John Oliver Secondary School Ms Ink

ELL Reading: Today we did an introduction to our new novel, Fatty Legs. We looked at the cover and tried to predict what the book was about, and then students answered pre-reading questions. 

ELL S.S: Students have a test on the French Revolution next class – Tuesday April 10th. So, I gave them some study tips and tricks. Then, students worked on creating a study/”cheat” sheet, where they can write down any information and use it for the test on Tuesday.

2-1 S.S 8: I did a homework check, and then went over the notes with students to ensure they understood what they were doing. Then, I gave students some information about Inquiry questions and how to form good ones. I already heard a few great ideas floating around the room, which gets me very excited for our final inquiry project in June! Students then had the rest of the class to work on their new set of note-taking: Pg.226-231. This set of notes is due at the beginning of class on Tuesday, April 10th. 

1-3 S.S 9: Today we did a jigsaw activity that focused on communication, collaboration, and note taking skills. If students did not compete their full set of notes, or feel like they need to add more, then this is their homework. On Monday, we will start the class with a Town Hall Meeting, where students will have to take a side and use their notes to create proposals for how to fix the problems between the Metis and Settlers. 

1-1 S.S 8: We worked on writing a full set of notes based off of the textbook. Students learned how to properly format notes in order to keep organized, how to find the main idea(s) in a piece of writing, as well as how to find supporting details in order to prove that the main idea is true. This style of note taking is a great skill to have as a young person as it keeps students much more organized, makes it much easier to study for tests, and is a good method to use when they someday may attend post-secondary school. The set of notes that we worked on today, Pg.221-223, are due next class, Monday the 9th. 

1-2 S.S 8: We worked on writing a full set of notes based off of the textbook. Students learned how to properly format notes in order to keep organized, how to find the main idea(s) in a piece of writing, as well as how to find supporting details in order to prove that the main idea is true. This style of note taking is a great skill to have as a young person as it keeps students much more organized, makes it much easier to study for tests, and is a good method to use when they someday may attend post-secondary school. The set of notes that we worked on today, Pg.221-223, are due next class, Monday the 9th. 

Here are the notes we filled in together during class: Blank Note Taking – Vikings, Cabot, Cartier

ELL Reading: We finished viewing a film that focused on listening and comprehension skills. 

ELL Social Studies: We went over the American Revolution Tests that students took for our previous unit. I gave some tips to students on how to successfully write a test – multiple choice, True/False, Short and Long Answers. Students were to fill in the correct answers and create goals for the next test coming up. 

2-1 S.S 8: We worked on writing a full set of notes based off of the textbook. Students learned how to properly format notes in order to keep organized, how to find the main idea(s) in a piece of writing, as well as how to find supporting details in order to prove that the main idea is true. This style of note taking is a great skill to have as a young person as it keeps students much more organized, makes it much easier to study for tests, and is a good method to use when they someday may attend post-secondary school. The set of notes that we worked on today, Pg.221-223, are due next class, Friday the 6th. 

1-3 S.S 9: We did a review of our mock trial that we conducted on the last day of class before spring break. Then, students worked on their final unit assessment that asks students to demonstrate their knowledge as well as their primary source analysis skills. The unit assessment is due at the beginning of class on Thursday, April 5. 

1-1 S.S 8: The school nurse came in to do a health session with the students. Next class we will be jumping into our new unit, Arrival in Canada! 

1-2 S.S 8: We completed our movie viewing. Next class we will be jumping in to our new unit, Arrival in Canada!

Hello all, and welcome back from Spring Break! I hope you were able to spend some quality time with you family and friends. We have three more months left of the school year, and in this time we have some very exciting things coming your way. Here is an outlook for what the rest of the year is looking like for each grade:

Grade 8 Social Studies:

• Arrival to Canada Unit: The Vikings are the first Europeans to make contact with the First Nations Peoples in North America. Then, Cabot and Cartier are next. We will investigate how the arrival of Europeans affected First Nations people. Then, we will be learning about New France and completing an introductory inquiry project on it. 
• The Fur Trade: The Hudsons Bay Company and the Northwest Company battle each other for the vast land and resources of Canada! We’ll end this unit with a quiz so students can practice their test writing skills
• Geography of Canada: This will be a project based unit. 
• Final Inquiry Project: Students will be investigating a topic that they were most interested in this year. They will be in charge! 

