Hi folks,
I have created a new classroom website, which you can find at mmeoconnor.webs.com. This blogger site will be shut down soon, so please change your bookmark! If you would like to keep in touch, I also have a teacher facebook account: Mme-mo O'Connor (or search for me using my email address: mmeoconnor@gmail.com).
On a completely different note, I am now the president of my choir's non-profit board of directors, and we are looking to hire someone to do postering for our concerts this year. The job would entail picking up a large pile of posters roughly one month before each show, and then going into stores/coffee shops downtown, Fernwood, Fairfield, Oak Bay, and occasionally also Sidney, and asking them to put the poster in their window. The pay is 50c per poster, which works out to be roughly $50-75 per show (negotiable), and you would need to have access to a car (and a licence!) in order for it to be worth your while. A calendar of shows can be found at voxhumanachoir.ca. Please email me if you're interested! mmeoconnor@gmail.com
Merci, et bonne journée!
Mme O
mardi 4 septembre 2012
lundi 30 avril 2012
Report cards, Egyptian gods and goddesses, and TOCs
Hi folks,
FYI parents: report cards were sent home today. They are an abridged version, and show an amalgamation of the Term 1 and 2 marks that came home with the students' term reflections in December and March.
As those who were not on the music trip know, I've been away since midway through Wednesday morning. It looks like I will be away for a couple more days, but the doctor says I can go back to work on Thursday (thank goodness! I'm not good at slowing down..). This means that our presentations of Egyptian gods/goddesses will be pushed back to Thursday. Our health ed sessions, planned for this week, will be pushed back to next week
I have left some detailed plans for the TOC (I'm not sure yet who it will be), and you'll be continuing your study of Egypt/Chemistry/Physics. A couple of the activities are posted to the blog on the "Terme 3" page ("Les structures et les forces" near the bottom of the page), and I'd appreciate someone signing in to the media cart, going to the blog, and bringing up the powerpoint (full screen) when s/he wants to do that activity. Merci!
Looking forward to seeing you on Thursday!
À bientôt, mes amis,
Mme O
FYI parents: report cards were sent home today. They are an abridged version, and show an amalgamation of the Term 1 and 2 marks that came home with the students' term reflections in December and March.
As those who were not on the music trip know, I've been away since midway through Wednesday morning. It looks like I will be away for a couple more days, but the doctor says I can go back to work on Thursday (thank goodness! I'm not good at slowing down..). This means that our presentations of Egyptian gods/goddesses will be pushed back to Thursday. Our health ed sessions, planned for this week, will be pushed back to next week
I have left some detailed plans for the TOC (I'm not sure yet who it will be), and you'll be continuing your study of Egypt/Chemistry/Physics. A couple of the activities are posted to the blog on the "Terme 3" page ("Les structures et les forces" near the bottom of the page), and I'd appreciate someone signing in to the media cart, going to the blog, and bringing up the powerpoint (full screen) when s/he wants to do that activity. Merci!
Looking forward to seeing you on Thursday!
À bientôt, mes amis,
Mme O
mardi 3 avril 2012
Health Education and Gymnastics
Hi there,
This is just to let you know that we began a unit on healthy choices today. The community / school nurses have not been funded to present to any grades higher than grade 6 for the past few years, so I will be teaching the unit again this year. The unit is based on VIHA's grade 7 curriculum guide, and I have indicated on the calendar which topics will be covered on which day. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
I have also arrranged for our class to take 2 field trips to Victoria Gymnastics on April 12 and 19. The cost of these trips has been covered by a generous grant from PAC. Please let me know if you would like to supervise either or both of these field trips.
Please note that forms for the upcoming curriculum completion day (Friday, April 13) will be coming home either today or tomorrow, indicating if your child has completed all work to date (in Term 3), or is missing assignments. All missing work must be turned in by Tuesday if the student wishes to leave early on Friday.
Thanks,
Mme O
This is just to let you know that we began a unit on healthy choices today. The community / school nurses have not been funded to present to any grades higher than grade 6 for the past few years, so I will be teaching the unit again this year. The unit is based on VIHA's grade 7 curriculum guide, and I have indicated on the calendar which topics will be covered on which day. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
I have also arrranged for our class to take 2 field trips to Victoria Gymnastics on April 12 and 19. The cost of these trips has been covered by a generous grant from PAC. Please let me know if you would like to supervise either or both of these field trips.
Please note that forms for the upcoming curriculum completion day (Friday, April 13) will be coming home either today or tomorrow, indicating if your child has completed all work to date (in Term 3), or is missing assignments. All missing work must be turned in by Tuesday if the student wishes to leave early on Friday.
Thanks,
Mme O
vendredi 2 mars 2012
Kind words
Hello students and parents,
I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has come in and spoken and/or sent in kind, supportive messages over the past few days. I can't help but feel extremely lucky to be surrounded by such a wonderful group of students and families. I look forward to laughing and learning together as soon as possible.
