Mrs Leah

This week we kept busy;

In English we looked at the definition of satire and and how humor can convey strong opinions and perspectives of people and events. Students looked up satirical news sites and apps online and discussed how the truth is revealed in the absurd. We watched a series of satirical commercials and then storyboarded own own advertisements incorporating satirical elements; everyone was really engaged and showed some creative work in that activity! Finally, we read two extracts from Johnathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels and compared the absurd events to what was happening in Swift’s time and how he was making commentary through satire.

This week for the English homework project, we went over the expectations as the directions are a bit vague. Per request, I linked those slides to the Google classroom under materials if needed for reference.

In math we a chugging through our units; students should complete the math homework over the weekend as it is a review of the steps we have covered in class and we move on the following week. However, I will still accept it by Friday.

In Science we finished our science unit, and despite ample reminding to study notes and practice with the homework, many students did not do well. This was a short answer/multiple choice quiz, but everything was directly taken from a lesson slide or a worksheet we did in class. We will transition to our history unit next week, so I will continue to remind and work with students on the concept that learning is an active and not a passive event; they must take notes, ask questions, and prepare!

In Design and Technology we started out next collaborative project on the Future of Transportation. Students spent this week brainstorming the issues with modern transport such as pollution, traffic, accessibility, etc. Then, they did some research to identify issues others have analyzed in more detail and write up a 200 word summary of what the main issues are. Then, they posted their write up and their research links to Padlet. Next week they will come up with solutions to these issues and find innovative ideas currently being applied to such problems.

I sent a lot of marked homework and math work in the homework folder, please take it out before returning the folder with new homework!

Otherwise, it felt like a short week with Wednesday off!

Please take care, illness is going around (I know it’s already got me this week!) so stay warm, take your vitamins, and see you on Monday!

Mrs. Leah

A weird week as week had Tuesday and Thursday off, but productive nontheless!

In English we looked at extracts from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. We discussed the context of the era, emerging science, and the connection of the story to the Prometheus myth. Students created their own monsters with the parts of various people and justified why they would choose those parts. They wrote a short paragraph on the events and reactions of bringing their own monsters to life. Then, they reviewed some vocabulary and looked at how the author created the mood and atmosphere in the original text. Finally, they analyzed an extract and answered some questions about how Shelley creates sympathy and empathy for her monster.

We also went over exactly how to do week 7’s research project homework. We used a paragraph from Frankenstein to answer the question prompts and use the text to explain our answers. Students are encouraged to start typing up their work on a Goggle Doc and they can share it with me to be checked next Friday. So far, most everyone has been hard at work on these tasks – keep it up!

In math, everyone finished their units and took a test on Friday. Workbooks and tests will be returned next week, but students are aware of their scores. There is no math this weekend as we will start a new unit Monday, whoo-hoo!

In science, we took a close look at genetics, Joseph Mendel, and using a Punnett square to find out the chance of genotypes when cross pairing two parents. We did a lot of practice in class, so there is much to reference in student notebooks when studying for the science test on Monday. Student’s were informed, and wrote down in their planners, that they need to know the MR CHEDDR mnemonic, the cell cycle, all about mitosis and meiosis, as well as genetics and using Punnett squares. Studying our in class notes and worksheets, and doing the Punnett square homework will help students prepare.

Finally, in Design and Technology we talked about the future and transportation and some of the changes currently under development. We watched a lot of concept design to inspire thinking about future possibilities. Next week, students will start their project thinking of innovative solutions to transport problems and finding solutions in their own minds or being developed by others. Everyone is very excited by this as the use of Padlet as a medium to showcase work is popular. The homework includes a themed cloze reading with questions regarding the future of transport which will hopefully prep minds for class on Monday and Thursday.

Have a restful weekend and see you Monday!

Mrs. Leah

Happy Friday!

Notice:

A great number of students are not turning their work in. Many times we start an activity in class, and finishing that activity is assigned as homework. These written activities are typically based on class notes and handouts kept in subject notebooks.

The assignment is written on the board and expected to be turned in by Friday of that week. Daily verbal reminders are given referencing the assignments on the board, and encouragement to write reminders in student planners are frequently made. Yet, many students fail to turn in their work by Friday, or they turn in incomplete work (only what was finished from class time).

As a teacher, I keep track of who has turned in what and mark for completion. I check for accuracy, but my interest lies in the idea that students are taking their work home and reviewing the materials while finishing. Missing work and incomplete work shows me students are not making effort in their learning and this will be reflected in report cards.

One another note;

We had a very busy week of learning!

In English we started our new unit on pre 1914 literature by looking a little bit at Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his beloved character Sherlock Holms. Students read an excerpt from The Hounds of Baskervilles and paid attention to the authors use of words to create atmosphere and tension. We also explored how the different characters personalities are shown through actions rather than words.

