Welcome to our Japanese Visitors….

Today is a great day to learn from each other and I wish I could be there with you.  

Mr D'Alfonso will welcome you and I hope you enjoy your visit to Fraser Heights.

What better way to get to know each other and our education system than to work together on a challenge! I know there will be some language obstacles but that will be part of the learning experience for everyone!  Have fun today!

Those of you with Japanese buddies - they will be your partners for this activity. The rest of you, partner with someone you have not worked with so far this semester.

Part I of your challenge:  
Your job today will be to work together to create your own illustrated 6 Word Stories in pairs!

What is a 6 word story you ask?

Take a look at this article and the samples:  "Illustrated 6 word memoirs"

Back Story:  For those interested

The "6 word story" is inspired by a challenge given to American author Ernest Hemingway 

Other samples - creative 6 word stories

This will be tough!  You only have 6 words to tell your story, memoir or message and then illustrate it in some fashion - drawing may be simple, use metaphor, symbolism, colour or not, to convey your message.

Since you only have one block - don't stress about the artistry - focus on creating and sharing your  message throughout the words and image(s) you choose.  At the end of the block you will put these up on the bulletin board nearest the book case. Tacks are in a container near the rolling cart by the couch.
I can't wait to see them!

Maybe some kind soul will take a few pics while you are working and post not the class blog for me to see? or email them so I can post them? (Just remember to ask permission before taking pics of people and ask if you can share them out publicly.  If the other person does not understand you, take pics without the people in them.)

Part II:  Gasp!  It is a "no tech" day for you!  We are talking blank white paper and pencil crayons only!  These are in the Trolley cart between the couch and the door :)

Bonus:  
Who can list all the English Learning Intentions we will be addressing with this paired activity?  (Don't google the answer - think about the skills you will be working on). Comment here!

Have a great weekend everyone!

News… change of plans

Hi everyone,

FYI: After class today I fell and sprained my foot, and it appears my sprained foot is going to keep me away from work until next week.  I will do my best to keep in touch via email and the class blog.  I know you will all be saddened to have to postpone your Genius Hour Presentations.  You will not get any more Genius Hour time to work on your projects, but if you need to make them really great, now you will have some extra time on Thursday. We will reschedule presentations when I return.

Be awesome for my TOC - I will know if you have been productive or not, naughty or nice ;)

For Wednesday:  Guess what!  You will now have a chance to complete a practice provincial exam in class!

Friday:  TBA but be Great Hosts and Hostesses to our Japanese students.  

Unless things need to change due to other circumstances...

Monday:  We will plan to reschedule Genius Hour Presentations.  You will not present Monday - but we will set dates and times.  

If you are volunteering with Japanese students or for Commencement this week - enjoy and be great Firehawk ambassadors for Fraser Heights.  If you are celebrating commencement with friends or family - enjoy!  Your turn will be soon enough :)

See you Monday!

May 26 -30

Hi Everyone,

Just a reminder:  Block order switch Tuesday 4321 till the end of the year

Genius Hour Presentations this week!  

Remember - everyone will be presenting this week! 

Don't forget to bring in a printed copy of your proposal (with the changes we discussed in conference) and rubric for me to make comments on as you present.

Sorry - I forgot the list of projects with times at school to post the schedule so everyone needs to be ready to go for Tuesday.  We will probably draw from a hat.  Unless you want to sign up here on the class blog via comments - I leave that up to you and your group members. I will check blog tonight and put in first come first served requests.

Looking forward to your fabulous presentations!  Also - I would like to film some presentations to share with other teachers and students, but only with your permission.  I often get asked for examples and some of our teachers are wanting to see examples of presentation too, but they can't as they are teaching.


Opportunity to sign up for days has now closed.

Here is the Schedule for Genius Hour Presentations:

Tuesday:

Daniela, Sukhman, Jordan, Austin  (20 min)
John - 10
Alex C, Jonathan, Dantayne - 15
Anna - 15

Wednesday:

Ronak - 10
Kia, Alex G, Victoria, Monika - 30
Lizzy, Eric - 30
Andy, Sean, Josh, Dylan - 15
Braden, Jessica, Andrew - 15
Jared - 10
Jeffrey, Eric, Jay - 15

Friday:

Tiffany - 15
Vivien - 10

Finally - we welcome Japanese students to our class on Friday!

Story "God is Not Fish Inspector"

For those away and coming in late:

Last week you should have read "God is Not a Fish Inspector"

Answer the questions at the end of the story:  1,2,4

Take 2: Form to fill out for FaceTime Wednesday with Semiahmoo

Sorry - I did not do this correctly yesterday

Please have one person per project fill this out:  form

Each student should do the following:

In addition, think about the learning intentions behind why we are doing this with:
a) students not in our school
b) ELL students in particular

Hint:  Consider the learning intentions for our passion projects as well as all the skills (English and cross-curricular) that you will be working on during this exercise.

