Toay's Learning Log, Dec.15 2011

What Did We Do?
Today in humanities we started off by writing some geography challenge tests. We wrote three of them, but they were all only practice tests. We will have the actual exam some time in January or February. After that, we received our novels that we chose last class. We read our novel for about 40 minutes. Then, we got into groups, according to our novels and created webs about them.


Learning Intention:

We did a couple of geography practice tests to get familiar with the questions and to learn more about geography. We started to read our books to get familiar with them so it helps us in the future with activities such as the web. We started webs to lay out all our information about the novels that we read. This will help us connect what we read to each other. We were assigned into groups to collaborate, communicate, and to connect our thoughts so we can get the best possible answers.


Marvy:
I know geography and understand what to study for the exam. I can read well and understand most of the words. I can listen to others and summarize our thoughts. I can collaborate well and understand people’s answers.


Connections beyond English:
If someone would like to be a travel guide, he or she needs to know the history to tell tourists and to get hired for the job. Before you travel to new places, you should learn about famous and historic landmarks in order to make your trips interesting and exciting. If you want to be an author, you need to write well and to connect all the ideas in your head so they form a book.


Homework (winter break):
-Finish reading your novel

-Finish novel web

-Study for the geography exam



Next person posting is……Mark!

Hope this helps whoever needs it!

What we did today:

Our classroom was very quiet for once today. We had placed on our desks between a group of four people since the tables were moved and a stack of seven books. These books all took place in somewhere along the historical time line. Everybody got a sheet were you would list the name of the book the author how easy it was for you to read and how interested you were in that book and there was also a few lines at the bottom of each section were you had to give a meaningful reason for all of the things you had chosen above it.

Learning Intention:

We did this so we could recognize what we liked in books and what aspects in books may be hard for us to read and how to recognize these things easily. Ms. lees wanted us to do this assignment so we could right down what we like about each book and judge some of the aspects to see what books we like best. And so we don’t just choose a book we like oh this one has the biggest font and the least amount of pages now this is my number one choice. No she wanted us to actually choose a book we would be interested in. Because it is a known fact your not going to read something you don’t want to read but every person has a different idea of a page-turner and what he or she wants to read. Some are interested in old English thinking it makes a story more authentic and than on the other hand some other readers are more into

Tips:

Look through some books at home and see if there is any books you remember enjoying try to read the back or a few pages in the book and see what aspects of the book you like and you may be able to incorporate it in your next choice of a book

Catch up in all work areas including paragraphs

December 12/ 2011

What did we do?

Today, Ms. Lees divided us into 6 different groups to discuss one quote/each group for the first knight discussion questions. We tried to improve our oral skills by trying to contribute our ideas and thinking if they are constructive, have enough ideas to support our opinion, and if it was useful. We also tried to improve our questioning skills by thinking of relevant questions to ask each person in our group when it was there turn to support their idea. We tried to act like a community and listened to each other, have an open mind and finally, tried to paraphrase what other people in our group said. Towards the end of the class, Ms. Lees gave us each a reflection sheet to finish. The reflection sheet was about how well we did today. For example, we wrote down what ideas and questions we contributed to the group. We also wrote down how well we tried to listen to each other.

Why we did it?

Ms. Lees told us to get in groups and work together because improving our group discussion skills is very important and we will be doing lots of those this year. Doing group discussion skills can help you a lot with your oral communication skills and it will also help you build your confidence in other areas outside of school later on in life, such as job interviews. Doing a reflection sheet after the discussion helps you know what you need to improve on in further discussions you do.

Reflections and Connections

Marvy- I understand that improving our oral skills will help us a lot in the future. Knowing how to do a group discussion properly can be really efficient in the future since there won’t be lots of things trying to distract us and we would be able to get to the point quickly.

In the future, oral communication would be a big part of your life. For example, if you were to apply for a job and you were really shy and not confident compared to another girl who had strong communication skills, the manager would definitely choose the second girl since she would be a bigger help to the company.

Homework/tips/events

· If you are not finished today’s reflection sheet, make sure you are done by tomorrow.

· You may go to flex to finish your Pathways notetaking

· Pancake breakfast is this Friday and it would also be the last day of school = )

The next person posting would be Chelsea.

