Friday, October 29, 2010

Nov. 1-Nov.5

9 English
This week our midterm will be on Tuesday, Nov. 2.
The midterm will cover reading skills, by having students read the last Letter from D, and then answer questions in complete sentences. Students should remember that the questions should be evident in the answer and remember to use proper punctuation and grammar, such as: pronouns cannot be used until the antecedent or noun is used first; remember to answer in the past tense. Also on the exam will be some root words, vocabulary words, parts of speech, and notes on short story theory. Review will be Monday. Review sheets will be passed out Monday, in case students have missed some notes.

After the midterm, students will be reading our last short story for a while, Moon Maiden. After they read the story and develop their vocabulary lists, we shall be beginning a unit on poetry, for preparation for the Provincial Exam in January.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

October 18-22
9 English
This week we are reading the short story "On The Sidewalk Bleeding." We shall be taking notes on Setting: Time, Place and Atmosphere. Students will write three paragraphs on the setting of the short story. We shall be learning new root words: hem--blood, hydr--water, ject--throw, leg--law, lingua--tongue, lith--stone, loc--speak, log--speech. There is a practise quiz of all of the root words so far on-line (can be reached from the GMCS home page). There will be a test for marks on Thursday. Later in the week we shall be taking notes and learning more about verbs.

9 Social Studies
We are beginning a new unit on The People of Canada, after we write a test on Monday on the Geology of Canada. We shall be first looking at the Indigenous Peoples of Canada. Students are doing research on a group of First Nations People, then presenting to the class.

11 Culinary
We are making Spaghetti and Meatballs this week. We shall be practising cutting and chopping skills, recipe reading, and working together in the kitchen. Notes this week are on Pasta.

12 English
We are finishing up unit IV, writing a test on Literary period I-IV on Tuesday, then beginning Period V. By Wednesday, we shall be beginning the play Hamlet.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

October 12-15
9 English
Novel Report is due by Friday at the latest--earlier is better. REmember the report has four parts: Plot--at least two pages, one character sketch--one page, setting--one-half page, theme--one-half page.
Continue to study definitions of parts of speech; this week we also have notes on proper use of pronouns: pronoun chart: subject form, object form and possessive form.
We have vocabulary from the story "Borders."
Study Root words: new root words are: gen--birth, geo--earth, graph--write or draw to record, grat--to please or thank, hem--blood, hydr--water.

9 Social Studies
Canadian maps are due Thursday this week. Make sure all of the information on the map is present for marks.
We have finished the Land Regions of Canada: Applachians, Canadian Shield, Hudson Bay Lowlands, Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands, Prairies Grasslands, Western Cordillera, Arctic Lowlands, and the Innuitian Mountains. We have begun a unit on weather.
There will be a quiz on-line this week-end for practise. This will include all work we have done this year. A test from marks will be the first of next week.

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

October 4-6, 2010

Grade 9 English
We shall be continuing with the short story. First we shall read the short story "Kath and Mouse." There are three vocabulary words students have chosen to learn with this story: conjecture--guess; oboe--a wood-wind instrument; accompany--to go with someone as an escort or companion. We shall also read the next segment of Letters to D, September 2nd. Novel book reports are due October 16th, so students should be working on them by now. Remember that setting has three parts: time, place and atmosphere. To get full marks, information must be referenced with quotes from the novel. The character sketch is only about one character--the main character. Each characteristic for the character should be supported by a quote from the novel. The theme(s) are the lessons learned by the reader from having read the novel, or the discussion the author wants to create among the readers. Again, support the themes with quotes from the novel. The plot is a retelling of the novel in only two pages. Again, quotes to support what is said is good--at least one quote for each of introduction, developoment (conflict) climax and conclusion.

Grade 9 Social Studies
We are continuing with our unit on geology of Canada. Students have notes to study for this unit, on geological terms, and the Land formation of Canada.

12 English:
A practise quiz is on-line for Literary Periods I-III. Students may take the quiz as many times as they wish, in preparation for the test next week. Students are presenting a Canterbury Tale to the class, beginniong on Wednesday, and continuing next week.