Sept 24-28

Seedfolks Chapter 7: Virgil (revise/edit)

Virgil and his dad are originally from Haiti.  

Virgil’s dad was a bus driver in Haiti, but in Cleveland, he drives a taxi;
he gets information from his “library” of passengers to ultimately find ways
to get rich quick - he is money hungry, this is his number 1 goal.

Virgil is there to support his dad and his “get-rich-quick-schemes”.

While the Dad wants to be successful in America (which is normal,
like every other immigrant starting a new life), he is misusing the community
garden for self-profit, for a money-making opportunity; this is NOT the
reason why the garden was started.  The garden was started to build a
caring (cross-cultural) community.

Theme:
This chapter teaches us that when you have a idea or goal in mind, you
MUST do your homework first and make a plan; if you don’t, chances are
you will not be successful, just like Virgil’s dad who planted lettuce
in the off-season.  Karma got him!

This chapter also teaches us that to reach a goal you must be nurturing,
passionate, and hardworking on a daily basis.

Examples of similes:

“The we walked back and forth picking up broken glass, like chickens pecking seeds.”

“A rat ran right up one of their legs.  The dude screamed, just like women do with a mouse in cartoons only louder.”

“The minute it came up, it started to wilt.  It was like a baby always crying for its milk”.

Character:
Virgil is supportive/helpful to his dad, hopeful/optimistic that dad’s plan would work; after the garden, Virgil becomes disappointed in and ashamed of his dad for his scheme to get rich and get him an 18 speed bike.

Math
Math take-home task #3 due Thursday.
Knowledgehook Mission 1 due Friday (55% remain incomplete)

Writing
begin a draft copy (handwritten) of your own version of "shades of red"

Science
lab 2 changes of state (solid to liquid to gas to liquid) due Monday

Geography
6 Humberlea landmarks due Thursday; begin your special place following Florida example provided.

Reading
begin Seedfolks lesson chart from Kim to Virgil

Sept 17-21

Please scroll down.  Content is updated as the days pass.  Thank you.

Reading: Chp3 Wendell & Chp4 Gonzalo corrections below.  Begin Chp5 Leona

Science: Lab 1 Particle Theory of Matter due by Friday

Math:  begin Order of Operations

Geography:  Humberlea Google Map, City of Toronto key areas and travel routes

Wed is Curriculum Night



Novel Study: Seedfolks (revise & edit your reading responses)

Chp3 "Wendell"

Originally a farmer from Kentucky, Wendell is a school caretaker, living on the ground
floor of the building overlooking the vacant lot.

Ana depends on Wendell to help her out since she’s a senior that’s
not too mobile; unfortunately, they also connect over ethnicity.

Having been a farmer, Wendell knows the right time for planting
certain vegetables.  Indirectly, Kim has helped Wendell reconnect with his farming skills.

Wendell now realizes that it’s useless to dwell on things that have gone
wrong in his life and that can’t be changed.  He decides to focus on more positive things
like helping others.

Wendell visits the lot to “change it big” by offering his help and expertise,
putting his efforts and energy in the garden.

At first, Wendell seems irritable, anxious, pessimistic
(worried about phone ringing with more bad news)
but then becomes positive, helpful, caring, optimistic, religious.

Chp4 "Gonzalo"

Gonzalo speaks English, whereas his Dad does not.

They are both from Guatemala, same culture.

Gonzalo is a young student; Dad is an expert farmer.

Gonzalo is involved in the community/has adapted; Dad is like a fish
out of water/culture shock.

As an immigrant, you must adapt to a new way of life, environment
and start from square one; you have to learn new customs, language, culture.

Tio Juan is not able to (function) communicate in English
with others and find work; he felt confused; instead he’s an expert gardener/farmer,
just like Wendell.  

Theme:  In life we all have to have a purpose, a calling, a vocation, a passion,
a reason to wake up in the morning that keeps us going forward;
in order to grow, you must also be open to change.

Before the garden, Gonzalo’s Uncle felt lost, without a purpose, toddler-like,
disconnected; after the garden, he now rediscovered his passion,
rekindled his purpose in life, and will most likely teach and inspire others to garden.

Gonzalo is proud of his Uncle and of the fact that he can now
use his talents to help others, instead of wandering about at home aimlessly.

Chp.5 "Leona"

It’s ironic that Leona’s grandmother outsmarted and outlived her doctors
that are supposed to know better; it’s ironic that her natural herbal remedy
was more effective than their traditional medications.

It’s ironic that to get the garbage problem cleaned up, Leona had to show up
with actual garbage in hand for the city to understand the problem.

Leona wants the lot to be respected by everyone; she doesn’t want it to
continue being a dumping ground; she wants people to take pride
and ownership of the lot.

It’s ironic that the lot is referred to as being “vacant” because it’s not
really empty at all, it’s full of trash.

Conflict:  lot contamination and city workers not ignorning Leona

Climax (high point in conflict): Leona showing up with garbage in hand

Resolution: getting a meeting with someone from Public Health Dept.

Theme:  in order to reach a goal, you have to find the right path, work hard,
and never give up.

Before the garden, Leona is ashamed and disappointed

in her fellow residents that are disrespecting communal property.

After the garden, Leona is hopeful and optimistic that her hard work

will pay off in freeing the lot from the garbage problem.

Leona is confident, relentless, determined, respectful,

resourceful, problem-solver.



Geography "City of Toronto" task corrections:

Math "order of operations" corrections:

Order of operations corrections continued:

Work on handout #2 Order of Operations pg.11

Begin Science 1.2 More About Matter, Changes of State

Geography Place Location text pg.4-15

Seedfolks Chp 6 Sam

Geography textbook corrections (revise & edit your responses):

 Chp.6 Seedfolks: Sam corrections (revise & edit your responses)

Begin reading Chp.7 Virgil 

Order of Operations handout 2 pg.11 corrections:

**Review multiples, factors, powers/square roots, order of operations**

Geography: 6 Landmarks on separate maps due next Wed

Thank you kindly to all the parents that came out to see our classroom and meet me this past Wednesday evening.  I look forward to a productive and positive year.  I would like to reiterate our curriculum and class conduct below:

Math:

Our students can access their personal device or school-issued device for Knowledgehook, a fantastic math app (created here in Ontario & strictly following provincial ministry curriculum) to better engage students' interest in math.  Your child is currently working on Mission 1 involving multiples/factors, powers/square roots, and order of operations:

Sept 10-14

• begin noting your assignments on your Task Tracker
• organize your binder with divider tabs
• begin chiselling away at Humberlea mental map
• begin chiselling away at Multiples/Factors handouts now that we have completed a review of these concepts\
• your All About Me should be posted up by now; if you need anything printed let me know
• begin your Top 3 Summer Highlights Prezi as I modelled it for you: http://prezi.com/ebt4crahoq0r/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share

Seedfolks Chp 1 Kim corrections

Math corrections 1.1, 1.2.  Complete 1.3 and 1.4 for tomorrow:

Mental map update (residential, commercial, industrial, recreational, institutional): 

Begin working on Seedfolks Chp3 Wendall.

We continue on Top 3 Summer Highlights Prezis.

Math corrections Factoring & Divisibility:

Complete Science "Particle Theory" 1.1 Check Your Understanding.

Math: Powers 

Weekend Reminders:

1.  Begin Science Lab using 1.1 handout about particle theory of matter.

2.  Begin Chp 4 follow-up questions Gonzalo

3.  Complete Math Square Roots