Decimals.... for a Fraction of the Day!

We have been working to understand decimals (and their related fractions) to the thousandths.  We have used Base 10 blocks, number lines, and card games.  Pictured here we are ordering decimals from least to greatest.  We are also learning to compare decimals.  Don't hesitate to review this with your child!

Pun of the Day - When chemists die, they barium.

Dance Planning

We have been working very hard on the choreography of our next dance.  After getting songs and groups approved on Friday, the class worked for two gym periods this week on their dances.  I am very impressed with the work ethic and success the groups seem to be having.  I am also surprised that most students desired a change and formed new groups, but this is fine.  All groups are working hard at integrating props with their dances as well!

Pun of the Day - I have run across some funny puns that I will share through our blog.  The purpose is to put a smile on your face and maybe you will laugh out loud.  If anyone has a good one to share, submit it to me and it may make it on a future blog!

I tried to catch some FOG.  I mist.

CASI Results

Recently our class completed another reading evaluation known fondly as CASI.  This assessment is done three times a year, and the data is used to track progress, focus teaching, and form guided reading groups.  Parents will get the see the two that we have completed during their grade six child's student-led conference next week.  I am very pleased to announce that the following students' reading level improved one FULL level (ie. level 1 to level 2, level 2 to level 3, etc.):

Sarah

Evan

Julianne

Quinn

Emily

Brandon

Steven

Frankie

Ellen

Tommy

Jack

Nick

Cailin

Luke

Extra special congratulations is extended to ROCCO because his reading level improved TWO FULL LEVELS between the September and January reading assessments.  WAY TO GO!

Keep reading everyone!

Facial tissue please!  If you can spare a box of tissue, please send it in.  We are down to the last three.  Winter brings runny noses!  Thanks so much in advance!

Please note:  the SWYK math evaluation and math test was sent home with the students on Tuesday for parents' signatures.  Please send them back promptly.  Thanks for your assistance in this matter.

Student-Led Conferences: Portfolio Cull!

This week we are working on preparing our portfolios and presentations that each students will deliver to their parent(s) at the Student-Led Conferences next week.  Step one was "the cull" - we sifted through a plethora of work samples and decided what we would include (some were selected by me while others were selected by the students).  Many extra work samples were sent home on Monday.

Thank you to everyone who returned their green student-led conference request sheet through their grade six child or another sibling.  Your time slot will go home with the report card on Monday.  If you have not requested a time, one will be assigned to you, as all students will be prepared to present to their parent(s).  This is a celebration of learning and can be compared to an event such as a school play, drama presentation, etc.  No one should miss it!

Reminders! Reminders! Reminders!

Here are some reminders of the latest events in our room:

• Dance/gym rubrics were returned on Wednesday January 22.  Please sign and return them ASAP.
• Our second dance choreography assignment has begun.  Songs and groups were due Friday.  I approved the song choices and those who didn't receive approval found a new song.  The students need props for this dance, so they should be bringing them as well as the music on Mondays and Tuesdays until we have completed this exercise.  Six gym classes will be allowed for preparation, and presentations are scheduled for Tuesday February 18.  Ipods are allowed for gym only and will not be allowed at school after this assignment is complete.
• Field trip forms were handed out on Friday January 24.  Please return them signed and include the fee by Friday January 31.
• Not all students have completed the Show What You Know math evaluation yet.  They will be returned for signing when this is so.  I will let you know via this blog when to expect them.
• Not all of the students have written the math test yet, so they have not been returned to the class.  I  will let you know via the blog when they are returned so that you can sign them as well.
• The latest Mad Minute package will go home Monday January 27 for goal setting and signatures.  Please return them promptly.  Please practise your math facts daily.
• Don't forget that we began our "Vocabulary of the Day" exercise again last week.  Even though the students have been reminded, not everyone has been ready to present on their day.  Please check our class calendar and be prepared on your day!
• Don't forget that we are having a "family of schools" mass at Corpus Christi Church on Tuesday at 10 am.  All of the students from grade 1-8 from St. Gabriel, Christ the King, and Notre Dame schools will be gathering for mass together.  Try to join us!
• Try to encourage your family and friends to buy Spitfire tickets and attend the Feb 23 game!  There will be skating with the Spitfires afterwards!
• 

Did you know that everyone is now working on a biography/ autobiography book talk?  Presentations will begin this week and continue into February.  The students are also researching a hero of theirs and writing a biography based on their research and the characteristics of a non-fiction article that we have learned while incorporating the characteristics of a biography.  Ask your child about it.  We are always busy!

Congratulations!

We would like to extend congratulations to the latest WOW winners from grade 6Col:

Evan won for her marvellous writing skills!

Markus won because he is improving by leaps and bounds!

It has been rough this week, with not being able to go outside for recess due to the weather.  The students are able to find fun and creative things to do, however.  Check out this tower that was made with the dominoes.

Nice work Ethan and Luke!

Good News! (sort of)

Congratulations to this week's Good News ticket draw winner:  Quinn!  Keep up the good work.

