Miss Jeffrey's MCR3U: December 2008

Monday, December 22, 2008

SEASON'S GREETINGS!!

HAPPY HOLIDAY WISHES TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

6G: Just a reminder that hot air balloon assignments were due today. Please bring in your assignments by tomorrow as that is my last day at CRB.

8s: Here are some examples of the fabulous geometric art you presented.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

6G: Your Hot Air Balloon Assignment:

You are to design your own hot air balloon for your around the world adventure.

Please account for the following:

1) You are traveling alone.
2) You are not to land until you have completed your trip around the world.
3) You must incorporate what we have already learned about hot air balloons (ie. equipment required: gondola, balloon size and material, heat source, food, protection, etc)

You must include a labeled illustration and a short write up about your design.

Please be creative and make this design your own!!

DUE: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2008

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

6G: The Legends and Ghost Shirts you have produced were great! I appreciate the extra effort you put into creating your shirts.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

6G: Today we created our own hot air balloon using garbage bags and a hair dryer. What made it possible for the bag to "lift off"? Can you identify the properties of air that make flight possible (e.g., air takes up space, has mass, expands, can exert a force when compressed) ? If you need a refresher, take a look at what Bill Nye has to say about the properties of air and hot air balloons.

(Time 2:20min to 3:27min)

As per the Ontario Curriculum: identify the properties of air that make flight possible (e.g., air takes up space, has mass, expands, can exert a force when compressed)

Monday, December 1, 2008

6G: Starting December 2nd, we will be launching a new unit in Mathematics based on factors and multiples. There is a great online game to preview your knowledge of factors.

As per the Ontario Curriculum: identify composite numbers and prime numbers, and explain the relationship between them (i.e., any composite number can be factored into prime factors)

Let's launch our new Science unit on Air & Flight!!

6G: I am very excited to be lifting off into this new unit today!!

My Teaching Philosophy

A Teacher is Like a Gardener

I believe a classroom is a garden, the students are the seedlings, and the teacher is the gardener. Each time the students enter the garden, it is the responsibility of the teacher to co-ordinate interesting activities, enriched and challenging, which will enable the students to grow strong and tall into their natural brilliance.

A gardener doesn’t blame the plant when it’s not performing well; they check the growing conditions. Is the soil the plant is growing in suitable? Is the water supply adequate? Is the plant able to receive sunlight? Does it require differentiation? Is the cross-curricular instruction effective? Good gardeners are good problem solvers. A teacher must be the same.

Some plants will blossom early and some will blossom late. Some will require extra attention and some will need additional encouragement. The gardener should be patient with the seedlings, because no matter how much water or how much sunshine they receive, they are all individuals, and, as a result, they will all grow at their own rate, in their own way, during their own time; no two are the same. A teacher must also recognize this.

Good gardeners are optimistic and patient. They are able to see the potential in those struggling young seedlings and enjoy watching them grow, develop, and bloom. They give special tender loving care to those few plants that are struggling and not thriving. A teacher must do the same.

Good gardeners also know the importance of taking care of themselves. They pace themselves so they won’t overdo it and seek relief from the blazing sun. Good gardeners enjoy sharing their knowledge and helping other gardeners. They willingly pass along tips that have worked for them, share their tools and pitch in when the going gets tough. A teacher must do the same.

Good teachers like good gardeners help their “seedlings” develop and thrive. A teacher takes great pride in his/her ever-expanding garden whose flowers are scattered all over the world.

I am a teacher, I am a gardener, and I will make a difference in the world.

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