Then, we looked at Lewis Carroll and his poem ‘Jabberwocky’. This poem is unique in that it tells a clear story through utter nonsense. We looked at different types of nonsensical words and how we can derive meaning through English semantics. Students had a chance to think of their own beasts and write a few stanzas of a poem, through nonsense of course.

Students have an ongoing English research project that they are working on each week. There is a checklist with each step assigned to each week. We also go over the step and instructions in class. This Friday a biographical information sheet was due. Next Friday, a list of major novels or poems (about 4) with a synopsis of what the story or poem is about is due. Students should be citing all their sources and paraphrasing information, of course. By week 10 they will turn in the culmination of their work final submission in a clearly formatted handwritten or typed report.

In math 7’s carried on with equality and equivalence, 8’s with multiplying fractions, and 9’s with conjunctures with algebra. All students have a math review packet for the steps covered, so be sure to encourage practice to be prepared for next week.

Science has been especially busy as we explored the cell cycle and cellular division. We took a look at both mitosis and meiosis and their application to the characteristics of life. We briefly looked at human development from meiosis to zygote to embryo, into mitosis again. On Friday we did a quick and fun Kahoot review of science to check in with understanding.

Students also explored using Padlet in a group mini-project investigating the mechanics of different transportation types. They researched and summarized how various vehicles move, cited their webpages, and posted pictures and videos to support their explanations. Everyone seemed to enjoy the learning tool enough that we will definitely use it again for our next, more detailed project.

We talked a bit about misogyny using real world examples from the news in PSHE. We focused on what misogyny was and wasn’t, but how blurred the line gets this day and age with online memes and communities like Giga Chad and gaming steamers. We also discussed what we felt the importance of the issue was and who and how it should be handled. Everyone was very engaged and interested in this topic so we will revisit it again with more examples and discussion prompts next week.

Everyone have a wonderful weekend and remember that next week we do not have school on Tuesday or Thursday!

Take care,

Mrs. Leah

Short and sweet two day week!

We did some last minute revisions on our essays and some research on time periods before 1914 for our literature survey starting next week. Students received a 5 week homework project to start; everyone has an author to research and this week will need to find some biographical information on that writer. The is a template to help guide the information, as well as MLA citation templates to help cite sources!

In math we finished our units and took the test; so there is no math homework this weekend, whoo-hoo! Students have taken home their math packets and test to review and share.

Students had Korean and music classes Thursday, and did ICT with Mr. Green Friday.

We did a group reading activity to explore the early years and transformational effects of the automobile in Design and Technology. Students summarized and recapped the gist of their articles to each other to practice working together, finding the main points, and presenting.

We had our assembly and are already out the door!

Have a nice weekend and see you Monday!

-Mrs. Leah

Another week down, and a five day little break for Chuseok!

This week everyone worked very hard on completing their 5 paragraph essays. We planned, we rough drafted, we found quotes, we cited with MLA conventions, and finally we typed them up and submitted them! I was able to get through some making edits and suggestions, so some students started to rectify these issue. Others will receive their essays back next Thursday to make the final revisions. In all I am very pleased with the hard work and effort put into these essays! I will hold everyone to the standard of this first work the rest of the year.

In math year 8 and 9 finished their units on multiplicative change and forming and solve equations, respectively. Year y students have the misfortune of having their unit test on algebraic notation next Friday after the break. Year 7 students received a steps 7-12 review to work on over the 5 day break, as well as linked lesson videos on the classroom to help them feel practiced and prepared!

In IMCY we started our science unit of the Characteristics of Life. Students used the acronym MRCHEDDR to remember the eight characteristics generally agreed upon by scientists: metabolism, reproduction, cellular structure, homeostasis, evolution, DNA, development & growth, and response to stimuli. We had a fairly in-depth overview and students were instructed and guided in taking notes. Then on Wednesday students needed to use those notes to complete comprehension questions – many were surprised how difficult it was to complete their assignment without adequate notes! Hopefully a lesson was learned and there will be more diligent focus and recording in class information.

Our PSHE lesson was a fun one; we talked about body image and how through out history the ‘ideal’ body has changed. We then focused on how social media and technology have made this ideal even more impressionable with young people, and how AI has already started creating images that reflect unrealistic ideals. We looked at a series of AI generated images made from basic prompts that demonstrated how easily terms like masculine, feminine, teen girl, teen boy, health and unhealthy can create highly idealized ‘people’.

In Design and Technology we started our unit on transportation with an overview of the history of transport and how it has developed and changed overtime. We focused on the advent of the automobile and how Henry Ford’s production line made automobiles affordable for more people than ever before. Our second class was postponed for the Chuseok event, but we will pick back up next week!

Finally, there is only math review homework for everyone so it shouldn’t take too much time during this school break. Take care and see you next Thursday!

Mrs Leah