Summer schedule

Well, we have just about everybody sorted for the summer schedule ! The first week went very well, with lots of bright-eyed students eager to learn. Of course, it takes a little adjustment to be here in the morning for those that switched to morning hours, but they seemed to handle it quite well.

I always think that if the expectation is they will handle it well - they do!

-Perhaps surprising even to themselves.

A lot of behaviour is somewhat dictated by others' expectations.

(Student: "If I eat this piece of candy, I will be bouncing off the walls." My response, "We won't do candy next time. It isn't essential." Suddenly, there is no bouncing off the walls!)

I hope everyone is enjoying the heat - HOT HOT HOT !!

Visitors to the back yard!

Just a few visitors to our back yard recently. We've had skunks, opossum, raccoons, cats, squirrels, and now a rabbit. A few more creatures, and I think we'll be able to charge admission!

Motorcycles & Sweetgrass

Just finished reading "Motorcycles & Sweetgrass" by Drew Hayden Taylor.

It is really a fun book that has a modern take on some native myths, especially the trickster character - Nanabush.

The conversation between Jesus and Nanabush is hilarious.

The novel was a finalist for the Governor General's award.  
It is relatively safe reading for older children, too. 

Math Facts Game !

Here is a fun game to help build addition/subtraction, multiplication, and/or division facts.  The free version works fine and covers all the basic facts.
What is exceptional is that the game builds on the player's current skills and reviews weaker areas to help him/her become stronger!

Despite the ubiquitous calculator, one is always better off having some basic math facts in the best computer of all - the BRAIN!

http://www.bigbrainz.com/indexs.php

Brainstorming

Credit photo to: zirconicusso

Don't forget to use brainstorming to help you get started on any writing assignment.

Whether you are writing a book report, speech, essay, or fiction story, brainstorming can help you get started, get organized, and get that final draft quicker!

You should take a few minutes to brainstorm for ideas.
Sit down with a piece of paper and jot down any ideas that come to you when you think about the topic.

For example, if you need to write an essay based on the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, you might brainstorm for ideas you could use to help generate a thesis.  Don't waste time - start scribbling down your thoughts.  Later you will discard those ideas you don't like and narrow down your focus.
              Example:
                      Atticus - just man
                         - willing to sacrifice
                        - too good to be true ?
                        - model parent
             Novel written from child's point of view
                          - flaws in perception ?
                         southern racism and conflict
                    religion vs morals vs law
            Boo - scary character or innocent ?

Your list could be much longer.  Once you have decided on a thesis (or your teacher has given you one) you can brainstorm again to find supports.

You might ask:  "Why do all this chicken-scratching on scrap paper, writing and storming my brain?"

Primarily because "It gets one started."

Looking at a blank page for hours (or days in some cases) waiting for the perfect inspiration to come is the true waste of time!

Also, these thoughts can be used to help you organize your article.  I have read many essays in which the author had a good thesis and some solid supports, but they are written as they come to mind rather than in an organized, planned fashion.  At best, the article seems confused and tricky to read.  At worst, the author's meaning is completely lost in a mish-mash of ideas without unity and coherence.

So don't be afraid of the blank page - use brainstorming to get you started.

Leap Year !

Well, it is February 29th - We don't have a lot of these, and here's why:
 

1. The earth does not orbit the sun in exactly 365 days.   In fact, it is a little less than 365 1/4 days.
2.  Julius Caesar (Roman Emperor) with the help of his astronomer came up with the solution of having a 365 day year (previously 355 days with an extra 22 day month every 2 years - a wee bit complicated), with an extra day every four years.
3. Remember, however, that the earth does not quite orbit in 365 1/4 days but slightly less. So Pope Gregory XIII and his astronomers made an adjustment in the 1500's. A year that is divisible by 100 but not 400 is not a leap year. So, the year 2100 will not be a leap year.
4. One more little tidbit is that February used to have 30 days; however, during the reign of Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus - he did not like that his namesake month (August) had only 29 days, whereas Julius Caesar's namesake month (July) had 31. So, he took a couple of days from February to make August the same as July! (Hence, the two months in a row with 31 days!)   Ahhhh, Ego - thy name is many and varied.

Usually, if the year is divisible by 4 - it is a leap year (noting the exception above).

One final note - just because you are born on February 29th does not mean you only age 1 year for every 4 years compared to everyone else!
Yes, a couple of students did inquire about this.

Teaching and Learning Tips - Quotations

Teaching and Learning Tips - Quotations