November 10

English 10

Today we started off with a check-in with regards to term 1 work.  Students were notified if they were missing work and were given till Friday to get it into me. 

Next we discussed the prevalence of stress related to school (that I was made aware of with my assessment of student work) and students provided me with some feedback.

We also  learned that the aboriginal community were the most represented group of Canadians, proportionately, to serve in the World Wars.  Motivating factors included to see the world (leave the reserve), get treated with respect and to earn a steady pay cheque. 

Students then had the remainder of the class to read the next three (3) chapters (Reindeer Games, And a Partridge in a Pear Tree, and Red vs. White) as well as complete the following questions:

Reindeer Games

1.    Why does Junior try out for the basketball team?

2.    What happens at try-outs? Why does Junior get in?

3.    Why does Junior say ‘it was like something out of Shakespeare’ (p. 142) when he discovers their first game is against Wellinpit?

4.    What happens when Junior enters the gym? How does he react? Why?

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

1.    Describe Junior’s Christmas.

2.    At the beginning of the last chapter (p. 136), Junior references the name of this chapter.  Why do you think Alexie did this?  

Red Versus White

1.    What good things about his culture does Junior realise?

2.     Why does Junior describe his grandmother as tolerant?  Provide at least 3 examples.

 

 

 

 

Humanities 8

 

Today we started with a check in with regards to report cards and then

we segued into a discussion about the origins of Remembrance Day.  We viewed a powerpoint, shared stories and talked about trench warfare in WWI.  Finally, students were asked to cut  out a poppy, color it and write some words of gratitude or other appropriate sentiment on their poppy.  We displayed them in the class window. 

 

 

November 9

Mr. Janz was in today.

HUMANITIES 8

Today was the last day to complete the 'Lost Continent' mapping project. All students should have submitted your projects to Mr. Janz. If you were absent, please give the assignment to Ms. McCall and she will coordinate with Mr. Janz to have your work assessed.

ENGLISH 10

Today we learned that the aboriginal community were the most represented group of Canadians, proportionately, in the World Wars. We discussed how the desire to escape poverty and/or the hope to earn respect from the rest of Canadians and/or possibly to reconnect with a 'warrior' ancestry may have contributed to the higher ratio of First Nation men in the armed forces.
From there, we reviewed the previous three (3) chapters - Dance, Dance, Dance, Don't Trust Your Computer, and My Sister Sends Me a Letter. Students then had the remainder of the class to read the next three (3) chapters (Reindeer Games, And a Partridge in a Pear Tree, and Red vs. White) as well as complete the following questions:

Reindeer Games

1.    Why does Junior try out for the basketball team?

2.    What happens at try-outs? Why does Junior get in?

3.    Why does Junior say ‘it was like something out of Shakespeare’ (p. 142) when he discovers their first game is against Wellinpit?

4.    What happens when Junior enters the gym? How does he react? Why?

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

1.    Describe Junior’s Christmas.

2.    At the beginning of the last chapter (p. 136), Junior references the name of this chapter.  Why do you think Alexie did this?  

Red Versus White

1.    What good things about his culture does Junior realise?

2.     Why does Junior describe his grandmother as tolerant?  Provide at least 3 examples.

November 6

Mr. Janz was in today.

HUMANITIES 8

Today was the second of three classes students have to create their own continent using the mapping skills and knowledge we learned about this week. Progress appears to be excellent but this assignment is due no later than Monday at the end of the school day. Sorry, no extensions will be possible as Tuesday Ms. McCall is back.

ENGLISH 10

Students had their third (extra) class of the week today and these classes are to focus on creative writing. Today, students were to rewrite the opening of their earlier prompted story ("You will never guess what happened...") in thee (3) different styles: start with dialogue, start with action, and start with internal thoughts. They were also to add three (3) different literary devices (simile, hyperbole, etc.) into their new story opening(s).

The final task for today was to write a backstory for one of the minor characters from The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Consider characters like Mr. P or Eugene or Roger.

November 5

Mr. Janz was in today.

ENGLISH 10

Today's class started with a review of the three chapters read in the last lesson. We discussed a) Why doesn't Rowdy rip up the cartoon? b) Why does Penelope quasi date Junior? and c) What do you think of Rowdy's advice on love? And Gordy's advice?

Then students read three (3) more chapters: Dance, Dance, Dance, Don't Trust Your Computer, and My Sister Sends Me a Letter. Students were to write a brief summary of each chapter's events and then explain what they thought is the most important point that each chapter tries to communicate.

