English 9: Students have 5 responses to hand before the holidays. Please ask to see the Literature Circle Assignment sheet. Anyone who hasn't finished reading at least one novel yet should finish one over the holidays to be ready for the final projects in January.
English 8: Students are working on their Greek myth "What? So What?" brochures (please ask them to see pink assignment sheet) which is due the last class before the holidays: December 20 for block C2 and December 21 for block B1.
French 9: We have begun the food unit and are enjoying the new resources the French department has purchased. Students have a quiz on the first 10 vocabulary words Monday and have a sheet with those words to study.
Drama 9: This week we were focussing on adding slapstick to our play.
Thursday 13 December 2012
Thursday 6 December 2012
December 6
Today is my grandma's 100th birthday. I wish us all a life so long and full of learning.
Today is also the anniversary of the Montreal massacre and I remember those young girls, all about my age, murdered for wanting an education.
I have been very sick this week but have only ended up missing one and one half days and am grateful for the competent T.O.C.s who filled in for me without missing a beat.
English 8: This week we read the last myth in our little booklet, "Psyche." We will now wrap up the unit and start our final project, "What? So What?" which will be due before the Christmas break. Block B1 will start Friday and block C2 will start Monday.
English 9: Thank you, Ms. Clarke, for the two C.C. Humphries book prizes donated to our class today! This week students learned a simplified version of Bloom's taxonomy of thinking called "99 cents worth of questions" and have started composing questions of different complexity levels about their novels and answering them. They are working on their third response for homework, due Monday. Next week they will focus their questions on Character and write a character response.
French 9: This week we have focussed on review for our clothing unit test, tomorrow: Friday, December 7. All clothing written projects should now be handed in. Most are on the wall. Next week, we will begin vocabulary for the food unit. Please get your child to read the French labels on food in your kitchen.
Drama 9: I have missed two Drama classes this week due to sickness but progress on our play continues. In addition, I have asked students to prepare tableaux of "Jack in the Beanstalk" to make sure everyone knows the storyline inside and out. They will perform these tomorrow, Friday.
Today is also the anniversary of the Montreal massacre and I remember those young girls, all about my age, murdered for wanting an education.
I have been very sick this week but have only ended up missing one and one half days and am grateful for the competent T.O.C.s who filled in for me without missing a beat.
English 8: This week we read the last myth in our little booklet, "Psyche." We will now wrap up the unit and start our final project, "What? So What?" which will be due before the Christmas break. Block B1 will start Friday and block C2 will start Monday.
English 9: Thank you, Ms. Clarke, for the two C.C. Humphries book prizes donated to our class today! This week students learned a simplified version of Bloom's taxonomy of thinking called "99 cents worth of questions" and have started composing questions of different complexity levels about their novels and answering them. They are working on their third response for homework, due Monday. Next week they will focus their questions on Character and write a character response.
French 9: This week we have focussed on review for our clothing unit test, tomorrow: Friday, December 7. All clothing written projects should now be handed in. Most are on the wall. Next week, we will begin vocabulary for the food unit. Please get your child to read the French labels on food in your kitchen.
Drama 9: I have missed two Drama classes this week due to sickness but progress on our play continues. In addition, I have asked students to prepare tableaux of "Jack in the Beanstalk" to make sure everyone knows the storyline inside and out. They will perform these tomorrow, Friday.
Thursday 29 November 2012
November 29
It was so nice to meet many of you in the gym last night.
English 8: We are nearing the end of our myth reading. The last two paragraphs students write, on Theseus and Psyche, will be evaluated for quality using "I Can" sheets. During the last two weeks before the winter holiday, students will work on the myth "What? So What?" project, which will be due before the holidays start.
English 9: Our literature circles are well underway. Students are reading, making up questions, discussing in small groups, and writing about their novel. Last class we had a full class discussion on some of the themes in the novels. Students will write a response for evaluation Friday. The large project for this unit will be after the holidays.
Drama 9: Rehearsals of "Jack in the Beanstalk" continue. We will perform in January on two dates, TBA, and parents are welcome to attend either.
French 9: Students have handed in their clothing project and are working on their crossword package up to p. 7 on the weekend for review. Our large unit test will be next Friday.
English 8: We are nearing the end of our myth reading. The last two paragraphs students write, on Theseus and Psyche, will be evaluated for quality using "I Can" sheets. During the last two weeks before the winter holiday, students will work on the myth "What? So What?" project, which will be due before the holidays start.
English 9: Our literature circles are well underway. Students are reading, making up questions, discussing in small groups, and writing about their novel. Last class we had a full class discussion on some of the themes in the novels. Students will write a response for evaluation Friday. The large project for this unit will be after the holidays.