Grade 9 Social Studies

• Canadian Northwest to the Late 19th Century: We will learn about the Red River Rebellion, Louis Riel, John MacDonald, and the Northwest Rebellion. Then, we will have a MOCK TRIAL where we must figure out if Louis Riel is guilty or innocent. Should be very exciting! 
• The Laurier Boom and BC Human Rights in the 20th century: How did colonization effect the First Nations Peoples of British Columbia? The CPR comes to BC, but the Chinese pay for it with their lives – as well as the Chinese Head Tax. Laurier closes the door of Canada to immigrants – we will be investigating several human rights issues. 
• Final Inquiry Project: Students will be investigating a topic that they were most interested in this year. They will be in charge! 

ELL Reading

• Fatty Legs: We will be reading a short novel called Fatty Legs and be completing a novel study for 6 weeks. 
• Short stories: We will end the school year by reading a collection of short stories and doing mini studies on them. 

ELL Social Studies 

• Canadian Confederation: We will learn how Canada became a country and the different structures of Canadian Government. We will be focusing on Note Taking skills, as well as test writing skills. 
• Canadian Northwest to the Late 19th Century: We will learn about the Red River Rebellion, Louis Riel, John Macdonald, and the Northwest Rebellion. Again, we will be focusing on note taking skills and test taking skills. 
• The Laurier Boom and BC History: How did colonization effect the First Nations Peoples of British Columbia? The CPR comes to BC, but the Chinese pay for it with their lives – as well as the Chinese Head Tax. Laurier closes the door of Canada to immigrants – we will be investigating several human rights issues. We will be focusing on note taking skills and test writing skills. 

ELL Reading: Students brought in a food from their home country and we had a potluck while we viewed a movie. Students practiced listening and comprehension skills. 

ELL S.S: We viewed a movie. Students practiced listening, speaking, and comprehension skills. 

1-2 S.S 8: Students presented their Indigenous Peoples of Canada Project! We had some fantastic projects created. 

1-3 S.S 9: Today we held a mock Confederation conference in the classroom! Students took on roles of all different people who were involved in the three conferences during the 1860’s. We also included the voices of the First Nations Peoples, as they were left out at the original conferences. We had GREAT conversation and debate. So proud of the students who put their best effort in – it was a great day where we decided to unite Canada! No homework over Spring Break. 

1-1 S.S 8: Students presented their Indigenous Peoples of Canada project!

1-2 S.S 8: Students presented their Indigenous Peoples of Canada project!

2-3 ELL Reading: We started with 15 minutes of silent reading. Then, I gave students an outlook of the next week and a half up to spring break. Students were to complete all of the exercises for our current story today – if they did not finish it is to be completed for homework and handed in on Monday, March 12. Students were reminded about the film festival on March 14th – make sure you sign up on online for the films you want to see! Also, we are having a pre-Spring Break party on Friday, March 16th. Students are to bring something to eat from their home country – I suggested that they make it themselves or with the help of a family or friend. 

2-4 ELL S.S: Some students were missing due to the SafeTeen workshop, so I postponed the French Rev presentation until Monday, March 12. Instead, students worked on a worksheet called “A Revolution Devours Its Own Children”. This worksheet must be completed by Monday, March 12, so students can use it to write a quiz. If students are behind on their poster projects, they are to take them home over the weekend and work on them so they are prepared for Monday. 

2-1 S.S 8: Students worked on their First Nations Project Based Unit. A reminder that presentations will take place on Friday, March 16th. Remember that the film festival is on Wednesday March 14th. 

1-3 S.S 9: Students completed an in-class activity that investigated the causes and consequences of the Rebellions of 1837 in Upper and Lower Canada. The last page of their instruction booklet is to be completed for homework. It is due at the beginning of class on Friday, March 9. 

1-1 S.S 8: Students are working on their First Nations Project Based Unit. Reminder that presentations are on March 15th. 

1-2 S.S 8: Students are working on their First Nations Project Based Unit. Reminder that presentations are on March 15th. 

2-3 ELL Reading: We started with 15 minutes of silent reading and then went on to discuss what we have learned from our elders. Afterwards, students continued their work on the current vocabulary assignment. 

2-4 ELL S.S: We went over the worksheet from last class. Then, students worked in groups to evaluate the three major rulers of the French Revolution. They evaluated them in many areas, and then had to rank them from best to worst. Next day, students will be writing an entrance slip using this work. 

2-1 S.S 8: Students worked on a handout that investigates what occurred after Charles I was executed. Students were encouraged to finish this handout in class as it would help them with their take home performance assessment. This unit, we have focused on learning two skills – how to form a logical argument, and how to read and understand primary sources. Students will have to demonstrate these skills on their take home performance assessment. The performance assessment is due February 28 at the beginning of class.