Friday, September 17, 2021

I have not uploaded a video to this blog for a while from my Google Drive and wanted to see if it worked: This short clip is from a History exercise which explored a series of 4 images using the "Big Paper" technique to record observations, ask questions and make comments. The images were then linked back to the 4 models of Historical Thinking that are used in the Ministry Curriculum:

Here is one of the examples of the page that was annotated upon:

Thursday, September 16, 2021

Hello. I have been in the process of getting Brightspace ready to share with the class. All of the Students will have some time to learn about this platform and how it will work with the subects we are learning this year. I have not posted a lot for this week but will add a few items now:

This photo relates to a Writing activity today. Once it is handed in, I will write some feedback to the Students and, in some cases, begin a conversation with them about some of the answers they wrote. Often, to get the ideas flowing, I will model some answers. Here is what I wrote:

A method of helping Students keep track of their work, in addition to using their Agendas, which I will be signing off of on Monday, is the classroom tracking chart. It becomes a way for Students to have a visual reminder of what they have and have not completed. I have been using it for 2o years now and it is looking a little rough, but it does the job. It does not include marks and either has a "happy face" to indicate a completed assignment or a blank to indicate that it has not been handed in.

Today, I reviewed, and will continue to review and speak to, the development of habits related to doing Homework. Here is the chart and steps I will keep coming back to:

I would characterize our first week of school for 21-22 to be about learning to stretch our minds once again, remembering how to think and how to develop some of the learning skills and work habits that may have been underused during the 20-21 school year. I am very pleased to be in Room 102 and enjoying the students in 8.2.

Friday, September 10 & COVID-19 Screening information

Over the next week, I plan to set up my Brightspace "shell" for the 20-21 school year and I will use this page, for now, as a way to communicate some important information.  If I can obtain access, we will take a look at my 20-21 shell and how I used it to format the subjects we will be learning this term.

Here is some critical information on Covid-19 screening posted up on the TDSB website and we will read through this together today.

A question was asked about the COVID-19 app and I forgot to answer it.  You will have to go to the Google Play Store or Apple App Store to obtain it:

  

Here is a shot of the 3 words describing some of your experiences of your COVID-19 story.  If you haven't done so, I would like you to put your name on the Post-It note.  If you still need to complete it, please obtain a Post-It.

Here are the Coat of Arms contributions, so far.  If you have not completed it, please make sure you have and hand it in and ensure your name is on your work of Art.  Thanks.

Looking ahead:  High School

I did mention that discussion around High Schools would start soon.  Honestly, it is better to start earlier, rather than later.  Here is the link to the Open Houses for the schools across the TDSB.  If you have a question or questions about a specific school, please ask me:

Click on the above image to access this site

Letter to June Self (first steps)

This lesson will continue on Monday.  For now, these 2 slides will be helpful to begin the brainstorming for your letter:

possible approaches to Brainstorming/pre-writing might look like:

We will return to this on Monday and formalize the next steps for this item of Writing.  This is homework and due on Monday.

Math Social Emotional Learning exercise (SEL)

The Social Emotional strand of Math was only introduced last year to the Elementary curriculum.  It is designed to tap into the range of emotions and thinking that may be present, when they are engaged with Mathematics.  This might include:

- being aware of methods and strategies for problem solving

-developing the ability to be reflective and make adjustments

- developing the skills to be resilient in the face of challenges

- managing emotions when becoming frustrated or feeling overwhelmed

Today, the Students were tasked with developing a chart with the 4 headings you see in the preceding photograph that relate to where they see Math, how they feel about Math, where a measure of Success has been, and where a struggle has been noted.  I will be reading their entries and returning them after.  This is homework and due on Monday.

On the eve of Day 1

This photo was taken last Spring, soon after I obtained the Grade 8 position.

 Hello.

There are so many new things that will be coming my way in the next little while and I am very excited about them.  First and foremost, I am glad to be a part of the Amesbury MS community and have been welcomed with open arms from Day 1.

There will be a lot of communication coming your way and I have not settled on what platform I will be using to stay in touch with families.  For sure, you can always reach me through my TDSB email.  More details to come.

Here are a few shots of our classroom:  Room 102. It underwent a massive cleaning last week.  This will be my first classroom in 4 years. I spent 1 year online in a Grade 8 Virtual School and 2 years in a Teacher-Coaching/Student Success Teacher role and am very pleased to be returning to the classroom.  This will be year #26 with the Toronto District School Board.

See you soon!