WOW Assembly!

Today we attended our first WOW Assembly.  At this assembly the whole school recognized students from each class who deserved special recognition for a wide variety of reasons.  Our class congratulates Raven and Melanie who are being recognized for their effort and perseverance.

Today the latest math test was finally sent home for parents to sign. Not everyone was present on Monday to write the test and those students finished today.  Also, work was sent home in their yellow math duo tang on Monday for signing, and quite a few students still have to return that as well.  Please return them ASAP.

Our picture orders are due on Friday November 2.  Please return them as well.

Finally have a very safe and fun Hallowe'en this evening!  Keep warm and have fun!  Please do not bring candy to school in your lunch.  Thanks for your cooperation.  P.S.  If you are checking this blog on October 31 or before school on November 1, please write this in your agenda on the November 1 area:  Trick or Treating is so much fun!
                                              

Grade 6C Sure Measures Up!

Today we reviewed how to measure angles of 180 degrees and less with a protractor.  The most confusing part that seems to stump some students is knowing which numbers to read:  the outer set or the inner set.  I have given them a couple of hints.  First, anticipate the type of angle before you begin.  If you know that the angle is acute, for example, then your measurement must be less than 90 degrees.  Second, when the protractor is aligned properly, with the vertex of the angle at the origin of the protractor, and one arm of the angle on the baseline, that arm will point to one of the zeros on the protractor.  Since we always begin measuring from zero, select the set of numbers that the zero belongs to (either the inner set or the outer set) and go from there. It is imperative that the students are proficient at this skill, as we will move into constructing angles next, then eventually constructing figures.  

Literacy Workstations

Last week I completed the teaching of the concepts associated with our literacy unit, therefore we began working on our Literacy Workstations.  This is the opportunity for the students to work in groups practicing the skills they are trying to master.  This is also the time that I work with guided reading groups.  A guided reading group is a group of students that are working together based on their strengths and needs.  I guide them with a text that would be slightly challenging by supporting them with new vocabulary, decoding, and comprehension.  We also use this text to practice the material learned in the unit.  In this round of centres, the students have the opportunity to visit all of the following workstations:  Classroom Library, Word Study, Buddy Reading, Overhead, Writing, Science, Listening, and Punctuation and Grammar.  Ask your child which ones they have visited so far, and what they did at each one.  There is a Literacy Evaluation tentatively scheduled for Monday November 5.

LIKE!

I have been working diligently with all of the students on their oral communication.  It is important on a daily basis, not just when doing formal presentations.  We focus on word choice on a regular basis:  mean what you say and say what you mean, is our motto!  They now know the difference between:  "Can I go to the bathroom?" and "May I go to the bathroom?", for example.  We also continue to work on the correct usage for the word "like".  They now know that the word "like" can be used as a verb that means you enjoy something (ex. I like your new coat.) or when comparing things, such as in a simile (ex.  the boy ran like the wind).  They are being discouraged from using "like" as a time filler when trying to think of what to say next (... and like, um, I  mean...), when using it in the place of the verb "said" (I'm like, "Let's go to the movies.") or almost every other word in a sentence (Well, like I went to like WalMart and bought like some new markers like.).  They really are becoming more aware of this and are working hard to think before speaking.  Many students are finding this quite a challenge! 
  
                                                                                          

Good News!

Congratulations the the students who were our Good News ticket winners this week:  Julia O., Julia R., Nathan, Raven, and Ryan (twice).
                        

More congratulations is extended to the entire St. Gabriel School community on the success of our cookie dough fund raising efforts. Although we do not know about the individual and class winners yet, we do know that we have surpassed the school goal of $15,000 in sales.  I do not know the exact amount at this time, but I do know that we sold over $19,000 worth of product.  That means that we have earned all of the promised incentives:  Fall Fun Day, Ice Skating, Teacher Hair Cuts and Dos, and Staff Polar Bear Dip.  Stay tuned for the other announcements as well at the dates for these fun events.
                  

As you prepare for the math test that will be held on Monday, please remember that we DID NOT work on the section of unit 1 that deals with integers because that is in the grade seven math curriculum.  We did, however, add algebraic expressions with one variable that is not in our textbook.  This will appear on the test.  Please refer to the students' yellow math duo tang and the anchor charts on the Anchor Chart Library page of this website.  We did work through the remainder of the lessons in unit one of our textbook.
   Calculators are allowed during the test!

Please note that our next unit of study is geometry.  All students will need a math set containing a protractor, ruler, and compass for math class on Tuesday.  On Monday all students will be given a new math duo tang for the Geometry and Spatial Sense strand containing many pages of geometry definitions.  Most of them are reviewing concepts from previous years and from past experience many students forget them and are rusty on all of the details needed to be known for grade six math.  Since we are having our test on Monday, Monday night's homework will be to review and/or learn the definitions provided.

We Had a BALL in Gym Today!

Today we had gym with Mr. Kennette's class and did we ever have a  ball.  We even got to use our heads.

How Expressive Can You Be?

And our total continues to rise!  Today, to my surprise, I found another cookie dough order on my desk which brings our class total to $1413.00.  Now our class average is up to  $50.46.  Great Going!  Can you say "Polar Bear Dip"?

