Upcoming Work (Snow Day and Beyond)

Hello

I have assigned some Math work for the students in case of a snow day tomorrow (some were aghast that I would ruin their snow day with work...). We are doing a real quick mini unit on circles this week as we had already been exposed to some of the vocabulary and formulas while working on our previous UFO Kite Project. Monday we covered diameter and radius, today was circumference, and tomorrow or Thursday we will cover area of circles. Students now have a bookmark which they should use to help solve today's work. In class we did pg 245 #1-8 and they were given 6.1 and 6.2 Homework Practice sheets to work on tomorrow. If there is no snow day then the practice pages will be used for review prior to the test on Friday. There will be no permanent negative side effects if the students decide to go ahead and do extra practice.

Next Monday students have a Geography assignment due where they are comparing population, land area, and population density. We have worked on it in class and each group will have one more class period to work on it. I have modelled an example of how the comparison should be done and most students have completed their templates which help them organize and compare their country's information.

Geography Population Density Assignment

 

Students used the CIA World Factbook to retrieve their own countries information and then exchanged their information with two other students in the class. They are to use the note down in class How to Compare Numbers to help in comparing the data from all of the countries. Students need to hand in a good copy and their marked up and edited rough draft.

 

If you have any questions please email me.

Thanks,

Mr. Brooks

 

 

 



Been a While

Hello

Well it has been a while since my last blog so I do apologize if anyone has been going through <crickets chirping>withdrawal </crickets chirping>.

Next week the students will be handing in their UFO Kite Project that we have been working on in class for the last two weeks. Students have had Math, MSIP, and some Science classes to work on this project. We have gone through all the steps in class and if students have used their time wisely and listened to the mini lessons and examples then all they should have to do is write up their solution and work in good copy. I have attached a link to the assignment on Google Drive if students have not brought theirs home or if you are curious to what the project consists of. Note: the copy uploaded is a little different than the one assignment as a few typos and clarifications have been added. This is the first group of students that I have tried my new project with so I am using their feedback to revise it as we go.

UFO Kite Document

Graph Paper (1 cm x 1 cm)

A Scale Drawing quiz went home for signatures this week and some students did not do as well as hoped so I held a Math Club on Thursday and gave a makeup assignment to help raise their marks. The makeup assignment is due next Tuesday. Some parents have asked about review for quizzes and I do make sure we go through a set a review questions before any quiz or test. I also hold Math Clubs before any quizzes or tests to make sure that students are prepared. If you are ever looking for more review you can refer to the textbook as there is extra questions for each unit found in the review of the chapter and also at the back of the book. I often encourage students to take a math question previously done and change the numbers to go over it again. I also encourage students to make up their own questions and pose them to their friends or classmates as often making up and solving questions is harder than just solving them.

Make Up Assignment

I am still marking the unit test for Science and hope to have those sent home at the end of next week. In Science we are starting the Fluids unit which as a number of interesting labs and projects that we will explore throughout the year (pneumatics on mousetrap cars and bottle rockets).

In Geography students have randomly selected a country in the world and will be doing research which mirrors the lessons being taught in class. They have started working on a population density assignment where they will be comparing their country to Canada and two others found in class. This assignment will be worked on in class next week and we are focusing on how to use numbers for support in the analysis of their country.

Please return any outstanding assignments and tests that have been signed and any interview request forms that were sent home with the Progress Reports.

I hope everyone has a good weekend.
Mr. Brooks

Test Results and Math Club Next Week

Hello
Just a follow up regarding the Math test coming home today.

Next week I will be having a Math Club (date to be confirmed) at recess so to help a number of students with areas they had difficulty with on the test. The students who need to attend will have it commented on their tests. In Math Club we will work to raise the students marks on the tests.

While some students truly have difficulty in Math other students are experiencing difficulty because they don't practice their math skills at home when homework is assigned and/or they don't prepare for the test by studying (or studying incorrectly). In the next little while I will be taking time to go over good study techniques that apply to all the subjects I teach. Today I stressed to the students that they cannot just walk into a test or quiz and do well. Everyone should prepare.

While writing the Geography quiz today I saw a number of students in 8A and 8B who had not studied for the quiz and they were having a lot of difficulty with what should have been a rather quick quiz. I would ask that the parents help remind students to take time to study (without distractions).

I have a number of parents inquire as to how long students have to get ready for a test. I will never give a test or quiz without at least 3 days notice and usually a weeks notice is given so that a weekend is available and I will have time to offer a help session. As previously noted I gave two help sessions before the last Math test which few took advantage of. Please check the website www.mrbrooks.ca or Twitter @mrrobertbrooks to keep up to date. The whiteboard in the classroom is updated daily with the upcoming work and events.

If you have any questions or concerns please email.

Thanks
Mr. Brooks

PS I would also like to thank 8Z and 8Y for their wonderful singing today, it was very appreciated ;)

Tests

Hello

Math results for the Prime Factorization and Order of Operation tests will be coming home tomorrow for parental signatures. I will be going over the tests with some of the students who had difficulty on certain parts. Please take a look at the test and sign the bottom of the reflection page. The students are to fill in the last two questions under the signatures. If you have any questions please email.

