Well, there's no homework over Halloween weekend, that is, no more than what I have already assigned. See previous blog posts.
However, I did assign a booktalk due on November 24. The students can get a good headstart on this. This is a copy of the handout I passed out today.
Mr. Cook’s Grade 7 Book Talks – Due Monday, November 24, 2008
What is a booktalk?
I like to use the analogy of a movie trailer. The purpose of a booktalk is to "sell" the book. You want to give enough of the plot to interest the listeners but you are not giving a summary of the book. You don't want to give away the important parts of the book. You certainly never want to give away the ending. You want to highlight the interesting points. You may want to read certain passages to your listeners. The main purpose of a booktalk is to grab the audience's interest and make them want to read the book.
Here is what I want in a booktalk:
1. Title of the book.
2. Name and biography of the author.
3. Genre (type) of book.
4. Where you located this book and why you chose it.
5. Brief plot summary. Describe what happened in the story. Do not reveal the ending of the book. Instead, make us want to read it!
6. Personal analysis. ( In ten sentences, tell what you thought of the book. Comment on the strengths and weaknesses, or good or bad points of this book. Tell why you would or would not recommend this book to your friend.)
You will be marked on your oral presentation for this book talk.
You may refer to your notes while talking about your book.
Please bring your book to class to be able to show your classmates.
At the end of your presentation, you will be expected to submit your written notes. This is part of your mark. Be creative! Combine the answers to items #1-4 in a creative, interesting and well written opening sentence.
Here’s how you will be assessed:
#1 - 1 point
#2 - 1 point
#3 - 1 point
#4 -1 point
#5 - 10 points
#6 - 10 points
1 point for showing your book.
5 points for creativity/neatness
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Events
Good afternoon. This is a quick reminder of a couple of classwork issues.
First, the 10 reading journals are due tomorrow.
Second, there is a spelling test tomorrow, as there is every Friday.
Third, you can check out what we are writing in class at my Question and Answer Blog. The link to this site is on the right hand side of the screen. Here I am beginning to post a writing prompt, and the students all reply. This exercise does not take long, but it gets the kids writing everyday. As well, you have access to see what they're doing. Your child's name is in code at the end of the comment: the first 2 letters of the first name, and the first 2 letters of the last name.
We've been working hard on math drills in class. After 5, I will send them all home to be signed and returned. We are going back to the basics in math like addition and multiplication because too many are struggling with these concepts.
Fourth, Social Studies timelines are due Monday.
Fifth, the 8-paragraph story about the twins for health is due Monday. I've already told the students that if they don't have access to computers at home, they won't be faulted. However, this will still need to be done.
First, the 10 reading journals are due tomorrow.
Second, there is a spelling test tomorrow, as there is every Friday.
Third, you can check out what we are writing in class at my Question and Answer Blog. The link to this site is on the right hand side of the screen. Here I am beginning to post a writing prompt, and the students all reply. This exercise does not take long, but it gets the kids writing everyday. As well, you have access to see what they're doing. Your child's name is in code at the end of the comment: the first 2 letters of the first name, and the first 2 letters of the last name.
We've been working hard on math drills in class. After 5, I will send them all home to be signed and returned. We are going back to the basics in math like addition and multiplication because too many are struggling with these concepts.
Fourth, Social Studies timelines are due Monday.
Fifth, the 8-paragraph story about the twins for health is due Monday. I've already told the students that if they don't have access to computers at home, they won't be faulted. However, this will still need to be done.
Monday, October 27, 2008
SS Links
After we finish our timelines, we will be starting a new section in Social Studies about Canadian history. Here's a link to some websites that provide education and entertainment too.
http://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/history/canadian.html - trivia
http://www.angelfire.com/hi/ArrogantWorms/funtrivia.html - more trivia
http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/English/Games/explore.html - a virtual museum with loads of interests
http://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/history/canadian.html - trivia
http://www.angelfire.com/hi/ArrogantWorms/funtrivia.html - more trivia
http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/English/Games/explore.html - a virtual museum with loads of interests
Last week of October
Good afternoon!
There is a fair amount of Language Arts homework this week.
1) Ten items in their reading journals are due Friday. Each entry is 20 minutes, so I'd advise that the students not save all 200 minutes until Thursday night.
