Novel Study Time

Middle School Students have finally started their first novel studies and so far students are hooked! Grade 6’s started reading Ghost, a coming of age novel about a young boy obsessed with world records. Grade 7 students have started reading The Outsiders, a novel that touches on some heavy themes including in vs out, family, friendship, colour, and social class. While Grade 8 students started Steinbeck’s classic, Of Mice and Men a novel that really dives deep into an unlikely friendship. Please note that all students have a hard copy of their respective novels, but digital versions have been posted on both Google Classroom and the Homework Boards as well.

Happy reading!!!

10 Tips for an AWESOME Presentation

Grade 6 students are working on their very first Middle School oral presentations. Our upcoming novel study, Ghost by Jason Reynolds focuses on the journey the protagonist takes to achieve a world record. Thus, students, individually or in small groups, were asked to research a world record that was completed within the last decade that “wowed” them. The choices are diverse! However, with any oral presentation, comes a visual, or what I like to call, an accessory. Students learnt what makes a slide impactful, what makes a slide messy and confusing, and what colours and fonts to use to grab the audience’s attention. Here are the 10 tips and tricks we focused on.

Amplify Boost

This week Middle School English Language Arts students had the opportunity to explore our new reading program, Amplify. This program allows students to read closely by following an interactive graphic novel. Students enjoyed the first step of the program which was designing their very own avatar. This exercise was followed by a dynamic and engaging chapter one featuring the student as the main character. Feedback thus far has been very positive!

Reading Buddies are BACK

Our Grade 6s enjoyed their first Reading Buddy session yesterday. Students were paired with students in Grade 1 to spend 30 minutes reading together. What a great opportunity for the “Littles” to meet the “Bigs” and develop literacy together.

Welcome Back

Welcome Back, Middle School English Language Arts Students!

I hope you had a wonderful summer and that you are just as excited as I am to start another school year. We have lots to look forward to this school year, the first one being our Middle School Retreat (which starts on Wednesday!). But until then, enjoy the beautiful weather today and do something you love.

Can’t wait to see you tomorrow!

Grade 6 Language Arts

Grade 6 English students are currently preparing their public speaking speeches. Topics are hot, fun, controversial, thought-provoking, and so much more. Students are encouraged to add their flair and finesse this year. We are moving away from the more formal approach and introducing ways to captivate and engage our audiences – gestures, body language, props, appropriate dress, and even a little acting are all welcome.