Week 10 - Nov 4 - 8

Here we are, folks... your weekly dose of blog stuff! Here's the plan:

Math: Let's spend a bit of time with rounding and estimating products. And then we'll move into learning about "common multiples" - these are multiples that are shared by a set of numbers. Understanding how to find these can be useful when working with fractions. We explore common multiples now because we are in a multiplication mindset: the skills we need to use to find common multiples are things we're already working on, especially those pesky basic facts.

Social Studies: We've begun our unit that will revolve around our big trip out on the Salish Sea. We're working toward answering our essential question: "What are examples of people or groups working together to solve problems in the Salish Sea?" This week we'll look at plastic pollution. Side note: if plastic pollution makes you angry and you want to help, check out Surfrider Foundation's beach clean-up calendar... there's two more events, one this coming Sunday at Island View Beach... Consider lending a hand with your family!

https://vancouverisland.surfrider.ca/beach-cleanups 

Also, on this Wednesday we'll host folks from Eagle Wing who will give us a preview of next Wednesday's big trip out. How exciting!

Writing: The second of six writing traits - Organization - is up to bat this week. We'll look at the keys to organizing your writing, and how to guide your readers through your writing.

Reading: This week will feature a Remembrance ceremony (on Friday). In preparation, we'll read and respond to an article about Canada's Remembrance traditions.

Science: Our look at the nervous system continues. This week, we'll learn about your optic nerve, one of the pathways for sensory information to travel to the brain. Did you know that each of your eyes has a small blind spot? And that we can "map" that spot? We'll get into an explanation about the eye's sensory abilities, and the ways our brain fills in the missing information for us. 

Whoo! That seems like a lot! As usual, these plans are aspirational (now that's a fun word!). If we don't get to it all, well, that's next week's problem, right? Speaking of next week, remember that Monday is a holiday. Next post on Tuesday, Nov 12. See you then!

Week 9 - Oct 28 - Nov 1

Boo! It's Halloween week! This is the plan:

Math: expect a quizzy on multiplication strategies on Tuesday. If it looks like we're ready to move on after that quizzy, we'll spend some time with rounding and estimating products. We will also explore some data resulting from our recent Provincial election. 

Writing: Your Halloween stories are due this Wednesday. Work at home to ensure you have a story to share with a small group on Thursday. We will also make time to do a self-assessment task.

Social Studies: We will begin learning about the Salish Sea. Our goal is to develop an understanding of how people can cooperate to solve problems, and to recognize some of the barriers we face when trying to solve issues. International cooperation is tricky. Finding solutions among those with competing interests can be challenging. We'll build our understanding in advance of Eagle Wing's visit to our classroom next week. 

Science: So far we've looked at the excretory system and the endocrine system. We're on track; well done!  Be sure you are keeping your notes and activities organized and completed. This week we'll move on to explore the nervous system. 

Thursday is Halloween. Costumes are encouraged, but please be thoughtful about these. We'll chat again about appropriateness of your costumes and accessories. But the basic advice stands: if you think your costume or accessory might be a problem, it very well might be. Still not sure? Ask!

Enjoy your week, everyone.

Week 8 - Oct 21 - 24

Hi! This is our 8th week together already. Time is flying by, isn't it? With a pro-d day coming your way on Friday, we have just four busy days ahead of us. This is the plan:

Writing: Many of you have made a really great start to your Halloween story; well done! Here are a few things to keep in mind: 

• the project due date is October 30th. That's next Wednesday. This is a pretty strict deadline, as I'd like you to share your piece with a small group on the 31st. 
• you should double-check the criteria for the piece. You'll find this under the Halloween Story tab here on the blog, or on Classroom.
• if your first draft is complete, it is time to begin revising your story. I've left a few ideas to get you started on revising your piece under the Revision Ideas tab here on the blog
• fast finishers become peer revisers. We'll talk about how to kindly critique a peer's work, and how to offer helpful and reasonable suggestions that fit their story and writing style. 

Math: We've jumped into using the Array Model strategy for multiplication. Have a look at the video on the blog's sidebar for a refresher. Let's spend a couple of days practicing this strategy.

TypingPal: You now have a TypingPal account! This is your opportunity to practice typing here at school or at home. Be sure to follow the program closely, and aim to learn correct posture and finger positions. Practice well. It isn't a competition; I'd rather you touch-type slowly rather than hunt-and-peck quickly.

Social Studies: We will continue to monitor election results as they come in. With a short week ahead of us, we won't move into our next unit until next week.

Science: We're learning about the endocrine system. Our body's messaging system, we'll learn about the glands that produce the hormones that our body relies on to communicate changes. 

Salish Sea Field Trip update: The dates have changed for this suite of activities. The new dates are as follows:

• Classroom Visit: November 6
• Eagle Wing boat cruise: November 13
• Follow-up session with Eagle Wing staff: November 20
• Learning showcase: Date TBA

Enjoy your week, everyone!