HUMANITIES 8

Today class started a three (3) lesson project: "Mapping the Lost Continent". In small groups, students are to collaborate on the specifics of a 'newly found continent'. They must each produce a map which shares certain characteristics: latitude & longitude lines, coordinates, a compass rose with declination, a map scale, very similar coastline & geological features, and a legend.

Then each member must choose a different type of map to produce individually: resource map, climate map, or a topographical map. These map types must include the correct elements to present the relevant information clearly.

This project WILL END Monday and, sorry, no extensions are possible.

November 4

Mr. Janz was in today.

HUMANITIES 8

Today was the last class looking at different styles of maps as well as the different types of information which can be presented using maps. We started the class by talking about the students' past work on the refugee crisis as this tied into one of the maps we looked at.

We also looked at a map indicating time zones and they learned about how the first sailors to circumnavigate the globe arrived home on a different day than it actually was. We looked at two different maps displaying the garbage and plastics in our oceans; a map showing what each country leads the world in (Canada was maple syrup and asteroid impacts); a map measuring the population of USA in 'units of Canada'; a map which displayed the most visited web sites per country; a map for oil consumption per day per country; a map showing the percentage of energy from renewable resources.

ENGLISH 10

Today's class started with a review of the three chapters read in the last lesson. We discussed a) Why doesn't Rowdy rip up the cartoon? b) Why does Penelope quasi date Junior? and c) What do you think of Rowdy's advice on love? And Gordy's advice?

Then students read three (3) more chapters: Dance, Dance, Dance, Don't Trust Your Computer, and My Sister Sends Me a Letter. Students were to write a brief summary of each chapter's events and then explain what they thought is the most important point that each chapter tries to communicate.

November 3

Mr. Janz was in today.

ENGLISH 10

ATDPTI assignments 1 - 4 were due today.
Today we added four (4) literary terms to the students' list of terms. These were Onomatopoeia, Alliteration, Sarcasm, and Repetition. Students were asked to define each and provide an example either from the ATDPTI novel or from their imagination.
Next we reviewed chapters Slouching Toward Thanksgiving and My Sister Sends Me an E-Mail. Students then has in-class time for silent reading the next three (3) chapters:Thanksgiving, Hunger Pains, and Rowdy Gives Me Advice About Love.
Finally, students were given a worksheet deciding which literary term ten different quotes suited best. They also have a personal response due:
Write a response on one of the following numbered topics below. Questions to think about before writing the response:·               What is your personal response?
·               What do you think the purpose was?
·               How does it connect to the greater themes of the novel?
·               Connections to the world, society, self, etc?


1. Alexie’s use of eating disorder in the novel.2. Alexie’s use of homophobia in the novel.3. Alexie’s reference to the missing Mexican girls. (p116)

HUMANITIES 8

Class continued exploring different ways people use mapping to present and understand information. Students viewed a PowerPoint slide show discussing what was presented. We discussed 'declination' (true north vs. magnetic north); we also explored finding volcanoes around the world using latitude and longitude; we talked about how maps can be used to manipulate and misrepresent information to bias the people viewing the maps.

November 2

November 2

Mr. Janz was in today.

HUMANITIES 8

We had a great lesson where students, in groups of two, visited 16 different stations investigating various types of maps as well as aspects of mapping which help decipher the information provided. All but four stations presented information without the legends and titles which would have explained clearly what was being presented.

Students were asked to record three (3) observations (things they thought they knew or guesses) and two (2) questions they had on the information being investigating at the station. There only had three minutes at each station before they were to move on.

Students were asked: What do people use maps for? We also spoke briefly about how different maps can show the same information differently - think of the size of Greenland on a globe versus a flat map.

ENGLISH 10

Today we added four (4) literary terms to the students' list of terms. These were Onomatopoeia, Alliteration, Sarcasm, and Repetition. Students were asked to define each and provide an example either from the ATDPTI novel or from their imagination.
Next we reviewed chapters Slouching Toward Thanksgiving and My Sister Sends Me an E-Mail. Students then has in-class time for silent reading the next three (3) chapters: Thanksgiving, Hunger Pains, and Rowdy Gives Me Advice About Love.

Finally, students were given a worksheet deciding which literary term ten different quotes suited best. They also have a personal response due:

Write a response on one of the following numbered topics below. Questions to think about before writing the response:

·               What is your personal response?

·               What do you think the purpose was? 

·               How does it connect to the greater themes of the novel? 

·               Connections to the world, society, self, etc?

1. Alexie’s use of eating disorder in the novel.

2. Alexie’s use of homophobia in the novel.

3. Alexie’s reference to the missing Mexican girls. (p116)