November 29

Power grid played by 62 and 61. Another demonstration of the value of authentic simulations. The kids demonstrate their level of understanding in an obvious way. When the game/simulation is well understood by the teacher he/she can easily assign a grade to the the students.

It is also an excellent game in that it scales well. The clueless student is happy to simply make change and hold money, the clever student indulges in the nuances of the different stratagems. Everybody wins!

November 28, Day 9

Tried teaching 62 the basics of fencing.

Tried to continue building the square foot garden with 61.

November 27, Day 8

Assembly: MADD for 61

Square foot garden construction for 61

Plato's Allegory of THE CAVE for 61 (in the context of hypothesis, science, and the Matrix).

November 26, Day 7

I had first period as a prep period and used the time to stop by Rona for supplies and to set out the tools for today. Not everything was ready in time, but sometimes you can't prepare the lesson that you want because of time constraints and so you prepare the lesson that fits the amount of time that you have. Subtle, but serious, difference and a key to survival and sanity.

In second period I showed 61 the Mine Kafon video (http://vimeo.com/51887079) as an intro into the idea of thinking before building. We then started our Square Foot Garden (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Square_foot_gardening). I decided that if I wait for the woodshop to be ready that I will be waiting for ever, screw it, we build today! I printed off some plans (https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B241wKO6bJmjM21UWGJyVDRWcjg) which are intentionally vague as I wanted the students to problem solve on their own. All of my handouts use Open Dyslexic as a font (http://dyslexicfonts.com/) however this may not be evident if one does not already have it installed on their PC. This free font has a weight, or gravity, to the letters which resists rotation and floating, but I digress. The students took to the task well and were eager to put the horticulture and math work we've been doing to use. Sadly, Brad still can't figure out area.

Period three saw us attend an assembly geared towards autism awareness.

In period four we continued watching clips of the Matrix in preparation for a discussion on Plato's "Allegory of THE CAVE" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQfRdl3GTw4).

November 22/23

PED days - Meet the teacher day/IEP day/QPAT conference and workshop.

November 21, Day 6

PW/ More on fractions, rulers, and percent.


PW/ Budget manipulatives, cheques.


Parent teacher night.

November 20, Day 5

WS/ Math, circles and area. Added poles to the pea plants.

PW/ Science surveys, allowed them to survey each other.

November 19, Day 4

ACE Duty

WS. Interview activity. Previously ... we had the students interview their teachers. Today ... we interviewed them. They were each given jobs (Rona, Cashier) and we asked all f them the same 20 questions. M.H. was out panel guest!

November 16, Day 3

PW/ Watched The Matrix, some times you gotta relax.

WS/ Gym time

November 15, 2012

WS/ Math degenerated into a vent fest about how useless this program is by N and J. Lost my temper at them, they love it when that happens.

PW/ Games of chance owing to the fact that so many were suspended/skipping.

Wrote the MELS teacher exam today, and it's my birthday!

November 14, Day 1

WS/ Great math lesson on probability and fractions. Plants, atrium.

PW/ Disastrous attempt to play Negotiation.

WS/ Games of chance.

November 13, Day 10

IEP work all day, subs had the classes. 62 watched Inception and answered questions about how to test or investigate phenomena and observations.

November 12, Day 9

PW/ Inquiry questions. Identify issues with letters to the editor.

Yearbook/ Voted on "we" as the theme.

WS/ Reviewed math tests, brought plants to class.

November 8, Day 8

Four period day. J and M still suspended.

PW/ Inquiry lesson: What makes a question scientific. Design a human heart rate experiment. J was chosen. Ran a circuit and rate was examined. No time for the letter portion of the activity. Good combo lesson.

WS/ Term test in math

WS/ Probability, roulette.

PW/ Guest: J Hanley. Interview based math test.

November 7, Day7

WS/ Repotted basil, N threw an orange against the windows in the atrium. Roulette.

WS/ More games of chance, probability, J threatened to slap B and spit on her locker. Suspended for one day.

PW/ More games.

November 5, Day 5

WS/ Handed back test, corrected it, greenhouse, atrium

PW/ Pennies hypothesis. Worked great! 41 drops on a nickle. Kids didn't know what a nickle was ...

PW/ Worked with M on sit probs

November 2, DAy 4

ACE duty

WS/ Practice test and greenhouse work

PW/ Science interview test

November 1, Day 4

IEP work

PW/ Fraction math

IEP while PW/ watched planet earth

WS/ Gym time