I have spoken with my lovely students about this, but just so that parents are in the loop, here is what we are currently working on in school, which can be continued at home until we are able to resume classes:
Div 13
- The rough copy of your speech for the Concours de l'art oratoire is due next Thursday. We will do some in-class self and peer editing, and will hopefully have time for everyone to sit down with me individually to chat about any specific grammar / phrasing questions; however, please remember that we won't have time to edit all of your grammar. Make sure you are using your bescherelle (or http://leconjugueur.lefigaro.fr/) to get the right conjugations for your verbs, and self-edit before you sit down with me on Thursday. The plan for ipad Thursday is that you will get to use the ipads to record yourself giving the speech, then have the chance to review your presentation with your partner, so you know exactly what to work on before the final in-class presentations after Spring Break. These videos will not be uploaded to an internet source; however, if you are interested in competing in the district-level competition, you will need to submit your video to me (upload it to my computer), and present for me in person.
- Your lab report and self-evaluation for today's lava lamp lab need to be finished for Thursday.
- Your term 2 reflections should be completed by Friday, so we can chat about how this term has gone for you. All late work needs to be completed at that point, and students will be required to stay after school if any large assignments are outstanding. Parents - the format for the reflection is the same as it was for term 1.
- FYI - I just heard back from the gymnastics club, and we *might* have found a couple of dates that work! Hooray! Parents - the cost of this field trip would be covered by the lovely PAC at our school. :)
Div 14
- We started an advertising campaign project today. By the end of next week, students should have #1-4 mostly finished. The outline is under the "English Advertising Project" tab on the right side of the blog, and the final project will be due March 30.
Please note that I will respond to communications as soon as I can after the strike.
Thank you again,
Mme O (Mo :))
FYI - There is a letter to parents from the Greater Victoria Teachers' Association on the GVTA website, if you interested.
I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has come in and spoken and/or sent in kind, supportive messages over the past few days. I can't help but feel extremely lucky to be surrounded by such a wonderful group of students and families. I look forward to laughing and learning together as soon as possible.
I have spoken with my lovely students about this, but just so that parents are in the loop, here is what we are currently working on in school, which can be continued at home until we are able to resume classes:
Div 13
- The rough copy of your speech for the Concours de l'art oratoire is due next Thursday. We will do some in-class self and peer editing, and will hopefully have time for everyone to sit down with me individually to chat about any specific grammar / phrasing questions; however, please remember that we won't have time to edit all of your grammar. Make sure you are using your bescherelle (or http://leconjugueur.lefigaro.fr/) to get the right conjugations for your verbs, and self-edit before you sit down with me on Thursday. The plan for ipad Thursday is that you will get to use the ipads to record yourself giving the speech, then have the chance to review your presentation with your partner, so you know exactly what to work on before the final in-class presentations after Spring Break. These videos will not be uploaded to an internet source; however, if you are interested in competing in the district-level competition, you will need to submit your video to me (upload it to my computer), and present for me in person.
- Your lab report and self-evaluation for today's lava lamp lab need to be finished for Thursday.
- Your term 2 reflections should be completed by Friday, so we can chat about how this term has gone for you. All late work needs to be completed at that point, and students will be required to stay after school if any large assignments are outstanding. Parents - the format for the reflection is the same as it was for term 1.
- FYI - I just heard back from the gymnastics club, and we *might* have found a couple of dates that work! Hooray! Parents - the cost of this field trip would be covered by the lovely PAC at our school. :)
Div 14
- We started an advertising campaign project today. By the end of next week, students should have #1-4 mostly finished. The outline is under the "English Advertising Project" tab on the right side of the blog, and the final project will be due March 30.
Please note that I will respond to communications as soon as I can after the strike.
Thank you again,
Mme O (Mo :))
FYI - There is a letter to parents from the Greater Victoria Teachers' Association on the GVTA website, if you interested.
jeudi 16 février 2012
Les devoirs
Salut les élèves!
If your group didn't finish recording your videos for the first 3 pages of the Pompeii story (la panique, la fumée et Pline l'ancien), you can do so on voicethread.com from any computer. If you can't get together with your partner, you can each make your own video/voice recording or written response. Use the same login email (eleve#@nosvoix.ed.voicethread.com) and password as with the iPads, but don't forget to specify who's writing if it's a text response! Vous pouvez également regarder les réponses de vos pairs. Ce sont fantastique! :)
J'ai changé la date limite (due date) du projet "chanson fav" à mardi, et la date limite du dessin à jeudi. I thought you might need the extra time, since we missed a work block for each of those projects today because of the FSAs.
Bon weekend!
Mme O
If your group didn't finish recording your videos for the first 3 pages of the Pompeii story (la panique, la fumée et Pline l'ancien), you can do so on voicethread.com from any computer. If you can't get together with your partner, you can each make your own video/voice recording or written response. Use the same login email (eleve#@nosvoix.ed.voicethread.com) and password as with the iPads, but don't forget to specify who's writing if it's a text response! Vous pouvez également regarder les réponses de vos pairs. Ce sont fantastique! :)
J'ai changé la date limite (due date) du projet "chanson fav" à mardi, et la date limite du dessin à jeudi. I thought you might need the extra time, since we missed a work block for each of those projects today because of the FSAs.