Fill out this Google doc with your ideas:

Facetime Collaboration Learning Intentions

Wed - update on film!

Hi everyone,

As you know, you will have a movie day today - Yay!

Report to class as usual - Mr D'Alfonso will take attendance and bring you to the theatre.  He will remind you to turn off phones - not head phones needed.  Pay attention to the movie - there will be follow up in class (Likely as a blog response).

PS:  message on the whiteboard for a few of you who did not come see me as agreed - unhappy :(
I expect to see you Thursday and will follow up with teacher for flex tomorrow. (This does not apply to most of you)

Warning:  I have told Mr D'Alfonso to take your phones away if you are using in theatre.

You don't need to take your books, bags or other stuff to the theatre.

Heads up!  You will not be excused at the regular break time, so don't ask - but you will be dismissed 10 minutes early for lunch to make up for this. 

Enjoy the Show!

PS  Reminder for Friday - come to class for attendance and to pick up your play book. Then we will go to the NLC room in the new wing for our Bard in the Classroom Workshop! No need to bring other bags or books!  Fun day again!  See… English is the best!

May 12-16 Exciting Week Ahead!

Exciting week ahead!

Don't Forget about Mother's Day! 

Flex Time:  Monday and Tuesday (might be another later in the week too)

Homework reminders:  We will finish our in class debates on what caused the car crash in the story " "Choices" by Susan Kerslake.

So far we have ruled out:

• Ken plotting to kill Peggy
• drunk driver
• animal crossing the road

Today:  Car Malfunction beat the Driver Error/Reckless Driving Group and will move on to stage 2 debate on Monday.  Please complete the poll by Monday

Monday:  in class

Debate seizure vs heat stroke vs stroke

• you will all be handing in your notes of the textual evidence you found to support all these reasons on Monday 

Multi-paragraph composition:  due Monday to be posted on your group blog before class

Answer question 3 at the end of your story:  

Does Ken show Peggy that he feels any sense of responsibility to her after the accident? Do you think he has any obligation to her?  Discuss.

I demonstrated how to break this question down so that you know you are fully answering the question - did you notice?  Why did I do this?

For example:  Discuss usually means address more than one position.  In this case you will need to:

1. Introduce the question / provide context for the reader - Remember to write for an audience who has not been in our class or may not have read our story.
2. Present multiple positions - this question lends itself to a "yes" side and a "no" side
3. Offer your opinion in a concluding paragraph - why? The question asks you to give your opinion.  (remember to avoid "I think", "In my opinion,""to conclude" / "in conclusion",…

Lastly:  Please read "God is Not a Fish Inspector" before class on Monday.

Tuesday:  Genius Hour - peer review day

Come prepared to ask peers for specific feedback and collect evidence - specific questions will help.

Wednesday:  Double Block with Mr D'Alfonso

REEL CANADA - here at Fraser Heights!!!

Enjoy watching the film with the playwright and starring actor! 

More about this soon - I will try to link some resources and prompts, be prepared to ask questions.  It is a fabulous and rare opportunity - Thank you to Mrs Oakland for setting this up!

(PS  I don't want to hear any complaints about cell phone use during the presentation!)

Friday:  Bard in the Classroom

Time to get your Shakespeare on!  This will be an active workshop and I think we will be in the NLC room in the new wing - will confirm and let you know!

Genius Hour Presentations Next Week! (May 20 - 23) 

flex today...

I am away today but Mr Miller will be open for flex at 11:15.  Check in with him - give him your name and what you are working on.  He can also help too if you ask. :)

Have a good day!

Survey for gr 10 Genius Hour project

Morals and Ethics survey

April 22-25

Hope you have all had a wonderful Easter weekend with your families, whether you celebrated Passover or Vaisakhi,  or at least a bit of a break and enjoyed some of our spring weather.  I have meetings everyday this week except Wednesday - this will be flex time.  Speak to me if you would like to use my room for study or working on your projects while I attend other meetings as I may be able to accommodate.

Reminder:  We start new block rotation (3 -4-1-2 for Mon, Tues, Fri; 3311 Wed; 4422 Th)

Tuesday:  Earth Day!

Watch for events sponsored by global issues clubs or the environment club

Julius Caesar Act II - III here we come! Assignment - due by Friday:  on your anticipation guides there are essay topics for Acts II and III.  Due to the short weeks, you may choose to write on 1 of the topics from either Act II or Act III.  You must complete brainstorming and outline first before posting your draft on your group blogs. Commenting - feedback by Monday April 27.

