Welcome Back

Hello parents and students and welcome back to a great school year. I will try to post here once a week what we are doing and interesting links.

Socials 11

We have finished our politics unit already and have started history. We will be studying World War 1 for the next few weeks.  I will email marks home as soon as all your emails are imported into my computer.

In the meantime, here are a few links relevant to last week.

http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2013/09/18/Break-Residential-Schools-Dark-Legacy-Understand-Why/

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/thewest/Video+Thousands+brave+weather+reconciliation+walk/8944592/story.html

Socials 9

Due to the as yet mysterious to me Friday rotating schedule, I haven't seen this class since Wednesday and won't until next Wednesday. We are studying First Nations of Canada and will soon move to a pre-contact map of Canada.

English 9

We are reading Night by Elie Wiesel and writing personal narratives. We are going on a field trip Tuesday to the Gibsons Public Library. Don't forget your permission form!

English 8

Our class has just been split in half and we now have a wonderful class size of seventeen, and everyone now speaks up. We are in a Heroes and Idols unit, reading non-fiction accounts of Canadian heroes and learning note taking techniques. Next week we will begin paragraph writing and have a library tour.

EXAMS

English 8 B-1:  Monday, third block. Upstairs in Mr. MacDonald's room.

English 9 B-2: Monday, fourth block. Upstairs in Mr. MacDonald's room.

English 8 C-1:  Tuesday, second block. Our classroom 108.

Socials 11 Provincial Exam:  Friday, 8:45. Library.

Final English Assignment

Charming Chapbooks

Today was the last day of classes and exams start Monday. I have a lot of marking to do in the next week, then report card marks, work habits and comments to input, then more marking of provincial exams. However, I don't feel too overwhelmed this weekend because the marking consists of these beautiful little chapbooks written by my grade 8 and 9 students. 

After weeks of writing and revising poems, I booked the computer cart and showed them how to align their pages landscape wise and choose two columns.  Then how to photocopy two sided to make book like pages. I gave them card stock paper for the covers and showed them how to bind them with embroidering thread and bought. Some ran out of time and used the long armed stapler, which is OK, too.

A lot of the poem assignments are from the old classic, Rose, Where Did You Get that Red? And others are from Georgia Heard's books about teaching poetry writing.  Maybe because we read so many poems as a class, maybe because they know I am a poet, maybe because they are young and full of imagination, they took to writing and constructing poetry books naturally.

These books are pretty to have in the house, and I know it won't feel like a chore to mark them. Each has a BC English Curriculum rubric tucked inside so I won't mar the books themselves with marks. They all need them back Monday for their portfolio exam.

May 9

Socials 11

Some students came to the all candidates meeting last night and got bonus marks. Others should look for it on Coast Cable. Politics test and student vote Monday.

English 8 and 9

Students have begun writing poetry with a class found poem and their own found poem.

May 2

I am in the Okanagan at a workshop led by Lorna Crozier, one of Canada's best writer's and recent winner of the Lieutenant Governor's award for lifetime achievement in literature. On Monday I will be at Chatelech discussing evaluating writing with other teachers.

English 8 and 9

Next week we will shift from responding to poetry to writing it. I will take their notebooks in one more time for a mark, then they will continue using them to draft poems.

Socials 11

Today students watched the televised leaders' debate and Friday will research political parties. Tuesday night at 7 there is an all candidates meeting at the Gumboot in Roberts Creek and Wednesday night at 7 there is one at the Gibsons Legion. I have asked students to try to attend one of these in our study of politics. Chapter 9 questions are due Tuesday.

April 25

English 8 & 9

Our poetry unit continues amid great student enthusiasm for poetry which is heartening for their teacher. My English 9 class, in particular, is having mature and introspective class discussions about poetry.  They are filling up their Hilroy notebooks with glued-in poems, notes and paragraphs, which I am collecting this weekend for an initial, formative evaluation.  After about one more week, students will choose one of their paragraph responses to expand in a good copy, then we will start writing poems.