Bon weekend!
Mme O
mardi 14 février 2012
Blog/wiki usage, classroom update, and March break program
Hi folks,
You may have remarked that I haven't posted a message here in quite a while. This is because we've been using the blog in a different way this term, as a trial run. If you look on the "Terme 2" link, you'll see many of the films and powerpoints that we've used this term, as well as some links to photos we analysed for different activities. The reason we've been doing this is because I had the opportunity to borrow some iPads from the district, and so we've been trying out some very cool apps that encourage oral French and require creative higher order thinking. It's been extremely successful, and I have now been approved to use the school iPads in our class for a Thursday afternoon iPad program lasting roughly 8 weeks. As you may have heard, we are currently studying Pompeii from both a scientific and anthropological stance, and using the iPads has allowed us to look at, respond to, and interact with images from Pompeii in a super creative way, using apps like "Voicethreads" (using a private educational account) and "Showme" (a localized program that is not posted publicly). The kids also used iPads to facilitate taking notes on a powerpoint on volcanos, allowing them to go at their own pace, using the strategies we've been practicing in class.
We will be wrapping up our Pompeii study next week, and delving into a unit on Egypt that I am currently co-planning with Mme Balabuch. This will include the use of iPads as well as more traditional materials, and we'll undertake some comparative studies about "self" - public versus private, looking at the paintings left behind in ancient Egypt (and some that have been chipped away!), and making "facebook walls" in our classroom (literally posting information to the wall of the class, following the format of facebook). We'll also be looking at chemistry, and how Eyptians used different materials to make things like makeup. Should be an exciting unit!
As always, our French lessons will be mostly entwined with our units of study in Socials/science, and supplemented by a project or two, focusing on specific French language skills. Once our "favourite song" project is done next week, we will be starting to prepare speeches for the Concours d'art oratoire in early April. For this endeavour, students can pick any subject they are drawn to, and discuss it in detail. There will be a classroom presentation of speeches, then up to 3 participants from our class will have the opportunity to move onto the school and district competitions.
In PE, we've just finished presenting our dances (and teaching them to the class, using the impératif verb tense :)), and we'll be continuing with some salsa and waltz, while also doing some badminton.
Please note that I have also updated the calendar, and there are a few important dates coming up, including a Pro-D on Friday.
Below is an advertisement for a French Immersion spring break camp. I don't know anything about it, but am passing on the information in case it interests you.
You may have remarked that I haven't posted a message here in quite a while. This is because we've been using the blog in a different way this term, as a trial run. If you look on the "Terme 2" link, you'll see many of the films and powerpoints that we've used this term, as well as some links to photos we analysed for different activities. The reason we've been doing this is because I had the opportunity to borrow some iPads from the district, and so we've been trying out some very cool apps that encourage oral French and require creative higher order thinking. It's been extremely successful, and I have now been approved to use the school iPads in our class for a Thursday afternoon iPad program lasting roughly 8 weeks. As you may have heard, we are currently studying Pompeii from both a scientific and anthropological stance, and using the iPads has allowed us to look at, respond to, and interact with images from Pompeii in a super creative way, using apps like "Voicethreads" (using a private educational account) and "Showme" (a localized program that is not posted publicly). The kids also used iPads to facilitate taking notes on a powerpoint on volcanos, allowing them to go at their own pace, using the strategies we've been practicing in class.
We will be wrapping up our Pompeii study next week, and delving into a unit on Egypt that I am currently co-planning with Mme Balabuch. This will include the use of iPads as well as more traditional materials, and we'll undertake some comparative studies about "self" - public versus private, looking at the paintings left behind in ancient Egypt (and some that have been chipped away!), and making "facebook walls" in our classroom (literally posting information to the wall of the class, following the format of facebook). We'll also be looking at chemistry, and how Eyptians used different materials to make things like makeup. Should be an exciting unit!
As always, our French lessons will be mostly entwined with our units of study in Socials/science, and supplemented by a project or two, focusing on specific French language skills. Once our "favourite song" project is done next week, we will be starting to prepare speeches for the Concours d'art oratoire in early April. For this endeavour, students can pick any subject they are drawn to, and discuss it in detail. There will be a classroom presentation of speeches, then up to 3 participants from our class will have the opportunity to move onto the school and district competitions.
In PE, we've just finished presenting our dances (and teaching them to the class, using the impératif verb tense :)), and we'll be continuing with some salsa and waltz, while also doing some badminton.
Please note that I have also updated the calendar, and there are a few important dates coming up, including a Pro-D on Friday.
Below is an advertisement for a French Immersion spring break camp. I don't know anything about it, but am passing on the information in case it interests you.
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