Month: November 2009

grade6, humanities1 Comment

Write For Life

Deirdre Bailey

One of our grade 6 teachers, Rick Fawcett, has introduced a program in his grade 6 classroom to help engage kids in the writing process. Called “Write for Life,” the program brings parents into the classroom to discuss how writing plays a role in their profession. It’s a project that one of our Vice Principals, Dr. Shelley Robinson, has previously done with high school students, and has here been modified for grade 6 students. You can read the overview on Rick’s classroom site by clicking here. The program involves a number of stages: (1) Rick used Google Forms to create … Continue reading Write For Life

school-culture1 Comment

Student Voice in Assemblies

Deirdre Bailey

Like other school across the country, we had a school assembly on November 10, remembering those brave men and women who have sacrificed their lives for the protect of our country. When our school has assemblies like this, our school philosophy is always to get students involved as much as possible – particularly having students share their voice and opinions on different issues. In the past, our student assemblies for Rememberance Day have contained student podcasts, tableux, readings and movie productions. One of the great things about being a 1:1 laptop school is the range of possibilities that emerge for … Continue reading Student Voice in Assemblies

grade6, mathLeave a comment

Grade 6 Pre-Algebra Discussions

Deirdre Bailey

This year, our math team is taking a focused look at exploring student’s numerical literacy, realizing that even in grade 9, students frequently struggle with foundational concepts such as number lines, fractions and ratios. One of the ways our math team is accomplishing this is by taking a more in-depth approach and providing time for students to discuss, debate, and converse about their mathematical thinking as they work through different problems. In this video you will see a grade 6 class working through a pre-algebraic problem. The core issue came down to an understanding of the ‘equal’ sign in equations, … Continue reading Grade 6 Pre-Algebra Discussions

grade8, humanities2 Comments

Grade 8: Is Calgary a Renaissance City?

Deirdre Bailey

Grade: 8 Subject: Social Studies, Humanities Our two grade 8 Humanities teachers, Dave Scott and Rachelle Savoie, are in the last stage of planning for the Renaissance component of the Social Studies Curriculum. In planning this project, Dave and Rachelle wanted to take the concept of “Worldview” that runs through the entire grade 8 curriculum, and make connections with contemporary society. The goal was to move beyond a static examination of the ‘Renaissance City’ as something in the past, and find ways to connect the idea of “the Renaissance as the foundation of the Western World” to elements in our … Continue reading Grade 8: Is Calgary a Renaissance City?

environmental-education, grade4, humanities2 Comments

Grade 4 Regions: Sustainable Communities

Deirdre Bailey

Grade: 4 Subject: Social Studies Our grade 4 Humanities students are about to start on a large inquiry project focused on the Alberta Regions component of the Social Studies Curriculum. In previous years, the grade 4 teachers had done a project on the regions where they had students imagine they were early settlers coming to the land. The students had to pick an area in the regi on to settle, and explain why that particular location would be livable for early settlers. However, in planning the project this year, the grade 4 teachers wanted to extend the study of regions … Continue reading Grade 4 Regions: Sustainable Communities

grade8, humanities, technologyLeave a comment

Using ‘Ning’ to Collaborate Between Schools

Deirdre Bailey

In a previous post, Dave Scott, one of our grade 8 teachers, discussed how Twitter and Skype had allowed him to connect with a philosophy teacher on Bowen Island, just outside of Vancouver, BC. Having met and Skyped a number of times, Brad and Dave have now set up a Ning, a site that allows the user to create a ‘facebook-like’ space for collaboration. The philosophy students from both Island Pacific School and Calgary Science School have been invited into this protected space, and are now sharing and commenting on topics such as the nature of matter and the universe. … Continue reading Using ‘Ning’ to Collaborate Between Schools