Wednesday, June 29, 2011

June 29: Last Day of School

So long. What an amazing class. What a great year. Thanks for making my first year back to Tillicum so delightful. See you all next year.

Quotes that I like:

"When you like your work every day is a holiday."

It is true. I enjoyed going into work everyday.

"A vacation should be just long enough that you're boss misses you, and not long enough for her to discover how well she can get along without you."

So let's hope the principal doesn't figure that out either.

All the best, class of 2011 have a happy summer!


Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Tuesday June 28: Gr 5 Assembly, buddies, stores, gym

Notices:
Tomorrow is the last day of the year.
The class will have a fair well party at the end of the day so it is ok to send in treats for the class.

We began the day in computers making cards for anyone we wanted to say thanks to at the end of the year. The students made cards for friends, teachers, assistants and office workers around the school. After the students made cards and had some free time we went for a rehearsal for the grade 5 recognition assembly.

After recess we went straight to the assembly and the grade 4's were very interested in what they will have to do and go through next year. The assembly began with a good bye to the 12 teachers and support staff that are leaving this year. The students will miss many of them. After that the grade 5's were honored individually, all giving a video message, getting a certificate award finishing off by singing a goodbye song. After the song our class drummed them out of the gym. As we drummed the grade 5's followed in a precession and shook the hand of all the school staff as they filed out of the gym.


In the afternoon those students who have been active in buddies throughout the year went up and read with the buddies a final time then gathered on the playground with them. Mrs. Dagg gave all the students ice cream bars to thank them for their work with her throughout the year.
We ended the day with a rousing game in the gym against Ms. Burrages' class. As you can see our class won the final challenge of the year with 'I' scoring the final two points for our class making us the victors.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Monday June 27 th: Fun Day


We started the week doing a math skill drill then worked on a mini-book on being raised by a creature. We watched the movie Tarzan, who was raised by gorillas, as we worked on our own stories. Perhaps we should have worked on geometric shapes an used Q's head as an example.

In the afternoon the whole school had fun day. There were many stations around the school offering different activities. Many of the students from my class operated the face painting station.


Tomorrow the students are performing for the grade 5 assembly which is at 10:30 right after recess. You are all invited to come and see the performance and the celebration of the grade 5's.

Friday June 24 th: Grade 5 field trip

We began the day with our regular Friday test. After we marked the spelling the students worked in rows to make sure they all agreed on the right answer for the math fraction review unit. Working together is a great way for the students to see their mistakes and correct them while learning and getting support from their peers.





After the test and marking the students cleaned all the text books and junk out of their desks. All work was sorted and a samples of the best work taken home.


In the afternoon, while the grade 5's were out of the school, Mr. V. and myself worked with all the grade 4's to begin developing our school leaders, peer and student helpers for grade 5 next year.



The students played team building games in groups, learned how to work together and to see themselves as part of a team of students that are going to be our school leaders next year.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Thursday June 23: Beach Day

You can't go to the beach without digging up treasure, or burying some.

Tribe Wilson captured a log fort and kept safe from pirates and marauders for most of the day.

Notices:
Friday Test: The spelling words and a review page on fractions.

Today was the school beach day. I don't know about the kids but I was exhausted just sitting at the beach all day in the wind and sun. A fun time was had by all, no one had to be reprimanded, no one got hurt, (the odd bump or bruise but no real damage) everyone was happy and busy doing something or nothing at all. Thanks Tribe Wilson for entertaining us all with your antics.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Wednesday June 22: Two assemblies and a totem pole

Our class with our special guests for the morning assembly.

Notices:
Beach day tomorrow, Dress for the weather

We began the day talking about and writing about the totem pole and the raising yesterday. The students are beginning to understand how special it was to be at the event. They understand that they represented themselves, their families, their school and their cultures, all themes that were carved into the Totem pole. This was followed by the students designing their own individual, totems.


To continue National Aboriginal day we had a special assembly after recess with a drummer from the Ojibwe Nation in Ontario a and a dancer and storyteller from the Okanagan . Our Class got to open this special assembly with the song they are going to drum for the grade 5 graduation assembly. After the assembly the students were treated to fresh, hot fry-bread made by Gloria and our guests.

