Reflection Sheet due tomorrow- Wednesday, June 3rd.

See main blog for details-

MM

Unit 8: Bringing it Together

Looking at the timelines on pages 18, 55 & 115- what connections can you make when you consider: your background knowledge, the the story of The Red Cow and the Maps.

We noticed: the years do not line up; the years often overlap- the book jumps back and forth having the times coincide.

In the early 1600's (chapter 2) there is something important on the timeline that relates to chapter 8- The Mayflower! North America is discovered.

To Be Continued...

For Tuesday, May 5th

Your personal, formal letter to a character from Iqbal is due on Tuesday. Remember you are writing as yourself; keep in mind the different aspects of writing a personal letter No computer-ese please.

For Monday, April 20th

Please come prepared to do your SmartReading Log independently. You may bring with you your chapter 8 log.

From Thursday, April 16th.

Brochures/bibs are due tmw. This is the time to begin thinking about your second performance task (PT). Ideas for your second performance task which asks you to show your understanding of Child Labour in a way that is not focused on writing (other than a poem which is fine), but rather shows a strength or passion area of yours, some ideas are: Animoto, PowerPoint, iMovie, a drawing, skit, dance, photo montage, play, TV interview... Really the ideas are limitless- use you imagination! Hope this helps- MM

Your second PT is due Monday, April 27th

From Wednesday, April 15th

Today we worked on our Smart Reading Logs for chapter 8 of Iqbal. Students are responsible for for filing out the top four boxes, chunking their thinking and selecting what they determine to be the most important part of each chunk. We read through 2/3 of page 64 of our 2nd chunk. If you were not in class today, please either pick up chapter 8 or ask a partner to help you out. Please note: chapter 8 is for practice with your new goal area (Determining Importance- DI); chapter 9 will be for a mark.

Consensus is that DI is easier to use as a strategy for deepening our understanding of this text, rather than making connections.

You will have a work period tmw to finish off your brochure/bib.

Tuesday, April 14th

Most people are nearing the completion of their brochures; the deadline has been postponed from tomorrow to Thursday in order to assist those individuals who have computer access problems at home. We will have some work time tomorrow (really short block due to early dismissal and the Milk Run) and will see where things stand. For most of you, you will be handing in both your brochure and your bibliography on Wednesday. It is time to start thinking about your next performance task; you are asked to show your knowledge and understanding of what you have been studying in some medium other than in writing. This can be a poem, dance, script, animoto video, a drawing or anything else you choose that can show what you know/feel about the topic of child labour. Remember this is an opportunity for you to work within your strength area.

For April 9th, 2009

BROCHURES ARE DUE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15TH.

Wednesday, April 7th, 2009.

It is official- while working on Smart Logs our new focus is Determining Importance. It is no longer necessary to come up with connections!

Continue collecting information for your brochure. Don't forget to keep up with your bibliography. I encourage the use of bibme.org to help you do this for both information and picture sources.

Over the long weekend you may wish to start considering what medium you want to use for your culminating activity: a play, interview, Powerpoint, I-Movie, poem, dance, collage etc. Stick with what you are good at. The point of the culminating activity is to give voice to the message you have learned from UNIT 5. Come see me or Mrs. Watson if you want help figuring this out.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Yesterday we brainstormed how to set up our brochure panels (6 panels). If you do not have your template, please get a copy from someone and I will photocopy it for you.

Today we continued working on our bochures and learned how to ID our sites for information and picture, which you will need to keep separate; we can use the site bibme.org to help do the work for us.

April Fools Day (Wednesday, April 1st)

Today we spent time focusing on our goals for the Smart Log. The goal area is where you focus what it is you want to work on for the current log. Please remember: be specific with your language e.g., "I want to make deeper connections that allow me to show perspective" rather than, "I want to make more connections"; write in the active voice e.g., I will... rather than I will try...; keep in mind that using imaging in your goal and chunks bumps things up a notch; stating how you will do something will be most helpful.

Homework form Monday, March 30, '09

Please finish off your reading log from chapter 6 of Iqbal. Don't forget to do the entire back side.

Ms. Minuk =)

For Friday, March 27th, 2009

Below are the addresses to the video clips that were shown in Block F yesterday, as well, you can go onto youtube- child labour or child poverty; you can do a google search for videos- same key words as for youtube. If you find anything you think the whold class can benefit from, let me know, or send me the link.

From yesterday:
www.stolenchildhoods.org/
www.youtube garbage dump
www.youtube.bonded labor
www.youtube.Clothing made in India
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dnQ6JpANCI&NR=1
www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8ajmDxRHZQ

From Thursday, March 26th, 2009

Today we finished off reading unit 5 and completed a T-Chart of 5 things that are most important to remember and 8 things we found interesting. If you are in block E, we did not have an opportunity to view the child labour video clips due to technical difficulties; by Block F, we figured out the problem and went ahead and viewed the clips. Sorry Block E students). I will post the addresses here, so you can view them yourself, as well, I will include one as our new video clip for the blog.

Tomorrow you will be working in the library, using a graphic organizer to hold your research on child labour. We generated some key questions for you to think about while doing your reseach: what types of CL are there?, What area the living/working conditions?, What countries are the wosrt offenders, and why?, How much money is made?

From Monday, March 23rd

Today we met in the computer lab with Mr. Powell. As our performance task for unit 5/English, you have been selected to create a brochure and a public 30 second music video to teach other grade 9 students about Child Labour (CL). To this end, Mr. Powell taught us how to set up our child labour brochures: go to word, go to business forms, go to brochures, select the brochure you want, give it a title and start to play around importing images, Note: you will be given opportunities to research (print/internet) CL for your brochure.