Social Studies 11

Test on Chapters 6, 7 and 8 is tomorrow: Friday, April 26, last block. There will be 50 multiple choice questions and two written answers.  Note for students reading this blog: Aboriginal people in Canada won the vote in 1960.  (We ran out of time in our review today.) Now we are finished history!

Next week we start our Canadian politics unit and will be participating in Student Vote activities which will liven it up a bit. The politics unit is only three chapters (and three weeks) long: 9,10, and 12.  (Law in chapter 11 is no longer in the course.)  Also, there is no essay on politics on the provincial exam, so we will just be focussing on facts.

April 18

English 8 and 9

Both grades are in a poetry unit this term, and the school has bought each a Hilroy booklet for their poetry work. It would be helpful if students brought their own glue sticks as the school ones run out quickly. Right now we are reading and responding to poems, and later students will write them. The grade 9s are using a new grade 9/10 anthology called Live Lines and the grade 8s are using a special children's edition of Arc Poetry Magazine, in addition to the old tattered anthologies published in the 1960s.  Some days students write a response to a poem. As the term goes on, they will write more. Ask your child to describe the IQIQU reading strategy and to show you his or her pocket poem.

 

Social Studies 11

We continue to focus on post-war Canada, this week on Canadian Identity. What does it mean to be a Canadian? Questions are due Monday. The next test will be on Friday, April 26. This is a fast moving, very full course. Keep up the good work, everyone!

And here is a handy glossary of terms and definitions needed for the exam.

End of Term 3

English 8 and 9

All projects for English 8 and 9 must be handed in by Friday, April 5 to be included on the term 3 report card.  Next week we start the poetry unit in both grades – my favourite!

Brendan McLeod, famous Canadian slam poet, will be performing Saturday night at 7:00 in the new Gibsons Public Library. The event is free. I hope you can bring your child.

Also, next Thursday, block B1 will hear Governer General Award Winning Author Susin Neilsen read in the Elphinstone library.

Socials 11

On Monday students wrote a big unit test and now we are zipping through the cold war, if you can imagine going from the creation of the United Nations to the Bosnian War in just a few days!  They should be reading their text book and reviewing their notes every night and have four paragraphs to write this week as well as a timeline, which we are mostly completing in class.

Happy Easter Weekend

Even though it is a long weekend, end of term is near, so here are a few notes:

Socials 11

What a great day this week with the veterans! You did a wonderful job. Please see photos on my last blog post and the school district website. 

Midterm Test Tuesday on the 20s, 30s, 40s. 40 Multiple choice and 2 written answers. 

Tips: study your maps & even though the stock market crash was not the only cause of the Great Depression, buying stocks on margin was an important cause.

English 9

Fantastic acting of Human Slide Show of A Midsummer Night's Dream today on the courtyard stage. Unfortunately, I left my camera in my bag!  One more assignment to go next week, comparing elements of the two movie versions.

English 8

We are working on our final literature circle project: What helps your character survive? It is a theme based project which includes visual and written elements. If you haven't finished your novel yet, finish this weekend!

World War II Veterans Visit Socials 11

Conducting Interviews as Part of Research

On Tuesday, March 26, my Elphintone Secondary Socials 11 class was very honoured to receive seven World War II veterans as guests.  We began with each guest telling a bit about their story of involvement in the war. That part was attended by two other classes and filmed by Ms. Doerksen. Also, the ACE-IT program provided tea, cookies and tarts.  Thank you everyone!

Panel of veterans before the talk.

Students enjoying tea and snacks just before the presentation.

Then my class broke up into groups and interviewed individuals while recording the interviews using "Garage Band" on the laptops. Thanks to Mr. Daniels for helping us set up the computers for the interviews and showing us how to save the interviews on a disc afterward. In addition to saving these primary accounts for future classes, students will write and present reflections on their interviews.

