November / December 2014
NOV/DEC NEWSLETTER
You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn
by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives.
Clay P. Bedford
A word from the teacher:
Here are a few reminders of ways your child can get organized and stay on
top of the demands of school and his/her extra-curricular life:
- Use an agenda
- Visit the school website: acadie.limestone.on.ca / (click on Teacher
Websites, Mme Desbiens, Home Page, Homework)
- Ask the teacher if he/she is not sure when a project of assignment is due.
We will learn French through fun projects in November and December and
celebrate Christmas the French Canadian way with a Réveillon the last week
of school before the Holidays. Here is what your child will be working on for
the next two months:
Monthly curriculum:
English with Mrs. Benn:
Students in grade 8 have just started a literacy unit with the key question: “How
have changes in technology impacted our world?” The current focus carries across
all strands of the English curriculum: reading, writing, oral and visual communication,
and media literacy. Students in grade 8 have recently worked to improve their skills
using the reading strategy of “making inferences” while reading both fiction and
non-fiction texts. In November and December, we will focus on the reading
strategy of “asking questions”.
Our “Red Maple” books have arrived and have been distributed! Between November
and April, students will have the opportunity to read ten novels and ten non-fiction
texts written by some of Canada’s most accomplished authors of young adult
fiction. Grade 8 students must read and report on a minimum of 5 fiction and 5 nonfiction texts. We have discussed this program and its requirements at length in
class, but it would be a great “conversation starter” to ask your teen about the
program and check in with them periodically to ensure that they are reading at
home, and completing the assignments adequately and on time. Students know that
will fall behind in the program if they are not consistently reading on their own
time! To learn more about the Red Maple Awards and reading programs, visit the
Ontario Library Association’s website.
Our focus in writing will be on combining the traits of developing ideas, organizing
thoughts, and adding voice to writing.
Assessment of learning may include: journal entries, written responses, ‘show what
you know’ conference, informal debate, writing and informal text and evaluating
media texts.
Science with Mrs. Benn:
The final section of the ‘Cells’ unit will focus on the key question of “How do
cells work together?” Students are learning how biologists classify
organisms based on unique characteristics. The grade 8 classes will also
discover how unicellular and multicellular organisms meet their needs.
Assessment methods may include: entrance/exit cards,
knowledge/application questions, a demonstration task, and an end of unit
summative assignment. In December, we will switch our focus from ‘Cells’ to
‘Systems in Action’
French with Mme Desbiens:
In French we just completed our Urban Legend unit. We will start a unit on learning
skills. The goal is to teach the students why having good work habits is important.
Later this month we will work on a news report project for which students will have
the choice to present “live” or record it at home so we can watch it in class. In
December, we will work on procedure writing by having a “cook off” in our
classroom. Through these projects, we keep on working on grammar, reading
comprehension and journal writing daily.
Physical Education with M. Jacques:
In the gym, we will put on our blue suede shoes and start dancing in Physical
Education class! We will do some line dances, hip hop, waltz, and even disco! I
encourage all parents to get in the swing of things and practice with their
children at home!
Math with Mme Lespérance:
We will be finishing our Geometry unit with a short assignment involving designing
an application problem for the Pythagorean Theorem as well as a unit test. Students
will then be starting our Measurement unit this November. This unit involves
circles: calculating the area and circumference of circles and complex two-
dimensional shapes with circular components. Students will also be converting
between metric units. Evaluations include a quiz, a unit test and a design-you-own
problem assignment. In addition we will be participating in our school-wide Pi
contest!
Our December unit will involve the interpretation of graphs. Students will learn
about types of graphs and when each is used. They will be graphing primary and
secondary data and making inferences about graphs. Students will also be analyzing
graphs for bias and learning how data in graphs can be manipulated to suit a specific
purpose. The assessments in this unit involve a quiz and a unit test.
Mark your calendar for the month of November and December:
Nov. 11th
Nov. 14th
Nov. 19th
Nov. 17th-21st
Nov. 18th
Nov. 21st
Remembrance Day
Progress Reports go home
Acadie’s Chapters Fundraiser (5PM)
Bullying Awareness Week
Dr. Ungar presentation (Frontenac gym – 7PM)
Pink Shirt Day
Nov. 28th
Dec. 3rd
Dec. 5th
Dec. 19th
Dec. 19th
PA Day
Gould Lake presentation
Jingle Bell Walk
Assembly, Réveillon, Bowling
(at 2:35 PM) – CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS!!!
Should you have any questions or concerns, please email me at
desbiensc@limestone.on.ca or call the school at 613-389-0091.
Christine Desbiens, Homeroom Teacher (8L)