2) We received new spelling words today in preparation for their spelling quiz on Friday. The words are: skateboard, breakfast, hungry, explosion, curious, bruise, flipped, their, there, they're.
3) Also, as part of understanding the words and using them, the students are to write a 3 paragraph story using at least 8 of the words (and all of the last 3). This story is due on Wednesday.
In addition to LA homework...
Social Studies - timeline is due next Monday on plain paper. Personal timeline on the top, and world history on the bottom. See previous post for details.
Health - 8 paragraph story on the twins who made wise and unwise choices in life was assigned today, and it is due on Monday as well. This is an assignment they are writing on their laptops, but they will have class time to work on them in class (if they don't waste time). Even if they can't actually write the story at home, they can plot their story outline anywhere. That might be in their best interest, because some students do not work well when others are around.
There is a fair amount of Language Arts homework this week.
1) Ten items in their reading journals are due Friday. Each entry is 20 minutes, so I'd advise that the students not save all 200 minutes until Thursday night.
2) We received new spelling words today in preparation for their spelling quiz on Friday. The words are: skateboard, breakfast, hungry, explosion, curious, bruise, flipped, their, there, they're.
3) Also, as part of understanding the words and using them, the students are to write a 3 paragraph story using at least 8 of the words (and all of the last 3). This story is due on Wednesday.
In addition to LA homework...
Social Studies - timeline is due next Monday on plain paper. Personal timeline on the top, and world history on the bottom. See previous post for details.
Health - 8 paragraph story on the twins who made wise and unwise choices in life was assigned today, and it is due on Monday as well. This is an assignment they are writing on their laptops, but they will have class time to work on them in class (if they don't waste time). Even if they can't actually write the story at home, they can plot their story outline anywhere. That might be in their best interest, because some students do not work well when others are around.
Friday, October 24, 2008
This is a mental math game. It uses only small numbers, but it's a good review for basic understanding of what the students seem to be struggling with.
http://www.19online.net/math/
http://www.coolmath4kids.com/ - the cursor drives me crazy but there are many great games here
This is a link for some various multiplication fact games: http://www.multiplication.com/interactive_games.htm
http://www.19online.net/math/
http://www.coolmath4kids.com/ - the cursor drives me crazy but there are many great games here
This is a link for some various multiplication fact games: http://www.multiplication.com/interactive_games.htm
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Friday's LA class
This is the link to a Halloween word search, if we have time...
http://www.internetfamilyfun.com/games/wshalloween.htm
http://www.internetfamilyfun.com/games/wshalloween.htm
Weekend work
Good afternoon. The only homework for tomorrow is the spelling test: students are to study the 50 words since September. As well, students who have tests to make up will do that tomorrow as well.
Ten reading journals of 20 minutes each are due next Friday. That is, if the students read about 20 minutes a night and write about it, this is not a difficult assignment at all.I will be doing these from time to time throughout the year.
I assigned a timeline for students to work on over the weekend. They are to list major life events and events that affected them since their births. I'm not asking for anything personal or secretive, but only things they are willing to share. This mini-project is meant to help connect them to national and world history, which we will research next week. They may need help remembering major events throughout their lives.
Ten reading journals of 20 minutes each are due next Friday. That is, if the students read about 20 minutes a night and write about it, this is not a difficult assignment at all.I will be doing these from time to time throughout the year.
I assigned a timeline for students to work on over the weekend. They are to list major life events and events that affected them since their births. I'm not asking for anything personal or secretive, but only things they are willing to share. This mini-project is meant to help connect them to national and world history, which we will research next week. They may need help remembering major events throughout their lives.
Just for fun
This is a link to a National Geographic photo gallery about right whales. I love right whales! The North Atlantic right whlae is one of the world's most endangered species, and they spend their summers off Grand Manan! Enjoy these pics:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/10/right-whales/skerry-photography
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/10/right-whales/skerry-photography
Halloween Reading Response
These are the lyrics to the poem "The Skeleton Dance" by a German poet named Goethe.
The Skeleton Dance - After the German of Goethe
The warder looked out at the mid-hour of night,
Where the grave-hills all silently lay;
The moon-beams above gave so brilliant a light,
That the churchyard was clear as by day:
First one, then another, to open began;
Here came out a woman - there came out a man,
Each clad in a shroud long and white.
