Tuesday 24 March 2020

C'est un...

GARÇON!!

Meet Donald Wales Mitchell (call me Wales!). 
Thursday March 19th, 10:02 pm
6 lbs 7 oz
18.5 inches /47 cms 

Turns out Wales was born over March break, not because the doctor said he should be, but because he wanted to be! He is named after his great-grandfathers (my grandpas), Don and (William) Dale, who are so special to me.

Wales is having an odd beginning to his life, with no visitors aside from my parents, who are over the moon to have a grandchild. He is a pretty content baby, really only complains when he's cold (he HATES taking his clothes off) or hungry. He has been keeping those eyes pretty tightly locked, but I've been treated to a few curious gazes, which feel SO special!

With his grandma and grandpa Mitchell... note the sad abandoned dog in the background!


I cannot wait to be able to introduce Wales to more people, like my students at Dewson who he's been listening to the past 7 months!

I hope your families are making the best of this period of isolation. Take care of each other... work on those science questions (below) and memorize your multiplication tables!!

À bientôt!
Mlle Mitchell et le petit Wales

 Here are all the little friends you gave Wales at that sweet surprise baby shower! He looks and reaches for them as he's being changed!

PS - You are absolutely free to share these photos and the info with other Dewson friends!



Tuesday 17 March 2020

Thank you!

Dear 317 families,
One more post to share some last pictures. With the added two weeks off after March break, any hope of me returning for a short time is now dashed, as my due date will have past and my official leave will have begun, baby or not.
I will be back, of course, to introduce baby and would love to attend festival and graduation, so I don't need to say goodbye right now. I worked VERY hard last week to leave everything ready to go for when school resumes. I hope that things are able to continue just as they have been and just as I would want them to. You should see how organized and well-labeled my desk and binders are!!

Thanks SO much to the class for throwing me a beautiful surprise baby shower on Thursday. They brought decorations, flowers, treats, got Ms. Peek working for them, and got everyone in the class to sign a card. Everyone somehow chipped in to get me a $50 gift card to Babies R Us - far too generous, but will be put to good use! In addition, so many of your families also gave me personal gifts - books, adorable outfits, cute stuffies (which I am protecting from Sadie), more gift cards, and chocolate just for me! I've now re-read all your beautiful cards and messages and wiped away a few tears in the process. I am truly touched. Thank you.

I wanted to share a few more pictures from the last week, including the graphite and pastel drawings that I put up just in time.

We also took all the news articles that all the grade 5s and 6s had done for science and assembled them into 9 newspapers. They all have a unique name, headings, a table of contents and page numbering, some even have ads! They look like real papers, and each student received a copy of the newspaper that features their article. I love these! (FYI, students received their rubric for the news article, but I did not require them to have it signed.)

The grade 6s, in their last science class with me, made a flying device (they were all airplanes) of their choice and then tested it at three airports. One was a long distance, flying straight challenge, the second was a steering challenge, and the final airport featured a tricks challenge, such as a loop or sharp turn. After the build and tests, we compared the planes that were most successful at each airport. We noticed that the top two planes for distance were short and compact, with a heavy middle using straws, paper clips and lots of folds. The top two planes for steering had turned up flaps on their wings. Many of the planes that did tricks were long and light without flaps or many folds. Très interesting!

If you are looking for educational sites throughout this time away from school, do check out the right side bar of this blog, as there may be some useful links. You can also consider assigning your researcher another independent project on a topic of their choice - I think they all enjoyed doing these (at least one asked me if we could do it again!). Our next science units are on changes in matter (5s) and electricity (6s), so these would be excellent areas to begin researching, especially since I have suggested to the next teacher that he/she use the independent projects that I pre-created, which are just like what we did at the beginning of the year, requiring some independent research, writing and investigating. In fact... hang on while I find the actual suggested research and hands-on questions...

Grade 5 Research questions:

  1. Identify properties of solids, liquids and gases and state at least 2 examples of each.
  2. Identify and describe 3 specific changes of state in matter that we witness regularly (e.g., ice cube melting). Using scientific vocabulary, describe each change and explain why it is a physical or chemical change.
  3. Research and discuss the positive and negative aspects of using chemical preservatives in food. Consider the perspectives of food manufacturers, store owners, farmers and consumers.