Also - some self assessment for term 3 happening this week.

Wednesday:  Milk Run Donations still being accepted in your block 1 classes for Right to Play  - all grade 8-10 classes will participate on Wednesday at 10:25 am (Block 3).  Come prepared with good shoes and your donations :)

You will have some time to work on your essays today and Genius Hour too.  Bring your own devices. 

Grade 7 visits start 12:30-2:30 - Make our up and coming Firehawks feel welcome if you see them touring the school!

Flex time:  11:15

Friday: Julius Caesar

Facetime / Skyping w/ Ms Schrader's ELL class from Semiahmoo Secondary

Here is a the google doc that we will be sharing our classes:

Ms Lees En 10 and Ms Schrader's ELL class 

Schedule April 14-17

Monday:  Slam Poet - response required.  See previous post.

Tuesday:  Busy Busy!  Math contests, Passover,...

Genius hour set up for Wednesday - we will be skyping and /or facetiming with ELL students who are just getting started with their Genius Hour projects too.  You will be offering feedback and sharing your project proposals to get feedback too.

Our challenge:  to communicate effectively with ELL students who have limited language skills.  Tomorrow we will spend a few minutes coming up with some tips.

The rest of the time will be spent on your genius hour  projects.


Milk Run is tomorrow (Tuesday) - for all gr 8-10 classes!  
Bring donations for Block 1:  In support of the Right to Play 
It will begin at 10:25 and follows the same route as the Terry Fox Run.  Come prepared with clothing and shoes for rain or shine as it may be showery.
Hint:  the route can be walked easily in 20 -25 minutes which would give you a longer lunch, but if you dawdle and meander the "teenage way" then you will have a shorter lunch.


Wed - double block.  1 block paired up with your peers from Semiahmoo.

Second block:   Student satisfaction ministry of Ed surveys.
Get ready for Act II of Julius Caesar!

When we last left off our hero, Brutus was faced with a dilemma.  What will he decide?  Will Cassius successfully deceive our hero, Brutus, into joining the conspirators, or will the stoic use his better judgement and stay true and loyal to our fair ruler, Julius Caesar?  

Only time (and the reading of Act II) will tell the tale.... 

Additionally, we will be completing some self-evaluations to attach to your report cards.

Guess what's coming up next - for those who want to get a "head start" or need more time for writing:

You may start your Act II/III essay - see your anticipation guide.  You will only need to write one essay - we will combine the Act II and III choices for you this time. 

But not next time.... mwah ha ha ha!  (Sorry - late night and I think I am starting to channel our good friend Jonathan, or maybe I am just having fun with "wordplay" after Zack's performance today. :)

Happy Easter Weekend Everyone!

Enjoy time with the Family and a bit of the ourdoors in our spring sunshine :)

"Slam Poet in the House!"

Happy Monday in April - Poetry Month!

Thank you "Zaccheus Jackson is a three-time VanSlam team member, two-time Vancouver Individual Slam champ, 2007 GrandSlam Champ and three year Word Play veteran. He has an obsession w/ Heniz Ketchup, never touches dimes, and his gritty, rapid-fire, real-life stories will leave you counting syllables in your sleep."  (copied directly from the Vancouver Poetry House website - under "Wordplay", then  "Our Poets"

For sharing your Slam Poetry and your stories with us today at Fraser Heights.  He is part of the  Vancouver Poetry House poets - great links and resources her for poets and educators young and old!  To discover more about Zack - "Google" him!

A little more background for you:

What is Slam Poetry?

Write your own Slam Poetry in 5 easy steps! Video, and discussion.  Great links to resources for everyone - how to get involved, start a club, workshops, events, competitions, podcasts and more!

Homework: Add your comments and feedback - either under comments below or as a post on your own blog (this will allow you to add links, visuals or even a video of your own performance).  Choose 1 of the following - 

1. What did you think of Zack's performance at Fraser Heights?  
2. What do you think of the Slam Poetry "genre" or movement?  
3. Discuss:  Poetry is an art form.
4. Were you inspired? Write your own slam poem and/or audio/video record your poem and link it here.  See some of the videos above or links to help you out.  Be brave - give it a shot!

Minimum expectation - 1 paragraph.  (Remember to introduce your topic - as your audience will not have attended our performance at FH.

PS:  last assignment before marks cut off this week :)

Portfolio Student - Led Conferences, Julius Caesar Essay and Course Verifications

Portfolio / Student Led Conferences:

A number of you did not yet return your portfolios and / or your student-led conference forms to Ms Lees.  If you have not done so by Friday, you will be receiving an "I" in the near future.

