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

Drawing

I love to draw when I have free time. When I’m really bored I sketch something outside of my house like trees or snow and I really like to make things into a superhero or a bad comic character.  I do a pretty good job when I’m stressed but not the best.

I draw on any paper like scrap or black paper.   When I’m done I colour them with my new markers.

My favourite things to draw are animals such as cats, dogs and unicorns.  Sometimes I can imagine what they look like and draw them from my head and other times I’ll use a website to look from.

Someday I’d like to take art classes and draw pictures of people.

What are your thoughts about drawing and why?  What are your favourite things to draw? Think of all the art projects we have completed this year.  What is your favourite one and why?

~puppy

Ringette

Ringette is my favourite sport.  It was founded by Sam Jacks in 1963. The objective of the game is to outscore the other team. When ringette was created it was just for girls, but now boys can play it too.  Unlike hockey there are only two periods. They are each 18 minutes. At halftime we sing a song to the crowd. It’s kind of like a cheer.

I like all of the rules to it.  For the people who play hockey I think that they should try ringette.  They are two similar sports because you need a stick, skates, and a rink.  Instead of a puck, we use a blue rubber ring. You need to stab the ring on the ice in order to move it around.

You might think that all of the rules are complicated but once you get to know them they are pretty easy.  One of the rules is that you have to pass over each blue line and you cannot pass to yourself. Another big rule is that you can’t go in the goalie crease which is bigger than in hockey.

I’ve played ringette for three years.  Kittycathat and I play on the same U-10 team called the Purple Dragons.  We have lots of fun together. My favourite position is playing center. The job of the center is to be everywhere.  You are a defense and a forward at the same time. You must skate a lot and very fast to keep up. My least favourite position is goalie because it is overwhelming.

I can’t wait to play ringette next year and move up to U-12! In U-12 there is a shot clock where you only have 30 seconds to take a shot. A shot only counts if you hit the goalie.

1. What do you think about ringette and why?

2. If you were to play a ringette position, would you play offence, defence or goalie?

3. What is your favourite winter sport to play or watch, and why?

~Gadget Girl

BLOGGER OF THE WEEK

Money

Good old money. You can do anything with money. You can make a rocket company or you can build the largest building. But the question is where do you get this money?  I am glad you asked.

Sure, you can get a regular job but you probably will never be able to afford a good rocket company. So the only way to do it is to become an entrepreneur. An entrepreneur is someone who makes a company with their own idea and if your company is a success you can finally make that rocket company you dream about.

There are infinite opportunities that you can do with MONEY!

1. What would you buy if you were rich?

2. If you were an entrepreneur, what business would you make and how would you create a successful business?

3. How do you currently earn money?

~doggy
BLOGGER OF THE WEEK

Cats

Cats are pretty cute, especially when you have one or had one for years.

I love cats because they rub on your legs, licks your ears, sometimes talk a lot, and last but not least, their purr is the most relaxing sound.  They’re pretty weird animals in some ways, but loving.

Cats are also VERY sappy a lot of times.  When people are busy, cats just nudge their legs to get your attention, but they listen to you when people say “No!”  Once they know what that means, which doesn’t take very long, then you can use it more often.

I think that cats are easier than dogs to take care of because cats go in their litter box, instead of taking them on walks.  If you even try to make them go for a walk, they don’t walk, instead they lay down on the ground while you struggle pulling them, with the leash, anyways. 

Kittens are maybe better than adult cats, because they are so tiny, their “Meow!” is so tiny and ADORABLE.  Second, you can feed them milk with a bottle. I used to have a kitten, but he grew up into a big Timbit, instead of a small one. I love how we named my cat Timbit, because I can tease people about not thinking he’s a delicious food.

I‘m  glad I have one because whenever I’m sick, my cat takes care of me. and if I’m leaving or coming back from somewhere, he comes to the front door, waiting for me/us. Cats are pretty nice to have for a pet, and they bring lots of joy. 

I normally go to the pet store, mostly because I want to see cats. Sometimes they meow, just for attention or just they want something, for example, food or drinks. It’s a big responsibility for taking care of a cat, though, even if you think it’s easy, think of this:  you have to pick up a big, disgusting furball with a paper towel, but after you get used to it, it’s not really a big deal after that. I would love another one, but, my cat, maaayyy get mad, and tackle the other kitty.  