Mr. Powell also introduced us to animoto.com, where we go to make the 30 second music video on CL. Everyone was asked to sign in and set up an account.

Homework for Wednesday, March 25 (Socials)

For Wednesday, you are to come to class having completed the "Drawing Conclusions Assessment"
(What you knew/understood about revolutions before unit 5 (The Glorious War, The English Civil War, The French Revolution etc.) and unit 5: The Triumph of Steam. You may show your knowledge understanding by using a Venn Diagram, picture, "T" chart or anything else you think will show what you know and understand.

Homework from Thursday, March 12th,-"Iqbal" Organizer

Due for tomorrow (Friday, March 13th), your complete reading log for chapter 3; this includes both the front and back sections of the organizer.

Personalizing/Transforming Connections: This is where you combine all your connections and bring your thinking to a new level- this will show that you understand the progression from the beginning of the chapter to the end. Code the connection.

My Thinking: find examples (evidence) that show your understanding of the chapter. Quote the text or put in own words portions from the story which supports and proves your thinking.

I Want You To Notice How I... This is where you point out something that you did today in your thinking, that brings your understanding of the text to a new level. It might be the type and quality of your connections because this is our main reading goal right now, "making powerful connections"

For Next Time: This is where you make a personal goal for yourself (it may be making more powerful connections; providing evidence for your thinking, connecting to other texts, the world etc.)

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Today we continued reading Iqbal, chapter three (chunks 1-2, we will pick up chunk 3 tomorrow); there is no "homework".

If you miss an English class, it is your responsibility to come into class and get a copy of the chapter so you can make up for what was missed. Chapter readings will be left in a white file folder on the table at the front of the classroom.

From Tuesday, March 10th, 2009, due tomorrow

Today in English, we read chapter 2 in Iqbal, and we used our graphic organizer to hold our thinking and make connections. You are responsible for completing the following 5 sections: Personalizing/transforming sections 1.) Connection- this is for a new insight into one (or more) of your three chunk connection; 2.) My Thinking- This is where you show your , "ah-ha" moment! Here is an opportunity to discuss a broad theme in the text e.g., good versus evil; 3.) Metacognition- "I want you to notice how I..."; 4.) For next time I want to...; and 5.) 3 words I want to add...


Stretch your thinking! :0)

Homework from Monday, March 9th-"Iqbal" Organizer

For Tuesday, come with the Connection (bottom left) piece and the "My Thinking"(bottom right) piece completed; be prepared to share your thinking with a partner.

For the Week of March 9th

In English, we will be using SmartReading logs to help deepen our use of connections, questions and inferences as we make meaning out of our read aloud using the novel "Iqbal". You will be responsible for completing logs, quick writes and reflections outside of class if you run out of time in class.

In Socials, you will be asked to do some note making on your own after reading sections of unit 5.

Outstanding Homework

There are several people who still owe the second poem and the Napoleon Timeline. Remember marks cutoff was the other day. If you get your assignments in by Monday, perhaps we can count them, otherwise you will have to wait until last term to receive any credit.

Come see me if you need to chat about your outstanding assignments.

Ms. Minuk

Socials Unit 5: The Triumph of Steam

As you know, we are getting ready to start unit 5; there is a lot of reading to do in this chapter and if any of you wish to get a head start, please do so by previewing or reading the chapter on your own. Some people prefer to jump right in by themselves, while others prefer to do it more collaboratively and with more support. Decide what works best for you and go for it!

Friday, February 27th, is a Big Homework Due Day

So... Just to be clear: Your good copy of your second poem AND your Napoleon Timeline are both due on Friday, Feb. 27th. We will not have "class" on Friday, as we are going to "Ash Girl", yet I will collect your homework before bringing you all down to the theatre. Pls come see me before Friday if you have any questions or concerns.
Ms. M

Good Copy of the Napoleon Critical Timeline

Good Copy is due Friday, February 27th. While working on the good copy, remember the steps to creating your 8-10 events: read/skim the text, take notes on what is important, filter information, select your critical phrase and decide on a matching symbol (aim for your symbol to be metaphorical). If you have questions, ask before Friday.

Homework for Friday, February 27th- Good copy of second poem

Your homework for Friday the 27th is to have ready (that means bring to class) your first draft of your second free verse poem. Ms. Watson and I can't wait to read these... Hopefully all of you have read over your descriptive feedback from your first poem and are putting in place your "Next Steps"- MM

Homework for Monday, Feb. 16th

Social Studies D/E & B/F: Read pages 118-121; complete the reading and decide which events are "heroic nonheroic"- be prepared to to support your thinking with evidence from the textbook. * This information will be used for your critical timeline.

Napoleon Critical Timeline

Your good copy of the Napoleon Timeline is due Friday, February 27th, by 3:10. If you have any questions, please ask ASAP.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Socials homework is to have a "partial" draft of your critical timeline on Napoleon (hero/NonHero)

Homework Found Here

Here is your homework for Tuesday, February 3rd: Social Studies T-Chart on Napoleon; Hero versus Non Hero from text book pages 94-97. After reading this selection, determine if Napoleon's actions were those of a hero or a non-hero.

Homework Found Here

This is where you will find the homework for your next class. You'll also see a running list of work from previous classes in case you're away!