Julius Caesar:
You need to choose one of the five topics from the Act I Anticipatory Guides (in your second handout booklet today) to complete your:

• brainstorm
• outline
• double-spaced draft

Course Verifications:  need to email Mr Emerson by Friday

***If you are interested or have questions about the new course - Project Design and Development for gr 9-12, come to room 213 (Ms Lees' room) at 11:30 lunch time on Thursday.  Speak to Ms Lees and students in the course. ***

Challenge for you: Are you getting bored this spring break?

Here is a video remix to "What does the Fox say?" by some elementary Mr Seliskar's students in the US.

"What does the text say?"

What does the text say?

The Challenge:  Theirs is referring to text - reading in particular.  Can you make a different one?  We can share it with Mr. Seliskar's class :)

Note:  No, this is not homework.  Just thought some of you might be itching for a creative challenge to have fun with word play and music remixing :)

Hope you all are having a good spring break!

Finishing Poetry and Introducing Genius Hour! (Last week before spring break!)

Flex:  Monday - 11:15 for En 10 students only!

          Tuesday / Thursday: 11:30 Last Chance to show me completed reflections / portfolio 

          and get letter to take home with portfolios before spring break!  

          They will need to be returned by Friday with comments from parents.  

         ***Mandatory flex list - If you are unable to make these times - 

                                                please communicate with me via email

In class:  Lots to talk about!  Wrapping up poetry this week and introducing Genius Hour!  Also - showcase evening / Tech night for parents! Other suggestions?

Monday:  review of your last practice poetry analysis handouts (Crossing The Bar and Heroes)

 ***Setting up blogs this week - fhlearn - for individual portfolios and blogger for group blogs.  These will be needed after spring break.***

                * handing in your lit circles data 

                *handing in your lit circle novels

Introduction to Genius Hour! Ideas, proposal process, etc. Proposals will need to be completed by Wednesday so I can conference before spring break so that you will not have extra work.  You may Google Genius Hour for some ideas or look at my other class blogs for ideas.

Four Basic Principles of Genius Hour:  It is a form of inquiry or Project Based Learning

Go to www.fhlearn.ca/vlees  and under the PDD tab you will find some useful resources to help with the first and second steps outlined below.  This will be part of your homework to gain further background knowledge.

First step:  Understand the difference between Projects and Project Based Learning

Second Step:  Understand that there are different kinds of PBL - e.g.. challenge based or 

                      problem-based learning.

Your Project should not simply be a "research and regurgitate" project.  

1. Must include research component - therefore also must be able to organize and cite your references.
2. Must have some new learning - skills, content, or both.
3. Must be publicly shared - Presented in some fashion.  Ideally to involve an authentic audience at some point.  Key:  Your presentation should aim to be creative, include your audience in some way, include process and product if it fits your project, think similar to TED talks.  
4. Must include include metacognitive or reflective thinking throughout the process and after your presentation.

Be prepared to be very explicit in sharing your your thinking in the proposal.  The clearer and more complete your proposal is before we conference - the better your project will be.

Begin Thinking about:  

                              What do you want to do and why? 

                              Who do you want to work with and why? You may also work alone.

                              How will you archive your process? Why did you choose that particular method?

                              Draft out your anticipated timeline - Final project deadline is end of May. You may 

                              finish before.  

                              How and when do you anticipate seeking feedback through peer review?

                              How do you anticipate sharing your learning? How/Why did you choose this format

                              or method?

                              How will you know that your process and final presentation has been successful?  

                              ***In other words you will be deciding and creating the criteria for your project - 

                                    with my help of course :)  ***

Tuesday:  Finish your proposals - start conferencing with me if you are finished early.

                          Last poetry assignment - due Friday at the beginning of class.

                          

Wednesday:  Poetry quiz - moved to Wed so that if you are still needing some help 

                                  you can come to flex on Monday - Wed.

                                 Conferencing with students on genius hour proposals while you work on 

                                 your final poetry assignment.

Friday: Hand in your final poetry assignment.  Poetry books returned too.

                     *Last call for portfolios to be returned and parent comments handed in.

                     *Spring Cleaning Reflection - written in class*

Happy Spring Break!

                              

Giving you all a break... Poetry Term quiz will be on Friday

Decided everyone was seeming a little anxious today with preparing for student led conferences so I will give you a break and move the poetry term quiz to Friday.  You will have tomorrow to finish your reflections for student-led conferences.

PS  Can you go to the Google doc of your "This I Believe" assignments and give them a catchy title?

