Welcome Back!

Where did the summer go?

I hope that all of you are eager to be returning to school.  I know that this September came rolling up for myself faster then I wanted it to.

I have had a great summer break...
I spent time with family from Germany.
I spent time reading and writing; enjoying my learning.
I spent time golfing.
 Making new friends and enjoying time with wonderful woman on the course.

This website is meant to help communicate. 

Please consider following.
Please find the class that involves you most.
Please feel free to add your voice through comments, with respect and dignity.

Looking forward to our learning, our community and our collaboration.

Barb

Snap To It

Wednesday Mornings

What? Snap To It
Where? 2B9 @ CSHC
Why? to inspire, to be inspired and to share our inspirations.


Every Wednesday Morning, a group of writers gathers in 2B9 to write what is on my their minds, in their hearts and real their souls :)


We talk
We write
We laugh


and


We ask questions!


Today we learned the origins of the word MARE...
which lead to inquiry regarding The History of the English Language.
Document One
Document Two
Follow the links if interested, and if you have more to add, please do in the comment section!

GRADE 12 ONLY

In Class IDV writing:


next week! Every day we will have in class paragraph writing.
The expectation is that you will use your Lit Circle Quadrants and Daily Questions to help support your writing with examples and detail.


Here are the First 2 that will be presented and DUE Monday!


You have to write the answers on the paper provided in class!

 

 Lit Circle Paragraph #1

Select and discuss strong example(s) of imagery found within your novel.  (5 marks)

Be sure to consider the following:

• Use I.D.V. format.
• Give quotation as proof
• Discuss Quotation fully: 
• Describe the kind of imagery present (V,A,K, or S)
• Discuss how or why the imagery works.
• Describe the effect of the image on you as a reader.

.

Lit Circle Paragraph #2

Identify and explain a main conflict in the novel.  Support your response with reference to the text.

(5 marks)

And

Explain how this conflict relates to you or to people you know. (5 marks)

Last Lit. Circle Question of the Day

April 5, 2017


Choose a Character.


Tell whether you would want her/him for a sibling, parent, friend, partner/girlfriend/boyfriend.
(choose one)


Explain why!


for example:


If I could choose a character from a book to be my spouse, I would choose Denny from The Art of Racing In The Rain.  He is an ambitious and compassionate man.  As a race car driver, he has nerves of steel.  His calm nature, even when under pressure, gives him the poise to succeed in the racing industry.  Through his windy journey, he also shows his loyalty through his relationship between his wife and his dog. I would be honoured to share a life with a character like Denny.

Another Question of the Day

April 3, 2017


Pretend you have special powers and you could put yourself in your reading.


Where would you put yourself and why?


How would you being there change the story?


Example:
While reading The Art of Racing in the Rain...
I would drop myself into the scene when Eve leaves Enzo all alone in the house.
I would be a veterinarian that specializes in animal rescue.  A neighbour called me, as they heard Enzo barking but did not see the daily routine of having him let out and the house was too quiet of human activity.
I break into the house and take Enzo to my shelter. I leave a note and number for Denny (although I don't know his name) and he comes to me furious for having taken his dog.  We piece together the happenings and realize what Eve has done, leaving Enzo unattended.


AM I DONE?
Not quite, I still have to explain the why and explain if the story will change...


I have a need to place myself in the story as the rescue agent because this is one of the hardest parts of the book for me to read.  I actually cried the first time I read all the suffering that Enzo went through during this scene.
This scene is very important because Eve has issues and Denny has no clue to the state of his wife.  The story needs Eve to make this mistake, and Enzo really suffers because of her actions.  My empathy for Enzo drives me to want to lessen his suffering.
The story still needs Eve's mistake and my interjection doesn't take this mistake away.  Denny will still have to face the facts and the plot still moves forward with Enzo's horrific abandon scene still in existence demonstrating the true love and loyalty between Enzo and Denny.

It's Spring Break!

and 2B9 received a gift!

A box of Books ...

Thank you to the Crockett Family.  Please know that the books have found a wanting and loving new home.

To All Students...

Come and check out the new selection...

Here are the Daily Questions thus far:

Two New Questions this week:

March 22

Select an important object in the plot of your book

• draw that object in the square of your question of the day sheet
• use a minimum of 4 sentences to describe why that object is so important to the book, plot and/or character.

March 24

Describe the setting of your Lit Circle book. Remember that setting includes details like the:

• physical buildings
• neighourhoods
• Town/City, State/Province
• Country and time period

Below are the other questions: a repeat of the post from March 7, 2017

Feb 24

The who; The what; The where; The when

March 3

What kind of person is your main character? Explain why?

March 6

Select an important quotation from the novel that you either complete agree or disagree with.
Discuss why you agree or disagree with this quotation.

