A Paramedic Met a Degu When Nils Fainted

Last week, we had two paramedics in our classroom. We'll post more about the story later (unless the student involved wants to leave the story as a comment and I'll add to this post!). They'd never heard of degus and thought we made them up.

One of them was so interested in the boys that he had a little snuggle with him!

After they helped in our classroom, they were given Project Thank you cards and have already started to spread them!

When Nils Fainted - by Nils
First I went to hold a Degu then it bit me and I started bleeding so went to the sink and started to wash my finger and then I started to feel a little dizzy and after about half a minute I was lying on the floor and Shauna woke me up and got me a pillow to lie on. Then the paramedics came and checked me out they got project thank-you cards and one of them held a Degu then I went to my family doctor and said I looked good. Then I went home and had a little rest.

Now, it's 5 days later, and Nils feels totally normal! Thank goodness!

The class stayed very calm and collected even though it was a stressful situation. We were mindful and made sure that, despite our amygdalas firing off, we stayed mindful and used our pre-frontal cortexes to deal with the issue calmly.

Today's Tasks in the Computer Lab

Hello Room 209 students,

Welcome to the Lab! I hope you're having a great day with Eric. Andrea and I are at a workshop at Confederation today and we're looking forward to hearing all about your day!

Please use your time in the Lab effectively today. Here are your tasks:

1. About the Authors 

-finish writing your About the Author on the Google Drive. Make sure your work has your name in the title and that you have shared it with me

-Check out the rubric we collaboratively created below before you say to yourself, "I'm done." (You can also go to the rubric and suggest other addtions!)

Criteria	Neon Green	Green	Yellow	Red
Details -include interesting, relevant information	-pizazz -totally unique voice	-a lot of details -juicy -tying things together: making connections	-some listing is there -connections are unclear	-listing “I like...I like...” -using the words stuff/things -squeezing the juiciness out of your writing
Structure		-sentences are varied and interesting lengths
Conventions		-spelling is correct -proper nouns are capitalized -end punctuation is used
Written in third person	-it really sounds like someone else wrote it!	-name is used often, or “she/he”, “his/her”	-using your name and sometimes using “I” -repeating name over and over and over	-”My name is...” -”I” -excessive details used
Layout		-computer typed -looks professional
Image		-photo or drawing includes: message, symbol, space, colour/hue

-Share your About the Author with a classmate and have him or her share his or hers with you

-Go through and make comments on your partner's work

-Return to your own work and make any corrections or edits needed

2. Human Poster Research - you may continue to answer the questions you need to discover for your Human Poster. Make sure you have the list of requirements in your Social Studies duo-tang

Have a great, productive time in the lab today!

Math Blitz - How Far?

The whole Junior Division got together for our Math Blitz in the Gym and watched a ridiculous Math video made by your goofy teachers. You can re-watch it above.

We've been working to improve our problem solving skills and trying out a new way to organize our thinking. Above is the NWTT template (yes, another acronym!).

N = Notice

W = Wonder

T = Think

T = Therefore

Take some time to share this with your family! See if they can solve the "How Far?" problem. Did you solve it the same way as the rest of your family?

The Amazing New Degu Cage!

Are you kidding me?

The cage that Clara and her dad built is absolutely incredible! Our boys are so much happier with their four-storey mansion than their over-crowded aquarium!

Getting Started with BANSHO

Based on the amazing Michael Wendler's BANSHO lessons, I decided to teach our Patterning and Algebra unit completely through BANSHO style, or three-part Math lessons.

Each task is organized in ABCD order (can you tell I love acronyms!). We start each lesson with an Activation, followed by our group-work Bansho question, and followed by Consolidation and then some individual Doing. Activation entails an introduction to the topic, and sometimes we look back to some of the strategies used for the last question. Bansho is the collaborative work to solve the open-ended problem. Consolidation happens once the groups are ready to share their strategies. We talk about which ones are similar and different and decide what strategies were most effective and efficient. The Doing usually requires students to work alone to practice their new skills. Sometimes, the Doing is taken home as homework.

Above is the slideshow we've been working with. There are some very challenging questions included, as well as some that feel like more of a review, especially now, since we've had a lot of practice.

Students have showed a remarkable range of skills through this unit. They are, of course, practicing their Math skills, but they are also building collaboration, communication, problem solving and perseverance and confidence. Watching them work together through challenging problems and then sharing them effectively is incredible!

Below are some shots from our first BANSHO lesson of the year:

Haunted House Shots

Hello dear blog readers,

I'm sorry that we've fallen behind on some awesome posts. It's been a busy, busy time in Room 209 (what else is new?).

Allison just sent me these hilarious shots from the surprise photo booth at our Haunted House.

Enjoy!

...which reminded me to go through my photos and I came up with these gems...

20 Things We Should Say More Often

One of our favourites, Kid President, is still full of great advice, including this adorable video giving us 20 things we should say more often.

Our Skype Video!

Boys and girls,

  I can't believe it, but I just found our real Skype in the Classroom video! You'll be thrilled!


It was only posted a week ago, and I just found it while searching the web tonight! I didn't even know that there was more coming!!!!!

Oh my goodness, I can't wait to show you this tomorrow!

Check out this link from the filmmakers to read about how they enjoyed their experience with us!

Girls' Rube Goldberg Machine

What do you think of this ad?

Today in the Lab

Hi boys and girls,

  Welcome to the Computer Lab. You have a few jobs to finish off today and one new job to get started on.

Job #1. Create your quiz questions for Science. Click on this link! You must complete this task by tomorrow, Friday, November 22nd. 

Job #2. You will be making a 60 second presentation about something related to your Science unit.
Visit the blog post I made about Wonderopolis.
-Select one of the questions for your grade and click on the link.
-Once you get to the Wonderopolis site about that question, watch the video to whet your appetite for knowledge.
-Next, read the answer.
-Make jot notes that would help you to explain this information to your class

Job #3. Type up your About the Author and share it with me on the Google Drive. Your first draft of this is due on Monday, November 25th.

Success Criteria:

-computer typed

-permanent spelling(Spelling Box, spellcheck)

-write in the third person

-describe interesting things about yourself

-hook the reader, make them want to keep reading

Job #4. If you're done EVERYTHING above, check out the Museum of Nature website. Read about the different exhibits and think about which ones you'd most like to see for yourself.

Science Quiz Show

Writing Game Show Questions!

Here is the link to the form to create Game Show questions about your Science topic! Follow the instructions on the form!

Rainbow m and m's

Mel had rainbow m and m's. so keep calm and rainbow m and m's on!

By Mel

Core survey

Some people from core (Nepean high school corse) came in to are class to do a survey to see if kids values change by age