Learning Log for Dec.9th

What we did today

There are only two things we did today
‘The canspell challenge’, and questions for the movie we have seen ‘First Knight’.


First of all, for canspell challenge we had all the students in our class compete just like a tournament.

There was the first round, second round, and third round that decided which five grade 8 winners from each class will go on the contest. Also there was a spot that I could have WON which is like a sub for emergency.  The movie First Knight, luckily we had time to continue from  yesterday.
We’d watched from  the last 20 minutes and we did question number 7 and 8.


Why? (Learning intention)

We have done the canspell challenge to decide who’ll go to the contest, and of course, to raise our spelling skills. Also just think about it. If you win the contest after the challenge you will be able to go to the national spelling bee and win
5000 dollars!

We have watched the movie First Knight, and did the questions for it to practice understanding the story line for note taking and to focus on every words they say in the movies and know what it means

Reflection/Connection

I still regret about how I did verses someone who. I have lost and the sub seat for the contest.
But it was my fault and I will be to learning more with vocabularies. The spelling bee was still great. It helped me to study more vocabularies, and this will help you with another contest you will have someday.
The movie was great too. I have found every answer for every questions and the movie was fun so I think I am a marvy on both.

Homework

Note taking for pathway page 9~36 due Monday

I think that’s all we have for homework

The next person who will be posting is Emily C.

Learning Log For Dec 8th

What We Did:
We watched a movie on the Middle Ages (The First Knight).
We also took notes on the movie.
There were questions on the movie.

Learning Intentions:
We watched this movie to learn more about the Middle Ages. We also learned to answer questions by paying attention to the movie. Finding the hidden meanings of somethings was also part of today's work. We learned to tell whether a person is a peasant or a noble-man. We learned that they believed in God. We also learned that war was a common thing in the Middle Ages. A peasant kissing a noble-woman was considered an insult for the woman.

The notes were for understanding the differences between peasants and noble. The questions were for understanding the differences between Middle Ages and now and also to understand the Middle Ages itself.

Connections Beyond English:
War is not a good thing and should be avoided if possible, for it causes great amounts of pain for both sides.

Homework:
Study for Spelling Bee on Friday.
Questions on the first knight for those who have not finished it yet.
The Next Person To Be Posting Is ....David


And remember, never insult a king by kissing his wife

Learning Log for Dec.6th 2011

What we did today:


At the beginning of class, we practiced for our spelling bee. We have a spelling bee on Friday so everyone is practicing. After that we took some notes from the text book, Pathways. Then we watched a clip on the “History of the Middle Ages”, and took notes off what we saw in the video.

Learning Intention:


The learning intention is to learn new words and to spell them correctly. Also, to take notes properly. Some notes taken by students were weak and if there was a test, it would be hard to study off of them. We are learning how to improve our note taking skills. Finally we learned about the “History of the Middle Ages” and why it is named as it is.

Marvy:


I know what words to study for the spelling bee. I can take notes the correct way and to use them to study. I understand the “History of the Middle Ages” and how to take proper notes on them.

Connection beyond English:


When you attend university or a collage, you need to know how to take notes properly to help you understand the topic and/or how to study from them. Taking notes may sound easy but can be done in many ways.

Homework:


-Study for spelling bee on Friday

-Try to summarise the “History of the Middle Ages” notes


Hope this helps whoever needs it


The next person posting is……Mark!

What did we do:

Well today we had another work block for some people who had a catch up on the paragraphs and other things such as that. For the people who were caught up and had started on working on the notes of our new textbooks called Pathways We had to do outline notes from page 9-20. We also had to do web note taking, which is were you put one main idea in the middle and spread topics from each other and details about those smaller topics into a web. Most people have not gotten to do the Cornell notes yet which is a type of note taking that is not listed in our note taking booklets. If you were not here or were not paying attention to the Cornell note video that Ms. Lees had played in class for us you could look it up on her blog under her links.

Learning Intention:

The learning intention of todays note taking was because note taking is so important we can use note taking almost everywhere so learning to do this is a really important skill to have acquired. Note taking picks out just the small parts of a big idea and helps you to understand a topic better. By doing note taking we not only improve our skills and make them perfected for when we can use them in life we have a better understanding of the chapter in the textbook we are soon going to be reading and know the information in a way we can understand it.

