October 27

This Week:

• Students who were not exempted began to write the Foundation Skills Assessment tests.
• Students wrote a Multiplying and Dividing Integers quiz and reviewed the steps to create bar graphs.
• We used a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the three Abrahamic religions we've studied in class.
•  We completed a lab to demonstrate how bird beaks are adapted to the food that they eat.
• We read a new short story, "If Cornered, Scream" by Patricia Thurmond and answered comprehension questions based on the plot.
• We reviewed Halloween vocabulary words in French.
• We began to write postcards to exchange with our Canadian pen pal classrooms.

Next Week: 

• Students will begin their November novels for our "Book of the Month" reading program.
• We will use our established skills and strategies to add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals.
• We will learn about archaeology and explore some artifacts.
• We will learn about camouflage as an evolutionary adaptation.
• We will begin our "La Nourriture" (food-themed) unit in French. 
• We will practice penmanship
• We will have a visit from veterans with their service animals on Friday.

October 20

This Week:

• We used text evidence to find character traits of the protagonist in the short story "Charles."
• Students wrote a Multi-Digit Multiplication and Division quiz in math and we began to discuss multiplying and dividing integers.
• We learned about the core beliefs, origins, and practices of Islam.
• We learned about mutations and adaptations in species and watched a video explaining Natural Selection.
• We set up personal French-English dictionaries and learned some French vocabulary words about Halloween. 
• We participated in the Great BC Shake-Out earthquake drill.

Next Week:

• Students who have not been excused from the FSA tests will begin writing this standardized test on Tuesday. If you haven't yet excused your child but wish to, you can still send in a note.
• We will continue to practice multiplication and division with integers.
• We will read a new short story and complete a comic strip assignment to show plot.
• We will participate in a science lab to understand Charles Darwin's work with finches in the Galapagos Islands.
• We will complete a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the three Abrahamic religions that we've been studying.
• Thursday, October 26 is the Halloween Dance. Tickets are on sale Monday-Wednesday at lunch for $5.

October 13

This Week:

• We reviewed multi-digit multiplication and division strategies.
• We learned some vocabulary terms for our evolution unit.
• We continued exploring the origins, core beliefs, and practices of Christianity.
• We reviewed personal subject pronouns and the verb avoir (to have) in French.
• We read Charles, a short story by Shirley Jackson and made predictions and connections.
• We examined strategies for tactile learners in the classroom.

Next Week:

• We will build upon our multiplication and division skills and transfer those strategies to multiply and divide with integers.
• We will continue our evolution unit, looking at mutations and adaptations.
• We will begin to explore the origins, core beliefs, and practices of Islam.
• We will look at character traits based on textual evidence in English.
• We will set up our personal French-English dictionaries and learn some Halloween themed vocabulary.
• We will look at strategies for auditory learners in a classroom. 
• Friday is a non-instructional day. Enjoy your three-day weekend!

October 6

Happy Thanksgiving!

This Week:

• Students began reading their October books for our Book of the Month program.
• Students went through a writer's workshop to create a descriptive paragraph. They planned, drafted, edited, peer-assessed, and began their good copies. Good copies are due on Tuesday.
• Students wrote a test on Adding and Subtracting Integers. We then began reviewing multiplication strategies.
• In French, students began writing an autobiography using the vocabulary and activities we've been reviewing in September. Good copies are due Tuesday.
• We began our unit about evolution in Science by watching some videos and putting or thinking on paper with a mind map.
• We continued discussing Judaism, and began looking at the origins, practices, and core beliefs of Christianity in Social Studies. 

 Next Week:

• No school on Monday - Thanksgiving!
• I will be away on Wednesday and Friday for union meetings. Mr. Hill will be in as my TTOC for both days.
•  We'll continue our multiplication review, and review long division in math.
• We'll begin our short story unit in English with one of my favourites from Shirley Jackson.
•  We'll continue to explore evolution in Science and Christianity in Social Studies.
• We'll review personal subject pronouns and the verb "avoir" in French.

Reminders:

•  Please bring back the FSA withdrawal forms as soon as possible!