And then for amusement - perchance it was cold -
In a circle they seemed to advance;
The poor and the rich, and the young and the old,
But the grave-clothes impeded the dance:
And as no person thought about modesty there,
They flung off their garments, and stripped themselves bare,
And a shroud lay on each heap of mould.
They kicked up their heels, and they rattled their bones,
And the horrible din that they made
Went clickety-clackety - just like the tones
Of a castanet noisily played.
And the warder he laughed as he witnessed the cheer,
And he heard the Betrayer speak soft in his ear,
"Go and steal away one of their shrouds."
Swift as thought it was done - in an instant he fled
Behind the church portal to hide;
And brighter and brighter the moon-beam was shed,
As the dance they still shudderingly plied;
But at last they began to grow tired of their fun,
And they put on their shrouds, and slipped off, one by one,
Beneath, to the homes of the dead.
But tapping at every grave-hill, there staid
One skeleton, tripping behind;
Though not by his comrades the trick had been played -
Now its odour he snuffed in the wind:
He rushed to the door - but fell back with a shock;
For well for the wight of the bell and the clock,
The sign of the cross it displayed.
But the shroud he must have—not a moment he stays;
Ere a man had begun but to think,
On the Gothic-work his fingers quickly he lays,
And climbs up its chain, link by link.
Now woe to the warder - for sure he must die -
To see, like a long-legged spider, draw nigh
The skeleton's clattering form:
And pale was his visage, and thick came his breath;
The garb, alas! why did he touch?
How sick grew his soul as the garment of death
The skeleton caught in his clutch -
The moon disappeared, and the skies changed to dun,
And louder than thunder the church-bell tolled one -
The spectre fell tumbling to bits!
Now, here are some questions to answer. Answer these questions in a Microsoft Word document.
1) Describe what you think is happening in this story.
2) In the 2nd stanza, 5th line down, it saus no person thought of modesty there. Why do you suppose they didn't care about throwing off their clothes?
3) What is a castanet? What kind of sound does it make?
4) The last line in stanza 4 mentions "the homes of the dead". What are they?
5) What did the warder ("warden") do to get involved in the story?
6) What did the skeleton do as revenge?
7) How did the story end?
8) If time allows, draw a scene from this story on blank paper.
The Skeleton Dance - After the German of Goethe
The warder looked out at the mid-hour of night,
Where the grave-hills all silently lay;
The moon-beams above gave so brilliant a light,
That the churchyard was clear as by day:
First one, then another, to open began;
Here came out a woman - there came out a man,
Each clad in a shroud long and white.
And then for amusement - perchance it was cold -
In a circle they seemed to advance;
The poor and the rich, and the young and the old,
But the grave-clothes impeded the dance:
And as no person thought about modesty there,
They flung off their garments, and stripped themselves bare,
And a shroud lay on each heap of mould.
They kicked up their heels, and they rattled their bones,
And the horrible din that they made
Went clickety-clackety - just like the tones
Of a castanet noisily played.
And the warder he laughed as he witnessed the cheer,
And he heard the Betrayer speak soft in his ear,
"Go and steal away one of their shrouds."
Swift as thought it was done - in an instant he fled
Behind the church portal to hide;
And brighter and brighter the moon-beam was shed,
As the dance they still shudderingly plied;
But at last they began to grow tired of their fun,
And they put on their shrouds, and slipped off, one by one,
Beneath, to the homes of the dead.
But tapping at every grave-hill, there staid
One skeleton, tripping behind;
Though not by his comrades the trick had been played -
Now its odour he snuffed in the wind:
He rushed to the door - but fell back with a shock;
For well for the wight of the bell and the clock,
The sign of the cross it displayed.
But the shroud he must have—not a moment he stays;
Ere a man had begun but to think,
On the Gothic-work his fingers quickly he lays,
And climbs up its chain, link by link.
Now woe to the warder - for sure he must die -
To see, like a long-legged spider, draw nigh
The skeleton's clattering form:
And pale was his visage, and thick came his breath;
The garb, alas! why did he touch?
