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."