Drama 9: Rehearsals of "Jack in the Beanstalk" continue. We will perform in January on two dates, TBA, and parents are welcome to attend either.
French 9: Students have handed in their clothing project and are working on their crossword package up to p. 7 on the weekend for review. Our large unit test will be next Friday.
Thursday 22 November 2012
Report Card Time
Please accept my apologies for my lapsed blog last week; I was overwhelmed with report cards. Speaking of which, report cards will be going home Tuesday. I hope to meet you in the gym Wednesday night, November 28, between 5:30 and 7:30, for parent-teacher interviews.
Professional News:
On Monday, I will be at Chatelech, meeting with other secondary English teachers in our inquiry study group. My research question focusses on teaching writing. On Thursday, I will be in Burnaby with other Elphinstone teachers at a presentation about new assessment methods. And on a personal professional note, the poetry anthology Desperately Seeking Susans has been released, containing one of my poems.
English 8
We are now well into our myth unit, practicing the 'making up our own questions' strategy and learning how to write responses. We have read Demeter and Persephone, Orpheus, Echo and Narcissus, and at the end of this week, Daedalus and Icarus. Students have seen a sample of the unit's final project, "What? So What?" and will receive an assignment sheet in the next few weeks. In addition, they will revise one of their responses to a good copy for evaluation.
English 9
After great anticipation, students have received their literature circle novels and have begun reading.
Here are the books students have chosen. Please ask your child which one he/she is reading.
They are writing questions on small sticky notes and sticking them in the books beside quotations, which they will use in small group discussions and to help them write responses. Last class we wrote a practice response to a short story together. Students will write one or two responses a week. The theme of the unit is justice and overcoming difficulties.
French 9
Students have finished their rough copy of their clothing assignment paragraphs and will work on the good copy next week. The Clothing Unit Test will be in early December.
Drama 9
We have begun rehearsing our play, Jack and the Beanstalk, and will be performing it in January for three classes of grades one and two from Gibsons Elementary. Some students have chosen speaking parts, some non-speaking parts, and some to be in the sound crew. Students received a copy of the BC Drama Teachers Association rubric so that they know how they will be marked on the play. The play will be our focus this term, and the finale of the two-term course.
Professional News:
On Monday, I will be at Chatelech, meeting with other secondary English teachers in our inquiry study group. My research question focusses on teaching writing. On Thursday, I will be in Burnaby with other Elphinstone teachers at a presentation about new assessment methods. And on a personal professional note, the poetry anthology Desperately Seeking Susans has been released, containing one of my poems.
English 8
We are now well into our myth unit, practicing the 'making up our own questions' strategy and learning how to write responses. We have read Demeter and Persephone, Orpheus, Echo and Narcissus, and at the end of this week, Daedalus and Icarus. Students have seen a sample of the unit's final project, "What? So What?" and will receive an assignment sheet in the next few weeks. In addition, they will revise one of their responses to a good copy for evaluation.
English 9
After great anticipation, students have received their literature circle novels and have begun reading.
Here are the books students have chosen. Please ask your child which one he/she is reading.
They are writing questions on small sticky notes and sticking them in the books beside quotations, which they will use in small group discussions and to help them write responses. Last class we wrote a practice response to a short story together. Students will write one or two responses a week. The theme of the unit is justice and overcoming difficulties.
French 9
Students have finished their rough copy of their clothing assignment paragraphs and will work on the good copy next week. The Clothing Unit Test will be in early December.
Drama 9
We have begun rehearsing our play, Jack and the Beanstalk, and will be performing it in January for three classes of grades one and two from Gibsons Elementary. Some students have chosen speaking parts, some non-speaking parts, and some to be in the sound crew. Students received a copy of the BC Drama Teachers Association rubric so that they know how they will be marked on the play. The play will be our focus this term, and the finale of the two-term course.
Thursday 8 November 2012
November 8
Happy Long Weekend, everyone.
English 9: Memoir assignments should all be handed in now. Next week we will write about Night, which everyone should have finished by now. On Thursday, we will begin our literature circle unit on justice and overcoming hardship.
English 8: We have started our myth unit. Students will receive a small packet of myths which they can highlight. Please make sure your child has a highlighter. The reading strategy we will be focussing on is asking our own questions.
French 9: Students have loved setting up their clothing stores. Next week, they will use the pictures of clothes they have "bought" to create their own dream outfits, which they will describe in French.
Drama 9: This week we finish with our tableaux and next week we will choose which fable we will perform in January.
I will email home term marks in about one week.
English 9: Memoir assignments should all be handed in now. Next week we will write about Night, which everyone should have finished by now. On Thursday, we will begin our literature circle unit on justice and overcoming hardship.
