Thursday, May 1, 2014

We have not got into the details of adding or subtracting integers for the Grade 8s, so we are just dealing in basics.  That's okay, we are doing things one step at a time.  Here are some games to get you prepared for Friday's test:

http://www.mathgoodies.com/games/integer_game/

http://www.mathnook.com/math/golden-zeros-challenge.html

http://www.xpmath.com/forums/arcade.php?do=play&gameid=80

I had an example, on the board, of how a comma can change the meaning in a sentence.   Here is one, using Brandon as an example:

As for some other work on commas, we took up the work from last night (some students did not do it) and for homework tonight, the students are going to apply the initial rules they learned about commas:

In light of the Progress Report going home, I want you to know that a Homework chart is used in the class to track work completion.  Here is a photo of it.  It is pretty simple:  Happy Face for completion and Red X indicating work not handed in.

 

After a couple of weeks away from Media Literacy, I have returned to the "cube" to have the students explore ads.  Using the cube will keep the key concepts of Media Literacy fresh in their minds:

Original cube by Mrs. Cimesa

Sample used by Mr. P

 HOMEWORK

Comma sentences (6 in total) based on the three rules you learned from last night's homework.  This is to be done in the Literacy folder.  This is for the 7s and 8s.

Math tests for Grade 7 and 8 on Monday.  Study sheets were handed in today and be returned tomorrow for weekend review.

Have a good evening. 

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

A number of things I want to post, but I will start with the two documentaries that will screened to the Grade 7s and 8s as part of the Hot Docs:  Docs in School program.

 When I Walk trailer

Last Woman Standing trailer

We are now exploring how the comma works and why it is an important piece of punctuation.

I returned to an article we used for a Reading  Response on how teens understand the nature of online friendships and used it to review the meaning of the article (checking for comprehension) and how the author uses commas to make the article make sense.

The students, in groups, are doing a bit of a Scavenger Hunt to locate all of the commas and then figure out what rules apply to their usage.  They are using the list of rules, located in the back of this book:

For the Grade 7s, we completed our initial look at calculating the Area of a Triangle.  They will be composing a Study Sheet for it tonight.  We have gone through, step- by- step, the process for figuring out the answers.  Here is an image of a homework sheet we were working on:

Before we have a test, there will be a fun review we do that involves this cool Math game I discovered in class:

It is a review of the formula (sorry the measurements our Imperial [as typically seen in America]) for the Area of a Triangle.  Here is the link for the game:  http://www.factmonster.com/math/knowledgebox/player.html?movie=sfw41510

Alyssa playing

HOMEWORK:

Comma worksheet for both grades
Study Sheets for both grades for Math (Area of Triangle for 7s, introductory work on Integers for Grade 8s
Progress Reports went home this evening and should be signed and returned on Monday

Monday, April 28, 2014 (NOTE: introducing comma use)

Two Youtube videos to help with the introduction and explanation of commas.  We will take a look at these today.

The Area of a Triangle:  a Youtube video:

More information on the Progress Report will be coming.  I am going to be checking in with some Rotary teachers to ensure I have the right information from them.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Homework:

Reader's Theatre project:  Presentations begin week of May 12th, 2014

Grade 8 Math:  pp. 89-90 # 3-9, 11,12 on Integers

Grade 7 Math:  p. 138 #1; p. 139 #1 ONLY on the area of Triangles

The homework for the Grade 7s involves calculating the area of a Triangle (there's that capital "T", I think I highly respect Triangles).  Since we just completed the area and perimeter of a rectangle, I thought I would naturally extend it to something closely related.  I gave the students an initial activity to see if they could solve a couple of challenges:

Once we get through this work (the initial calculations of the area), I will make the connection to Algebra.  This idea scares some of the students, but I am sure we will be able to do it.

I have tried to rotate some of the images, so you can see them the correct way, but I am having some difficulty setting them up properly.

I will upload them as they are and apologize for them being sideways.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Practice for 1 Point Perspective work

This is my 400th blog entry post.  Wow.  Time sure flies.

Here are a couple of shots of some students working on the completion of their One Point Perspective art.

This was not included in the original set of completed Media projects.

Tamar's spoken word advertisement.  You saw the video, right?

Wednesday, April 23, 2014 (with some good stuff on introducing Integers)

Here is a general video that will help the Grade 8s gradually make their way into the study of Integers.

If you think about this crazy weather (it getting warmer and colder), it is also a great way to learn about how Integers work.  Here is a web shot of Toronto's weather from http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/canada/ontario/toronto for April 23, 2014 at 7:07 AM.

To be continued.  I will probably come back to this post because of this great site on understanding Integers:
http://www.mathslideshows.com/products/integers

The 7s at work on a Math Exemplar assignment involving the design of a playground (consolidates Perimeter and Area concepts):

Some work on 1 Point Perspective Art (I don't think I need to capitalize this, but I think it is important and worthy of capitalization!).

Looking Good!  A rough copy with some descriptive feedback for the final copy.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Mrs. Cimesa had her last day today.  I wish I had had the sense to have all of the students come together, along with her, for a class photo.  What I will do it post the fruit of the work of a project they worked on over the past couple of weeks for the Media stand of Language Arts.  Here are photos I took of the projects.  The students received their grades for these assignments.  There are a couple of images missing from this set of photos.  I apologize for not having them up and will post them tomorrow.

The projects, grouped together.

I will be continuing Mrs. Cimesa's focus on Media Literacy as I return to some other curriculum areas and re-orient myself to teaching full days once again.

Today's journal looked like this:

To help the students along, I began a possible entry for them. 

As I mentioned in last week's blog entry, the Math tests were returned.   For the Grade 8s I decided that I would do a review of the most recent test.  I noticed a number of students had difficulty solving some of the lengths of the other sides of a right angle triangle when the hypotenuse was given.  Here is a sample image of what I am talking about:

 This came from http://ronblond.com/MathGlossary/Division03/Pythagorean%20Theorem/index.html

After the re-teach, we will have a re-test!

I was pleased to see a couple of new names on the Level 3 and higher result sheet for the Grade 7s.  Megan and Tamar joined Junior as recipients of marks higher than 70% .  Again, I am not stressing the mark, but I see the amount of effort they put into their Study Sheet and on the test.  Excellent role models!  

There is still the possibility of doing Rewrites for some students.  This requires a certain amount of effort and persistence.  They aren't due to till Thursday.  A sample of how to do one was jotted down on the board.

Until I post again.  Goodnight.