Tomorrow is the first Geography quiz. It has been on the white board since last week and has been posted on the website as well. Students should be reviewing their notes and mind map templates about the Canadian Settlement Patterns. It is a short quiz in which most should do well if they have been paying attention in class, working on their mind maps, and review their notes.

I have moved the deadline for the finished mind maps in Geography (see previous post) until next Tuesday due to some technical difficulty in the computer lab. I did get an extra period for each class this week in the lab and was in both recesses today for students who wanted to work on it. I will be making myself available tomorrow first recess and lunch as well for anyone who wishes to have extra time to work on it.

Hope everyone has a good long weekend and enjoys Thanksgiving.

Not the right kind of turkey...

Thanks,
Mr.Brooks

First Math Test Tomorrow

Hello

Tomorrow most students will be having their first Math test in our class. Other students will be having individualized tests later next week. This test will cover the work done so far on problem solving (unit 1.1), prime factorization(1.2), and order of operations(1.3) with expressions. Students were given yesterday and today to go over a series of review questions. They were allowed to pick and choose which ones they wanted to work on based on their section in the unit that they might have had the most difficulty with. I assigned textbook questions yesterday and then provided extra practice questions today for students who wished to practice more. The students have the answers to the review questions so they can check their work.

I have offered two Math Clubs this week during morning recess where students could get extra help and practice before the test. On Tuesday it was pretty lonely as no one attended. Today however I was pleased to see a number of students show up to go over some of the work.

This time Math Club was a choice as I wanted to see which students would take the initiative to come on their own if they needed help. There were a number of students who should have made that choice but did not attend so they might be having some difficulty tomorrow. In the future Math Club will be compulsory for certain students if they seem to be struggling.

Today we also talked about how the test will be set up and how they will be expected to show and organize all of their work for the short answer and word problem questions. I went over how it was going to be marked and the reflection sheet they are expected to fill out prior to writing the test.

Once the tests are marked (mid week next week hopefully) I will be sending they home for signatures and be putting them into the students portfolios.

If you have any questions please email.

Thanks
Mr. Brooks

Geography Assignment

Hello

A mind map on mind mapping...

The students have their first geography assignment due at the end of next week. They are creating a mind map on the computer using a reading assigned in class regarding the history and patterns of Canadian settlement.

I had provided the students with the main ideas presented in the article and showed where the information for each idea could be found. We had also read the article out loud in the classroom and discussed what the important information was to highlight. The students have completed their templates that were provided in class (3 given to work on it) and I provided many clues as to how to organize their information.

With the templates completed some students were able to get the majority of their information into the computer in one class. 8A and 8B will have two classes this week and maybe one next week to complete this assignment. We have also gone over the characteristics of mind maps and how they will be graded. You can see a copy of the mind map rubric I will be using below.

This mind map will be graded and is to be used when studying for their first Geography quiz.

Here are some resources to help understand how this learning tool works and may be useful for future projects.

Links regarding mind maps:
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newISS_01.htm
Tony Buzan expert on mind mapping

Software:
http://www.mindmeister.com/ (online tool)
http://www.inspiration.com/ (free trial ver) *This is the tool we are using at school.
The ipad also has free apps available for this.

If you have any questions please feel free to send me an email.
Thanks
Mr. Brooks

Week of September 23rd

Hello
This is delayed weekly update and an early week in the review.

 

Last week was a busy week in class as we really started working in Math on a new concept of prime factorization. We started by reviewing concepts covered in previous years and then moved onto the new math concepts. This was the first week that I did a homework check to see if the students completed their work. I won't be collecting work that was assigned for homework very often but I will be checking to see if it is done and then using it as a discussion piece as we go over problems encountered in class.

Homework is meant to be practice and often those who practice do better when being tested on their skills. I strongly encourage the students to check their work with the answers in the textbook for a number of reasons; to see if they are on the right track, to use the answer to work backwards when stuck, and to know when to ask questions when in class. All students are to show their steps in an organized way when solving multi step problems. A newer part of the math curriculum is for the students to be able to explain the steps they take when solving problems.

In Geography we have started to work on planning our first mind map on Patterns of Canadian Settlement. We are reading an article as a class and I have provided the students with a template to help they organize the important information before they create the mind map. I have booked two computer classes for next week which should allow the students plenty of time to complete the branches of their mind maps (if their templates are done).

In Science we have started to work on a collaborative research project where the students have to become experts on one of the steps of the scientific process by working with other experts. They then must teach the other students in the group about their topic. At the end all the experts will have shared their information and we will review the entire process as a class. This understanding of the scientific process will be very useful when they start their science fair project in the new year.

COMING UP THIS WEEK (very busy)
Wednesday: Cross Country Team away at meet
Thursday: Twoonie for Terry, Terry Fox run Thursday morning for grades 7 & 8
Thursday: Glow Dance $3/$5 at the door with/without a student card
Friday: NGDHS Spirit Day and Football Game in afternoon, wear your Red and Black

For the Glow Dance on Thursday students will be making their tshirts on Tuesday afternoon. The cost of the tshirt is included in the cover fee at the dance. Students who purchased a student card will pay $3 and others will pay $5. If a student does not wish to attend the dance they can go to a games room during that time. If students have outstanding work owed to their teachers they will have to finish the work in the work room prior to being allowed to attend the dance.

 

 

Thanks and I hope you have a good week.

Mr.Brooks