FUTURE GOALS

And That's a Wrap!

June quickly got away from us all but here are a few snapshots of how we spent the last few weeks and days...

REFLECTIONS AND ADVICE TO NEXT YEAR'S GR. 7s...

TUESDAY'S TEACHER

It has been very busy the past few weeks and although I shared this recognition on twitter, I also meant to share it here. I was recognized as a "Tuesday Teacher" by Tes Teach - one of the web-based programs I have taught students to use to showcase their learning.

Year-end trip June 21

Students received permission forms for the year-end trip to the Ottawa Solstice Festival at Major's Hill Park on June 21. More information can be viewed below.

Students have been working (with some frustration) on adding and subtracting fractions showing their conceptual understanding with fraction strips, number lines and grids. Today, I showed another method to a few students. One of them insisted that her understanding be published...so here it is!

Wire sculptures come to life!

These Alexander Calder inspired wire portraits are completed. Students were very creative in the challenge of working with a very hands-on new medium, but this opportunity produced great art works.

Wire sculpture creativity at work

We have begun working with wire sculpture portraits after being inspired from a presentation I put together. Students are working with a partner, creating each other's portraits from wire. Here they are in the initial stages of forming the face shape and facial features.

Google Doodle Creations

The class has been working for the past few weeks on a Google Doodle for Canada 150. These are some of their creations!

Why is the sky blue?

Way back in December, one of my students responded to a reflective question posed to the class (see post in February). She has written another response to make us think...

"Why is the sky blue? Well if u ask a scientist they would probably say because molecules in the air scatter blue light more than red light. But I'm no scientist so what I'm about to say is probably gonna be a little different. There are so many questions in the world with not so many answers and this is one of those questions. It's so simple but so complicated at the same time but it really gets you thinking. I feel like the sky is like our feelings. You know the sky isn't only blue sometimes it can be pink, orange, purple or even different shades of blue! I  think this is like our feelings because u don't think the sky chooses to be orange or pink it just happens and the sky can't control that just like our feelings. Sometimes we want to be happy be we just feel sad and don't know how to change that. Just like the sky and it can also have 2 of more colours in it like purple and red so we might want to be brave and strong but we can't help it but be scared and lost. We can't control if we fall in love or break down in tears so we're just gonna have to make the best of it. If it was the pain that destroyed us we'd already be dead, so why is the sky blue you ask because it decided to be happy today."

Google Doodle Canada 150

This week students will be challenging their creative abilities in the creation of a Google Doodle to celebrate Canada 150. They will be evaluated on theme, originality and use of colour. Those students who are interested in entering the contest will be sent home with a permission form this week, and I will send in all entries before the deadline of May 2, 2017.

On a side note, I am challenging my own creativity both personally and professionally for the next 50 days with the art of "sketch noting" and sketch50.org.

Virtual Galleries

We have spent the last three and a half weeks working with responding to artworks through the collaborative creation of a virtual art gallery. Here are some samples of their efforts.

Viral News - real or fake?

Our internet literacy discussions resulted in a poster assignment where students were given a news media article, and went through a decision-making process to decide if the news was "real or fake". During this investigative process, students have also been learning how to use personal electronic devices as a research tool for learning #BYOD!

My love of technology for purposeful, dynamic and engaged learning has achieved another goal. To educate students in the 21st century, digital learning is the new norm, and educators must be not only knowledgeable of available learning tools, but also facilitators in providing new opportunities for innovative learning and critical thinking through technology use. This is one step I have taken to help my students.

DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP SURVEY

Some interesting results from our class based on topics of discussion and collaborative activities in the past few weeks.

As part of practicing our digital citizenship skills, we have signed up for the 2017 Student Blogging Challenge, where we will engage with a global audience from Hong Kong through Kidblog. Exciting!

Digital Citizenship

Over the past couple of weeks we have been engaged in topics related to internet literacy and digital citizenship. We have discussed everything from how to do better searches on the internet, to how to judge if a website is reliable, to how to communicate online in a blog forum. We are hoping to blog with other classes from around the world. A sample of some of the student blog topics using Kidblog can be viewed above. This week we will be discussing "fake news" and how to determine if the media is communicating news and information that can be verified as truth.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH!

Students have been exploring the meaning of quotes said by Martin Luther King Jr. creating digital posters with inferences. Afterwards, they researched Canadian women and their impact of perseverance on themselves, on others and on society. The final product was the creation of a blog page where students wrote about the women in a three paragraph blog post. Below is their work on display in the main school hallway and coloured digital versions of their work.