Grand Manan Community School

Ms. Norman's wiki link: http://msnormanwiki.wikispaces.com/

The grade 9 Mathematics curriculum offers students and parents the opportunity to access the textbook via the internet. The website is www.mathmakessense.ca . Student username is math9_student and password is student2010

Friday, October 10, 2008

Thanksgiving and next week


Math 9
If you were not in class on Friday, October 10th: as per our conversation in class on the 9th, remember to bring in a one page outline of your Enrichment Math Project. This is due the first math class back following holidays. You should choose your project to incorporate math operations and equations as we discussed in class. Some ideas are: Rubik Cube, The Golden Ratio, Pythagoras Theorem, Stock Market, Aerodynamics etc.

I wish all my students a pleasant and safe holiday. See you on the 16th.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Today's Recap

English 113
Tomorrow is your test. I will provide the paper and the questions. You only need a pen or pencil and your novel. For those who miss the test, it will be written after school on Thursday, October 16th at 3pm sharp.

Numerous students in this class have over-do assignment for Computer lab and Chapter 4. Students are aware they owe assignments. These students are on home-work lunch to complete assignments.

We have finished reading the novel - Hunter in the Dark

English 123
Tomorrow is your test. I will provide the paper and the questions. You only need a pen or pencil. For those who miss the test, it will be written after school on Thursday, October 16th at 3pm sharp.

We have read up to the end of Chapter 11.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Extra Help, Homework and Hints

Math 9 - if you did not complete the math assignment today in class, due at the first of class on Thursday is:
Page 334/335 questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Page 341 questions 1, 2, 3

It may be helpful for your graphs to bring a ruler, graph paper, a couple of pen colours and a calculator to each class.

Hint: English 123 - The website noted below is an excellent resource to supplement class discussion on The Chrysalids. There are chapter summaries and commentary to deepen themes, discuss characterization etc.

http://www.lowensteyn.com/litunits/chrysalids/intro.html


ALL SUBJECTS (MATH AND ENGLISH)
November and Mid-term Exams will quickly fall upon our laps. For those looking for extra help, I am available on Monday and Wednesday after school or Tuesday to Thursday at lunch. Please let me know you require help and I will do my best to accommodate you.

Ms. Norman

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

English Tests on Friday, October 10th

English 123
These are your questions for Friday's test, October 10th.
The Chrysalids - Chapters 1 - 11
1. What are the two recurring dreams that David has? How are they both foreshadowing?
2. What is ironic about the following comment by the inspector: “Loyalty is a great virtue, but there is such a thing as misplaced loyalty. One day you will understand the importance of a greater loyalty. The Purity of the Race.” (pg. 58)
3. The characterization of a character is the creation of the image of persons in drama, narrative poetry, the novel, and the short story. Characterization generates plot and is revealed by actions, speech, thoughts, physical appearance, and the other characters’ thoughts or words about him. Write about the characterization of Uncle Axel. Use at least two quotes from the book to support your answer.
4. Write an outline for the next chapter of the novel. This should be done in point form. Then, write a paragraph of this outline summarizing the chapter. This should include what characters are involved, the setting, sequence of events etc.

English 113
These are your questions for the test on Friday, October 10th.
Hunter in the Dark
1. Imagine that you are Mike and you are back in the hospital for the fourth time. Write a properly formed letter to Doug, whom you haven’t seen before the hunting trip. In your letter summarize your hunt for the trophy buck. Be sure to include challenging moments for Mike. (value 7)
2. Chapter 8 takes us back to March, the month in which Mike first gets the idea to go hunting. “At first daydreaming about it was only a game to keep the dark at bay. But it was Doug who make it real.” (page 110). “Ever since Doug had taken over his dream and started to make it real, the darkness had retreated,” (page 113) (value 7)
a) State three specific ways Doug helps Mike’s dream come true.
b) Do you think Mike is right to become “crafty” and deceptive in order to reach his goal? Give reasons for your opinion.
3. Write a new ending to the book. This should be a (minimum of one) properly formed paragraph. Include details of the ending, who in involved and the setting etc. (value 6)

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Next Week - October 6 - 10


Next week is the last week before a break in classes for Thanksgiving. Students will not be in class again until Thursday, October 16th. With this break in school, my English class students (113 and 123) should be working on their Independent Novel project. For both classes, this project is worth 15% of the student term mark thus, expectation is high for a high quality project.