Marvy:

I understand how to do a web for notes by taking your main topic for example Mediterranean world and then spreading it out into smaller details about the Mediterranean world such as the romans and adding onto the romans a smaller detail maybe the fall of Rome and onto that a few more smaller details showing the context. This can be really helpful when you have a big test coming up so can all note taking by understanding the main concept and the smaller details that are important about it.

Connections beyond English:

You could use note taking when sitting in a seminar where you need to know everything the man or woman is talking about. Its not like you would write down ever word she or he is saying but what note taking provides you with is the skill to pick out the small parts and the big parts connected together and take away the unimportant details that wouldn't help you to understand the topic any better. So when in the seminar you take out the big bits and connect the smaller bits and put them together and you have practically got the whole speech right in your hands.

Tips:

1.for people who are behind on paragraphs I would recommend doing one a night and two if you have time and make sure you get them finished to your highest quality as soon as possible

2. Go to Ms. Lees blog and under links watch the video called Cornell note taking this will be extremely helpful in future studying

Hey guys!
can you change the background?
because the pattern and the circles makes my eyes hurt (plus dizzy)

December 02/2011

What did we do?

During the whole block today, we only did the geography test. Lots of people didn’t finish their test so they either stayed after school or will come early at 7:45 am on Monday. If you weren’t here and don’t know about the geography test, you can email Ms. Lees and she posted the information to study for the test on her blog. (Side bar web links)

Why did we do the geography test?

We did the geography test so we would we be able to know what our strengths and weaknesses are and to be able to know what we need to work on. We also did the test so we could show Ms. Lees what we learned from the beginning of the school year to the present day. Ms. Lees needs to know what we need help on so she can help us improve in the areas we are struggling with.

My reflections/ connections

I understand that it is important to know our strengths and weaknesses in order to improve. It is not about the test score but what you know in the area your learning. When you graduate and finish university or college/ find a job, there are not many tests that you will do and that is because you already learned most of the things during your school years. Knowing the basic geography skills can help you when you are lost or at a city you don’t know.

Homework/tips

-Pathways note taking will be due on Monday. (Ms. Lees will give us some class time too)

-If you didn’t finish geography test, you can go finish it Monday at 7:45 am.

-Follow Ms. Lees blog and watch the Cornell note taking skill if you have not already.

-Practice for Canspell. It’s coming in less than two weeks

Learning logs Dec. 1st

What we did today

Today, Ms.Lees taught us how to take notes (which she likes to call note making) for 'Pathway', and then we did our Notes for 'Pathway', and we studied for canspell (spelling bee) and did the challenge.

First of all Ms.Lees taught us how to make a note

Med. World

-The Romans
1. Geog. features
-
-
-
-
2. People
a) Romans
b) Greeks

3Cs 'Fall of Rome'

(Why?) Causes

(What Happened) Course of event

(Outcome) Consequences

we did our notes for 'Pathway' with the knowledge Ms.Lees taught us.

Page. 9~20 with outline
Page. 21~29 with web
Page. 31~36 with cornell

On page. 9~20 there were the Mediterranean World which is about Western Europe.
well, I believe most of us did this page. We read about Rome, and Greece, Religions. Of course individually.

On page 21~29, which I didn't start yet, were, I believe, about Germanics, Anglo-Saxons, Celtics, and the Franks.

And for page 31~36, I believe it was about the Vikings.

Last of all, we did our canspell challenge which girls won. (girls vs. boys)

For note taking booklet that we had to read, highlight do the work on the paper (outline, and, web), and QAR (Question-Answer relationship) that we had to work on had became a homework because we weren't allowed take the text book 'Pathway' home.

Why

We did our notes for 'Pathway' to improve our note taking skills, prepare for next grades, which we'll have to take lots of notes, of course learn histories on the textbook 'Pathway', and to organize properly, to think clear so you can be confident, and to help you study, prepare for tests.

Canspell Challenge- We studied and did out challenge to improve vocabulary spelling, and learn more vocabularies. I think the boys (including me) will improve a lot by the competition between girls and boys.

Study hard guys~ We can beat the girls!

you can even go on the national and earn few thousand dollars as long as you're good enough.

My reflection/Connection

The note taking (making) for 'Pathway' was great. I didn't know there were so much easier ways to make your notes, and simplifiy them.