After Lunch we started with reading then opened the class stores for Mrs. Georges' kindergarten class. It was our biggest and best store time so far and the students made lots of class money. After a quick store time we had a 30 min P.E. period after which we had our second assembly of the day. This was our last recognition assembly and M got an award for Math. The other special thing today was the fact that our class was honored with setting up the gym and providing two speakers to run the assembly. Well done A and J.








Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Tuesday June 21: National Aboriginal Day

The pole is raised.

Drumming in the class for Gloria and our buddies

The event started with drummers.

The pole waits to be raised

Notices:
National Aboriginal Day today
Beach Day Thursday (many students today were dying in the sun and complaining about the heat so make sure to have hats and water aplenty for the beach)

We began the day with library and computers. Today is the last library book return for the year. The students did an amazing job this year as we are only missing two books from two students C and C. Fantastic job everyone. Tomorrow we will search the class with a major clean and hopefully the last two books will turn up. After returning our books the students worked on a power point presentation researching art and quotes for National Aboriginal day looking for images and ideas from the First Nations, the Metis and the Inuit. As well the students were to find images that they could use for a poster contest for National Aboriginal Day.

After recess we had a read-off with most students trying to earn the right to speak in the assembly tomorrow. Congratulations all, you did an amazing job and anyone could have done as the two winners J and A (which happen to be our class king and queen).

This was followed by the students designing a poster contest for National Aboriginal Day next year.

After lunch we went to a wonderful and unique ceremony at the Native Friendship Center. A totem pole raising. We left the school about 25 to one and arrived just in time for the ceremonial dancing and drumming followed by a few speeches and the raising of the pole. We returned to the class at the end of the day for juice where Gloria talked to us about how special the event was. Gloria was very delighted and honored as she had a chance to hear us perform our drumming song. The friendship Center was delighted to have the school represented as the totem pole represents a bridge between cultures and people of all ages. The fact the students had a chance to witness the event will be something they will remember as a part of our community their whole lives.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Monday June 20

Students worked on creating a drawing in the style of Ted Harrison

Notices:
Please sign and send in the Beach day form and the Totem pole raising form
The totem pole raising is tomorrow

We began writing about what happened on fathers day. The students could either write about what happened on fathers day or they could do a short Biography on their father.

This was followed by spelling. The spelling words for the week are:

grandfather grandmother newspaper popcorn playground policeman cowboys thank third thirty cupboard sunny being doing rubbing rainy raining pink Bonus stayed and says


After recess we did a biography one page report on Ted Harrison a famous Yukon and Canadian painter who now lives in Victoria. Ted was my grade 12 art teacher. Later today in Art we are going to create pictures in his style.

After writing about Mr. Harrison we marked the Math on subtracting mixed numbers. The students were then assigned answering word problems involving fractions. This was marked in class.

In the afternoon those students not in choir did a one page report on and listened to the music of James Horner who is the conductor, writer musician who wrote the scores for over 11 famous movies, some of which are Bravehart, Willow, The Wrath of Khan, Aliens to name a few. His most famous, and the best selling sound track of all time is Titanic. We listened to the Titanic soundtrack.

After choir the students drew pictures with chalk pastels in the style of Ted Harrison

The students finished up the day in music with Mrs. Awalt.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Fathers day Sunday June 19


Happy fathers day.

We invited Renee, the artist who helped make the mural, back into our class to teach the students how to make coil pots, cups, bowls and whatever else they could think of. It was a fun and creative activity and I know you dad's will find some cool things to hold in your 'cup'. I use one my daughter made in grade 2 as a place to hold my keys as I drink out of Tim Horton's Cups.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Friday June 17: Fathers day prep


The students were all invited to take part in free library programs over the summer and were all given a book to start off their summer reading.



We started our day with our weekly test. The test was on spelling and adding and simplifying fractions. After the test the students worked on catching up on their Triangle pyramid animal habitat project.

After recess the students worked on finishing their Fathers day stuff, their Christopher Columbus projects and any unfinished work. At 10:45 we had a visit from the Local Librarian. She talked about the summer reading club as well as the other programs at the Library (art, drama, storytelling and other activities). Each child was loaned a book that

After lunch we began stores starting with our little buddies after which we invited two other classes to join us. Each of the buddy shoppers was given $10.00 to spend. Today was girls bake sale day. The boys will have a chance to bring in baking next week. After stores, at 1:45 the whole school had an extra recess for doing 4800 nights of reading as a school. Reading and having our students able to read is a primary focus for our school and we, as a school, are good at it.

