Time to help the hungry

Hello,

Tomorrow is the big day for our "Helping the Hungry" EAP event. We worked very hard to prepare today and now we wait for the event. Please remember to bring in your designated items. Hopefully, we will see some parent volunteers in the morning too.

I was telling Stella about the event and she was very excited about possibly helping us to make sandwiches. She might stop by tomorrow morning too.

We also completed our Math test today. I have corrected both sides of the first page and many of the students have done well so far. We will be going over the test at the start of next week.

Finally, the students are asked to bring an empty can in by Friday, so we can begin to design or lanterns for the leaving ceremony in June. Thanks.

I hope you're as excited about tomorrow as I am.

Have a good night.

Mr. Skinner

More Math Games

Hello,

I hope you reviewed our corrections and played the game that was posted yesterday, to help get ready for tomorrow's test. Please keep playing that conversion game. I will also include some other links you can try, as part of your studying tonight.

Ratio Quiz

Finding Ratios

Dirt Bike Proportions

Fraction Flags

Representing Fractions

Melvin's Match - representing fractions

Comparing Fractions

Hungry Puppies - Ordering Decimals

Ordering Fractions

Improper and Mixed Fractions

Fraction Frenzy

Reducing Fractions

I hope you enjoy the games. Happy studying.

Have a good night.

Mr. Skinner

Rate and Ratio Experts

Hello,

This morning we had a great review session for Wednesday's test. The students showed a great deal of knowledge when it came to rate, ratio, fractions, decimals and percent. Please use this review package to prepare for the test.

You can also use the website listed below to practise the conversion of decimals, fractions and percent.

Fractions, decimals and percent game

The students also received a form about a McDonald's fundraiser event tomorrow night. Perhaps I will see you there.

Tomorrow, we will continue to work on our EAP project and work on an EQAO prep writing task.

Have a good evening.

Mr. Skinner

Not Guilty!

Hello,

Thanks to everyone for working so hard on our mock trial today. It was incredible! In the end, Quirky was found not guilty by the jury.

Not Guilty - time to celebrate!

All of the students worked very hard and the lawyers who worked with us said that the students were better prepared than some law students that participated in a similar exercise a few weeks ago.

The defence team making closing arguments.

Asking questions at the mock trial

The mock trial and subsequent debrief, took most of the morning, so we will correct our Math review activity on Monday and have the test on Wednesday.

The students will also be bringing home an information sheet about our Helping The Hungry event. It will indicate which ingredient the student needs to bring in on Thursday for our sandwich making event.

Have a great weekend.

Mr. Skinner

Mock Trial Friday

Hello,

A quick reminder that we will be having our mock trial tomorrow. Please prepare for your part and dress for success.

This morning, the students continued to work on their EAP sandwich making project. It's hard to believe the big day is only a week away. Mrs. Izsak sent home a note today about the project. Please send in any feedback you have about the positive impact this project has had on your child.

Also, the students corrected the fractions, decimals and percent activity and worked on their Math unit review sheet. This activity is for homework. Please complete it tonight, so that we can correct it as a class in the morning.

Sorry for any confusion about after school basketball today. There was a dance team practice after school today,l so we played basketball at lunch. There will be an after school basketball session on Friday from 3 to 4 pm.

Have a good night.

Mr. Skinner

Way to go Rockets!

Hello,

Thanks to everyone who represented the school so well today at the boys basketball tournament. It was an absolute pleasure to coach the team.

While we were away, the students were hard at work. At this point, everyone should have the rough draft and peer edit of their newspaper articles finished. Please be sure to share the articles with me.

Also, students should be starting to work on their announcement and grammar multiple choice sheet, as part of their EQAO prep package. We will continue to work on this task tomorrow.

In Math, the students were asked to complete a grid that involved fractions and percent. They were also asked to complete a multiple choice worksheet. Both of these tasks should be completed for tomorrow. The unit review task that was handed out today is not for homework tonight. We will work on it tomorrow. We will also be having an EAP work session, so it should be a busy day.

Sorry that I couldn't do after school basketball today, due to the leadership class I am attending this afternoon. However, I will be holding after school basketball on Thursday and Friday for Grade 6 students who would like to attend.

Have a great evening.

Mr. Skinner

A Happy Easter

Hello,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. It was great to be back at school, working with the students, and feeling much better, compared to last week.

This morning, the students had the opportunity to complete the rough draft of their newspaper article and work with a partner to peer edit their work. The expectation is that everyone will have their draft completed and edited by lunch tomorrow, at the latest.

We also went to the learning commons to take out new books. The students will be completing an oral presentation in the near future, on a book they will be reading and reviewing. All students need to have their books read and reviews written for Friday, May 2nd.

The students were also given the information for their respective roles for our mock trials at the end of this week. All students need to prepare for their roles and dress for success for Friday morning.

Finally, we looked at converting fractions into percentages. We will be reviewing this unit over the rest of the week, to get ready for our next test on Monday.

A reminder to all members of the boys basketball team to bring their running shoes and permission forms for tomorrow's tournament.

Have a great evening.

Mr. Skinner

Bronchitis

Hello,

A short post today. I went to see a doctor today and I have been diagnosed with bronchitis. I will not be in tomorrow, so After School basketball will be postponed. I will have two ASB days during a week in the near future.