 Again this week the results for everyone for Mad Minute were substantially below expectations.  The questions I have are:  "Why aren't the students and parents concerned about this? Why are they not practising more?"  Our next math unit which begins on Monday is focusing on decimals.  Calculators will not be allowed and we will be adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing decimals.  Obviously knowing your multiplication facts would be a huge help.

Here are the results:

correctly answering(/60)                 number of students
         0-10                                                 1
       11-20                                                 7
       21-30                                                10
       31-40                                                 4

VIP - Community Service Presentation

Our prior knowledge

Today, Sergeant Mizuno brought a guest speaker

Mr. Palumbo

with her.  After she introduced the topic of community service and activated the students' prior knowledge, Mr. Palumbo, from the education division of the Humane Society spoke to us about how important volunteers are.  We learned

A great motto and
a great shirt!

about the various services that the Humane Society provides to the community and domestic animals, and how funds are raised so that those services can be performed.  Mr. Palumbo also informed us that volunteers must be at least sixteen years old, but there are other ways that our students can assist and earn community service hours, if they are interested.  Did you know that our students can:

• work with the animal behaviourist, stuffing toys with treats?  Sounds fun!  Contact the Humane Society if you are interested. (519) 966-5751
• 
• collect newspapers to donate to the society?  The papers are used to line the cages of the animals.  For each stack of papers 2.5cm tall (opened up and not including ads), a grade 6 student would earn one hour of service.  An adult would have to accompany them when they bring the papers in, and they would have to have their community service record sheet ready to receive a signature.  Try it!
• 
• volunteer at Wings Rehab Centre in Amherstburg, where they get hands-on experience helping injured animals?  Contact WINGS if you are interested. click here for a link to their web site



|Emily did a great job
thanking our speaker

•  

Don't forget that your ten hours of community service form (completed) and one photo of you in action is due at the end of May!

Canadian, eh?

Through our word study work during the last few weeks, the students have noticed that there is a rather long list of words that Canadians spell differently than Americans.  One of the students suggested that we start an anchor chart highlighting those words.  So, here is the latest word assignment:  bring in three words that Canadians and Americans spell differently by Friday.

example:  favourite (Canadian), favorite (American)

Happy Hunting!

Interpretive Dance #1

Here are the dances that our class presented on Tuesday.  Please sign and return the gym and dance rubric promptly.  Thank you and enjoy!

                   Rocco, Markus, Steven

                   Aidan, Frankie, and Nick

             Jack, Brandon, Ethan, and Luke

                  Ellen, Lindsay, and Cailin

                   Bromleigh, Evan, and Emily

                 Tommy, Quinn, and Chris

          Ashley and Julianne (absent:  Sarah)

Character Traits

Although we have been inferencing all year long, in all aspects of the curriculum, this has become a focus as of late.  We use our character trait cards to assist us in identifying qualities/characteristics/character traits of people (such as friends), characters in texts we read, and historical figures.  The words and definitions fit together like puzzles, so not only are the students expanding their vocabulary and understanding, but it is fun to put the pieces together.

*Please note that the note about Student-Led conferencing was sent home on Monday January 20 (it is green).  Please select your preferred time and return it by Monday January 27 at the latest.  

Math Test on the Horizon

 As indicated on our class calendar, we will be having our next math test on Thursday of this week.  Although we have been working from unit 6 in our text book at times, this unit does not match our curriculum well, so it it important that everyone realize what the students will be evaluated on. We are skipping the first four lessons (some of this is actually in the grade five curriculum, while time zones is Social Studies, not math), and portions of the last three (the cubic metre is in the grade 8 curriculum, for example).  The students are responsible for the following material:

• surface area of all types of rectangular prisms
• volume of all types of rectangular prisms
• relationship between surface area and volume
• capacity of containers, measured in Litres and millilitres
• mass of objects, measured in kilograms and grams
• conversion of metric units (L to mL, mL to L, kg to g, g to kg)
• problem solving of real life situations of any of the above concepts, using ALL STEPS OF THE PROBLEM SOLVING MODEL that we have been working on all year

Happy studying!

Getting a Charge out of Electricity

On Thursday, Melissa and Tomi from the University of Windsor's science program worked with Mrs. Coates's and our class through the Let's Talk Science program.  They brought mini kits of hands-on materials and gave us the opportunity to test items for conductivity, as well as build simple circuits.  This was a great introduction to our electricity unit which will begin after we have completed our current ( ha ha - get it!) social studies unit.  Check out the photos.

Melissa and Tomi

Creating a simple circuit to cause the chick to chirp.

Seven students in this simple circuit.

Eight students in this simple circuit.

Problem solving

Illuminating a light bulb in a simple circuit.

Tricky!  Problem Solving Required

Collaboration!

Some assistance from an expert.

Testing for conductivity

Testing hypotheses

Group consensus

Do we have success?

Good News

Congratulations to this week's Good News ticket winner:  Luke! Keep up the good work!

Here are the results of this week's Mad Minute drill, by number of questions correctly answered.  Remember there are 60 multiplication facts to be completed on one minute.

        below 20... 3 students
20-29 correct ... 13 students
30-39 correct ... 4 students
     40 correct ... 1 student
           absent ... 1 student

What do you think about this latest achievement?