Success Criteria

So as promised here is the success criteria we developed between our classes. Keep this criteria in mind as you read through your books tonight and tomorrow. We'll be using this criteria to assess you when we give you your assignments. Remember -- I'm assessing your ideas not your writing. Use the graphic organizers, VoiceThread and whatever other tools help you communicate your ideas to me.

-C

Success Criteria
Textual Evidence (at least 2 pieces) -  Direct textual evidence (quotations) -  Themes/symbols
Background knowledge/schema -  Connections (e.g., text to world) -  Connect how the textual evidence above supports the message
Big idea explains deeper meaning (more complex), not a literal meaning (simple)
Big idea is a general idea that can be applicable to multiple situations/books
Artifact is reflective of the deeper meaning in the text.

French Blog

Mr. Wells would like you to know that the French class blog is up and running! You'll be able to find all of Mr. Wells' homework information and upcoming due dates. You can access it at: macgfrench.blogspot.com

Adieu, mes amis!

This Week

So here's where we're going over the next little while:

Get your quizzes signed ASAP and bring them in so that we can add them to your portfolios. Remember not to focus on any "mark" -- rather you need look at the Achievement Chart and reflect on your areas of strengths and areas for improvements. Please look at the feedback that I gave you and check in with me after school if you want any more clarification.

Tomorrow we'll present our artifacts so be prepared for that. Starting Thursday we're jumping into DRA so that will put the brakes on our unit for a bit but it will give you time to work on identifying messages for further feedback (keep your eye on Voice Thread).

And remember -- Friday is our Unit Test in Data Management. We'll continue reviewing the unit this week in preparation for it.

-Mr. Charalambous

Inferences

7A,

I'd just like to commend you all on the fantastic work you've been putting into our classes. You've all been contributing some great ideas and are beginning to see the similarities between math, language and history with regards to supporting your inferences with evidence. As the year unfolds, you'll start see that all our subjects and the units within them have common themes. It's my hope that you will discover the commonalities on your own!

Keep up the great work!

-Mr. C

P.S. Remember to keep on checking our blog and Drop Box whenever you get a chance. If you ever lose a reading, the information is all up there for you to access and to review at any time! 

Track Practice

Just a reminder to everyone that Monday Lunch, Thursday Lunch and Wednesday after school are track practices. Bring shorts to change into!

Riding the Tiger

Hey 7s,

I've taken what we've done in class today on deconstructing symbols and added it to a graphic organizer. Pop onto Drop Box and you'll see our work uploaded there. You can always go back to it whenever you want as an exemplar. Which, by the way, was well done!

It's also come to my attention that some of the feedback you received over the past couple of days may have not actually recorded properly. I used a laptop for some and my iPad for others. If yours doesn't play back, let me know so we can fix that up.

Remember to check the homework page daily!

-Mr. C

Waiting for question 2 to be posted...

Just a reminder that question 2 of the math homework needs to be posted onto VoiceThread. Don't forget this is due by Monday!

Comments Up!

As I promised, your comments are up on your VoiceThread profiles. Some of you still need to upload your interpretation of the book -- I'll pop in occasionally to see if you uploaded it. Also, remember that I want to have a look at your progress in our data management unit. The faster you put up question 2 off the homework page onto your VoiceThread account, the faster I can give you comments. Just take a snapshot of your work, upload it to your profile, and comment on why you made your graphs the way you did.

Enjoy the weekend!

-C

Feedback

This is just a friendly reminder to keep an eye out for the feedback on Voice Thread. I'll be wrapping up my comments by the weekend.

VoiceThread & DropBox

UPDATE: So I logged into VoiceThread to check out your comments on Frog Belly Rat Bone and it looks that we've hit a bit of a snag. It seems that if you're using apple devices (e.g., iPad, iPods, iPhones) the comment doesn't load. Those of you who used computers, I can see hear your comment just fine. If you're recording through one of those devices though, please test the playback to see that you hear your recording first.

----------------------- 

This is just a reminder that when you're posting something to VoiceThread that you are posting it through your profile. Go on your profile and click menu on the bottom right hand corner and hit "edit."

Also for Drop Box -- check out all the new uploaded attachments. Enjoy.

Drop Box

Hey 7A,

So I've set up our class' DropBox account -- mrc7a@mgps.ca I'll be posting handouts onto this account when I can, including graphic organizers that we may use in history or in language over the next couple of weeks. 

Occasionally, I may ask you to submit an assignment or homework through DropBox as well. Please look for the appropriate folder to submit it through and make sure you name the file "your name" and the title of the assignment. E.g., "John Smith's Data Management assignment."

Thanks!

Themes

So tomorrow we're diving right into language as we begin exploring themes in a variety of literature. You'll find that our focus on themes and determining deeper messages in our language block will be a reoccurring "theme" in and of itself. Our direction will take us from the simple to the complex as we explore the reoccurring themes found in immigration -- from the first European settlers of New France, adapting to a strange and new land, to our parents and grand-parents who adopted Canada as their new home today.
 

VoiceThread

I almost forgot to mention that if you've already designed a "profile" for your VoiceThread account, bring in the picture or file on a usb key tomorrow -- or send it to your email. We've worked out the computers with Mrs. Norris and so we'll be able to create our profiles tomorrow in class.

-Mr. C

Wednesday, September 4

Hi 7A,

Strange -- it's been barely a day and already a new post! Well I'm just writing to let you know (as I'm sure some of you have already noticed) I'm not in today. I'm under the weather right now but will most definitely strive to be in on Thursday. I expect the best behaviour from 7A as always and expect the best work (even though I'm not there).

The supply teacher will still collect your "what math tastes like" for me so make sure you have it done!

See you Thursday,

Mr. Charalambous