Week 9 - Nov 2 - 6

Hi folks! November has arrived. We are cruising along in several areas of learning:

Math: We have worked through our revisit of the basic facts of multiplication in class. For some, the basic multiplication facts (up to 10 x 10) are on instant recall. For many, though, some more practice would be helpful. Knowing that 6 x 8 = 48, or that 7 x 7 = 49 is important. You've each come from different math backgrounds and have different confidence levels with numeracy. If I can give you one piece of advice, though, it is this: Learn those pesky basic facts inside-out and backwards. No tricks, no finger math, and less reliance on tools like times tables. The basic facts are the foundation of so much of the learning you will undertake in math going forward. I highly recommend you practice at home. This is the year to do it.

We will explore area and perimeter of rectangles this week as we continue to look at multiplication strategies. Expect a quizzy later in the week. As always, you will get a review packet and time to practice before the quizzy.

Science: Let's finish up our quick look at the endocrine system this week before turning our attention to the nervous system. 

Reading: Refugee continues this week. We are more than halfway through the story. Remember that you have a specific discussion question to consider for this section. You'll dsicuss it with a small group and report on your debate upon the end of the current section. 

Our Partner Reading program begins this week You'll work with a partner to practice your oral reading fluency.

Writing: I'm really enjoying your Halloween stories. Please be patient as I read through these and offer my feedback; it may take a week or more until I get my assessment back to you. In the meantime, let's turn our attention to the "organization" writing trait. We'll explore how to guide your audience through your ideas in logical ways. 

That's all for this week, folks. Enjoy!

 

Week 8 - Oct 26 - 30

Hi team,

Off the top, here's a reminder about Friday's Halloween Costume Contest. I hope you have something creative and interesting in mind! Expect rewards for participating, and expect prizes for greatness. 

We have a full week of learning ahead of us. Let's get at it:

Writing: Your Halloween stories are due on Friday. At this point, your first draft should be just about complete. A first draft is, of course, a work in progress. We will spend some time reading and critiquing each others' work this week. Aim to improve your story based on the advice of others. You'll also create useful and respectful revision ideas for others. These include:

• A word choice suggestion
• A place where the message is not as clear as it could be
• A suggestion of a detail that could be added
• A suggestion of a detail to remove
• A place where dialogue is unnecessary and a suggestion on how to rewrite that part
• A suggestion on how the author might rewrite an entire sentence

Your completed and revised final copies are due at the start of the day Friday. You'll get a chance to share your stories in small group settings. Let's create a spooky atmosphere and send chills down each others' spines! 

L.A.: Refugee continues into the fourth section of the book this week. Be sure that you remain up-to-date with the written work that we're doing in class, and that you continue to read along with the story as the audiobook plays. This week I will introduce the Refugee mini-poster project. Criteria for this task will be posted to Classroom. More to come on this one.

Science: We will turn our attention to a different body system this week: the endocrine system. Which I'll bet you've never heard of before. Ooo! New learning! Fun!

Math: We'll revisit "grouping" strategies for multiplication before practicing further with array models for multiplication. Then, we'll streamline the array model as a way to make it more efficient and useful.

Social Studies: Let's chat about this past weekend's election results. Who won? What happens next?

Have a great week, everyone!

Week 7 - Oct 19 - 23

Hey there, folks. Our school year is moving right along: believe it or not we'll hit the halfway point of Term 1 this week. Remember: Friday is a Pro-D day. Here's the plan for this short week:

Math: I was super impressed at how you did on the Subtraction Strategies quizzy last week. Well done. So you know, we will revisit adding and subtracting strategies later in our year when we explore decimal values. But for now, let's move on to multiplication. We'll start with a review of the basic facts to 10 x 10. At the same time we will review some of the vocabulary and strategies that you've learned in the past. 

Writing: The Halloween story is well underway. This week, do the best you can to write your first draft. I encourage you to continue to look back at the planning work you have already done. One of the things I will emphasize this week is that writing is a constant process. Writing your first draft is only half of the job. Refining your ideas, building stronger and more interesting sentences, and adding rich details are great strategies to turn your story from drab into delightful. Double-check the criteria (see the Halloween Story page here on the blog), and have a peer and an adult read your tale before you decide your story is complete. Your completed stories are due October 30th.