How sick grew his soul as the garment of death
The skeleton caught in his clutch -
The moon disappeared, and the skies changed to dun,
And louder than thunder the church-bell tolled one -
The spectre fell tumbling to bits!
Now, here are some questions to answer. Answer these questions in a Microsoft Word document.
1) Describe what you think is happening in this story.
2) In the 2nd stanza, 5th line down, it saus no person thought of modesty there. Why do you suppose they didn't care about throwing off their clothes?
3) What is a castanet? What kind of sound does it make?
4) The last line in stanza 4 mentions "the homes of the dead". What are they?
5) What did the warder ("warden") do to get involved in the story?
6) What did the skeleton do as revenge?
7) How did the story end?
8) If time allows, draw a scene from this story on blank paper.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Links about Tidal Power
As a class we are going to have a debate about the pros and cons of tidal power in the Bay of Fundy. The class has been divided into 2 teams. Here they are...
PROS
Kristin, Justin, Jessica, Cary-Lynn, Brady, Zach S, Matthew E, Courtney, Jailen, Ashlynn, Dwanti, Nick, Sydney
CONS
Brandon, Anita, Jessey, Jarrika, Suzanne, Zach P, Jayden, Kennedy, Victoria, Wes, Kitarra, Brittany, Matthew F
This will be done mainly at school, but it is not limited to classtime. This is a website that gives a brief description of tidal power...
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=how+tidal+power+works&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1&um=1&sa=N&tab=wv&oi=property_suggestions&resnum=0&ct=property-revision&cd=1#
As well, these are websites that offer additional information on both sides of the argument.:
http://www.energy-consumers-edge.com/tidal_energy_use.html
http://peakenergy.blogspot.com/2008/08/tidal-power-in-bay-of-fundy.html
http://www.novascotiabusinessjournal.com/index.cfm?sid=147955&sc=107
http://www.instrumentconcepts.com/Documents/TdccFundyTidalPower13Nov07.pdf
http://ecoworldly.com/2008/08/15/canadas-bay-of-fundy-beautiful-and-renewable-power/
http://wiki.idebate.org/index.php/Debate:Tidal_energy#Pro.2Fcon_resources
I will provide more details as the days progress as to the date of the debate, the format, and so on.
PROS
Kristin, Justin, Jessica, Cary-Lynn, Brady, Zach S, Matthew E, Courtney, Jailen, Ashlynn, Dwanti, Nick, Sydney
CONS
Brandon, Anita, Jessey, Jarrika, Suzanne, Zach P, Jayden, Kennedy, Victoria, Wes, Kitarra, Brittany, Matthew F
This will be done mainly at school, but it is not limited to classtime. This is a website that gives a brief description of tidal power...
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=how+tidal+power+works&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1&um=1&sa=N&tab=wv&oi=property_suggestions&resnum=0&ct=property-revision&cd=1#
As well, these are websites that offer additional information on both sides of the argument.:
http://www.energy-consumers-edge.com/tidal_energy_use.html
http://peakenergy.blogspot.com/2008/08/tidal-power-in-bay-of-fundy.html
http://www.novascotiabusinessjournal.com/index.cfm?sid=147955&sc=107
http://www.instrumentconcepts.com/Documents/TdccFundyTidalPower13Nov07.pdf
http://ecoworldly.com/2008/08/15/canadas-bay-of-fundy-beautiful-and-renewable-power/
http://wiki.idebate.org/index.php/Debate:Tidal_energy#Pro.2Fcon_resources
I will provide more details as the days progress as to the date of the debate, the format, and so on.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
More of the same
Good afternoon! This week, homework continues as is.
Larger-than-usual spelling test and make-up selling tests happen on Friday.
Reading journal is due October 31.
We are continuing mental math in class, asking questions like: 24 + ___ = 73. These are being done in class because I want them done mentally, not with calculators.
Over the last few weeks, we have been working on various projects in Language Arts, Science, Art and Social Studies. Some students have some catching-up to do, and I'm hoping to get some of that done this week. That catching-up will happen in homework lunch, and hopefully at home if necessary. Homework lunch is not a punishment, but a way for students to get caught up.
Larger-than-usual spelling test and make-up selling tests happen on Friday.
Reading journal is due October 31.