English 8: We have started our myth unit. Students will receive a small packet of myths which they can highlight. Please make sure your child has a highlighter. The reading strategy we will be focussing on is asking our own questions.
French 9: Students have loved setting up their clothing stores. Next week, they will use the pictures of clothes they have "bought" to create their own dream outfits, which they will describe in French.
Drama 9: This week we finish with our tableaux and next week we will choose which fable we will perform in January.
I will email home term marks in about one week.
Thursday 1 November 2012
End of Term One is Near
Here is the official Coast Reads Website
http://www.coastreads.org/
Many students in Grade 8 and 9 are reading The Hunt of the Unicorn, one of the Coast Reads books. If parents are interested in reading any of these books, they are also available at the public libraries.
English 9: We are now working on the final draft of one of the memoirs. We have the laptops everyday and many students are opting to use them. It is very important that they bring their flash drives to class or are able to use cloud saving, so that they can work on them at home, too. On Friday, November 2 they will receive a yellow rubric. The due date is Friday, November 9, which is also the last day of Term 1, so late assignments will not be able to be included on the report card.
English 8: Our myth unit has begun with Demeter and Persephone and the IQIQU reading strategy. Last class we experienced fun library stations related to the novel The Hunt of the Unicorn. I am encouraging students to read a novel with a mythology theme during this unit and have provided class sets of Tuck Everlasting and The Lightning Thief. All three of these novels are at a similar reading level, so we will also access library books until more English department novels are purchased, to make sure everyone can find a novel at his or her reading level. http://lexile.com/ is a website that will tell the relative reading level of any book. English 8 C-2 will get to meet C.C. Humphries, the author of The Hunt of the Unicorn, in the Elphinstone Library on Thursday.
French 9: This week we have been focussing on verbs, reviewing conjugation patterns for RE verbs and learning the pattern for RE verbs. We also learned how to use the future tense with ALLER + another verb. Students visited the Louvre online, chose a painting they liked, and wrote sentences to describe the painting, using new vocabulary. Next week we will play a shopping game using cut out pictures of clothes.
Drama 9: We are making progress on our "Take 10" tableaux, which we will perform at the end of next week. We are making plans for next term, and will soon choose a scripted play to perform for younger audiences in January.
First term ends on Friday, November 9 and I will email term marks about a week later. Report cards will be handed to students on November 27. I look forward to meeting you at Parent/Teacher night, November 28 from 5:30 to 7:30.
http://www.coastreads.org/
Many students in Grade 8 and 9 are reading The Hunt of the Unicorn, one of the Coast Reads books. If parents are interested in reading any of these books, they are also available at the public libraries.
English 9: We are now working on the final draft of one of the memoirs. We have the laptops everyday and many students are opting to use them. It is very important that they bring their flash drives to class or are able to use cloud saving, so that they can work on them at home, too. On Friday, November 2 they will receive a yellow rubric. The due date is Friday, November 9, which is also the last day of Term 1, so late assignments will not be able to be included on the report card.
English 8: Our myth unit has begun with Demeter and Persephone and the IQIQU reading strategy. Last class we experienced fun library stations related to the novel The Hunt of the Unicorn. I am encouraging students to read a novel with a mythology theme during this unit and have provided class sets of Tuck Everlasting and The Lightning Thief. All three of these novels are at a similar reading level, so we will also access library books until more English department novels are purchased, to make sure everyone can find a novel at his or her reading level. http://lexile.com/ is a website that will tell the relative reading level of any book. English 8 C-2 will get to meet C.C. Humphries, the author of The Hunt of the Unicorn, in the Elphinstone Library on Thursday.
French 9: This week we have been focussing on verbs, reviewing conjugation patterns for RE verbs and learning the pattern for RE verbs. We also learned how to use the future tense with ALLER + another verb. Students visited the Louvre online, chose a painting they liked, and wrote sentences to describe the painting, using new vocabulary. Next week we will play a shopping game using cut out pictures of clothes.
Drama 9: We are making progress on our "Take 10" tableaux, which we will perform at the end of next week. We are making plans for next term, and will soon choose a scripted play to perform for younger audiences in January.
First term ends on Friday, November 9 and I will email term marks about a week later. Report cards will be handed to students on November 27. I look forward to meeting you at Parent/Teacher night, November 28 from 5:30 to 7:30.
Wednesday 24 October 2012
October 24
All classes: Expect emailed missing assignment lists soon.
English 9: We saw Mending Fences at the Heritage Playhouse last class and received positive feedback about student behaviour. This week we are starting to revise one of our memoir drafts into a larger piece of writing.
English 8: Next week we are visiting the library for an introduction to Coast Reads, and beginning our mythology unit. Welcome block C2 to room 108!