March 7

English 9

Students have now completed three pieces of writing related to A Midsummer Night's Dream, and an analysis of a painting of Titania. Next week, we have computers for two classes, and students will produce a good copy of two of these pieces.

English 8

Students wrote a character analysis this week for their literature circle novel. Next they will write about their connections to the book. All students should finish at least one book before spring break so they are ready for the project after spring break.

Social Studies 11

We have wrapped up our study of the Great Depression this week by analyzing 1930s photos of the lower Sunshine Coast by Helen McCall; tomorrow we will fill in an impact chart for the Great Depression. Next week we will start World War II. In preparation, I will post here the youtube channel of my colleague, Jeff Marshall, were you can find three in-depth slide shows on each of these battles:  Dieppe, Italian Campaign, and The Battle of the Atlantic. http://www.youtube.com/user/williamjeffmarshall?feature=watch

February 28

English 9

We continue studying A Midsummer Night's Dream, reading passages, comparing movie scenes, and writing about the play. Today we analyzed Oberon's thoughts with the "What was he Thinking?" strategy. Students are reading independent novels in silent reading time. Also this week one of our classes was taken up by the Science 9 fair.  Everyone should have their opinion writing and creative 'poem' done in draft form.

English 8

Students continue reading their literature circle novels and having small group discussions, which they self evaluate. They are finishing the final copy of their survival writing, word processed.  Next is a character portrait.

Social Studies 11

Students are working on a timeline of Canada's autonomy from 1914-1931 as a review of the last few weeks when we studied World War 1 and the twenties, and also to think historically about one of the key concepts of the course: autonomy and political development.  Each week, students should be reading one chapter of the textbook. Next week, we are focussing on chapter 4, The Thirties, which students may preview this weekend. By preview, I mean students should look at all the pictures, maps, graphs, cartoons, and subheadings in the chapter.

On Monday, we looked at seven Depression Ear photos by Dorothea Lange and made notes about observations and inferences about daily life in the Depression from the photos. Here they are for those who were away or who did not have enough time.

Also homework this weekend is the autonomy timeline and choosing the top three events.  For any extra information, please see The Canadian Encyclopedia.

Our principal has ordered us a class set of additional student workbooks, a sample of which students tried today.  Thank you!

February 21

English 9

We are studying A Midsummer Night's Dream, reading passages, comparing movie scenes, and writing  about the play. Students are reading independent novels in silent reading time.

English 8

Students have begun reading literature circle novels and beginning small group discussions, which they self evaluate.  Their written responses so far have been predictions and they are finishing their survival writing drafts, preparing to word process a final copy.

Social Studies 11

TEST TOMORROW!  We have finished our study of World War One and next week move on to the Roaring Twenties.  Each week students have questions to compose and answer.
http://www.youtube.com/user/williamjeffmarshall?feature=watch

This is a youtube channel my colleague, Jeff Marshall made. If you scroll down, you will see the pre-WW1 map lesson we watched a few weeks ago and the "Steps to Canadian Autonomy in the 1920s" one we will watch Tuesday, Feb. 26.

February 14

English 9

As a pre-reading exercise for A Midsummer Night's Dream, we have been debating the question, "Should parents have complete control over their children?" What a spirited class discussion we had yesterday on that topic! Students had filled in a yellow 'Thinking Yes...Thinking No' sheet of notes for both sides of the argument prior to the discussion, and afterwards, filled in the planning sheet on the back, so they are all ready to write next class.  We will be completing a written composition every two weeks through this term, completing one step of the writing process each day. (Planning, writing, more writing, revising, and publishing.)
Tomorrow we will also begin watching A Midsummer Night's Dream.  We will watch two versions in bits and compare scenes as we read over the unit:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0140379/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026714/

Please ask your child about the play and which movie versions he/she enjoys, and ask them about their writing topic of the fortnight, to use a Shakespearian term.