We are continuing mental math in class, asking questions like: 24 + ___ = 73. These are being done in class because I want them done mentally, not with calculators.
Over the last few weeks, we have been working on various projects in Language Arts, Science, Art and Social Studies. Some students have some catching-up to do, and I'm hoping to get some of that done this week. That catching-up will happen in homework lunch, and hopefully at home if necessary. Homework lunch is not a punishment, but a way for students to get caught up.
Monday, October 20, 2008
October 20
Good afternoon. Mr. Jones and I held a class survey this afternoon, and the majority of the class said that parents wouldn't read this blog. I don't know about the majority, but more than one of you has expressed your thanks in having this up and going.
Today the students were given a reading journal sheet. There are to be 10 journal entries of what they read. The literature can be anything: books, newspapers, magazines (as long as it's not all pictures), even internet websites that are more than just looking at pictures... anything that is reading. Each journal entry is based on 20 minutes of reading. These 10 journal entries are due Friday, October 31.
There is a cumulative spelling test this coming Friday. We have learned 50 words since September, and the spelling test will be based on these. In addition to this, some students have missed the occasional spelling test since September. These students were informed of this, and they will also be writing these make-up tests. Of course, this doesn't involve more studying, because the students will already be studying for the cumulative test. The students were given today a complete list of all the words.
The students received a notice today about the literacy assessment going on this week. Feel free to sign at the bottom, and return this week.
We are doing mental math this week - that is, solving problems without a calculator. The middle school staff is finding that our students struggle with basic math concepts, and so we are going back to those basics. These are questions that will mostly be done in class.
Thank you for your time reading this and your investment in your children's education.
Today the students were given a reading journal sheet. There are to be 10 journal entries of what they read. The literature can be anything: books, newspapers, magazines (as long as it's not all pictures), even internet websites that are more than just looking at pictures... anything that is reading. Each journal entry is based on 20 minutes of reading. These 10 journal entries are due Friday, October 31.
There is a cumulative spelling test this coming Friday. We have learned 50 words since September, and the spelling test will be based on these. In addition to this, some students have missed the occasional spelling test since September. These students were informed of this, and they will also be writing these make-up tests. Of course, this doesn't involve more studying, because the students will already be studying for the cumulative test. The students were given today a complete list of all the words.
The students received a notice today about the literacy assessment going on this week. Feel free to sign at the bottom, and return this week.
We are doing mental math this week - that is, solving problems without a calculator. The middle school staff is finding that our students struggle with basic math concepts, and so we are going back to those basics. These are questions that will mostly be done in class.
Thank you for your time reading this and your investment in your children's education.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Here I am
Well, it took awhile to get this thing working, but I'm on. I've never used a blog until now, so it may take even longer to get good at it.
Science - underwater exploration projects - due next Monday. The class worked on them during 3 classes last week. They also have Thursday and Friday this week.
Spelling test Friday October 17. Here's the list: unconscious, occurred, obnoxious, immediate, persuade, propose, influence, pyramids, definite
Social Studies - map project due Friday October 17.
Math - algebra test rewrites. If a student did not pass the test the first time, he or she will write it on Friday.
- as well, the students will be receiving a page of 10 algebra word problems on Thursday. These are due Monday October 20.
Next week the students are writing a Grade 7 assessment in Language Arts. This is a province-wide exam, and we've been working hard to work on writing in class. This is the main reason that LA homework has been light so far - we've been concentrating on doing this in class. After next week, LA homework will pick up, which I'm sure will thrill my students!
Science - underwater exploration projects - due next Monday. The class worked on them during 3 classes last week. They also have Thursday and Friday this week.
Spelling test Friday October 17. Here's the list: unconscious, occurred, obnoxious, immediate, persuade, propose, influence, pyramids, definite
Social Studies - map project due Friday October 17.
Math - algebra test rewrites. If a student did not pass the test the first time, he or she will write it on Friday.
- as well, the students will be receiving a page of 10 algebra word problems on Thursday. These are due Monday October 20.
Next week the students are writing a Grade 7 assessment in Language Arts. This is a province-wide exam, and we've been working hard to work on writing in class. This is the main reason that LA homework has been light so far - we've been concentrating on doing this in class. After next week, LA homework will pick up, which I'm sure will thrill my students!
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