Reminder also that this will be your last lit circle discussion - please finish the novel and prepare 2 quotes for discussion.  

Revised - Friday's plan:  Lit circle groups first block
                                       Quiz second block - poetry terms
                                       This I Believe - film review, feedback
***No homework for the weekend - unless you are doing your student led conference at home with your parents***

Busy Busy Week!

Go to http://www.fhlearn.ca/vlees/ for details.

Quiz:  terms will be on Tuesday, Lit circles - finish novel by Friday double block day

Where are all your "This I Believe" assignments?

Only 2 people have posted them so far?  Bit disappointed.  Come to flex please if you are not sure where to post.

Flex: Monday and Wednesday this week (11:15)

Parent-Teacher Conferences March 5

Hi Everyone,

Just a reminder - please share with your parents:

This semester in English 10 we will be having student-led conferences where parents and students can come in any time, similar to an open house format.  This is why parents cannot make individual appointments with me on March 5.  Students will be putting together a portfolio to share with your parents your progress so far.  

I will be sending a letter home with further details next week.

Have a wonderful weekend - and don't worry.  These conferences are usually very well done and enjoyed by all.

Ms Lees

"This I believe"

Inspired by Amy Burvall's Theory of Knowledge class assignment titled "This I believe," our English 10 class will be creating short audio-visual versions that incorporate poetry in some fashion.  For example - maybe you add literary devices and techniques to your production, write in poetic form, play with sound devices used in poetry (e.g. rhyme, rhythm, onomatopoeia,...)  Images should enhance your message.  Remember to give credit for images that you do not create.

Here is a google doc from last fall with a list of varied "This I Believe" assignments to help you get started.  Use your creative juices and push yourself to try something new!

This I Believe Samples Fall 2013

Change in plans for Wednesday!

Today we had a few too many people away for good literature circle discussions.  We spent the double block working on "This I believe" assignments.

How to "hand them in" - they should be in digital form somewhere for Monday (Eg.  flash drive, google docs / Drive, dropbox, or posted on the class blog here: (This I believe Ms Lees' En 10 Projects)

Enjoy your pro d day sleeping in...

Monday we will have our literature circle discussions.

Poetry in Voice Competition

Some of you were asking me about it so I have linked to the Poetry in Voice website on the left sidebar under contests.  It is a poetry recitation contest - of course it is optional.  You may wish to watch some of the videos to get an idea how to vary your readings of poems.  I think they will be starting some rehearsals next week.  I will keep you posted.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Poetry in Voice Competition and next week

Hope you enjoy your long weekend and spend some time with your family on Family Day (Monday). Couple of reminders for next week:

> Tuesday - you will have a TOC and you will continue to work on your FH poem / song / anthem ????
                  what ever it becomes. How does Fraser Heights - the school or community define itself?

However,  we have a few new people to the class as well so here is a second option:

Create a poem / song / anthem on similar lines to Shane Koyczan's "We Are More" but change the topic to defining "Community" instead of Fraser Heights.  I am hoping we will have some completed drafts for Wed.

 Help please- I forgot to do 2 things that will need to be done on Tuesday - please remind the TOC if I forget to put it in the instructions;
1.  Collect your writing samples - good copy stapled on top of drafts/ process
2. Forgot to collect the numbers for your novels.

*Can one of you take charge of these 2 things for me on Tuesday pretty please?  If yes - tell me in comments.

Wednesday:  1 block poetry and 1 block Literature circles

First block:  Poetry - share drafts of our "anthems / poems"

Second block - make sure you have prepared chosen a quote to discuss with your group, and written a response with some questions to help you guide your discussion.

FH Learn Blog sign up

Examining the issue of Grades in Education - specifically reporting of Grades

This will be a long post (we have a few away and I want students to feel part of the class discussions)

Consider the following questions with regards to the grades reporting system.

Where do motivational theories and research studies connect with the changes being suggested in our current grade reporting system?
How much has our system changed and / or is it due for change?  (see the video by Sir Ken Robinson below)
Where is Surrey in these discussions?  

Read some of the recent posts by our new Superintendant,  Mr Jordan Tinney in response to questions arising from the original news reports a few weeks ago.

Links you may find useful:
  CTV
Vancouver Sun - history of grading
Mr Jordan Tinney's first response post:  What do Letter Grades Really Mean?
Mr Jordan Tinney's second response post Preparing Students for the Real World
Institute for Critical Education Studies - blog post last April with some links to varied interviews and resources

In class we have begun a conversation around the recent news that Surrey and Maple Ridge have been piloting the practice of eliminating grades in reporting.  This topic arose from student queries and conversations in class on Monday.  Most had only spoken or discussed initial news reports, like the one above, which were brief in details.

