Valentine's Day 2024

Valentine's Day.  A day many students look forward to while for others, it doesn't really matter.

Many students are super excited to hand out Valentine's Day cards or special treat bags to their classmates.  In our class, the students are expected to record the names of each student independently as their teacher does not provide a class list.  Harsh?  I strongly believe that students of this age are extremely capable of doing simple things by themselves, including knowing who all their classmates are in class.  Other teachers may gladly provide a class list, but my feeling is that you've been together in class for five and a half months - YOU SHOULD KNOW WHO'S IN YOUR CLASS BY NOW!

When I was a child we handed out Valentine's Day cards, but only to our friends.  It was our thought that if there was someone in our class that we didn't really know or get along with, that person wouldn't receive a card.  The gesture these days is to include everyone in the class.  This helps to promote kindness and includes everyone.

What are your thoughts about Valentine's Day?

~The Big Ham

Video Games - Then and Now

In the winter months, there are people who enjoy outdoor activities and people who would rather stay in and be cozy. I am one who enjoys the latter. Actually, playing video games is one of my favourite indoor activities.  

I have been playing video games since I was 11 years old. In December of 1991, I got my first console which was a Super Nintendo. Video games were a lot different than today's games. For example, video games were either one or two players back then. You also had to go to your friend's house to play together. Today, you can play video games with friends on the other side of the world thanks to online play. 

Another difference is you had to have a physical game cartridge to play a game. When a new game came out, you had to preorder or go to the store to purchase it. Also, you could rent games from a store such as Blockbuster. This was great because it gave you the opportunity to try a game before you bought it. Nowadays, you can purchase the game online and download directly to your console or computer.  

I own two gaming consoles or systems, the Nintendo Switch and the Oculus Quest 2 VR headset. Some of my favourite games are Pokémon Violet, Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. I also really love playing Beat Saber for my VR system. One benefit to playing VR video games is that it gets you up and moving.

What gaming consoles or systems do you own? Do you feel you spend too much time playing video games? Do you think kids should play video games or should kids play outside and not virtually? If you don’t play video games, what would be your favourite winter activity?

~Mr. Coffee

BLOGGER OF THE WEEK

Winter 2024

 We live in Canada.  It's cold in Canada.  Everybody knows that.  But over the past week it's been uber cold.  We're talking -30 degrees Celsius with wind chills in the -40s.  It was so bad last Friday that over 100 students were absent from our school building.  

I think everybody knew it was coming though.  We had been experiencing unseasonably warm temperatures all through December, at least 5 degrees warmer than normal.  Everyone said that we would have to pay for it eventually because you can't get something for nothing.

I can't recall when I went to school if we ever had indoor recesses.  I don't even think they calculated wind chill back in the olden days.  Parents just sent their kids out the door for the long walk to and from school.  It probably wasn't a long of a walk as I'm making it sound, now that I think about it.  As for not attending school when it was cold?  Good luck.  Parents sent their kids in all sorts of weather.  At least that was my experience.

As a teacher, I personally do not enjoy indoor recesses.  I am of the firm belief that students need to be outside, not only to be active, but for fresh air and a change in environment.  Our school division has a policy that students are kept inside if it is -23 degrees Celsius or colder.  It was a long week of indoor recesses.

What do you think about this cold snap?  Did you miss any school because of the cold?  What is your thought on indoor recesses?

~The Big Ham

Twenty Twenty Four (2024) Is a New Year

Twenty twenty four is the start of a new year which makes many people excited.  It is a time to forget about what happened in the past and focus on a new beginning for many.  This is a time of the year that many choose to set goals and make resolutions.  Research has shown that at least one third (about 33%) of adults will make a New Year's resolution, but only 10% keep them.  Some of the most popular resolutions with adults are to eat healthier, save money, and lose weight.