L.A.: On Monday this week I will have you all read a short passage to me. This will give me an idea of your oral reading fluency. From there I will be better able to help you with your reading skills. Soon, you'll be working with a partner and reading together for fluency and for comprehension. More to come about this later. Refugee continues this week.

Science: We will undertake a "stations lab" about the excretory system this week. Work efficiently to complete your "lab" page during class time, please. 

Social Studies: The municipal election is complete. Let's have a quick look at the results before turning our attention on this week's provincial election.

Have a great week!

Week 6 - Oct 13 - 16

Well hi there! Here we are, about to hit the halfway point of October. Time marches on!

Before you read about what to expect this week, I'd like to bring up a tricky topic: distractions. Specifically, two seemingly innocent little things have become a challenge in our classroom. The first is chewing gum. I have a simple guideline about gum that I'd like you to follow. Gum is okay, as long as I don't see it, I don't hear it, and I don't smell it. So, no bubbles, no smacking lips and gnashing teeth, and avoid the super-smelly brands. If I notice your gum, I'll politely ask that you toss it away. Thanks. 

The other distracting element is fidgets, and for these I have a similar guideline. Please let your fidgets live a low-profile life: they're not really toys so they should not be treated that way. Keep them out of sight. Don't let the way you keep your hands busy with them become a distraction - for you or for others. Of course, they should be silent and should not make a mess. And avoid having more than one at your desk. If your fidget becomes a distraction, I'll ask you to take it home. 

Swimming: Our first official field trip is this Friday afternoon. We're headed to the Rec Center for a swim. Please remember to bring:

• reasonable shoes for walking to and from the rec center
• swimsuit
• towel
• a quarter for a locker

Things to leave at home on rec center field trip days:

• your phone, Apple watch, or other expensive tech (mistakes happen, theft happens... losing your device on Friday afternoon has a tendency to ruin your weekend)
• your scooter or bike (unless you plan to return to the school after swimming, in which case it will stay here at the school until you return at the end of the day)

Parents, look for an email later this week about sending permission to be dismissed directly from the rec center. Some families live nearer to the rec center than to the school and some students like to avoid the extra walk back to the school before heading home. 

Here's what to expect on this holiday-shortened week:

Math - let's really dive into the "adding on" strategy for subtractions. The idea? Why subtract to find the difference when you can add instead?

Science - our look at the excretory system continues.

Reading - Refugee continues this week. Please ensure you are staying current with the reading, even if you miss time at school. (Parents, in class we are listening to the audiobook version of the book while reading along in our hard-copy novels. You can find the unabridged version of the novel on Spotify Premium if you subscribe.)

Also this week, I will spend a couple of minutes with each of you for a reading assessment. My goal is to get a baseline of your current reading skill. I'll use this assessment to tailor partner-reading assignments. More to come on this.

Writing - I have begun to trickle out expectations and criteria for our Halloween story project. Be sure to land on a plot idea this week, okay? It will be important to get started promptly when it comes time to craft your story. Don't get left behind! Find the Halloween Story page, and take a minute and review the criteria that's been posted here on the blog. 

Science - We'll continue our look at the excretory system. Expect demonstrations and a "learning lab" about how our body deals with wastes.

That's all for this week, folks! Enjoy!

Week 5 - Oct 5 - 9

Here we are, well and truly underway with the school year. School schedules and expectations are becoming familiar. We have things underway in each of our academic subjects. Clubs and sports are getting up and running. In what ways do you plan to be involved?

I'll meet with your parents on Tuesday this week. (You get to go home an hour early.)

Fun Foods lunch orders begin on Wednesday this week.

This is the plan for the week ahead:

L.A.: Refugee continues this week. We'll begin the second set of activities related to the story. While we read this week, keep an eye and ear out for more touchstone artifacts (like Josef's yellow star and Isabel's trumpet).

Social Studies: We will present our Human Rights mini-posters this week. This work relates to Refugee. Keep an ear out for ways in which the Landau, Fernandez, and Bishara families human rights are not respected while on their journeys. Also this week, we will investigate what's up with all those lawn signs that have popped up on folks' front lawns and boulevards. 

