April 6

Humanities 8

Today we started off with reviewing the inquiry assignment for the Middle Ages.  Students were given feedback on their inquiry and guiding questions from last class and then they were tasked with researching the answers to their guiding questions in the computer lab.  Students were reminded that one book source is required!!

English 10 (C & D)

Today students wrote an example E-exam.  The focus was on reading and answering the multiple choice questions.  They were also prompted to write notes in preparation for their in-class essay next class!!  Students handed in their answer sheets.  See below for specific instructions.

Practice E-exam

1.       Go to the following website: https://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/exams/search/

2.       Select grade 10 and click agree to copy write.

3.       Next select English 10 and get exams.

4.       Click on one of the 2 hyperlinks for the e-exam (both are the same).

5.       Click on the blue EN100809 to get a randomly selected copy of the exam.

6.       Follow prompts and start exam at question #10.  You will have to do the reading on-line to do so.

7.       Before doing the reading, it may be a good idea to check what the essay question is (Question #30).  Click next to view and then back to return to #10.  Make notes after reading or after completing the questions on the reading.

8.       Complete multiple choice to question #29. 

9.       Enter your notes into the writing space for Question #30. 

10.   In the space for Question #31 – Write your reflection about doing an e-exam.  What did you notice?  Questions?  Thoughts, comments?  This can be done after you have looked at how well you did.  Just write by hand on the print-out.

11.   Submit your answers for assessment. Review questions which you did not answer correctly.  The key is mixed up for two consecutive questions.  Can you figure out which 2???  Mark on paper

12.    Print off your answer sheet.  Hand in to me at the end of class.  Be sure your name is on it!

13.   Next class you will be asked to do this writing and self-assess.  Be prepared!!

April 5

English 10 (H block)

Today we started out with a check-in about how everyone's spring break was.  Next we did some exam preparation.  Students were asked to read two passages and answer the written response question in a chart format.  Next, students were asked to look at the marking rubric for this type of writing and assess some student exemplars.  At the end of the class students handed in their chart, as well as a thoughtful reflection based on class and specifically the exam experience.

Humanities 8

Today we started off with a brief introduction to guiding questions before heading to the library.  Ms Richards gave a brief talk about reliable research sources, introduced Easybib (a bibliography generator) and cautioned students about cut and pasting from websites.  Students then reviewed their inquiry questions from yesterday and then worked on completing a planning page to begin their inquiry project.  Students handed this planning page in for review at the end of the class. 

April 4

Humanities 8

Today we started with a check-in with regards to student's spring break.  Next, we looked at a power point about inquiry questions.  Students were then given a piece of writing to read.  In groups, they were then asked to come up with at least 2 inquiry questions based on that reading.  Someone in the group recorded the questions and when they had come up with their questions, they were asked to determine if the questions were basic or challenging. This work was handed in.   All of this is in preparation for the inquiry project students will be working on for the next few weeks. 

English 10

Today students were reminded to hand in Infographs and the assignment on "Generation Jobless."  Next students were given a reading booklet from a past exam.  They were asked to create a chart to get them thinking about what they could write about if they were faced with this topic on an exam.  After that we looked at the rubric for this type of writing and students were asked to look at some student examples and match them with the rubric descriptors.  Students handed in their chart and wrote a reflection on the lesson today. 

March 17

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

English 10 (H Block)

Today students were asked to hand in their infographs.  They were directed to self-assess and ensure that they handed in their article with their assignment.  Sources should also be displayed on their infographs.  Next, we watched the documentary Generation Jobless and students were asked to complete an assignment and hand it in (see below).  Students can watch it on youtube  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UUuMWqA8eE

Generation Jobless Documentary Assignment   Name: _________________________________  Blk: ____________

Pre-viewing questions

1.       Have you thought about a future career yet?   If so, what careers are you considering?

2.       What do you think the biggest problems are for young people looking for jobs in Canada right now?

3.       What do the following words mean:

Internship

Co-op

Apprenticeship

While viewing questions

1.       What is the unemployment rate for young Canadians according to this documentary?  Swiss youth?

2.       List the current problems with the current Canadian education system in terms of preparing youth for careers?

3.       Write down 3 other statistics that you found interesting?  Beside these stats explain why you thought they were interesting.