On Wednesday, I have booked the netbooks, so the students will have the opportunity to work on the rough drafts of their newspaper articles. Once these have been completed, the students will work on editing with their peers.

Don't forget to bring in your money for the Easter Raffle.

Have a good evening.

Mr. Skinner

Still not feeling well

Hello,

Thanks to all the students for being so understanding, and working very hard while I was under the weather today. I have a cough that will not go away, that makes it difficult for me to talk for extended periods of time. I got through today, but I don't think I will be at school tomorrow.

This morning we corrected the math activity that explored fractions in lowest terns. We looked at division of groups and finding common denominators. Then we started to work on improper fractions and mixed numbers. The back of the same activity sheet is for homework tonight, then the students will play a game that deals with mixed numbers in the morning.

During second block, we read from our Religion text about helping others, or being helped by others. Then we shared personal experiences, where we helped others, and had been helped by the kindness and generosity of others.

Finally, we used the rest of the block to research information for our newspaper articles.

Don't forget to bring in your money for tickets for Thursday's Easter Raffle. One ticket for $1.00 and three tickets for $2.00, with the proceeds going to our school lenten project.

Have a good evening.

Mr. Skinner 

Equivalent Ratios

Hello,

This morning, we exchanged our library books, examined more examples of newspaper articles and decided what type of article each student would like to write - local, national, international or feature.

We also discussed equivalent ratios and practised making various examples of equivalent ratios. The students received a handout with questions to be completed by Thursday.

Finally, we continued to work on our entrepreneurship project, as we worked towards the big day in May. It's a very exciting time for us, as we are beginning to confirm participation from several schools and some local VIPs as well. Our hard work is definitely paying off.

For all of the participants in the Kids Can program, a reminder that we will be attending the WE Day Celebration tomorrow. Please bring your white shirt, lunch and arrive to school on time.

Have a great night.

Mr. Skinner

Here is the description

Sorry that I didn't post this last night.

Here is the information. If you read it when you get up this morning, that's fantastic.

If you don't get the chance, I will give you a few minutes to read it in class.

Case info

Please think about which one of these roles you would prefer for our Mock trial.

• Quirky -  the accused alien
• Zirky - Quirky's sister
• Mr. or Mrs. Jones - the store owner
• Mr. or Mrs. Smith - a witness to the robbery
• Constable Chen - the arresting officer
• Mr. or Mrs. Noodles - an expert on the planet Muzak
• 1 of the Crown Prosecutors 
• 1 of the Defence Lawyers
• Court Clerk - reads the charges and says, "All rise", has the witness say an oath to tell the truth
• A member of the jury
• A member of the press
• The bailiff
• 1 of the Court Artists - to do sketches of the court proceedings

Mr. Skinner

Ratio and Mock Trials

Hello,

Sorry that I have not posted in a few days. I had to attend a medical appointment with my wife on Thursday and then I was sick all weekend. Oddly enough, I started to feel ill as I was watching the Sens-Canadiens game.

Last week, we continued to work on rate and ratio, and we worked with Mr. Lemieux on our entrepreneurship project. We are continuing to make great progress and the students are working extremely hard. We also took some time to go over some grammar rules and discuss the difference between there, their and they're.

This morning, we corrected some of our work on ratios and presented our examples of the different types of articles we discovered on our newspaper scavenger hunt.

Then, we had some special guests come to our classroom during second block. Two lawyers came to talk to the Grade 6 students about their mock trial program. Every Grade 6 student will take part in a mock trial at our school later this month. Today, they explained a little bit about what they do, and the various roles people have in a courtroom. It sounds like it will be a very interesting experience.

Have a great evening.

Mr. Skinner

Rate & Ratio

Hello,

This morning we finished up our work on calculating rate and the students got a peek and what we will be doing for ratio.

Remember, the lessons I gave you to work on are not for homework, but the entry card is. You have to have the rate questions done before you come into class tomorrow morning.

We also took up the multiple choice questions from the Trail Blazers activity sheet, and the students had a chance to get started on a grammar sheet (they're, there, their) that is due on Monday.

Types of articles in a newspaper.

Finally, the students examined the different types of articles that appear in an newspaper and looked for examples of each type, using the netbooks. We will finish this task in the morning and present our examples.

Have a good evening.

Mr. Skinner

A Good Joke!

Hello,

So, I arrived in my classroom this morning, expecting a joke or two, and I have to say that I liked the one that the students came up with. As I approached my desk and computer, I saw a horrible sight! A Leafs jersey and a Leafs blanket! Always one to take lemons and make lemonade, I wore the Leafs gear and went around the school. I joked with the other students in the school that I had become a Leafs fan. Some believed it, and some knew it was an April Fool's joke, but it was a lot of fun.

Go Leafs Go?

The students received their Math tests today. Please be sure to sign them and compliment the students on their great work.

We also spent most of the morning working on our Entrepreneurship project. It is only a month away and we have lots to do. The various groups worked on letters to be sent out to schools and other participants, which explain our project; instructional videos; and making contact list for Ottawa V.I.P.s that need to be invited to our sandwich making event. It was a very productive day!

Have a good evening, and just in case anyone is questioning my loyalties, Go Sens Go!

Mr. Skinner