Week 7 - Oct 15 - 18

I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving weekend. We're back for four days of action-packed learning:

Social Studies: Our focus this week, in the lead-up to Saturday's election, will be on learning about one of the party platforms. You'll work with a small group to build a brief slideshow. Expect a handful of sessions to complete this research and to build your presentation. 

Math: We've moved into multiplication. For some, the basic facts to 10 x 10 have already been mastered. If that's the case, I have a handful of challenges for you, including learning some other useful facts (like learning each of the perfect squares up to 20 x 20. For most of us, though, we will benefit from practice. Please make it a goal to master these facts; they are the foundation for so much of what we'll do going forward. Rapid recall of those products will make your math life so much easier down the road! We will also explore some ways of "showing" products, and we'll work toward a reliable strategy for multiplying multi-digit values. 

Science: Let's move into learning about the endocrine system this week. Expect a video log, a puzzling activity, diagrams and discussion. 

Writing: The Halloween story project continues. The due date for this one is just two weeks away! Be sure to keep your story compact. Be realistic about how much time you have for your story writing. And leave enough time to revise your tale (at least one whole hour for this!). Be sure to take note of the feedback you will get this week from the "My New Island" task, and apply what you learn from my critique to this next piece. I look forward to reading your short stories!

Timetable: Thanks to a small increase in support in our classroom, some minor tweaks will show up on our Timetable later this week. Stay tuned. 

That's all for now, folks. Enjoy your week!

Week 6 - Oct 7 - 11

Hi All, 

We have a full week ahead of us. With a few activities already on the go, along with one or two new things to be introduced, we'll be busy. Here's the plan:

Writing: Last week, you began creating characters; ones you might (or might not) use in your story-writing this month. The Halloween story will roll out over the next few writing sessions. We'll build your setting, add a limited number of characters, and map out the plot for a simple, spooky story. 

Science: You'll finish the "learning lab" that you began last week before we dive a little deeper into the role and importance of staying hydrated. 

Math: Having explored a handful of subtraction ideas and strategies, let's work towards your first quizzy. These happen a handful of times each term. And, while they do make up a portion of my assessment of your progress, they are not the only way for you to show what you know. My goal for all of you is to have many opportunities to demonstrate proficiency. So, do the best as you can on this quizzy. Bring your "can-do" attitude. Show your thinking. Do your best to be independent, yet ask a question if you need to. But if you are off your game, or haven't mastered a skill yet, don't worry. There will be other chances to show your learning. Before the end of the week, we'll get into practicing those pesky multiplication facts.

Social Studies: BC's Provincial election is coming up in under two weeks. We'll look at the parties that are vying for our votes, and the platforms upon which they stand. 

Have a great week, everyone!

Week 5 - Oct 1 - 4

Hi All, this is another short week. Here's the plan:

Tuesday is a short day. You'll be dismissed at 1:54. Parents, I look forward to meeting with you Tuesday afternoon or evening. 

Math - we will explore more ways of thinking about subtraction. You'll get a potpourri of strategies to tinker with. Do your best to approach these with an open mind. Who knows? Maybe one of these strategies will become your new go-to technique for finding the difference between numbers!

Reading - We'll jump back into some reading skills work this week.

Social Studies - The upcoming BC election will remain our focus over the next 3+ weeks leading up to voting day.

Science - You'll jump into a "stations lab" situation this week. This is a chance to explore aspects of the excretory system in small groups in a variety of modes. This "lab" will take two sessions. If you miss part of it due to absence, please do your best to catch up during flex time.

Writing - Thank-you for finishing and turning in your "My New Island" piece. (If yours isn't finished yet, its not too late! Try to get it done soon, though.) We'll turn our ideas toward storytelling next. October is upon us, and it's time to get into Mr. Pite's annual Halloween story writing piece. Spooky? Yes please! Bone-chilling terror? You bet! Candy, costumes, monsters, ghouls, ghosts, goblins and creepy-crawlies of all shapes and sizes? Bring it on!

Skating - our first OBRec field trip is happening Friday. Be prepared! 

Enjoy your week, everyone.

Week 4 - Sept 24 - 27

Hi team, welcome back to the blog. Here's the plan for the rest of the week ahead:

Terry Fox fundraising: as a class, we're doing well. Thanks to some generous donors, we've already surpassed our modest class goal of $500. This Thursday's event - the annual Terry Fox run - will end our effort. So if you haven't yet donated, please take the time to do so. Here is the link to our class fundraising page. Or, send in cash or a cheque. Thanks!

Math this week will focus on subtraction strategies. On the full-screen version of the blog you might spot a small handful of videos on the sidebar. Look for the ones about subtraction for a preview of my approach to these strategies. 

