Reading Buddy Storybook Gifts

For the past few weeks, the grade 8s have been writing, illustrating and assembling storybooks to give to their reading buddy in Mrs. Finney's Grade 2/3 class.

In their literacy groups, the students have been deconstructing storybooks, performing writing activities, examining text features of narratives and watching movies to "map" the elements of a narrative.

On Friday, December 21st, the grade 8s read their storybooks to their buddies and gave them the copies as gifts just before the holiday break.

Way to go Grade 8s!

"Hands on" Math Problem Solving

We have been working on the Patterning & Algebra strand of Math for the past few weeks.

Students have been using math manipulatives such as colour tiles, cuisinare rods and tangrams to build patterns (using concrete materials) and infer/extend the patterns for the next terms or the general (nth) term.

We have been sharing our results and observations using a BANSHO style of presentation. Students present their chart paper observations and describe their results as a group. After this, chart papers are grouped to show the level of understanding and strategies used to solve the problem. From the groupings of observations, the "next steps" are determined so we know where future lessons (and focus) should be.

Global Citizens in the Making

Over the past few weeks, Mr. Finney's and Mrs. Soutar's grade 8 classes have been participating in a Geography Debate. The topic focused on whether Canada should increase its foreign aid level to African countries OR whether it should stay the same (or even be decreased).

The two teams for the debate were guided and directed by a student leader and carried out research on the topic as well as creating "rich" questions for the other team. The debate lasted 2 geography periods and showed that our Orchard Park students are not only "in tune" with global social issues - they are, in some cases, passionate and critical of their role in these matters.

As part of the population characteristics and demographics unit in Grade 8 Human Geography, students also demonstrated curriculum skills in Media, Drama, Persuasive Writing. Learning skills focused on included; cooperation, independent and group work, initiative, conflict resolution, goal setting and leadership.

After awarding each team their group mark and crowning "the winner," students completed a "self-reflection" activity where they identified strengths, next steps and set goals for future debate activities. Congratulations to all the grade 8 students who showed their interest and skills in researching and debating such a globally-significant issue.   

Close Encounter of the Reptile Kind

Our class was lucky enough to have a presentation from Scales Nature Park in October to learn about some of the creatures that they have and interesting facts about reptiles.

We even had some students brave enough to "hold" the snakes - as the pictures show.

Reading Buddies - "The Best Day of the Week"

As part of our literacy program, students have been paired up with Grade 2 and 3 students in Mrs. Finney's primary class. During our time on Day 2s, we read together (and sometimes do art activities) with the primary students. We support them in using reading strategies to make sense of what they have read and problem solving when they encounter unfamiliar words. The primary students have taken to calling this time "the best day of the week."

In addition to building reading skills, this experience also fosters leadership, empathy, cooperation and responsibility. Our grade 8 students set a positive example and enjoy this time as a way of connecting to the younger students at Orchard Park.

Book a Student-Led Conference Time

As a reminder, please return the letter sent home yesterday in order to request a student-led conference time. There are a number of time slots still available for both the evening of October 25th (next Thursday) and the morning of October 26th (next Friday).

If you are unable to make arrangements for either of these days, you can contact the school at 705-325-7772 mailbox #58470 to leave me a message about what arrangements we can make or if a phone "interview" works best.

Thanks,
Mr. Finney

Terry Fox Run Tomorrow

Please remember to bring in any Terry Fox donations and fundraising money that you have collected for tomorrow's run. Remember all the crazy things our OP teachers are willing to do - if the right totals are reached as a school. Thanks again for your support with such a worthy and important cause.