly, in light of the Prezi presentation format I plan to follow.  Basically, the students are to use the 5Ws and H model.  This means, they have to find out the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of the person they are researching.  It will be up to the students what information they use from their research to answer these questions.  I used the following chart to help guide some of the research work:

How might this chart work.  Well, as a class, we decided on a topic and then created a series of questions based on the 4 levels of questions present:

If you notice, the questions become increasingly "bigger" in their scope and require a little more thought.  So, the students can gauge the complexity of the research by some of the questions they may ask.


As for the details about what Prezi is, here is a sample video and hint towards the next item in Grade 8 Math:

The link for creating a free Prezi account may be found here:  http://prezi.com/pricing/

If I am correct, here is a Prezi I designed 2 years ago for the class to see.
http://prezi.com/-vrkqdy98qv3/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy 

After March Break, we will be returning to paragraph writing and reviewing what we have learned.  Paragraph writing, according to the Head of the English department at Oakwood Collegiate, is the skill that most students in high school have trouble with.  Even friends of mine who teach in Community Colleges say that most students struggle with this critical skill.

A while ago, the class worked in groups to create some paragraphs using only the Closing or Concluding sentence as a guide.  Here are the samples of that work, along with some feedback from me.  I will use this feedback to kick-start the re-teaching of paragraphs.

Here is the original example, done by me, to guide the students, followed by the ones they did.  This may be a double post, but this is a skill that I think is worth repeating and returning to.  Kind of like multiplication.

Students selected a concluding sentence and then proceeded to write a paragraph around it.

HOMEWORK

The Storytelling sessions will be over by Thursday.  The only homework tonight has to do with being prepared to present the stories on Thursday.

The Prezi based research projects will not be due until after the March Break.  They will be presented to the class beginning Wednesday, March.  Since the students have set up the Prezi accounts, they may access them at home and continue to work on them until the due date.  It is not formal March Break homework since I usually don't assign homework during holidays.