English quizzes are given every Friday and Math quizzes are given every Wednesday. This will continue until exams in January. Mid terms will be written the week of November 3rd. Parent teacher meetings will be on the 19th and 20th of November (times to be posted at a later date). My expectation is for students to accompany their parents to the interview if possible.

Take Your Child to Work Day is on Monday, November 10th. More details to follow regarding this. Students in high school will not be in class this day, or the next day, Remembrance Day.


Ms. Norman

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

September 30th

English 113
We have read to page 84 of this terms novel, Hunter in the Dark. Along with questions and discussions for each chapter, the class will be working on a movie trailer as a group project.

All students have their independent novel chosen for their term project. Although this project is not due until January, there is an expectation that research and presentation quality is topnotch to fulfill a 15% mark. I am very proud of the students for their participation each day in class and expect no less for the quality of this project.

We had our first test on September 19th. Students were offered the opportunity to improve their mark with a re-write at noon, September 24th.

TODAY: we were in the computer lab and completed the following to be handed in following class on Wedensday:

Hunter in the Dark
Research and answer the questions below. Don’t forget to write down the website you find the information on! Hand in at the end of class. VALUE 30
1. Search Monica Hughes. Who is she? Where was she born? What did she win for writing this book? What are three other facts about her?
2. Where is Swan Hills? Write a brief description about the place, Swan Hills. What is the main industry, the population, and three facts about surrounding areas.
3. Beginning in Swan Hills, draw a map of the area to include Fort Assiniboine, Freeman Hills and the river where Mike is camping (reference is on page 2).
4. What is Vincristine (reference is on page 74)? Research and explain what it is.
5. We know from the novel, Mike has acute lymphocytic leukemia (reference is on page 74). Describe what leukemia is using the term white blood cells in your explanation.
6. Mike’s class went to Jasper on a ski trip. Where is Jasper located and what is the name of the ski hill? What is the highest peak on this mountain?
7. Research Canadian Hunting Safety Tips and discuss two of them. What website did you find the Hunting Safety tips on?Research and draw a Weatherby Mark V de luxe bolt action .257 with a 24-inch barrel gun (description on page 17). What year was this gun introduced? Note: You may have to try a couple of websites to get this information.Extension:Reflecting on what you have learned about leukemia, write an account of how you would feel if you were told you had the sickness. Do you know anyone who has this? Explain.

English 123
We have read to page 83 of The Chrysalids. As a group, we read and do group work to answer chapter questions for The Chrysalids. There are many class discussions to ensure students understand the terminology and sequence of the novel. As a result of each students participation, I nominated the entire class for a WAY TO GO award last Friday held in the Great Hall. It is wonderful to hear this class read to each other.

We had our first test on September 19th on Chapters 1 - 5 of The Chrysalids. Students were offered the opportunity to improve their mark with a re-write at noon, September 24th.

Independent novels for their individual projects should be confirmed with me. Although the deadline for this project is not until January, this is an extensive project worth 15% and is expected to be of high quality in research and presentation. Every student has the Rubric and outline for this project.

TODAY: in the computer lab, we worked on the following questions due following class on Wednesday:

The Chrysalids
Research and answer the questions below. Don’t forget to write down the website you find the information on! Hand in at the end of class. VALUE 30
1. Search John Wyndham. Who is he? What is his full name? What are three other facts about him (such as, where did he live?).
2. What year was John Wyndham born? What year did he pass away?
3. What does chrysalid mean in scientific terms? Explain.
4. In the novel, David has telepathic powers. What is telepathy? After researching, explain in your own words. Have you ever had a “telepathic experience?” Explain.
5. The Chrysalids has been compared to the movie The XMen. In what two ways are they comparable? In what two ways are they different?
6. As you know, Waknuk is a setting of the story. What does your research say about Waknuk in relation to the story? Are you surprised?What is nuclear war? Have we experienced nuclear war? When? What happens to people and vegetation?

Math 9
This is an important week in our math class, as the Unit Test is on Friday, October 3rd. This unit test will cover all material studied since the first day of school. Material covered includes: divisibility rules, order of operations, integers, rational and irrational numbers (whole numbers, mixed fractions, integers), multiplication and division.

Extra help is offered every Wednesday at lunch.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Ms. Norman's Blog

Welcome back to school grades 9, 11 and 12! We are going to have fun and learn at the same time together from now until Christmas. I am committed to you as long as you are committed to yourself. Believe and you and you will always succeed.

Keep in touch with this blog to get up to date information on what is going on in our class, what is due and what we have to prepare for.

I am looking forward to spending this term with you.

Teacher
Ms. Norman

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