Thursday, February 17, 2011

SS11: Notes from Thursday, 17 Feb

ATTENTION: I'VE NOT BEEN AS REMISS IN POSTING AS IT WOULD SEEM.  IF YOU CLICK ON THE SS11 LABEL, A BUNCH OF FEB POSTS ARE MISSING, BUT IF YOU JUST OPEN THE BLOG AND SCROLL DOWN THE POSTS, ALL SS11 POST APPEAR - SORRY, I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS IS: THE BOTTOM LINE IS AT IF A POST APPEARS MISSING, REFRESH THE BLOG AND SCROLL DOWN.

Today we found out that half the class did not do their homework and that meant we couldn't do what was planned; that needs to be completed over the weekend.  Instead, talked briefly about Bren Gun Ronnie, and women in uniform during the war.  We also started reporting on a "jigsaw" activity where each student researched and started reporting on the significant battles of the Second World War.  We will finish sharing our data on Tuesday.

I'm sorry for any confusion about worksheets.  In addition to the sheets due from last day's homework (#9, #10) please ensure you've also completed #13 (which was to be done by the end of Tuesday's class).

The homework from today's class is #8.  We will

Although I said that we would do #12 today, we'll look at it on Tuesday.  We already had some excellent exposure to the Holocaust at Remembrance Day, so we won't be committing as much time to this topic as we normally would do.

Hist 12: Notes from Thus 17 Feb

Today we got the COW and so were able to complete the treaty posters.  I've already printed the ones I was given and will be able to return them on Monday for you to complete the "colourization."  On Monday we will write the synthesis paragraphs for the Paris Peace et al.

En 12: Notes from Thurs, 17 Feb

Today we did self and peer assessment of our Stalin/1984 paragraphs after Mr. M had added some editing notes.  Next, we completed our writing logs and at the end of class we noted some of the most important ways to help improve our writing.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

En 12: Wed 15 Feb

Today we did the provincial satisfaction survey and then worked on our reading.  I also continued to work with students and their writing.

En 11-1&2: Notes from Wed 16 Feb

Today we addressed the three types of modifier errors after having done a grammar unit quiz.

We will not have class on Friday because of the p-d day.  On Monday we will cover parallelism and do a final review - your unit exam will be Wednesday.

Have a good break.

Hist 12: Notes from Wed 16 Feb

Today we started our "treaties/pacts of the 1920s and 30s" posters.  We will finish them on Monday.  Tomorrow we will write our Paris/League synthesis paragraphs.

Remember to start your reading for the Russia unit.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Socials 11: Notes from Tuesday, 15 Feb

Today we reviewed two samples of student paragraph writing that I marked as being "exemplary."  We examined one to see what balance the writer chose between "facts" and "so-what" statements.  We also noted how the writer concluded with a synthesizing "big picture" statement to show what overall effect the topic had on the war.

Next, we had a short discussion to emphasize the "must knows" associated with the 1942 conscription plebescite and identified some ways that politicians can try to be "persuasive."

Finally, we watched the segment from the People's History series on the internment of Japanese Canadians after the attack on the USA at Pearl Harbor.  Students were given Ex # 13 to complete in class.

Please complete Ex # 9-10 for homework.  We will do Ex #12 in class on Thursday.

Hist 12: Notes from Tues, 15 Feb

Today we reviewed woeksheets #8-12.  Tomorrow we will do a culminating writing activity on the Paris Peace.  Then it's on to the Russian RevolutionS.

En 12: Notes from Tues 15 Feb

Today we discussed the novel up to Book 2, Chapter 4.  We also practiced finding quotations from p. 142.  Finally, we wrote a sample of a statement/support sentence using one of the sample quotations from p. 142.

Please keep reading because "[w]e are [not] the dead."

Monday, February 14, 2011

Hist 12: Monday, 14 Feb

Today, we did an exercise where we first brainstormed "factoids" associated with the Paris Peace and the League and then started to categorize them into "must-knows," "should-knows," and "could-knows."  When we write, we recognize that the "must-knows" are the types of facts that help generate strong theses, and are often fodder for our paragraph topic sentences.  On the other hand, the"should-knows" are often given as support. Generally, we leave out the "could-knows" in the shorter types of writing we do in this course, because otherwise we won't have room for the other more important bits.

Tomorrow, we'll review the worksheets (#8-10) and work on #12.  We are getting ready to study the Russian Rev - yippee.  You may wish to start your reading - this is a tough topic for many students, so extra research is an asset.

History 12: Notes from Thurs-Friday, Feb 10-11

On Thursday we did our mock Paris 1919 peace negotiations.  Some of the delegates were a little quiet while others had lots to say.  It was enjoyable for all (I think); however, the German delegation was not present.

On Friday I was absent to support a sports trip: the class completed Falk's workbook exercises #8-10.  We'll review them on Monday.

En 11-1&2: Notes from Monday, 14 Feb



Today, we reviewed the first two pages of the three-page grammar unit test.  We may have our test as early as Monday, 21 (Friday is a pro-d day).

En 12: Notes from Monday, 14 Feb

Today, we had another reading/study guide block while I worked one-to-one with students and their writing.

Please get caught up on your reading; we should all be past page 200.

On Friday, we read some background on Stalin and his reign (of terror?).  Please remember to write a paragraph making connections between Stalinist Soviet society and that of Oceania in 1984.

Finally, if you've only done two theme paragraphs, please write the third for homework.