Survey Says

7 dots and how we see them from YouCubed.org

After having completed Dr Jo Boaler's Week of Inspirational Math, I felt students had some key learning under their hats to begin their adventure in Gr 6 Math.  This key learning included:

1. Math is not about speed.  Math takes time!
2. There is no such thing as having a math brain or not.  EVERYONE can learn math!
3. When we make mistakes, our brain GROWS.  When we are not challenged, there is very little activity going on.

With some new found confidence, we began to delve into the Data Management strand of the Ontario Curriculum.  The big ideas are that graphs contain information and we are to draw inferences from them.  I had the students complete the Census at School survey which gave us a spreadsheet containing oodles (a real math word) of results from our class.

Sample categories from of our class' spreadsheet

After looking at who was the oldest, tallest, biggest footed or which was the most liked subject, I asked the students to consider a research question.  Giving them the example "Do boys have allergies more than girls?", they understood that they would be comparing data from 2 columns of their choice.  Some interesting research ideas included:

• Do tall kids have big feet?
• Do boys or girls have quicker reaction times?
• Who eats breakfast more:  boys or girls?
• Are your feet and forearm really the same length?

Students were challenged with the task of creating tally charts, 2 graphs and a title page ... without paper!  Instead, they would be like "real world" data analysts and use the Chromebook to create colourful, professional looking results.  

Our brains were definitely growing with using technology and math discussions flowed over the course of the week.  Once students figured out how to create a table or make tallies or use Create A Graph, they began to show their peers how to ease themselves through it.

Collaboration in the learning environment ... a beautiful sight to see!

~MissBrooks

PS  Ask your child to show you their research on their mytools2go accounts.  I think you'll be impressed!

No Gym? No Problem!

6B enjoying some "Cheese Ball"

With three weeks behind us, the grade sixes of MissBrooksHasClass have to consider themselves blessed thus far.

You're not in the new school!  How could you possibly consider yourselves "blessed"?
While the staff and students and parents and neighbours of St Teresa of Calcutta continue to await the GRAND opening of our new building, we remain housed in the former St Bernard building with former St Jules students.  This "house" is full up!  Which includes our gym which is currently home to 3 classes with another on the stage.

Exactly!  So your kids haven't had gym for three weeks!  {SCOFF:  "Blessed" she says!}
Hold on ...

Blessing #1:  In the last years of St Bernard we didn't have any neighbours in our Gr 6 wing.  It could get lonely down that hall.  Now, we aren't the only ones responsible for the volume!

Blessing #2:  #nogymnoproblem
On the first day, as the kiddies were heading home, I reminded them to pray every night for NO RAIN as we now had to get used to an "open air" concept gym until we move into the new building.  Who says God doesn't answer prayers?

While we may have had some rain, we have yet to be rained out of gym class which is first period in the morning...EVERY morning (except Wed when we walk to Mass).

Sept 6:  "Caterpillar Challenges"

Sept 7:  "Throw Up"

Sept 8:  "Bench Ball"

Sept 11:  "Cheese Movers"

Sept 13:  "Swamp Ball"

Sept 21:  "Long Ball" renamed "Cheese Ball" (by Cora) as it seems to be a mix of Cheese Movers and Kickball

Maybe you're thinking, "LIAR!  See how she skipped days!" but, those are simply days I left my phone in the classroom!

So far, we have not repeated an activity.  Our focus the first two week was cooperative games.  Since the school soccer season is upon us, we're building on cooperation and incorporating some soccer skills in our activities.  

With the help of GOOGLE, I found mrgym.com and physedgames.com which has helped make PhysEd planning SO! MUCH! SIMPLER!  I've linked the games above to full instructions (some include videos).

Welcome back to school.  And routines.  And gym classes!

~MissBrooks