                                                        

For the last few days we have been working on beginning Algebra in math.  We began slowly with blanks in mathematical expressions that had to be filled in using mental math, now today we progressed to solving algebraic expressions with one variable (letter) which we have to solve for.  This work cannot be found in our text book, but is a requirement of our grade six patterning and algebra curriculum, so it will be on the test next week as well.  Each student has completed many examples using shared, guided, and independent math today (see the lined page in their yellow duo tang), and the new anchor chart can be found on the Anchor Chart Library page of this site.  Check out the photos of us playing an algebra game with a partner.

What Sellers We Are!

Today more cookie dough orders did in fact come in, so I am happy to report that our class's grand total is a whopping $1371.00!  Great job Grade 6C!  When you divide our total by twenty-eight students, our class average is $48.96 per student.  It is that amount that will determine if we have qualified for the Coldstone Ice Cream class reward for the highest sales for classes from grade six to eight.  GOOD LUCK!

The students have asked me to post the following information in our blog to assist them with completing math homework.  For clarification, all students are allowed to use calculators for the unit we are currently working on (Patterning and Algebra) and for all future units that are not Number Sense and Numeration (that is:  Geometry and Spatial Sense, Data Management and Probability, and Measurement).  It is a requirement of our curriculum that students know how to use a calculator with success, and when the unit is not teaching and evaluating their ability to perform the four operations and related math work, but other concepts, then it is encouraged.  Therefore, students should also be using a calculator to complete any math work they do at home.  They will be allowed to use a calculator on the next math test, and those for the other units mentioned above.
                                                                 

Please check the Anchor Chart Library page of this website later this evening.  I will be posting quite a collection of Literacy and Numeracy anchor charts that we have been creating collaboratively lately!

Congratulations!

Today was the official collection day for cookie dough and muffin mix orders.  Our class did an amazing job - and some students tell me that they will be bringing in their orders tomorrow.  As of right now, our class alone has collected $1244.00 worth of orders.  That is an average of $44.23 per student - and we had hoped to have each student sell two tubs!  We certainly surpassed that.  As you know, tomorrow is Jersey Day (our second incentive), and we will have to wait for a school total so that we will know which other incentives we have earned school wide.

Don't forget that tomorrow is Pizza Day for those who placed advanced orders.  Enjoy!


                                                          

You've SPOTTED our Pointillism Art Lesson

                                             

                   On Friday we combined our knowledge of colour mixing and pointillism to create landscapes.  
My camera spotted students hard at work!

Congratulations Guardians!  Tuesday will be "Jersey Day" now that we have earned the second incentive in the school fund raiser!  Keep selling!

Good News!

We had so many Good News Tickets in the bin today that many names were pulled.  Congratulations to this week's winners:  Miss O., Alysia, Raven, Hannah 24 (twice), and Hailey (three times).

                                             

Fantastic Friday!

Today we had our Thanksgiving Liturgy of the Word in the gym.  We were asked to donate non-perishable food items, like we were for our first mass.  Our class goal was to collect more than we did last time - and we did!  We collected 31 items this time.  Way to go!

More cookie dough orders came in today and we have collected $468 worth of orders so far.  Monday is the last day to bring in your orders so work your magic this weekend!

The Latest and Greatest

Our class is beginning to bring in cookie dough and muffin mix orders.  To date we have sold $242 worth of product.  Keep bringing in your orders!  The last day is Monday.  We would really like a Coldstone treat!

Tomorrow we will celebrate a liturgy of the word in the gym. Again we are being asked to bring in a non-perishable food item to contribute to the St. Vincent de Paul Society.  The last time we collected, we had 29 items.  Can we beat that this time?  I think we can!

Tomorrow is also the last day to bring in your pizza orders.  Pizza day will be on Tuesday.

Today we worked on math for a very long time.  It is apparent that the students have fallen into bad habits in previous years, so I am working hard at breaking those and instilling new good habits.  Don't forget that I would rather students try their work and make mistakes, than not trying at all.  I can tell their thinking by the mistakes they make and can assist accordingly.  I have reminded them to use the anchor charts from home to assist them.

Active Fun in the Gym!

Who's It?

So much fun!

Today we played Triangle Tag.  We worked very hard, had fun, and were great sports (well, most of us!).  Check out the photos!

Triangle Tag

More Triangle Tag

After that game, we learned how to play Panic Ball!  Ask your child about it.  We worked really hard!

Check out the new anchor charts on our Anchor Chart Library page!

Congratulations Guardians!

Congratulations!  Due to the fact that we have collected $2500 worth of cookie dough as of today as a school, tomorrow we will earn our first incentive reward:
HAT DAY!!!

Busy Day!

Go Detroit Tigers!  Today many students participated in our spirit day by wearing Tiger gear, blue and/or orange, and ties (for Tie Tuesday). It is great to see such participation!  Will Verlander go the distance?  Will he pitch a no-hitter?  Time will tell.

Today we had the first visit from the Rosary Ladies.  These visits start up in October because October is the month of the rosary.  Mrs. D'Agnillo worked with us and reminded us that the best way to pray is to go to mass because we will celebrate the Eucharist.  The second best way is to pray the rosary. We can anticipate her visits monthly.

Today we also worked on our visualizing skills (a reading strategy) by reading a descriptive text about purple frogs.  We discussed adjectives an their role in creating images in our mind.  Check out the photos and ask your child about the fun activity we did with this text and this concept.

Math tests and literacy evaluations were returned today and sent home for parents to view and sign.  Please return them tomorrow.  We began working on patterning today.  Here is an entry in a student's workbook during our "three-part lesson".