December is here! Dec 1-5 reminders

I hope you had a chance to get out and enjoy the chilly crisp sunshine and our first snowfall this weekend.  Upcoming reminders for the week:

Monday:  Lit Circle Day #2 - remember if you are not prepared with your Dialectical Journal (response and questions to discuss), then you will not be participating and you will be required to attend flex.  Please remember to review the expectations we have discussed and I have shown you through samples - many of you did not do your best work last week and did not fully meet expectations for the task.  Looking forward to improvement this week - part of the process!

Tuesday:  Flex 11:15

• You can do a retest for the short story application test 
• come to flex with your lunch
• about 5 of you still owe me flex time from last week!  Phone calls home if you do not show up this week.

Wednesday:  Possible flex again - but I might also have a meeting so I will need to 

                       check on Monday.

Thursday - I have a meeting at lunch.
Friday:  no flex

• Your Innovation Fair Proposals are due in class!  

Be the Change...

Check out what Band Aid 30 is doing to help with the Ebola Crises in West Africa

Good video about idioms origins such as "beating a dead horse"

Big 6 Research Model Videos

Block 4: Block 1: Don't forget to bring printed copies of your 100 Word Challenges and your #140 Word Challenges - I promise we will do more with them tomorrow. They need to be on paper as they will be posted on our class bulletin board - after we work on them in class. PS Don`t forget to vote for Mr Pocock - see the link in the last post I made! Vote daily and share with your friends and family!

WHERE GOOD IDEAS COME FROM by Steven Johnson

I chose this video becuase this is the one that best describes how i feel about innovation, and the wording int his video is very meaningful but easy to understand. This video also motivates me to be creative.

Global writing challenges for this week

Today we looked at two global challenges that you may choose from to write on (due during the double block day)

First:  The 140 Word Challenge - shared by fellow Genius Hour teacher Sheri Edwards

• This challenge is more about generating ideas or developing your thoughts, questions, and reflections to share.  It is more of a journal style of writing but may include creative writing as well.

Second:  The 100 Word Challenge - you will be writing from the prompt on Week 12

• The purpose and intention behind the 100 Word Challenge is to practice creative writing skills (eg. descriptive language, dialogue, imagery, suspense,...) in a very concise (short and efficient) manner.  

Eventually, we will start sharing globally as that is also an important part of these challenges - so that we can connect to a global audience and give and receive feedback, as well as expose ourselves to varied writing styles.

To begin, we will do this in class only on paper.  Your Writing Challenge will be due in class this week double block (Wed Nov 19 and Thurs Nov 20).

Help Mr Pocock win a prize from EF Tours - his Model UN students nominated him and we want him to win!  You can vote everyday!  Click this link  EF Tours

Video????

What is this video that we are supposed to  show you? Where can we find info on this, I am very confused.

Sadly sick...

Hi everyone,

Sorry I will be away tomorrow sick.  Be awesome for Ms Morton and help her out with the smart board and the class blog - you will be reviewing Genius Hour proposal for the first block and then working on it in class for the rest of the time.  If you have devices, you may want to bring them for Wednesday.  If not, don't worry as there are other options.

I hope to be back Thursday and you can ask me questions in the morning or right after school )I have a lunch meeting).

Friday - there will be flex time.  This is when you may finish up your tests if you needed more time (Block 1 only)

Don't forget to add your thoughts, comments or family memories on the google doc in last week's post - for Remembrance Day.  I hope to share with a veterans group next week but so far I am the only one who has contributed :(

Have a great day!  Go for a walk at lunch and enjoy the crisp cold sunshine and get your vitamin D!

Ms Lees

Peer Review for Genius Hour Proposal

Are we supposed to do the peer reviews before we hand in the Genius Hour Proposal, or do we just write how we expect to do the peer reviews?

Lest we forget...

In honour of the many service men and women who have fought and continue to fight to protect Canadian Civil Rights and global human rights.... Lest we forget. Gracious thanks also to the families and citizens who support their efforts from home.  

Dear Firehawks,

Many of us have personal connections with men and women who served or still serve (friends, family, former students - like Terry Street), and I would love you to share your thoughts, stories and thanks to honour their service. Others may also wish to share expressions of gratitude or remembrance, please do so on this Google Doc ( With Gratitude... ) - I hope to share this with our veterans in the coming weeks. Your parents, friends or other family members may also contribute.

Thank you in advance for your contributions, Ms Lees 

Homework Reminders: 

Block 4 - Please complete (at least a draft) of your Genius Hour Project proposal - see link on the right sidebar for headings and directions. 

Block 1 - we have not reviewed this yet but if you would like to start it on a google doc, please do so. We will work on this further in class on Wednesday.

My genuis hour youtube video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOLOLrUBRBY

"Sidebet" Questions

Can someone please post the questions to "Sidebet" on this blog?