Tuesday, 29 November 2011

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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