Tuesday, 29 November 2011

Font

I changed the font and colour. You can change it if you want!

Learning Log for November 29th

What We Did

-Today we started a new kind of note making which is called "QAR". You had to read through the booklet then do the questions that followed.
-Some people still had to finish their portfolios so those who hadn't finished, and some others finished work they hadn't finished like their paragraph work.

Why We Did It


- We should learn different note making types so we can see which one we like best or we find the fastest. Also for the questions it's so we really understand the different types.
- You should ALWAYS finish your work in class s o you have more time to work on the day's homework. This also shows that some people don;t take the responsibility to go to flex and finish their portfolios so Ms.Lees can start conferencing.

Connections


For jobs in business or any jobs really you'll have to take notes at a conference. Also for any other classes and jobs you have to finish your work on time.

Homework


Read through and finish the questions in the QAR booklet, and finish any other unfinished work.

Tips


You should bring home the geography section in your portfolio so you can study the things you need to know for the geography test on friday. On Ms.Lees blog you can read everything thats going to be on the test, so I would read it so you know what to study.

I hope this helped!

Monday, 28 November 2011

Learning Log for November 28th

Hi guys,

Sorry this is so late. Hannah told me that she couldn't write today's post, so I am.

What We Did:

-Wrote Persuasive Paragraphs
We had to do Exercise 1, where you had to choose one of the following sentences:

a. Dress codes should (not) be required at all elementary and secondary schools.
b. All car occupants should (not) be required by law to wear seat belts.
c. People who have more than enough to eat have (do not have) an obligation to contribute to those who can not feed themselves.

Then you had to give about four or five reasons (sentences) to support your chosen sentence. It also had to have a concluding sentence.

We also had to do Exercise 2 where you chose a subject from either the list of subject's on our Paragraph Booklet, which are listed below:

1. The driving age should be increased.
2. Students should (not) wear school uniforms.
3. Smoking should (not) be allowed in public places. 
4. Men are (not) stronger than women.

Or something from our heart maps. Then we had to write a persuasive paragraph on the subject that we chose. A persuasive paragraph is a paragraph of 5 - 9 sentences where the author is arguing a point, and they are trying to convince the reader that their view is correct. They must also give supporting reasons. A good persuasive writer should be able to write about a view that they do not necessarily believe in; they should be able to argue the point by using reliable facts, even if they do not believe in what they are trying to convince the readers.

You had to do an outline and a good copy for Exercise 2, while you just had to do a draft for exercise 1.

-Worked on a Note-Taking booklet
You had to highlight the key words and terms in the booklet. We also had to do the Exercise 1 Outline on page 22, the Exercise 2 Web on page 24, and the Exercise 3 Abbreviations and Symbols on page 25.

Why We Did It:

- Persuasive Paragraphs
We did this because when writing, we need to be able to write different types of paragraphs, and argue points we ourselves might not believe in, because it could be used in our jobs.

- Note-Taking Booklet
We did this because it helps us to be able to take mental or physical notes on a subject in class, so that we can retain important information. Also, trying out different types of notes helps us learn what method we prefer, and what type of learner we are, whether it be visual, oral, or something else.

Connections/Reflections:
- Persuasive Paragraphs
Doing this can help us with our debating skills because we have to persuade someone. This can be useful when you are in the Debate club, Mock-trial club, or even if you work as a Lawyer when you are older! Also, it helps us with our visualization skills, because we have to comprehend the ideas in our heads, and put them into an outline, and then format them into paragraphs, so if we were to become artists, writers, or achitects we could take an idea in our head and put it on canvas, paper, or even make a whole building out of a teensy-weensy idea!

- Note-Taking Booklet
This will help us during classes, because we can take notes in the format that best suits us, so that we remember information well. This would help us in many jobs where you have to retain important information, like an assistant would.

Homework:

- Exercise 1 (draft) and Exercise 2 (outline and [draft if you wish] good copy) of the Persuasive Paragraph

- Note-Taking Exercise 1 Outline on page 22, the Exercise 2 Web on page 24, and the Exercise 3 Abbreviations and Symbols on page 25.