Science - Our look at the excretory system kicks off our unit about body systems. You'll view a pair of in-class demonstrations that model kidney function. Pay attention to how you present your learning with the follow-up write-ups about these. Accuracy and presentation are important for scientific writing; be sure to take your time.

Social Studies - The writ has been dropped. Wait... what? That's a weird sentence. We'll dive into governance an elections over the next three weeks. This mini-unit will take us into the provincial election on October 19th. 

Writing - Remember the piece you began writing last week about the discovery of a new and mysterious land? We'll finish that one off before the end of the week. 

Language Arts - During LA time we'll turn our attention toward Truth and Reconciliation Day. 

That's all for this week, folks.

Week 3 - Sept 16 - 20

Hi again! We're into our third week together. We're beginning to get familiar with classroom routines and expectations. We know each others' names and are learning about each other. We are ready to dive deeper into the curriculum. Thank you all for bringing the best of yourself to Division 13 each day. Keep up the great work!

Language Arts - Did you watch any of the Paris Olympics over the summer? We'll read and respond to an article about one of the best Olympics events in recent memory. Be sure to stay current with this. We will also carry on with developing reading strategies through pictures that we started last week.

Writing - Okay, explorers. You have discovered a new island. How did you find it? What is it like there? What is it about your new island that you'd return for? We will launch into our first writing task. Be sure to pay close attention to the criteria for this piece.

Science - We will begin our look at body systems. In grade 5, you may have explored a few systems, like the circulatory and digestive systems. For the first part of grade 6, we'll look at the human body's waste disposal system, the chemical messaging system, and the body's control center.

Math - A few number concepts are coming your way this week, including how to read and "speak" whole numbers. We'll explore "subitizing" - the trick of knowing how many without counting. And let's explore number lines, comparing and ordering whole number values (>, <, =), and writing and reading numbers in expanded form. 

French - begins on Tuesday with Ms. Carradine.

The Terry Fox fundraiser continues. This is the link to donate. Cash and coins can come in any time, or you can collect at home and bring in money all at once. We're off to a good start, folks. Keep that money coming in so we can reach our class fundraising goal of $500.

That's all for this week. Enjoy!

Week 2 - Sept 9 - 13

Welcome back to the blog. If this is your first visit here, feel free to tour this site's features. But keep in mind that I have yet to move some of the stuff from last year out of this space. And, if this is your first visit, please have a quick read through last week's post so you're up to date. 

Students, your job is to read the week's blog post to a family member each Monday evening. Please take the time to do this, and be sure your folks are listening! 

We have begun to "move in" to our binders, bins and lockers. Check out the school supplies list that I emailed to your parents in case you are missing anything. Do the best that you can this year to stay organized with your supplies, and let your family know early on if you are running out of anything. 

Here is the plan for this week:

Writing - One piece of advice that is common for emerging authors is to "write what you know". Writing about things that you have first-hand knowledge of makes coming up with ideas easier. We will begin brainstorming the things that each of us knows about, are passionate about, or could tell a story about. We'll map these ideas out into "writing territories". The plan is to have a big pile of ideas that we can continually add to, and draw ideas from throughout the year.

Language Arts - I'd like to know what sort of a reader you are. One way to let me know this is during our quiet reading time. Be prepared! You will need to have something to read every day. What you read, and how well you sustain your attention on reading is important to me. Do your best over the next few weeks to build your independent reading stamina. This year we will use some of our Language Arts time to read about current events. This week we'll look at the wildfires that hit Jasper, Alberta over the summer.

Math - I love math. And I think it is important that you learn to feel positively about math too. This includes feeling good about where you are starting this year. If in the past you have felt super-stretched by numeracy, you've felt defeated or lacked confidence with some of the basics, I'm hoping to change your mindset. We're heading into this year with various levels of skill and self-assurance and that is OK. Bring positive thinking and a "can do" attitude to this sometimes tricky subject. We'll begin the week by organizing binders and then revisiting some of the math you probably saw last year.

Terry Fox - Our school has some lofty fundraising goals for the Terry Fox Foundation. Parents, here is the link to our class donation page. 

Enjoy your week, everyone!

Week 1 - Sept 3 - 6

Hi Everyone! This is the official blog of Division 13 at Monterey Middle School for 2024 - 2025. Your blog author is Mr. Pite.

It is really great to see that you have found my blog! This week all I am going to offer is a huge WELCOME ABOARD! to you. 

Notice the tabs at the top of the page. Currently, the Timetable is a work in progress. The Daily Agenda has been cleared and stands by ready to keep you up-to-date. We'll chat with you about what "agenda" can mean for you, and how to decide on an agenda system that will work for you.

For now, please bookmark this site. I'll be asking you to check in weekly on this space. This is the post for week 1, so your job is done for now. Be on the lookout for Week 2's post on Monday, Sept. 9. 

Parents, I hope to meet you all on Tuesday, Sept. 10 for our Meet the Teacher evening.

That's it for now!