Beyond The Desk – Page 93 – The Class Blog for Mr. Hancock's Grade 5/6 Class

More Pirate Day!

June 6, 2011 eoin24 Comments 3 comments

As we get closer to Pirate Day, here are a couple of updates:

We are planning to have tons of fun that day. However, we are in desperate need of more helpers in the morning and afternoon.

For the morning, we need at least 3 people. For the afternoon, we need 4 helpers. If you can help us out at all that would be great!

Mrs. Goosen is planning some yummies for Thursday. On the form that was sent home, I mistakenly put for students to bring veggies and fruit (Hey, I’m a pirate! What do you expect?). Here is what Mrs. Goosen actually needs for students to put together their yummy surprise!

PIRATE DAY LUNCH
As part of our pirate day on Thursday, June 9th we would like to have a class lunch. Below I have a class list and an item that I would like you to bring on Thursday. Mrs. Hancock is bringing a delicious dessert and I (Mrs. G) will bring some yummy food as well.

Amanda – bag of chips
Rhys – bag of chips
Emily – bag of chips
Spencer – 2L of pop or juice
Sydneigh – 2L of pop or juice
David – 2L of pop or juice
Mark – bag of grated mozzarella cheese
Joshua – 1 watermelon, sliced
Acsah – 1 watermelon, sliced
Micah – veggies & dip
Andrew – bag of grated mozzarella cheese
Hunter – bag of grated mozzarella cheese
Kennedy – bag of grated mozzarella cheese
Cooper – 300 grams sliced pepperoni
Faith – 300 grams sliced pepperoni
Janae – 300 grams sliced pepperoni
Mikayah – 300 grams sliced pepperoni
Dayna – 1 large or two small cans pizza sauce
Michael – 1 large or two small cans of pizza sauce Mackenzie – small bag of pretzel sticks (needs to be straight sticks)

Spelling? Why bothr?

June 1, 2011 eoin24 Comments 0 Comment

As we look forward once again to the spelling test at the end of this week, you may have experienced at some point this year the dreaded question from your beautiful son or daughter.

“Why do I have to do this?”

I found this interesting article today that may give you some ammunition in trying to explain why practicing spelling words can be important.

Yesterday 275 kids gathered in Washington, DC, to take a spelling test. Today, they’ll start spelling in the preliminary rounds until just 50 spellers move on to the semifinals of the National Spelling Bee. A few of them are here by luck. Most of the spellers, however, got here through incredible hard work and determination. This is no fluke. This is the culmination of hours and hours of intense studying, rote memorization, and the deep exploration of language. These kids are the best of the orthographic best.

Why bother?
Even our smartphones are now capable of correcting our spelling, and contemporary spelling conventions offer wide latitude in expression. A legitimate conversation today might consist of this jumble of characters: Sup? Nm, u? K, gtg, ttyl. While some have questioned the value in taking spelling seriously, I think it’s a skill for the masses. Spelling should not be the private domain of one subset of specialized geeks.

Rote memorization is not all bad.
Remember your times tables? You do? Well, that was rote memorization. And thanks to mnemonics like King Phillip Came Over For Good Spaghetti, you can quickly access information that lets you move forward in a hurry. Can you imagine how much more difficult geometry and algebra would be if you had to work out 7 x 7 = 49 every single time?

Words are the building blocks of thought.
While we have generic words like “thing” and “stuff” to get us through those situations when we are at a loss for words, language allows for sophistication. Shakespeare might have written “Could I think of you as like that one thing? You’re better than that stuff.” But a richer vocabulary offers the romance of “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate.” If we can’t spell words, we can’t communicate our most nuanced thoughts.

Spelling is so much more than memorization.
Spelling connects us to history and culture, to science, poetry, and mathematics. A word is more than the sum of its parts. Words tell stories and act as the doorway to all the realms of knowledge. For example, I was once given the word S-I-L-I-C-I-F-E-R-O-U-S in a spelling bee. I’d never heard the word before. I asked for the definition. Containing silicon. I asked for the etymology. Latin. I asked for the part of speech. Adjective.

With this information, I was able to construct the word in its entirety. I knew about silicon, and thus had the S-I-L-I-C-I beginning. The Latin root told me that the middle part of the word would be F-E-R rather than P-H-O-R and the fact that it was an adjective, not a noun, told me that the word ended in O-U-S rather than U-S. Siliciferous. One word can encapsulate an entire education.