Writing: October is all about story writing. Our goal this week is to build characters and a setting for your short story. At the same time we'll begin plotting a story idea. What will happen to the characters in your tale? How will the story end? More to come on this task throughout the month.

Math: I was impressed by the flexible thinking that many of you showed in last week's quizzy. Well done! This week we'll launch into math group learning. Learning together in small groups can be really effective. Let's tackle some more basic numeracy strategies through small group discovery and thinking together. 

Science: let's get going with this subject. First up, we'll look at the excretory system of the human body. What are your kidneys for, anyway? Expect class demonstrations, and to learn how to write and doodle a scienctific report.

Have a great week, everyone!

Week 4 - Sept 28 - Oct 2

Hi team. We're into our 4th week together, and the calendar is going to turn over into October before the end of the week. Time's flying! This week is a little different: Wednesday is a holiday; National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. If you have one, wear an orange shirt on Tuesday.

Despite the broken-up four day week, we should still make some progress. Here's what to expect:

Math: we've been working through a variety of visual and mental addition strategies. Expect a quick quizzy by the end of the week. I'd like to see what you have learned, and how you show your thinking. 

L.A.: We have begun a read-along book study. Refugee, by Alan Gratz is an absolutely great grade 6 book. While you each have a copy of the book to read, I ask that you don't read ahead. As tempting as that is, some of the activities I have planned depend on you not knowing what happens next in the book. Note: if you are absent from a block when we listen and read along, you will be responsible for catching up on the part you missed. Two options for this. One, take your copy of the book home with you and read. Or two, listen to the part you missed through the audiobook version. I use Spotify Premium to access this for our classroom.

Writing: October will be upon us before the end of the week. That means only one thing for Writing! It's storytime. This is your chance to launch a short, spooky story. Every year I write my own bone-chilling tale, and I really enjoy reading the stories you will write in October. More to come on this later in the week. 

Social Studies: Your posters are looking great! Let's finish and present the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the end of the week.

Science: We will work toward beginning our first unit in Science before the end of the week. Before we do, though, let's discuss STEM.

PE: many thanks to all for showing up prepared for PE. Many of you are keeping a pair of PE shoes in your locker. This is a great idea! That way, you will always have them here, even if you forget that we have PE on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. 

Lates and Absences: A reminder to all that classes begin at 8:40. Please be here on time... it can be disruptive if you arrive late. Thanks.

Absences are inevitable. There's a nasty cold going around. Please stay home if you are not well! Family events, special sport or performance opportunities, and travel are other great reasons to miss out on school. Parents, I do appreciate a quick note telling me if your child will not be here. Please be sure to copy emails to the school office, too. Thanks. 

That's all for this week. 

Week 3 - Sept 21 - 25

Hi Division 3 students and families! Welcome back to the blog. Thanks for tuning in. You may have noticed that this week's post has been published on Tuesday - that's your first day of the week this week because of Monday's Pro-D day. One of the things our staff did on Monday was to talk about how we as a school can promote STORM. It is an acronym for:

keep SAFE

think TEAM

         OWN YOUR ACTIONS

show RESPECT

         MAKE A DIFFERENCE

We'll get into this a little this week. In the meantime, answer this: in what ways is it important to be, and to feel, safe while you are at school?

Photo proofs went home on Monday this week.

Our Terry Fox campaign is underway. With the Terry Fox run scheduled for Thurday, now is a great time to remind your parents to consider making a donation. Thanks!

Here's what we'll try to get to before end of day Friday:

Social Studies: We will explore the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. You'll each be tasked with highlighting on basic right, and with creating a unique and colourful image to represent it.

Language Arts: Let's get started on our first novel study of the year. A little preview hint: the characters in the novel are placed in situations where their basic human rights are not respected. Expect a variety of activities related to the book.

Writing: Please complete the Animal Instrument in the next couple of days. We'll begin developing an idea "base" - a place where all our writeable knowledge, interests and imagination resides. We'll come back to this base throughout the year, seeking ideas that serve as launch-points for great writing. 

Math: Let's begin exploring some computation strategies, and really look at what we do when we add or subtract without a pencil and paper. Your mental numercy is a key trait that can be developed with practice. You'll get the chance to show what you can do, what strategies you know, later this week.