4.       Describe why the Swiss system seems to be so successful.  What are they doing in their education system?

Post Viewing Questions

1.       Do you think it would be a good idea for Canada to adopt the Swiss system of education?  What are the pros and cons from your perspective?

2.       Has watching this documentary changed your thinking about your future career or job?  Why or why not? 

3.       If you were Minister of Education, how would you change our education system?

4.       Other comments/questions on this topic:

Humanities 8

Today we spent some time at the cultural awareness day events around the school.  We also read Scenes 5 & 6 of the play Courting Trouble.

March 16

Humanities 8

Today students were informed that they will be taking part in a cultural event tomorrow.  A/E block was asked to prepare questions while B/F will be viewing displays.  For the remainder of the class, we read the 1st four scenes of the play Courting Trouble.  Students took turns taking roles. 

English 10 (C & D)

Today students were given the rubric for their inforaph assignment.  The remainder of the class was dedicated to working on their project which is due on Friday!  

March 15

English 10 (H Block)

Today after silent reading, students were asked to submit their daily reflections sheets for assessment.   Next, we looked at the rubric for the infograph assignment (see yesterday's post for rubric).  The rest of the class was for working on infographs.  

Humanities 8

Today students worked in groups to act out scenes from the Bayeaux tapestry (the Battle of Hastings).

March 14

Humanities 8

Today we did a short silent reading session and a check-in from the weekend.  Next we organized our folders and handed in our last unit of work with a completed self-assessment attached. Finally we made a 5 W +H chart to record information about the Battle of Hastings and the Bayeaux Tapestry. 

English 10

Today we started off with handing in our daily reflections grid and cleaning out our folders.  Next we reviewed non-fiction features and infographs from previous classes.  Next students were tasked with creating an infograph and the students had the remainder of the block to work on that.  

Infograph Assignment

Step 1:  Find an article on a topic that you are interested in.  Print it off if or flag it in a magazine to hand into me. 

Step 2:  Take notes on the article.

Step 3:  Figure out how to transform the information into an infograph. 

·         Condense

·         Create graphs, charts, pictures, timelines

·         Include maps, symbols, captions

·         Utilize headings, color, text size

Step 4:  Sketch out a rough draft.  Think of balance, amount of text and how easy it is to read.  

Step 5: Consult rubric to tweak rough and seek feedback (peer, teacher, EA, parent etc). 

Step 7:  Create final version

Step 8:  Self-assess and hand-in with original texts!

Criteria	Not Yet Within Expectations	Minimally Meets Expectations	Fully Meets Expectations	Exceeds Expectations
Communication	No features of non-fiction features to communicate information.          Text only	Limited use of non-fiction features to communicate information.         Charts         Graphs, timelines etc         Pictures with captions         Headings/sections         Symbols	Good use of non-fiction features to communicate information.          Charts         Graphs, timelines etc         Pictures with captions         Headings/sections         Symbols	Effectively uses non-fiction features to communicate information.         Charts         Graphs, timelines etc         Pictures with captions         Headings/sections         Symbols
Transformation	Information is too similar to original text	Information has been changed in a limited way.          Condensed         Features created         Organized in a new way         Comparisons created etc         Varied sources	Information has been reformatted significantly.          Condensed         Features created         Organized in a new way         Comparisons created etc         Varied sources	Information has been transformed in a creative way.         Condensed         Features created         Organized in a new way         Comparisons created etc         Varied sources
Presentation	Little care demonstrated         messy         Major spelling/grammatical errors         No color         Unbalanced         Hard to read	Satisfactory presentation         A bit messy         Noticeable spelling/grammatical errors         Some color used         Attempt at balance         Hard to read in areas	Good presentation         Neat         Minor spelling/ grammatical errors         Color used         Balanced         Easy to read	Professional  presentation         Looks professional         No spelling /grammatical errors         Color used effectively         Balanced effectively         Very clear