We started with creating a chart including 3 columns on what do we know, want to know (questions reveal a lot about your thinking - sometimes more than responses), and collecting our findings and resources (notes and references). We are trying to reserve judgement until you gather a variety of sources, information, answers to your questions.

We also watched the video below in class which discusses recent research on motivational theory:

If you are interested in the longer Ted Talks by Daniel Pink that inspired the RSA Animate version above, here they are:

19 Min Ted Talk 

Dan Pink: The Puzzle of Motivation

50 Min Ted Talk

Dan Pink:  The Surprising Truth About Motivation

He further explores these ideas in his book titled Drive 

Additionally - some of you are asking really good questions like: (these are only a few of the questions I can recall from today)

When and where did our current grade reporting system originate?

What exactly is the district considering changing and why?

Why are we considering changing the system now? What is the rationale behind this idea?  

Where are these ideas coming from?

Does changing our reporting system actually change our grading system?  

How might these changes positively and negatively affect student learning and students' future opportunities (post - secondary options)

I have indicated to the class, that conversations around assessment and reporting (which are different) have been happening globally for at least the last 10 years (system changes tend to take a long time).  We are just hearing about it in the news recently as shifts are starting to become more concrete.

Ted Talk that Inspired the above RSA Animate (21 minutes)

***There are some other talks by Sir Ken Robinson***

Course Outline - Expectations, Assessment,...

Please read and fill in this form with your parents by Friday February 7.

Is Texting Ruining our Language?

Here is your opportunity to share your ideas on today's discussion topic.

I have attached this google doc for the class to add their ideas and references.  This will help us continue the conversation tomorrow.  

***This is also one way for you to participate in class discussion where you may not have had a chance to do so orally in class.***

Volunteers

Hope you can make it in to volunteer tomorrow.  How does 9 am start sound?  I will be there earlier but I suspect some of you will want a bit of a lay in.

English Mock Provincial ??? and more

So far I only have 3 people signed up to write a mock provincial on Monday.  See the last post if you plan to come in Monday.  There are also a number of people who have not handed in their final reflections, Chrysalids essays or Chrysalids novels.  Hope to see you Monday.

Help me share your Passions! (with other Genius Hour classes and Educators)

I thoroughly enjoyed your Genius Hour Presentations and I hope you did too!  As you know, I am a "connected" educator through Twitter and often colleagues are looking for ways to inspire or share Genius Hour processes and projects.  Often teachers are looking for student samples with varied strengths and weaknesses.

Here is where the HELP comes in!  I would love to have permission to share some of your projects (from photos, to videos to proposals or other research and reflection logs) with other teachers and classes doing Genius Hour in their classes.  Please see me or email me if you are willing to let me share with a wider district and global audience of Genius Hour Teachers.  

Specifically - I am looking for any examples you might be willing to share.  Even if you feel you did not do parts of your project as well as you could have, sometimes that is where the most learning occurs and your reflections will show this.

Please check with your parents to make sure it is ok with them - I will use first names, or no names, if you prefer for student safety and privacy.

Exam Prep and Last days of Semester 1

Provincial Exam Prep and Monday "I"Completion Days:

Make sure you rest up and eat well before provincial exams next week.  Please fill out the following survey if you plan to come in Monday for any reason - it will help me prepare better to assist you.

Coming in Monday? Complete this Survey.

Here is a copy of the FH exam schedule - it will be different from the ministry website.  Follow this one!  Don't forget your PEN number and photo ID with your full name on it.

FH Exam Schedule

Here are final reminders for work that you have done with me.  I need these by Tuesday 10 am at the latest, preferably tomorrow or Monday.  I had a lot of fun with you all and thank you for working so well with me and Ms Snodden this semester!

Several of you still need to do the following:

• hand in missing poetry assignments
• Chrysalids essays: finish brainstorm, outline, and draft of your (I need to sign off on it before it goes home)
• come in at flex to make sure I have your full process for your final project (Genius Hour)
1. Proposal - original and revised after our conference (most of you had revisions or additions)
2. Conference
3. In-Progress Work:
• logged research - notes, screen shots, bibliography
• logged reflections as you were working on the project (meta-cognition / thinking about your thinking is part of your mark)
• planning for your presentation,
4. Evidence of Peer Review - your questions, responses from 3 peers and 1 sibling/parent
5. Post-Presentation and Semester End Reflections - questions were on the board.  If you forgot them, perhaps some kind soul in the class will post a photo of them here on the class blog for you.

