Read to Someone - PSA Assignment

Due to no bus days and snow days, some classes are deep into the new unit around Social Justice issues, and others have not even started!  This is okay, and we'll set due dates accordingly.

For classes who are ready for the Public Service Announcements for the Read to Someone assignment, the success criteria for the assignment and a brief description are now available.  Looking forward to hearing what everyone is so passionate about to help make our world a better place.  Be the change!

Please remember to check the English Calendar in class for due dates. 

Word Work for February

Most classes have finished their lessons around the word work assignments.

Please see below links to the assignments if you have lost yours or were not here when they were given out in class.

Grade 7 Word Work

Grade 8 Word Work

Social Justice Unit

I am very excited to use Social Justice issues as our focus for our unit on non-fiction texts.

In a Daily 5 format, centred around student choice and voice, students will have the opportunity to work with and learn about issues that are important to them!

Our Learning Goals for this Unit

Reading	• demonstrate understanding of non fiction text and their elements by reading articles and other non fiction texts about social justice issues • communicate comprehension of texts • reading with fluency (guided reading activities)
Writing	• use the elements of a persuasive writing • communicate purpose and appropriate audience • grammar work • sentence fluency
Communication	• communicate clear, coherent manner when presenting media • reflect on listening and speaking skills
Media	• evaluate media • create media

How?

Read to Self	• read articles and non fiction texts about social justice issues (Student Monitored) • guided reading groups to discussion issues (Teacher assessed) • complete reading question and answer about one social justice article (self and teacher assessed)
Read to Someone	• read article or text (different than Read to Self q&a) about social justice issue (student monitored) • create media (poster, movie, slide show) to raise awareness of issue (self and peer assessed, teacher confirmed)
Word Work	• complete worksheet package on writing and grammar concepts (self assessed, teacher confirmed)
Work on Writing	• write a letter to an organization or member of government regarding a social justice issue (self assess and teacher confirmed) through the writing process

Homework

• begin researching and gathering articles and non fiction texts about a Social Justice issue you are interested in learning more about to impact change
• bring a novel, magazine, etc. for free choice reading.  Our love of reading is further developed when we can simply read (not always doing reflection work on what we've read)

Short Stories Returned

Many students today were able to receive their short stories back.  I am very proud of the work that the students did.  Many of you effectively demonstrated your understanding of the elements of a short story.

Some students were concerned about my marking system. Please see below an except from the Growing Success, the Ministry of Education document that guides teachers assessing and evaluating student work.  Please see below p. 18 of the document regarding the levels of achievement.

"Level 2 represents achievement that approaches the provincial standard. The student demonstrates

the specified knowledge and skills with some effectiveness. Students performing at this level need

to work on identified learning gaps to ensure future success.

Level 3 represents the provincial standard for achievement. The student demonstrates the specified

knowledge and skills with considerable effectiveness. Parents of students achieving at level 3 can

be confident that their children will be prepared for work in subsequent grades/courses.

Level 4 identifies achievement that surpasses the provincial standard. The student demonstrates 

the specified knowledge and skills with a high degree of effectiveness."

Part of growing as a learner is self assessing.  If you feel that you have not been given the mark your work deserves, we can definitely have a conversation about this.

Please fill out your own rubric, including your evidence for the mark and feedback for next steps.  I look forward to reading your comments.

Returning Short Stories

Your short stories have all been 100% handed in and are now 100% marked.  (218 stories! We have some very creative students at John McCrae!)

I am using your feedback from your stories for your writing mark.  I hoped I would be able to return your stories this week, however, it is not going to happen as I am simply not there with the report card comments.   I look forward to returning them next week.  Thanks for your understanding.

Video Converters Update

Windows users

You will need to convert Youtube videos with a program called Real Player.  It is free.  Videos are downloaded as .flv files.  You will need to convert them to convert them to .wmv files.  Right click in your Real Player library on the file you downloaded, select convert to.  Change the format of the file to video, and then select WMV.  A link to the Real Player website.

Mac and iPad Users

I am still learning about these programs.  For Mac users, you need a program called MacTube available here


iPad users, there is an app called I cab mobile.  It costs $1.99.  There are many free video converters which use adds as their revenue.

The more we learn together, the more success we will have this project.

Movie Trailer Rubric and Presenation Dates

I am SO excited that you are SO excited for this Movie Trailer Project!!!

Thank you to all students who had "double" lessons on Thursday to ensure that you are ready to start the project on Monday.  A copy of the rubric and student created success criteria  can be found here.

Presentation Dates - we will have a movie trailer class were we will vote on the best trailer for each class.   This is your due date for your assignment.  Your trailer must be saved on a flash drive in .m4v or .wmv format on a USB flash drive to be played on my computer in class.

8A - Wednesday, January 30
8B - Tuesday, January 29
8C - Friday, February 1
8D - Thursday, January 31
8E - Wednesday, January 30

7C - Tuesday, January 29
7D - Wednesday, January 30
7E - Friday, February 1