- Portfolio's if you are not done. Make sure you go to flex on Wednesday or Thursday in the morning or at lunch.

Tips:

- Highlight all the key words in your Persuasive Paragraph Sheet (not the actual paragraph, the sheet that we got) and Note-taking booklet.

- Use "sparkly" words that pop in your paragraph. When you use interesting words, it makes people more interested and open to your ideas.

- If you want to be extra thorough, when you write your paragraph do the outline, then write out a bare paragraph (not your best work, not many sparkly words), then type out a non-spellchecked draft (sparkly words included, all the mistakes high-lighted and corrected once printed), and then type out your good copy (no spelling errors, sparkly words in place). This will show the process behind your work, and it will also show improvement.

Next day Hannah will have the honour of writing our Learning Log!

I hope that helped if you were confused! :)

Kia

Sunday, 27 November 2011

Poll?

I am not clear as to what the poll is about?

Friday, 25 November 2011

Learning Log for November 25

What we did
First Ms. Lees checked our homework (the heart map, narrative paragraph, and descriptive paragraph homework) and stamped them. If you weren't finished you would've had to do it then. She paired us up with someone (the people who did their homework were paired with people who did) and we all sat in a different seat (then it would be easier to make a seating plan for Monday).

After Ms. Lees gave us some time to catch up (only the people who needed to) she talked about writing an explanatory paragraph. On the handout it says 'expository' but it should be 'explanatory' (change it on the sheet if you haven't done so already). Explanatory paragraphs explain things (for example, how to fix a light bulb) and may be sarcastic (for example, if it was about fixing a light bulb, you could write, "call a electrician").

Learning Intention
Pairing students up: The students that completed their homework paired up with students who didn't so that they could help them so Ms. Lees and Mrs. Edgert (sorry I don't know how to spell her name) don't have to help half the class. They can save time and help people who need it. It also helped determine a seating plan for Monday.

Explanatory Paragraphs: How to write explanatory paragraphs. They can be sarcastic, funny, and/or sound like an advertisement. They are about a single topic/idea and need to be in the right sequence. You can write about almost anything but it has to be explained.

Connections Beyond English
Working with others is a good way to develop leadership skills. It also lets you see what others are thinking and may give you better ideas. When you are in higher grades you will be expected to write longer paragraphs and these paragraphs are a simple start to more advanced things.

Homework
Explanatory paragraphs exercise (from handout)

If you haven't already completed do them:
Heart map
Narrative paragraphs exercise (from handout)
Descriptive paragraphs, both exercises (from handout)

Tips
*important* all paragraphs need a planning sheet
Study for geography test (next week)
Study for Spelling Bee (we will have a practice on Monday)

I hope that I'm not missing anything

Next Monday's Learning Log is done by: Caitlin M.

Thursday, 24 November 2011

Learning log Nov 24

What we did today

At the start of class today we worked and or finished The land form map of south america on p.70.And the paragraph's that was given on tuesday to the people that were at school.

And if you wernt there or at school today you can go see Ms Lee's at lunch or before and during class.

The paragraph is what some of the class worked on was a narative paragraph and you use on of the idea's of your heart map.

Also we talked about what would happen if the power was out and or it was snowing realy realy hard then you would call the school if it snowed and yo would listen on the radio station for both if school is on or off.


(If its not big enough or good enough dont argue its my first one)

Tuesday, 22 November 2011

Learning Log For November 22nd ( Yes there was school today )

What We Did
Today we did something that is called a heart map. What we had to do was write down all the things that are important to us like our family, friends, hopes and dreams, etc.

We also looked over how to make a good narrative paragraph. WE talked about transitions, significant details,  not starting with "today I'm going to write about _______", and topic and conclusion sentences.

Learning Intention
Heart Map: We did this because it really made us think what was more important to us, even the sad memories. We will be going back to these throughout the year and write different kinds of paragraphs about these ideas so we can expand our writing skills as much as we can.

Paragraphs: We worked on these because we will have to know how to write proper paragraphs. We had to find the topic and conclusion sentences, and any key words, or significant details. We did this so that we can read a paragraph and be able to see if it's proper or not and be able to write our own.