English 10 Celebration! Final Presentation Schedule / details

Please be on time and ready to present in the order outlined.  Some blocks are very tight for timing and we may also have guests in the room for the presentations in red. Email me if I have made any errors - these were confirmed today.  If I missed you  - let me know.  At the end of presentations, we may have a block to collect and hand in missing work, otherwise come to flex to hand in missing work.

Presenters - I will need a paper copy of your proposal (post conference) to write comments on.
Your complete process:

• proposal
• research and process logs with reflections
• peer review from 3 peers and 1 parent / sibling
• Final Presentation Reflections - handout will be given to guide your final reflections
• these are individual 

Mornings:

Tuesday Block 4 (second period):  9:40 – 10:55

1.  "Shine" an animated collaborative story with original music – Daniel – author, animator – Harvey , music composition – Ryan  (15 min)

2.  Running Blog with tips and related nutritional information – Olivia (10 minutes)

3.  Make-up tutorial videos using Pinterest and youtube – Priya (10 min)

4.  Remixing music to create new songs – Amie (10 min)

Wednesday Block 4 (second period): 9:40 – 10:55

       1.  Fat Loss/Muscle Gain diet experiment -  Ben and William (10 min) 

***2.  International Students and their Impact on our School Community – 

           Angela, Bryan, and Bob (25 min)

  Thursday Block 4:  all morning 8:15 – 10:55

***1.  Basketball Bag: Keanan,Shaan, Giovanni, Jeevin (20 min)*** 

***2.  Redesigning Innovation Week for 2015:  Brandon (15 min)*** 

      3.  "Are You Happy Now?" Music video with an anti-bullying theme – Megan and Preet (10 min)

      4.  Introverts and Extroverts in School:  Marissa and Nava (10 min) 

Afternoons: 

Tuesday Block 2 (fourth period):  1:30 – 2:45

1.  Our Own Sport:  "Awesome Ball' – Jordan and Luke (10 min)

2.  Colour Theory in Advertising – Sonali (10 min)

3.  All about Sleep – Felix (10 min)

4. Experimenting with writing in different story genres – Truman  (10 min)

5.  Repurposing Cardboard – Jaeden and Nathan (15 min)

6.  Living on a Budget: $5 meals for Families of Four – John and Amy (15 min)

Wednesday Block 2( fourth period):  1:30 – 2:45

   ***1.  Women in the RCMP w/ live special guest interview" - Sophie (20 min) ***

          2.  Short Story Creative writing in science-fiction/fantasy genre – Andrew (10 min)

          3.  Plotting storyline and Planning for a small novel – Jack (10 min)

          4.  "Making Soda Pop Pop!" - Jaden, Colton, Justin (15 min) 

                Students made their own soda – food and ingredients list will be available.

 

          5.  How to pick up girls – Jeff and Phillip (15 min)

Thursday:  all afternoon 12:05 – 2:45

       1. Photography Edits – Sarah and Michelle (10 minutes)

         2.  Veganism – Jenny (10 min)

         3.  Learning Japanese – Jackie (10 min)

         4.  Natural Body Alarm Clocks – Derek (10 min)

         5.  "Bias in History – A Re-Examination of Hitler's Legacy" - Tom (10 min)

        6.  "Zoot" a Dr Seuss Inspired original story- Talissa (10 min)

         **Shared out via twitter to primary classrooms for feedback***

        7.  Kinetic Typography (animated) - Chas (10 min)

  

         

Semester end...

Block Order for this week:

Monday:  3 4 1 2
Tuesday:  3 4 1 2
Wednesday:  3 4 1 2
Thursday:  4 4 2 2
Friday:  3 3 1 1

Flex:  Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
***Sorry for the change but meetings were scheduled for Monday and Wednesday***

Passion Project Presentations:  Starting Monday! Expect that we might have guests this week.   From Sophie interviewing her mom as part of her presentation to guests who are interested to hear about your projects!

Excited to begin your passion project presentations!  Remember to have all your process including your edited / revised proposal, process log including your research, presentation planning, and reflections in one plaee (e.g..  booklet, blog,....)  Members in groups - just a reminder that while you may have worked together, some of this should be individual (e.g. parts of your process and definitely your reflections). After your presentation, you will have final reflections. Your literary essay was due to hand in by Tuesday, but I will extend to Wednesday due to the change in flex times this week.

We will also need to collect your Chrysalids novels and any other books you may have so that you do not have book bills to clear up at the end of the year.

What do grades really mean? Continuing the conversation...