Grade 5 Hands-On Tasks:

  1. Test various materials commonly used for cleaning up liquid spills (e.g., sponge, towel, paper towel) and draw conclusions. What properties of each material makes them most useful? What is the environmental impact of each?
  2. Find and follow a simple recipe that involves both a physical and chemical change of state. What caused the changes to take place?

Grade 6 Research questions:

  1. Using scientific vocabulary, explain the functions of the components of a simple electrical circuit and give examples of every day items that use electrical circuits. What is the downside of series circuits v. parallel circuits?
  2. Using the principals of static electricity, explain a common electrostatic phenomenon (e.g., the attraction of pieces of clothing to each other when they come out of the dryer, the attraction of hair to a balloon once rubbed).
  3. The James Bay Hydroelectric Project was one of the biggest hydroelectric developments of the past century, but it also had a serious impact on the environment and the James Bay Cree people. Explain the project and both sides of the issue. What is your opinion?

    Grade 6 Hands-On Tasks:
    1. Design, build and test a device that produces electricity. For example, a battery built from a potato or a wind turbine. How does it work?
    2. Design, build and test a device that transforms electrical energy into another form of energy in order to perform a function. For example, build a device that makes a sound, moves or lights up. How does your device work?

    There you are! Imagine if this project was already done upon returning to school??? How impressive!
    Also, the one thing I insisted the kids take home for March break was their Club de Lecture material. Though they may only have questions for the next 1-2 weeks of group meetings, there's nothing stopping them from reading the whole book, which will speed up the work they have to do between meetings once school resumes.

    Take care, enjoy your families and thanks once more for such a great 7 months in grades 5 and 6!

    Tamara

    Monday 9 March 2020

    Counting down...

    Dear families,
    Our class is so important to me, and so I don't want to just disappear without a chance to say goodbye. I want you to know that there is a possibility I will not be able to return after March break. Depending on an ultrasound next week, my doctor might want me to have the baby a couple weeks early - nothing to worry about - but it would obviously mean I would not be able to return to work.

    I can't tell you how much I will miss our class. I've really loved my job this year and am very sad to leave things undone, though I have complete faith that the next teacher will be able to jump in and run with our routines and the plans I'm leaving.

    Thank you for all your support this year, and for not being at all upset that I didn't make it to the end. And, thank you so much to my students who have really made me love grade 5 and 6! I hope I'm able to teach these grades again when I return!

    Leaving is SO difficult, but since I don't have much choice, I am choosing to be excited about the moment when I visit our class with a little baby to show them. Obviously, I won't have classroom news to post about anymore, but don't unsubscribe from this blog just yet... I want the kids to be the first to know when baby arrives!

    If I don't see you, I wish you a successful end of the year and transition to grade 6 or 7. If you are leaving Dewson, please come back to visit, and I'm counting on someone sending me grad and festival info so that I can come by on those special occasions!

    Best wishes,
    Tamara

    Where have we gotten to?
    Over the last 2 weeks, both our science classes enjoyed a fantastic Scientist-in-School workshop, looking forward to the units that we will begin after March break. For the grade 5s, this was a look at Matter, and for the grade 6s, this was experimenting with Electricity. Thank you to the parents who helped out!

    More specifically, in grade 5, we learned about solids, liquids and gases (and gels). We made different combinations of solids and liquids and noted any chemicals reactions. We became detectives trying to find the mystery ingredients by creating all the possible combinations of powders and liquids until we found combinations that reacted the same way as our mystery powder. Our students loved all the hands-on work, followed instructions well and took the necessary safety precautions!











    In grade 6, we learned about different kinds of circuits (e.g., parallel v. series). We made many circuits ourselves, making lights turn on and off by learning about materials that conduct electricity, using batteries, switches - we even closed circuits using our own bodies! We learned the proper way to draw a circuit, and the correct symbols to use. There was a lot of trial and error, which was not easy, but very cool!












    Last week, you should have received our measurement test to sign - big improvements on the real test! Great work, especially considering how many school days we had to miss during this unit. Please sign and return. This week you will receive our February learning skills rubric. Please sign and return this as well.