Connections



If any of us want to be an author, and english teacher, or any other job that you have to use english, we will have to know how to write different kinds of proper paragraphs. Not even just for jobs, but in years ahead we will have to use this knowledge  in our english classes. 


Homework:

The homework for today was to write one of our own narrative paragraphs using one of the ideas on our heart maps, or one of the ideas she gave us which were, winning the lottery, the haircut, or Christmas morning.

Tips

I would suggest using an idea from your heart map since for a narrating is explaining a story.


Well I hope this was useful! (I hope I didn't accidentally use any computer language)

~ Hannah

Monday, 21 November 2011

Learning Log for November 21st

Hi Guys,

This is our first learning log on our blog! For the schedule, see the post below. :)

So, here it goes...

What We Did:

   Today, the people who had not finished their portfolio's worked on those,(eg. organizing their geography pages, their English worksheets, Learning Logs, etc.) but most of us worked on Geography pages 67, 68, and 70 (Understanding and Applying Your Knowledge, and Landform Map - South America).

Why We Did It:

   Portfolio's: To compare our work from the beginning of the schoolyear to our most recent work, so that we are able to see how we have improved, and to see what we have to do to improve on our skills in things like Geography, English, and Learning Logs. We also self-assessed ourselves, so that we are able to tell where we are grade wise in Hum 8.

   Geography sheets: In the geography sheets, we had to look at many maps in the atlas', so we had to use our map skills to find the correct maps in our atlas. We also get to know what some geographical features in South America, such as plateaus, depressions, and plains. This way we are able to tell what they look like on other maps.

Reflection/Connections:

   Today was a great time for portfolio work. We set up dividers so it was quieter for people who needed to think, which was actually kind of helpful! I think that our portfolio work will help us before handing in important homework or projects in other classes or a job, so that we are able to self-assess our work and make sure that it is adequate and up to standards. It also helps us to be more organized so that we won't lose important documents, as the portfolio pulls things from your binder, and if you do not have those things, well, lets just say that you are in trouble! This organization will help us in many aspects, such as in jobs and school, to make sure that we keep our files and binders in order.

   The geography sheets are a great way to  make sure we use the correct maps on many things, like on important projects, or something as simple as a road trip. For example, if you were trying to do a project on the elevation levels of Europe, you probably would not want to use a Political Map! By doing our Geography sheets, we learn how to use the correct maps in our work! Also, if we ever go to South America, we could see the geographical features that we learned about, and maybe tell our travelling companions about them!

Homework:

   -Finish your Portfolio's completely (Not at home. They must be completed in class, or at flex.)

   The geography is not due tomorrow, as we need to use the atlas' to finish them. We will have time to finish them in class tomorrow.

Tips:
  
-Make sure that you are quiet in class tomorrow. We have to work off the detention that we already have.   -When posting on the blog, if you need any guidance just go to Ms. Lees Block 1 Homework Helper Blog, as it shows the formatting needed for your posts. Also, everyone formats differently, so you can choose the way you wish to format your post!

I hope that this was useful!

Kia

Schedule for Learning Logs

Hi guys,

I suppose that it is my turn for the learning logs first, so I will also post the schedule:

Kia - 1
Hannah - 2
Aiden - 3
XingLu - 4
Caitlin - 5

Since we only have Humanities 4 days a week (Wednesday is 3311, and since we are Blk 4, we have no class) we have to alternate. So I will try to explain:

Week 1: 1, 2, 3, 4
Week 2: 5, 1, 2, 3

So basically, each week we move down a day, so the person who blogs on Friday gets the week off the next week. So this week Caitlin gets the week off, then XingLu, etc.

I hope that explains the schedule a little bit!

Kia

Friday, 18 November 2011

I changed the background (you can change it back).
I found out that my Internet Explorer doesn't allow me to post or comment so I have to use Firefox

Thursday, 17 November 2011

Hey guys, we probably need to figure out who is going to go first for the homework posts. Remember we ALL have to contribute... Eg. Commenting, posting on your day, giving constructive criticism... I just figured out that we can change the background image of this blog! So you will probably be seeing many changes on the background!