When we encourage kids to learn to spell and applaud their accomplishments, we are celebrating the fullness of thought that can only come from human beings.

Rock on, National Spelling Bee contestants!

Talent Show!

May 31, 2011 eoin24 Comments 4 comments

On June 14th, we will be finishing off our Chapel times with a Talent Show.

Following the handing out of our citizenship certificates for the previous month, approximately 4 students from each class will have a chance to show off their talents.

Talents can include a magic trick, a song, a poem, memory verse (more than just 1 verse) or other talent. Prepared items should only be a minute or two long so we can get through everyone!

If you are interested in showing off your talents, prepare your item and be ready to show me on the 13th. I will judge and pick 4 students from our class to perform their item at Chapel.

To be picked, I will be looking at appropriateness, time, your preparedness and quality.

It should be lots of fun. We have lots of great talent in the Grades 4-6. Let’s show it off and have fun!

Having Problems With Your English?

May 31, 2011 eoin24 Comments 0 Comment

English can be a very funny language sometimes!

1. The bandage was wound around the wound.

2. The farm was used to produce produce.

3. The dump was so full it had to refuse more refuse.

4. We must polish the Polish furniture.

5. He could lead if he would get the lead out.

6. The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.

7. Since there was no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.

8. A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.

9. When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.

10. I did not object to the object.

11. The insurance was invalid for the invalid.

12. There was a row among the oarsmen on how to row.

13. They were too close to the door to close it.

14. The buck does funny things when does are present.

15. A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.

16. To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.

17. The wind was too strong to wind the sail.

18. After a number of injections my jaw got number.

19. Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.

20. I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.

21. How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

Two Digit Division with Ease!

May 30, 2011 eoin24 Comments 3 comments

In Math, we have been continuing to look at the division of two digit numbers. Now that we understand how we can use place value to show why we place the numbers where they go in our division equations, it is time to take that learning and transfer it to the more traditional way of doing division.

The students all came home with a strip of math questions. There are only three of them on the strip and the students are expected to complete all three questions for tomorrow.

I have also completed a video using my nifty new app to help review the concept if the students need a reminder or if they just want to listen to my beautiful voice!

Regular Uniforms Tomorrow!

May 30, 2011 eoin24 Comments 2 comments

For the field trip tomorrow, students are still expected to wear their regular uniforms; not full dress!

Remember to be prepared for the weather!

Spelling for the Week of May 30

May 30, 2011 eoin24 Comments 0 Comment

Here is the spelling for this week!

Spelling N7

Here are the links to Spelling City! Don’t forget to bring in your completed certificate or get your parents to write a note in your planner to get your bonus mark!

Field Trip!!

May 29, 2011 eoin24 Comments 0 Comment

Hey everyone! I hope you are enjoying your weekend! LOVE the sunshine!

On Tuesday we will be heading out to Ft. Langley to spend the afternoon at the Ft. Langley National HIstoric Site. We will be leaving school at 10:45 and having lunch at the fort. The program goes until 2:30 so we will head back right after that, returning approx. 3:30pm.
Please dress appropriately for this trip. I’ve looked at the Vancouver & Chilliwack weather forecasts and one says sun while the other says rain…=) We will be spending a lot of time outdoors so make sure to bring an umbrella or coat with hood in case of rain.
I received a few forms back that said parents are available to come on the field trip. If you can come, please do! We would love as many parents as possible.
Also, a gentle reminder to students that no electronice, except a camera, are allowed on the bus. =)

Looking forward to seeing you all on Tuesday!
Mrs. Goosen

Science Test Study Guide

May 26, 2011 eoin24 Comments 0 Comment

Hot on the heals of our Social Studies test, the students will be having a Science test on Wednesday, June 1st. I have embedded a study guide below for you and your child to look through and practice with.

Light and Sound Test

Whoops!

May 24, 2011 eoin24 Comments 0 Comment

Thanks Micah for pointing out a mistake on the Arctic Exploration Study Guide. Please make the following change to your study guide (back page, under Henry Larsen):

Henry Larsen was born in NORWAY…not England.

See you all on Thursday!
Mrs. Goosen =)

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