After the extra recess we read for 10 minutes then cleaned up the room, had a desk clean then organized all the things the students made for Fathers day.

Happy fathers day all.


Thursday, June 16, 2011

Thursday June 16th: research, group and student teacher hockey


It was Boston vs the Canucks all over again as the teachers played against the winning student floor hockey team.



Notices:
Two notices to be signed
A walking field trip to the Native Friendship Center for a totem raising on the 21st
The school Beach day notice.

We began the day in the computer lab doing research on an American animal (north or south) with respect to their habitats and their position in the food chain. The students are going to use this later in the day to make a pyramid display presentation as part of their small group work. Students searched out information As well we have missed a few computer periods so I gave them free time for the last 20 min to take us up to recess if they were finished their research.

After recess the students worked on their fathers day stuff, their Christopher Columbus stuff and any other unfinished work.

At lunch the winning student floor hockey team played against the teachers in a fun game (that looked a little like the Boston, Vancouver one sided game)

In the afternoon the students read for 30 minutes then worked on making a triangular display board on the habitat and position in the food chain of their chosen research animal. They look fantastic. Look for pictures of their results tomorrow.

Tomorrows test will be some information on Christopher Columbus, adding and subtracting fractions with different denominators and the weekly spelling words as listed on the right side.

I left the camera at school so will add photos to the blog tomorrow.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Wednesday June 15; Nature Field Trip

The field trip with Mark Albany a local first nations nature expert.
Students from two classes came into the class to buy things at our stores.

Notices:
Wed express for those parents who do not receive an email version.

Today we had an amazing field trip which consisted of a walk around Thetis park learning about the Flora and fauna of the region. We heard stories about the area and learned about foods, medicines, paints, religious tokens and many other things about how the forest was used by the forest before and since the coming of the first Europeans.

In the afternoon the day began with choir followed by Music then for the last period the students opened up their small businesses and sold hand made goods to the grade 2's and Kinders. We will have stores again on Friday in the afternoon. It is bake day for the Girls.

Sorry I did not get the blog up sooner but I was watching the hockey game. :(

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Tuesday June 14th: Final Student Hockey Game

The big game. An exciting final.

Notices:
Tomorrow is the field Trip
BRING GOOD WALKING SHOES

We began the day with library and computers. After library book exchange the students worked on woordle.net and with tuxpaint drawing program to practice drawing and making cards.

After recess, in Language Arts the students drew an illustration their pottery project and wrote words and images to go with it. In Math we corrected addition of fractions with mixed numbers and improper fractions that was assigned yesterday.

Over the lunch period we had the school floor hockey championships. It was a battle of the goalies and ended in a 4 4 tie which had to be broken in a close shoot out. You can tell the little Boston fan managed to win for her red team. Let's hope she has used up all that luck and the big boys in blue can pull of the win tomorrow night.

After lunch we had reading, PE with a raging game of California kick ball. Last period the students watched clay animation movies made by J while making things to sell at our first store period.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Monday June 13

Students work on their Christopher Columbus reports and square dance in Music

Notices:
We are still in need of drivers for our field trip
Please get your signed field trip notices in before our field trip on Wed

We began the day with spelling; ready, dead, early, rest, build, built, heaven, weather, clouds, suit, pull, full, hunting, reading, falling, talking, learned, telephone, Bonus: Boston Canucks

The students then worked on their Christopher Columbus project until recess. This project is due Wednesday June 15th. The students were given a 12 paragraph information sheet and had to summarize each of the 12 paragraphs with a picture.

After recess the students did a one page report on Alexander Graham bell who invented the telephone. This famous Scottish born Canadian was researching sound to develop tools for the deaf. This ties into both our famous Canadian theme and our Science theme of Sound.

In Math we worked on adding and subtracting mixed numbers (whole numbers with fractions) with the same denominator (2 1/4 + 3 2/4) most students got the concept but had trouble putting the answers into simplest form.

After lunch those students not in choir listened to and did a one page report on Led Zeppelin. This was followed by a period where the students either worked on catching up on work or made crafts for their stores which will be open for the first time on Wed afternoon after our field trip. The day ended with the students going to Music with Mrs. Awalt.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Friday June 10 th: Mr. W's BD

The spelling masters had the day off as we did not have any spelling this week
due to the short week and the Great Spring Fair last night.