To wrap up this week, it's a good time to check in. Have you got everything you need at school? Is there a water bottle that lives here at school? Are you taking steps to stay healthy? Are you getting enough sleep? What have you done to make yourself feel welcome here in the classroom? How have you helped others feel good about being here?

Have an awesome week, everyone!

Week 2 - Sept 14 - 18

Welcome the blog. Thanks for visiting. We are settling in and getting to know each other. I've learned your names. Have you learned everyone's names? (If you haven't, please set this as a goal for the week. It is super important to know who you'll be sharing the classroom with for the year ahead!) 

We are getting organized, and will be kicking off a few things that look like schoolwork this week. Most of you have arrived with close to a full complement of school supplies. If you haven't yet, please bring  what you need as soon as you can. It is really helpful to start off the year organized and prepared. I've included a tab here on the blog with a list of items we will use this year.

While you're exploring the tabs at the top of the page, check out our class timetable. This is a work in progress and will become more detailed as September progresses. 

Tuesday is Monterey's Meet the Teacher event. Our PAC runs a social outside from 6:00 - 6:30. Parents, I'll meet you in the classroom from 6:30 - 7:00. And our school's new music teacher will run a presentation 7:00 - 7:30. See you then!

About Music... an informal poll with the students showed some limited interest in our school's music program. Band 6 gets underway soon - it is not too late to join. But it will be important to make the decision to join the band or strings or choir this week if that's the direction you would like to go. Taking advantage of the (free) music lessons now could set you up for a lifetime of music-making! Send your parents to the info session Tuesday night after Meet the Teacher...

Here are a few of the things we're going to try to accomplish this week:

Writing: I love writing. I love teaching writing. And I love to see student-writers develop their confidence and skillsets. We'll play around with language a bit this week, and begin building an inventory of ideas for future writing tasks. 

Math: We'll ease into some basic ideas in math this week, including subitizing, estimation, and graphing. You each now should have a math binder, divided into four sections ("notes", "sheets", "data" and "results"). Please do your best to keep this binder organized throughout the year. 

Social Studies: We will begin to explore human rights this week. We'll build our understanding of the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Language Arts: Let's work toward beginning a novel straight out of the gate! Perhaps as early as the beginning of this week we will begin a novel study. More to come about this.

STEM: The Help Harry engineering challenge will get us thinking in different and collaborative ways. It will also lead us into a quick writing task. 

That's it for this week, folks!

Week 1 - Sept 8 - 11

Hi Everyone! This is the official blog of Division 13 at Monterey Middle School for 2026 - 2027. Y

It is really great to see that you have found my blog! Much more to come next week.

For now, please bookmark this site. I'll be asking you to check in weekly on this space. Typically, my weekly update will be published on Monday afternoons. This is the post for week 1, so your job is done for now. 

Parents, I hope to meet you all on Tuesday, Sept. 15 for our Meet the Teacher evening. See you then.

Week 39 - June 22 - 25

Hi All,

It's a fun-packed week to wrap up your year. Here's the plan:

Monday - Willows Beach Day

Tuesday - Victoria Film Festival presentation and Windsor Park (and Parachute Ice Cream!)

Wednesday - Classroom clean up. Movie time in the MPR. Odds and ends. Walkies, Yearbooks and more.

Thursday - Last day activities. Year-in-review. Report cards and good-byes.

Okay team. Here is your opportunity to contribute to the blog. Here are your last words:

TB - Don't eat rat poo. I learned that the hard way.

GB - Trallelelo tralala.

LB - John Pork

BD - I don't know what to do!

CF - Uh. I don't know.

AF - Hockey is not better.

JH - W Miles.

BH - 

WH - Hockey is better.

SL - Let life unfold.

JM - Nah. That was my only idea. Please Mr. Pite, I need extending. I'm cooked. 

LM - The saxophones kept getting louder.

CM - My name is Theo Moore.

EM - Do you remember when "6 - 7" was cool?

ON - W Miles.

NP - I'm a potato.

RR - W Tom

SS - Ballerina cappochina

SS - This has to be generational rage bait.

NV - Have fun.

LV - Tung tung tung sahur.

TW - Ronaldo is better than Messi.

GW - 

AZ - My name is Miles.

MZ - My name is Allen.