English 8

Student are participating in a Book Pass Review, in which they have 2 minutes to read a passage from seven or eight novels and rate them for interest level and difficulty.  Then they choose the book they want to read this term.  At the same time, this week they have completed a planning sheet on the topic of What helps you survive: hope, knowledge, friendship, or one other thing? Then they have started writing on this topic.  Like the grade 9s, we will be completing a written composition every two weeks through this term, completing one step of the writing process each day. (Planning, writing, more writing, revising, and publishing.)

Social Studies 11

This week we have focussed on World War 1: the causes, main battles for Canada, general warfare of the era, and the ending. Students completed a map of the pre-war European alliances, viewed clips from the DVD, Canada: A Peoples' History, and made notes.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1948280/

Tonight they are to go to webpages specified on their notes to find points to add about each battle a few other topics. (We lost a class today due to course selection.)  Tomorrow students will learn to make questions at literal and inferential levels and will have to answer them for Monday. On Monday, we will focus on the homefront.  At the end of next week, there will be a test on the pre-war period and WW1.

Students should be reviewing their notes or reading sections of the textbook every night.

I have also recommended that they watch the movie Passchendaele.  It does have some PG scenes, but  provides a great social history of Canada during the war as well as enriching their knowledge of the war specifics. We had time to watch only one battle scene in class.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1092082/

A New Term Begins

Marks are now all in officially and report cards will go home February 20.  There was no blog last week as I was busy preparing marks for report cards.

English 9

In English 9, we are beginning our A Midsummer Night's Dream Unit.  We begin by viewing images from the play and asking questions and having class discussions and writing about issues raised in the play.  We are also practicing sentence combining to improve the quality of students' written sentences.

English 8

In English 8 we are beginning our literature circles unit on survival by having class discussions and writing about this theme, and listening to previews of the books to choose from. We are also practicing sentence combining to improve the quality of students' written sentences.

Social Studies 11

Welcome to Socials 11. We are proceeding at the breakneck speed of one textbook chapter a week, so this week we have studied the pre-World War 1 era in Canada. We have examined primary documents, viewed movies, made up questions, answered questions, and analyzed one aspect of our text book. Every week students will have notes on the learning outcomes in the chapter necessary to study for the exam.  I have asked students to review this weeks' notes on the weekend, and make flashcards on the key terms if that is their best study method.  I have also asked them to preview chapter 2 on World War 1, by which I mean look at the subheadings, pictures and maps throughout the chapter to be ready to learn about World War 1 next week.  Also, students should finish the sheet analyzing the textbook's coverage of suffrage in light of the primary documents analysed.

Dulce et Decorum Est A poem to start thinking about WW1.

Please consider subscribing to this blog if you want to keep up with what is going on in the classroom. I update it once a week on Thursday night.

One Last Goodbye to Drama 9

Drama 9

Although Drama 9 is over now, here are some sweet thank you letters from our elementary school audience.

Letters posted in the hall.

Mini letters posted in my room.

Jack and the Beanstalk

Drama 9 Performance Photos

Today the Drama 9 class performed Jack and the Beanstalk to a huge audience from Gibsons Elementary and did a great job, wowing the audience. I managed to take a few photos from where I was pinned at the side. I'm sorry that I missed some. I took a few with backs to the camera so am not posting those and there is some blur, as everyone was moving quickly.

Congratulations everyone! You were fantastic.

Jack's mother (Parker) tells Jack (Dexter) to sell the cow (Thalia.) Abbey and Kody are in the sound crew.

Ri, the beanstalk, all lit up.  "Ooh, Ah," said the audience.

Fee Fi Fo Fum, says  the giant (Chris) to his wife (Morgan.)

The giant demands the hens (Harrison and Josh) lay golden eggs. 

The attentive primary audience. 

The giant demands the golden harp (Reegan) sing. Storytellers Katie and Audree are visible, too.

Thank you to Dominique's School of Dance, for providing so many of the costumes, including the vine and the story tellers' fairy costumes.