I was away this morning. The sub, Mr. Popoff gave the math test on adding and subtracting fractions with different denominators. Once finished the students then worked on filling in lines of an acrostic poem to make it their own.

After recess the students had to take a 12 paragraph writeup on Christopher Columbus and add a drawing and summation for each of the paragraphs. The summation was to take the main idea(s) from the paragraph and added one or two small illustrations to go with it. This will be due Wednesday June 15th next week.


Thanks Mr. Popoff for your help working with the class this morning.

We began the afternoon with or grade 1 buddies in Mrs. Dagg's class. The students read, did an art folding activity and did math with our little buddies. For the last hour of the day the students then had a surprise movie and popcorn to celebrate my birthday. I had brought in Timbits so we ate popcorn and watched the movie "Lord of the Rings" the cartoon version.

Thanks for the tea and the rousing version of Happy Birthday for H and me. H's BDay is tomorrow.




Thursday, June 9, 2011

Thursday June 9 th: Spring Fair

Some students tried way too hard to dunk poor Mr. W


The hair doos were a big hit.


Notices:
Field trip form for the 15 th

Math: subtraction of fractions with like denominators. Adding and subtracting fractions with different denominations will be on the test tomorrow. There is no spelling for tomorrow's test as this is a short week and tonight is the Spring Fair so students said they will not have time to study.

Science; sound finished the video on Woody Norris's Ted Talk. We talked about sound being a vibration and how our vocal cords work to make different sounds. I then showed "a day made of glass' a YouTube video on using treated glass surfaces as computer screens. Very cool, look it up and watch it. I wanted to show the students that when Woody Norris said that inventions have just begun and we are only seeing the beginning of the future he is right. We talked about how when I, and their parents were young what technologies we had and how things have changed in the last few years.

After lunch we had reading for 30 minutes then the students finished off their store fronts and began making a few products, if they had the material. We finished the afternoon off by going over their math tests from Tuesday to see where they made mistakes.

See you all at the spring fair. Apparently they did manage to get the dunk tank... and apparently I did sign up to go in it from 7 - 7:15..... hope the sun is shining, or students can't throw too straight.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Wednesday June 8: Bike Rodeo

Practicing drumming for the final grade 5 recognition assembly

The police and community volunteers ran our Bike Rodeo

Notices:
Tickets for the spring fair for those students who had brought in a book or chocolate

We began the day with a writing assignment on the perfect (or worst) day. As in all our assignments the students are expected to put their name, write, have a border, have a title and have a coloured picture. After writing we had math. In math the students had to subtract fractions with unlike denominators.

After recess the students went to Music with Mrs. Awalt where they worked on their song for the grade 5 graduation assembly. After Music for Science we looked at some Ted Talks on sound. Woody Norris who found that your could make a sound flashlight. He figured light is a wave and you can project it in a focused beam so sound also being a wave you can project it in a focused beam. We watched two other videos on sound. One on how sound affects us by Julian Treasure.

After lunch the students read for 30 minutes, worked on their Socials stores (if they were caught up on their work) then we went to assembly.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Class Spring Fair Basket


Many Students and families donated books, chocolates, certificates, bookmarks and one family also donated an amazing hand made bookshelf to act as our class basket. As well I donated one of my chess books and will autograph it to the winning family. Thanks to you all and see you Thursday night for the Spring Fair.

P.S. Mr. W goes into the dunk tank at 7:00. Of course no one from the class would try and dunk Mr. W. would they?

Tuesday June 7

Students begin to work on their store fronts.

Notices:
Bike Rodeo Tomorrow (bring bike, lock, helmet)

As this is a short week and thursday is the Spring Fair I have not assigned any spelling words this week.

We began the day with library then the students watched as the other students presented the power point projects they have been working on over the last few weeks.

After recess we worked on doing a diagnostic math test to see what they needed to learn in grade 5. We followed this by reading while all the students finished their tests.

After lunch the students began by beginning to make their our own trading posts for stores. The students cut, painted, and built their stores to the specifications of their submitted plans.
We ended the day with P.E. with Ms Burridges class.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Friday June 3rd: class photo signing

Students get everyone to sign their class photo for future memories.

Notices:
Lock down notice
Class Photo's

We began the day with our weekly test. The test was marked and handed back. Check to see if your child understands adding fractions with unlike denominators.

After recess until lunch we glazed our clever creative clay creations. They look fantastic but I will not put the pictures up until after the 19 th as not to give away our clay conceptions.