March 7

Describe three things the main character in the novel would carry in their purse/wallet
or pocket.
Why you they choose to carry these things?

• What do they reveal about that character's personality?

Thinking about Writing:

Today a group of students were thinking about writing!


First we brainstormed forms!  What are you interested in trying to write?


Commercial
Written Advertisement
Comics
Eulogy
Letter
Movie Poster
Photo essay


Then we explored new ways of creating...


take a look at


Powtoon


You could made an Ad. or a comic using Powtoon.


And...


following the links under your grade, look in Writing Folders and find different "How To" guides.

Daily Questions for Lit Cirles

Here are the Daily Questions thus far:

Feb 20

The who; The what; The where; The when

March 3

What kind of person is your main character? Explain why?

March 6

Select an important quotation from the novel that you either complete agree or disagree with.
Discuss why you agree or disagree with this quotation.

March 7

Describe three things the main character in the novel would carry in their purse/wallet
or pocket.
Why you they choose to carry these things?
What do they reveal about that character's personality?

Monday, March 6

Lit Circle Daily Questions:

#1 The Who, The What, The Where; The When
#2 Consider your Main Character: What type of person is he/she?


#3 Select an important quotation from the Novel that you either completely agree or disagree with. Explain why you agree or disagree.




Today we also reviewed: How to write an article!


Also: Brainstorm of writing forms:


Link to Writing Rubric

Success Fridays

We started Success Fridays today:

Students watched Coach Wooden's TED talk defining his ideas around Success.




Here is the Link to his website and the video.


CoachWooden




As they listened, they recorded what they heard in a double entry chart

Start of a New Semester: Feb 2017

Hello and Welcome to It Has To Have Purpose.


I am a Teacher, a Mother, a Daughter, a Wife, a Sister.


I love to Create: laughter, meals, connections, relationships.


I struggle with keeping my desk clean and keeping an exercise routine.


I love to dance, and skip, and play golf.


Here is my blog spot.


It is evolving slowly, but I hope that it is helpful for you.


Sometimes I post personal connections, sometimes I post educational links.


I hope it is user friendly.


More to come...

it's been too long...

I continue to struggle with making Blogging a part of my daily routine.

My goal is to not give up!

Hockey Saturday!

What a great world we live in. This morning, while getting my hair cut, the USA vs Russia Olympic hockey game was on. As we talked and watched-sorry Russia we were cheering for you, I realized how awesome it was to be watching the game live!  

Now, I am sitting at the Sarget Park rink waiting for our boys to come out onto the ice for their weekly community game. How fortunate are we to have the opportunity for our sons to participate in a sport they love, at a level they enjoy. Diversity in this  country comes in many shapes and sizes. I am so thankful. 

Breakfast in St. Boniface

At The Promenade.  Great Food, Great Tea, Great Service and Great View. 

Movie Madness

I have spent many hours watching some great movies this holiday! Here are some of my recommends:

One Day

Larry Crowne

Never let me go

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind

The Vow

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Enemy at the Hates

I would recommend this movies bit know that some have hard scenes and not all are fun!  

I love losing time in stories. 

Enjoy!

At the Table PD Nov 29

Collaborating Creating Imagining Applying

Advice on the device

We as teachers are worried about the telephones, the videogames, the technology that is now coming into classrooms.

As an English teacher I'm challenging myself to take these new instruments and understand that I now have a new insight.

When a student is not engaged in the classroom, we cannot assess them. Why not try to use the technology as an open window into a world that they understand. Take a student where they are right in that moment and journey with them. They are thinking, they are making decisions, they are internalizing information.

They are engaged in an instrument that is causing them to think to reevaluate,to make decisions.

How can I use this to create success.

Write a blog....

So why blog?????

I am rethinking the reason for my blog. 

As I am not opening it daily, I forget about it. 

So how do I make the point of making the blog useful?

I think I have to open myself up to risking more in the digital community. 

Learning about Digital Foot Print.

I have to say that I don't fully grasp where all the digital date goes!
I have a vague idea and I think the fog will lift as I continue to do my best explorations.

I want to share two links that have impacted my thinking this week.

First
http://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are.html

I have shared the idea of the power of body language!
May it give them the brain power they need.

The second post was found by a student of mine and she asked me to watch it!  I do feel so blessed by the people in my life; my classroom, my community, my home and my world!

Check this out...

http://www.ted.com/talks/ruby_wax_what_s_so_funny_about_mental_illness.html

She is funny and she speaks a truth that we have to listen because her stats reflect the population of our schools.

What will our students do with all this information at thier finger tips?
How will we, as educators help them understand their brain power?

We have to understand behaviour if we are to be the best educators we can be.  Let's support each other!