End of Term

Wow, we found out on Monday what the most basic needs of students are: not self-actualization through education, not even the sense of belonging in classes and with friends. No, it is running water for the physiological need of thirst and the health safety need of cleanliness!

In English 9 we have been looking at Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs in relation to the survival of the characters in our novels.  English 8 will be looking at in in the literature circle unit next term.

There is only one week left of classes before the end of term. All junior students go to class as usual next week, but not on Friday, which is semester turn around day.  Please note the change of block order on Wednesday and Thursday.

Today students received their second semester timetables and were advised to photograph them or copy down the new information because the school cannot afford to print extra copies for those who have lost them.

English 9

Students are working on several wrap up projects for the literature circle unit: 

1. A poster and an essay which goes with it. We have the computers tomorrow afternoon to work on the final draft of the essay. Both essay and poster should be finished at home over the weekend.

2. A talk show style performance in a group.  Students have formed groups, chosen roles to play and started to write their scripts. They will finish up and rehearse Tuesday and perform Wednesday.

English 8

Students are revising their memoirs. This week, adding sensory detail and precise vocabulary.  The package of drafts including the final draft is due next week.

French 9

We continue to wrap up the food unit is preparation for the unit test in early February with Madame Keller. I have enjoyed teaching these students and know they are very lucky to have such a great French teacher as Madame Keller for the second half of the year.

Drama 9

Our first performance of Jack in the Beanstalk was today for the Cougar Crossing Class and it was fantastic.  If you can make it Monday morning at 9:20 we will be doing a final performance for four classes of primary students from Gibsons Elementary at that time and hope you can make it.  The students are very entertaining.

January 17

English 9:  Students are now working on a final project for the literature circle unit:  a poster showing what helped their character survive and an essay explaining it.  These are due Friday, January 25. Next week they will start their second project, a group "talk show" oral presentation. They have seen a sample from a previous year and will receive an assignment sheet next week.  The performances will be on Wednesday, January 30, which is our last class of the term.

English 8:  Students have just completed the first draft of their memoir. Next class they will practice using the rubric which I will use to mark it.  The final draft is due Wednesday, January 30 for block B1 and Thursday, January 31 for block C2.

French 9:  We have only five more classes together before the class moves next door to Madame Keller.  The food unit test will be in early February with her. We will spend the rest of our days finishing the food unit.

Drama 9:  We aslo have only 5 more classes until this class is over!  Our production of Jack in the Beanstalk is looking good.  We will have two performances:  Thursday, January 24, at 10:30 for the Cougar Crossing students and Monday, January 28 at 9:25 for the primary students of Gibsons Elementary. Parents of the grade 9s are invited to attend either of these two performances.  We would like to thank Dominique's School of Dance for lending us so many of the costumes!

Happy New Year

Welcome back to school!

English 9:  This week we are writing a rough draft of a five paragraph essay about survival in a novel from the literature circle unit. This is the first time students have written a five paragraph essay so we are going slowly and learning it thoroughly. Next week we will work on the good copy and the poster part of the project.

English 8:  This week we began a memoir writing unit with discussions of different scenarios and what the students thought the person should say. (eg:  your friend asks you if you like her outfit. You don't think it looks flattering. What should you say.) The class discussions were lively and full of varied opinions. We also discussed a short story with a moral dilemma. Then students brainstormed topics for memoirs around issues of lies and truth telling.  Next week students will choose one topic to begin webbing and writing.

French 9:  On Wednesday the Maple Man came to Elphinstone to explain how maple syrup is made and the culture surrounding it. Students all got to taste maple candy.  Thanks to Suzanne Keller for organizing this event. Please ask your child about it.  In class, we are learning the new verbs VOULOIR (to want) and POUVOIR (to be able to) in the food unit.

Drama 9: This week we practiced speed performances of our play, Jack in the Beanstalk.  This strategy was very helpful. Next week, everyone but the sound crew and the narrators will be off script.