In the afternoon we began with our lock down drill. Our students managed to all fit into our cloak room with a book so the 15 min of quiet were not as hard as just sitting looking at each other trying not to laugh or make noise. Someone knocked on the door but we did not call out or answer as we knew that might be a trick.


After the lock down drill we went to buddies followed by P.E. with our buddies. After P.E. we went back to class handed out the class photo's and gave the students time to get their classmates time to sign them. After that those students who were finished their work began construction of their store fronts.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Friday Test

Spelling: Unit 32 Space: astronomy comet constellation Earth galaxy Jupiter Mars meteor Mercury meteorite Neptune planet Pluto quasar rocket Saturn Uranus Venus (Bonus: telescope shuttle)

Science:
Light travels in straight lines unless it is reflected, refracted or absorbed.

Socials:
Know the process by which hats were made: (be able to pick out the process given three choices)
The main thing Europeans wanted to trade for was fur. Beaver hats weren't actually made from beaver fur. They were made from felt. Felt was made by scraping off the fine under fur from the beaver skin, then wetting and crushing it until it was matted together. this made a material something like thick, wet cardboard. this was then dried and shaped into hats.

Know 5 things the Aboriginal people traded for:
The Aboriginal peoples were interested in trading for goods such as copper pots, knives, axe heads, sewing needles, blankets, wool jackets, beads and guns.

Math: a) adding fractions with like denominators when nothing has to be done (or the don't do it the Thomas way) b) where only one denominator has to be changed because one is a multiple of the other, or c) where both denominators have to be changed using either the Harman way or the modified Aurhea method

Thursday June 2nd Young Entrepreneurs


In math students work on helping everyone in their group learn the concept of adding fractions of like denominators.

Today we started with a discussion about our store or entrepreneurs project. We are starting this project now because in Socials we are looking at the trading posts and practices of the Hudson Bay Company and the N.W. Company and their trading with the First Nations. I like this project because many people criticize the educational system because it does not teach entrepreneurial skills or how to handle money. In this project the students have to make and run a small business, make a business plan, keep ledgers, manage cash, create a series of products make decisions about advertising and running a business and of course calculating and paying taxes. The students had time looking at Highlight magazines for craft ideas then we spent 20 min in the library looking for craft ideas on the Internet. All products in the store trading posts has to be hand made.

After recess we worked on math adding fractions with different denominators. Students are slowly getting the concept of how to solve problems with several different approaches. The students also worked in their pods to make sure everyone in the pod was able to do fraction problems. I like students working in groups to learn new concepts. This was followed by group time where students had to design their store fronts on paper. Students will have time to build their store fronts tomorrow.

After lunch we had 35 min of reading followed with a one page report on what the Aboriginal peoples wanted most from the European traders. We then finished up our Science experiment from last Science class on how light travels in straight lines. We did a few simple experiments with light and mirrors. The students were then challenged to draw an x in a box looking in a mirror. It is harder than it sounds. Give it a try yourself.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Wednesday June 1 st: Earthquake Drill

In a full earthquake drill, unlike a fire drill, the students take their packs and belongings.

Notices:
Wednesday Express for those not on the electronic email version
Please get those lunch program and food for fun forms in.

Our school day began with us going over the new Earthquake procedures followed at 9:30 with a full practice with teachers combing the school for survivors. The full drill went on for 30 min taking us up to recess. Our class gathered in the field with our buddy class and played sitting games with them like we would in a real emergency. The question no one had an answer for was what to do with class pets. I asked them to ask their parents what they would do at home. The more we think about things the more we are prepared when things happen. So do talk to them about your emergency plan at home. As well we talked about if it was a real earthquake we are not allowed to release them to anyone not on their emergency list. So if you want you child in an emergency to be able to go home with a neighbor or friend update your school information form with a note.
The note should say something like... In the case of an emergency at school like an earthquake my child has permission to go home with ___________

After recess the students had Music where they practiced for their upcoming school performances around the grade 5 graduation. After Music the students worked on designing a super car.

After lunch those students not in choir listened to and did a one page report on Tracey Chapman. This was followed by Socials where we looked at the beaver and its importance to the fur trade. We talked about how felt was made.

After choir and before social studies the students had a much needed desk clean. Too bad my camera battery was dead as the piles of stuff accumulated in such a small space, inside a students desk would amaze and astonish many.