Last week, the news was all abuzz with reports that the districts of Surrey and Maple Ridge were piloting new forms of reporting to parents about their child's progress in school - specifically, elementary schools and soon some secondary schools, will be using methods, other than letter grades to share student progress.  We discussed this in class last week and we have been discussing this off and on all year as I use a portfolio method of assessment whereby students receive various forms of feedback and few, if any numerical scores or letter grades, to help students improve their learning.  Our new superintendent, Mr Jordan Tinney, wrote a post to further explain the rationale behind the shift and to address questions raised by students, parents, and the community at large.

Mr Tinney's Post:  What do letter grades really mean? 

Change is difficult and messy but sometimes necessary to move forward.  Hopefully, Mr. Tinney's post will help to spark or add to the conversation with your parents, peers and teachers.

Last week to make up work!

This week I am open for flex Mon - Thursday at 11:15 am

• your essay brainstorm, outline and drafts need to be done at school with me before I let you take them home for editing.  The essay will be due next Tuesday and you must hand in all of your work process or it will not be marked and you will need to come in on Monday Jan 27 to make up your essay writing on the "I" completion day.
• Literary term quiz will be done on Thursday at flex.  You must have done the review activity with me in class prior to being able to the make-up quiz.

This week:  Monday - Friday - you will work on your Genius Hour projects.

On Thursday:  Ms Lees will post a presentation schedule for your passion projects.

Character Analysis writing

Literary essays often focus around themes or characters that are developed throughout a poem, story or novel.

Write a multi-paragraph composition where you compare your character traits with those of one of the main characters in the novel.  My expectation will be that you include at least 3 quotes in your composition and that you remember to PEE (Provide point, Explanation, Example) or provide a SEXI argument (State point, Explain it, Illustrate with an example).  Another pneumonic for literary writing is to use the MELELEC method  - watch this video tutorial for a specific example.

It doesn't matter which mnemonic device you use to help you remember how to support your literary writing as long as you use it.

Some examples of literary essays include:

Literary Essay Example 1

Literary Example 2 - longer but some of you might find it more useful

Reminder on How to integrate quotations in your writing:

Topics - choose 1
You will complete all these steps of the writing process : brainstorm, outline, double spaced draft

How can an overly legalistic society also become a hypocritical one?

How can an overly legalistic society also become a hypocritical one?

1.  How can an overly legalistic society also become a hypocritical one?  Explain with examples from the Chrysalids.

2.  In the Chrysalids, the people strive to create a Utopian society but in many ways the society is actually a Dystopian one.  Explain.

3.  With which character are you most alike in the novel The Chrysalids?  See the description and video above to help you with this topic.

4.  The word “chrysalid” means a state into which the larvae of most insects pass before becoming perfect insects. The chrysalid takes in no food and is inactive. In general,the word can mean a sheltered state of growth. IF we use this definition as a description of life in Waknuk, what are the people sheltering themselves from? What is the “perfect state” they are trying to achieve? Does the title of the novel apply to the eight characters who can communicate in thought-shapes? Explain.

5. Are the residents of Waknuk getting closer or further away from perfection? There is evidence for both sides, so be sure to include it in your essay.

6. Despite their fear and the horrors around them, David and his group manage to display many of the humane and natural qualities so obviously lacking in Waknuk: love, loyalty, courage, and individual responsibility. Illustrate, with reference to David, Rosalind and Michael, the qualities of character they display.

7. 1) The Chrysalids shows the dangers of people believing that they belong to a superior race or group.  Discuss this idea making reference to both the societies of Waknuk and the Sealand.

8. 7) In the film X-Men, Magneto says of the mutation law "Let them pass that law and they'll have you in chains with a number burned into your forehead." Discuss the reality of this in Waknuk in comparison to what is happening in the film. 

How to Use Google Docs and Google Drive

Tutorial Videos from Youtube and Common Craft are very useful.

Wish for the new year....

As you begin your Passion Projects please remember that there may,and should, be mistakes along the way.

http://twitter.com/jackiegerstein/status/418385345219031040/photo/1

Another reason for sharing our process online:

http://twitter.com/Silvana_Hoxha/status/420389999171751936/photo/1

To keep the conversation on learning going....

What do you think of this news for Surrey schools?

http://fw.to/2lvPTvF

New tool that may help you keep your collaborative projects organized

Happy New Year everyone!

This week we will spend some time on your Passion Project Proposals and conferences as well as some time on essay writing with topics related to The Chrysalids.  Hope you enjoyed the novel and had a wonderfully restful Christmas break!

I thought you might be interested in this new tool that my fellow Genius Hour colleague from Kamloops recommends: Trello

Watch the video intro to see if it might be something that may help you out.  Might even be a better platform than Google docs.

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow - Time to work on your proposals for your passion projects so you can bring laptops and devices if you like.