Do you think kids should make New Year's resolutions too?  You might want to call them goals and forming good habits.  What does it take to achieve success when you make a decision to do something?  Some good habits for kids to form are such things like:

- drink water or another healthy beverage every day

- try a new physical activity to do at least three times a week

- try to be friendly to kids who may have a hard time making friends

- save time to read for fun

- choose an activity other than playing on electronics

Other goals for kids may be related to schoolwork.  What are some of the good habits that you think would be appropriate to try to achieve this year?

~The Big Ham

Halloween 2023

In just over one week ghosts, goblins, and ghoulish figures will be roaming school buildings and neighbourhoods.  Halloween is almost here!  

In our school this year students will be allowed to come to school dressed up in their choice of costume.  Some guidelines are:

a)  costumes must be respectful, weather-appropriate, and safe within a school environment;

b)  dangerous and/or scary items are to remain at home; and

c)  students must be able to sit, breathe, walk and hear while dressed in their costumes.

There is a school parade planned for after lunch in the gymnasium where each class will get to take a lap around and proudly display their costumes.  Some classroom might even have separate activities to celebrate the occasion.

Although I enjoy the candy aspect of Halloween, I have never been big on dressing up.  It is just not my thing.  When I was younger I think I went as a black cat because it was easy to attach a tail and some whiskers.  One year at school, I did dress up as Princess Leia complete with actual cinnamon buns attached to my hair.  Another year I think I was dressed up as Mulan.

The best part of Halloween though is going out to get the candy.  I can remember my sister and I trekking block after block, door after door and accumulating huge quantities of candy.  We would go home and dump it all over the kitchen floor and go through the sorting process.  We got so much that it would last long into December.  

What are your thoughts about the guidelines for dressing up?  Describe your costume that you plan on wearing for this Halloween.  How do you sort through your candy?

~The Big Ham

Online Learning - Is It Driving You Crazy?

Now that schools have closed indefinitely, students have had to switch to an alternative delivery system, online learning.  Last week students were introduced to lessons and materials through Google Classrooms, YouTube videos and Google Meets.  It is a lot to handle and I am so proud of the students and families that have been able to adapt so well.

The government of Alberta has mandated that students get five hours of schoolwork per week.  Averaged out, that's one hour of work per day.  This amount is FAR LESS than what you would be receiving on a normal school day.  I have heard from some students that it too not enough and there are some students that are still working through the assignments that I have posted.  I have seen many of you through our Google Meets.  Some of you, I'm still trying to find...

For information purposes, I am providing almost exactly what I would have given the students were they to be in school.  I am adapting or modifying some assignments so that they work better online.

What are your thoughts about online learning?  Are you enjoying it or would you rather be back in school?  How are you handling all this technology? Is it pretty frustrating or are you a whiz at it?

Go to Classwork in your Language Arts Google Classroom.  Please type your response to the questions that are posted there

~The Big Ham
BLOGGER OF THE WEEK

COVID-19

COVID-19.  CO for corona, VI for virus, D for disease and 19 for the year it was discovered.  A phrase seldom heard months ago.  And yet it seems that it comes out of our mouths more than any other word these days.  Here is a link if you are looking for a kid-friendly explanation of the virus.

As you watch and listen to the news and the increasing rapid shutdown of our city, think about spending this time with your family and focus on the positives.  Experts say that taking precautions now, as strict as they may be, will help prevent the virus from spreading and infecting others.  This includes the immediate shutdown of schools.

You may be confused, scared, disappointed or even happy that schools have been closed indefinitely.  In other words, we do not know when they will reopen again.  It is okay and normal to feel all of these emotions.  Talk to your parents about your feelings. 

1.  What was your initial or first reaction when you heard the news about schools closing?  Why did you feel that way?

2.  Describe what you are currently doing at home while we wait out this closure?  It does not all have to be related to schoolwork.  Be honest, are you sleeping in and playing video games all day?  Tell me your schedule.

3.  What do you think about COVID-19?  How much do you know about it?  What have you heard?

It feels strange to sit in this empty classroom.  We should be having either Science or Social as I type this blog post.  Feel free to keep in contact with me; I WILL respond.

Hope to see you soon.  Take care and stay safe!

~The Big Ham
BLOGGER OF THE WEEK