    This week we are busy with the presentations of our Independent Projects. Thanks to everyone for being prepared, sometimes even a day early, to present. We are also starting to work on the good copies of our fictional narratives. This project will have to continue after the break and likely be completed with my replacement.
    We are meeting weekly with our Clubs de Lecture to discuss the chapter questions. I've asked students not to leave this work to the night before because it would surely be too much for one evening (this is why I give a whole week between meetings). Students know that they are welcome to read their novel during our daily silent reading time, and track these minutes in their Bilan. They are also encouraged to have this at school daily in case they have a few minutes to work on it, and to ensure they are prepared if their meeting happens a day early. This work will also continue after the break - I have written detailed notes for my replacement so that this routine can continue at least until the current books are completed!

    In math, we are beginning our next number sense unit, which will focus on operations. We are beginning with some mental math, to be followed by multiplication and division strategies. This unit will also continue after the break and into April and be completed mostly with the next teacher.

    In English, last week students worked through a little assignment on finding their media balance. We talked about how to plan a balanced day where media and technology is welcome, but balanced by other activities as well. We talked about our perfect day v. a balanced day.
    Students have just submitted a news article do to with their last science topic. We will complete those science units this week and move on in English and Science after the break.

    In art, we have all but completed our graphite and pastel drawings of musical instruments. I will try to get them up and post a picture before the break. The little pops of colour are great and I'm envious of the drawing skill demonstrated by so many!

    Today, we attended a great musical and dance performance by Ballet Creole. Two of our own students were able to recall the names of the traditional Cuban instruments, and were called up to play!

    Take care!

    Tuesday 3 March 2020

    Grade 6 Science help?

    Dear Grade 6 parents,
    If you are available and interested in helping this Friday afternoon with our Scientist-in-School workshop, that would be lovely. Please email me to let me know. We would need you from 12:30-3:30. It shouldn't be too much work for you!
    tamara.mitchell2@tdsb.on.ca

    Pics coming soon from the grade 5 workshop last Friday, which was excellent!

    Many thanks, Tamara

    Monday 24 February 2020

    Test next week!

    Dear families,
    I hope everyone is keeping well! We have been very busy at school trying to stay on top of our units, despite missing days here and there.

    In math, we are finishing up our measurement unit this week. We can't spend too long on any one concept so if a student misses a day, it is important that they ask for the work so that they can review it at home. In this unit, we have worked on measuring elapsed time (using a 24 hour clock), changes in temperature, perimeter, area, mass and we will spend the rest of this week on volume and capacity. The math homework this week is a review of what we have covered so far. Next Monday we will have our pretest, followed by a couple days of review, then our test on Thursday. Keep your eyes open for the pretest which will likely come home on Tuesday.

    Thanks to Mrs. Mitchell for collecting and pre-measuring all the boxes we used to practice calculating total surface area of a prism!

    We've started a new art project! For this one, we are not trying to recreate work in the style of a specific artist or group. We are focusing on line, form, colour and shadow in graphite and pastel drawings. We are using musical instruments as our subject, just because they are so nice and curvy. Our drawings are not meant to be realistic, and we will use colour sparingly to accentuate one special area. We started some sketches last week.

    In French, I am working on correcting our fictional narrative stories so that we may begin writing/typing our good copies. At the same time, students are working on their new Club de Lecture books - they have a chapter or two a week, depending on length. In addition, we have our independent research project, assigned last week. Please see the outline in Google Classroom to read more about this. Since we have no strike days this week, I will try to give a little in-class time as well, as the idea was to have something to do during those days off.

    Thanks to our fantastic gym teacher for all her work setting up and running my favourite unit of the year - gymnastics. It always looks like such fun! We have two more periods this week, on Tuesday and Thursday. Please remind your student to come appropriately dressed.

    It has come to our attention that some of our older students are not always using their personal technology appropriately. We would like to ask all parents (especially of grade 6 students) to please have a chat with your child about how they are using their phone or device both in and out of school. Of course, at school it should only be out of a backpack for a specific academic purpose, and with the permission of the teacher. Too often, we find students pulling phones out during transition times, without permission. This slows us all down. We all have access to the office phone for communicating with parents during the school day. We have also learned that some students have been posting inappropriate pictures, videos or comments on social media. We need to make sure this stops immediately. While I have a lot of trust that our students would not participate in this type of behaviour, it is always a good reminder to be having regular conversations about this. The Principal made an announcement this morning, and we will review this in class as well. Thank you for your follow-up.

    Have a great week!