Here is the Gibsons Public Library web page explaining the Coast Reads program:
http://gibsons.bclibrary.ca/teens/coast-reads-literacy-program
French 9: We are practicing adjectives and colours and reviewing avoir, etre, and aller. Next class we will visit the Louvre online and write about a painting using these words. Please allow your child to cut pictures of clothes out of magazines and catalogues to bring to school.
Drama 9: We have begun work on our Take 10 tableaux.
Friday 12 October 2012
October 12
English 9: Students are working on their fourth and final small memoir. Next week we will begin our large memoir assignment. October 23 we go to the Heritage Playhouse to see Mending Fences. Please send in the permission slip if you haven't already.
English 8: Students are researching their own hero and idol, about whom they will write an opinion piece.
French 9: Students just had a quiz on some clothing terms and are learning the position of French adjectives.
Drama 9: Students are working on a small restaurant skit which they wrote themselves in pairs. They will perform for marks on October 17.
I will be emailing interm marks for English and French home next week.
Next Friday I am off to Burnaby to the BC Teachers of English and Language Arts Conference.
English 8: Students are researching their own hero and idol, about whom they will write an opinion piece.
French 9: Students just had a quiz on some clothing terms and are learning the position of French adjectives.
Drama 9: Students are working on a small restaurant skit which they wrote themselves in pairs. They will perform for marks on October 17.
I will be emailing interm marks for English and French home next week.
Next Friday I am off to Burnaby to the BC Teachers of English and Language Arts Conference.
Friday 5 October 2012
Happy Thanksgiving!
English 9: Students are deeply into Night by Elie Wiesel, begging for more silent reading time even last block Friday before the long weekend, and reading absolutely quietly for almost half an hour in the courtyard until 3:00! They have now written three small memoirs. Next week: "My Bad Day" or "My Tough Decision,'' due Tuesday, October 16.
English 8: We are nearing the end of our Heroes and Idols unit. Students have written a "Power Paragraph" plan about the originators of the Pink T-shirt Campaign and will write the paragraph next class. Then they will write about their own personal hero.
French 9: Students are memorizing articles of clothing in French and collecting pictures of clothes for a shopping game. There will be a small quiz next Thursday, October 11. They love clothing bingo and are very good and the spelling name guessing game. Thanks to Madame Van Bemmel for lending us the silent reading books.
Drama 9: Students are really getting comfortable with each other and with drama. Next week we will begin small restaurant skits, which they will write with a partner, rehearse and perform.
English 8: We are nearing the end of our Heroes and Idols unit. Students have written a "Power Paragraph" plan about the originators of the Pink T-shirt Campaign and will write the paragraph next class. Then they will write about their own personal hero.
French 9: Students are memorizing articles of clothing in French and collecting pictures of clothes for a shopping game. There will be a small quiz next Thursday, October 11. They love clothing bingo and are very good and the spelling name guessing game. Thanks to Madame Van Bemmel for lending us the silent reading books.
Drama 9: Students are really getting comfortable with each other and with drama. Next week we will begin small restaurant skits, which they will write with a partner, rehearse and perform.
Thursday 27 September 2012
September 27
English 9: Students have received a copy of Night by Eli Wiesel, a memoir which they will be reading in silent reading, beginning next week for the first fifteen minutes of class, and at home. I will be asking them to reflect on how it is written and what they can learn from it in writing their own memoirs. Today they handed in their 'connecting to a friend' memoir with a peer edit sheet and self evaluation.
They also received sheets for keeping track of books read and writing pieces written.
English 8: Students have had a library orientation and have begun silent reading for the first fifteen minutes of class with their library books. They received a sheet for keeping track of books read. They are in the middle of writing a press release, using the school laptops, which should be finished over the weekend if not in class Friday.
French 9: Students have handed in their La Famille posters and presented them to a small group and to me for oral evaluation. Thank you for sharing your family photos!
Friday we begin our "On fait les magasins" (We go clothes shopping)! unit.
Drama 9: Students have completed their first performance: readers theatre poetry. They love the warm up drama games. This week we are focussing on improv activities.
Tuesday 18 September 2012
Welcome
Hello, I will post what we are studying in class and homework here.
English 9: We are in a Memoir writing unit and students will be writing one short memoir every week or so.
English 8. We are studying Heroes and Idols and will be writing a press release on Friday.
French 9: We are reviewing La Famille and working on a family tree project.
Drama 9: We are rehearsing readers' theatre poems and will perform them on Friday.
English 9: We are in a Memoir writing unit and students will be writing one short memoir every week or so.
English 8. We are studying Heroes and Idols and will be writing a press release on Friday.
French 9: We are reviewing La Famille and working on a family tree project.
Drama 9: We are rehearsing readers' theatre poems and will perform them on Friday.
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