I am a Marvy because I did understand how to make my notes in different forms, and I could use these skills, in the next grades and university, when you'll have to make a lots of notes but I still would need to practise by making more notes in the next days.

The canspell challenge was really good too. I know that I am not a very good speller so I would need to study very hard for the next challenge but still it was very fun and I, at least know what I have to do to get better. I believe, I mean I know that this challenge and contests will help you a lot in the next days because without knowing how to spell you won't know how to write very well which leads you to confusion in communicating and mailing, and no job (that is a big problem).

Homeworks

The homework for today is like what I wrote on the 'What we did', and they are

QAR (Question-Answer relationship)- read/finished all the works

Note taking booklet- read/highlighted

finished wrting outline, and web for the examples you have to do

Paragraphs- this I believe everyone finished

(over due)

The Next person who will be doing is Emily

thank you!

Tuesday November 29th's Learning Log

    Here is today's learning log.


        Homework:


        1.QAR questions.


        2.Study for geography test on Friday.


        3.Finish paragraphs if you haven't already.


        4.Finish package on taking notes if you haven't already.
        


        What We Did:


        1.Paragraphs catch up.


        2.Catch up for note taking package.


        3.QAR(Question-Answer Relationships) package.


        4.Taking notes on "Pathways" textbook.


        5.Spelling checks.


        Learning Intentions:


        Paragraph catch up - Let the people that didn't finish the various paragraphs finish them.


        Catch up for note taking package - Let the people that didn't finish the package finish it.


        QAR package - In this package, we read an article on monarch butterflies and we had to assess several questions for what types they were and we also had to answer them. This package also allows us to understand the types of questions there are. RT(Right There) questions are found in the text almost exactly like the question, the response will be on the literal level. T&S(Think and Search) questions require integration on several parts of the text, these questions require inferential thinking skills. A&Y(Author and You) questions require the information given in the text combined with your own knowledge. OYO(On Your Own) questions will be answered from your own knowledge and experience, you will give your opinion and and reach beyond the text, these questions ask you to apply the information in your own context. 


       Taking notes on "Pathways" textbook - This exercise allows us to practice for the different types of note taking. There was a part on the history of the Mediterranean World, also parts on the world's major religions. We will have time to do this on the double block Thursday.


      Spelling checks - Since the spelling test is coming up in the following weeks, we are practicing for the test. Be sure to study at home so you won't do bad on the test.


      Study for geography test - A major geography test is coming up on Friday so study for it. Hopefully everybody has taken their geography package home.




      Hopefully This Learning Log Helped Whoever Needs It. If You Have Any Questions Or Comments, Please Feel Free To Do So.


   Next Person To Do The Learning Log Is David.

I changed the blog background and colours since it was really plain before so i hope that you all like it just let me know if you dont and i will change it

Today's Learning Log

What we did today:

Today in humanities we worked on Persuasive Paragraphs. We talked about how persuasive paragraphs argue a point, try to convince the reader to think a certain way, and to give supporting reasons.

We also received a booklet consisting of about five pages that explaines what we do, why we do it, and how we can improve. For example, we are writing outlines before we write out paragraphs, this booklet shows us hints in how to improve our outlines.

Learning Intention:

We did persuasive paragraphs because we are working on improving our paragraphs. The last couple of classes we worked on narrative, explanatory, and descriptive paragraphs. Today we did persuasive paragraphs and are learning the differences between each of them. We do exercises for every type of paragraph and these exercises help us understand more about them. The booklet that we received explains what to do better and what to fix.

Marvy:

I understand the difference between paragraphs and how to recognize each one. I can come up with ideas quickly and can write a paragraph fast and well. The booklet shows me what to improve on and by following the booklet makes my work better.

Connections beyond english:

If you are in a debate club or are writting a letter about something to the governtment, you can use key words to show what you mean to persuade the reader to look from your point of view. If you write a persuasive paragraph and follow the right criteria in expressing your thoughts you might change the readers attitude and may win the argument.

Homework:

Finish 4. Persuasive Paragraph page. Underline the topic sentance and highlight the key words in the example. Do exercise 1 double spaced on line piece of paper and exercise 2 double spaced on line paper. Before exercise 2, do an outline for it. In the booklet read and do all five pages.

All homework is due tomorrow.

Note: Sorry for posting late, I had outside activities.

Next person posting is........Mark!