Would you like a cat someday, and what kind? Have you ever thought of you being responsible for a cat? Would you rather want a kitten or an adult cat, and why?

~disneyfan25

BLOGGER OF THE WEEK

Family Traditions

My family and I have a few special traditions. A tradition is where a family does many of the same things at certain times of the year.

For example, every weekend we play a game night such as Monopoly. This is a board game where you have to win money and own properties. My mom or dad always wins no matter what my brother and I do.

If we don't do that we go to Amazone Playzone, which is a large indoor playground. It’s so fun! There is gliding, karate, mazes and slides. My favourite part of the whole thing is the gliding and the mazes. The mazes glow and you can fall through and the gliding is about five feet high. I don't really like the slides, they scare me.

Sometimes we go for walks down Whyte Avenue. We go for ice cream and go shopping. We hear singing across the roads from us. I don’t like the part when my dad gets something for my mom and not me. I like the walking part a lot. 

1. Describe your family traditions?

2. What are your favourite traditions and why?

3. What would you like see your family doing together in the future?

~box3D

BLOGGER OF THE WEEK

Wild Animals

I love wild animals! They are amazing. When I was little I saw a baby coyote and I found it so cute and interesting that I fell in love with wild animals.

Even the fish seem cute. If I had the chance I would have an animal of every species. I also like to study wild animals. They are very fascinating.

Did you know that when one wolf gets a disease the other wolves will make them leave before any other wolves get that disease? Coyotes and foxes do the same thing. Wild animals are smart that way.

My favourite wild animals include foxes, wolves, coyotes, pumas, tigers, lions, and bears. Some wild animals create families called packs. The packs of foxes are made up of vixens and foxes. Did you know that a female fox is called a vixen? Well I did not, I thought that they were both called foxes.

I really want to be a biologist because I want to learn about and help wild animals.

What is your favourite wild animal(s)? Also. describe your relationship with wild animals.

-hunterfox909

BLOGGER OF THE WEEK

Eating, Food & Restaurants

Eating and food is one of my favourite topics to talk about. This is something that everyone should like because there are a lot of different foods like pizza, burgers, fries, rice, dumplings, chicken, chicken pot pie, and more!

One of my favourite things about food is getting to eat at restaurants.  If my mother has enough money, we usually go out to eat five times a month.  I actually get a chance to eat at a lot of restaurants but my favourite ones are Buffet Royale and Joey’s Seafood.  Buffet Royale is a place where you get to pick whatever food you want and as many plates as you can eat. They serve many different foods as well as delicious desserts.  My favorite food is pizza but when I am at a restaurant my favorite food is fish. What I like for drinks are Sprite, 7-Up and Ginger Ale. The thing that I like for dessert is ice cream, worms in dirt and ice cream sandwiches.  I also like eating pancakes, waffles, eggs and bacon.

What is your favourite food to eat and what are your favorite restaurants?  How often do you get a chance to eat out?

~sciencekid123

BLOGGER OF THE WEEK

Books

Books are a great way to learn and spell. You just have to read them. They can also bring a world of imagination.  I read books for enjoyment.

My favourite book series is Dork Diaries because it is funny and it is illustrated.  It is about a girl’s life and her enemy, MacKenzie who bullies her. I think there are eleven books in the series so far.

There are lots of other book series such as: Dork Diaries, Wings of Fire, Owl Diaries, Amulet, Lunch Lady, Geronimo Stilton, Narwhal and Jelly, and more.  I have read many books from these series. Currently, I am reading Wings of Fire.

If you are not the best reader, start small and build up.  When you get to chapter books let your imagination go wild!

What books or series are you reading?  What is the name of your favourite book and why?

-kittycathat

BLOGGER OF THE WEEK

2020 - A New Decade: What Are Your Goals?

January is the time of year that many people make New Year's resolutions.  These are goals or ideas which people want to achieve or strive toward, usually to better their lives.  Some common examples for adults are to lose weight, eat better, stop smoking or exercise.  More often than not, people are really eager to make their resolutions come true and are usually disciplined enough for the first month to really try to reach their goals.  Then people start to realize how difficult it is to maintain their new lifestyle and slowly begin falling back into bad habits.

Children can also make goals for their lives.  They can be related to school, home, extra-curricular activities or health.  For example, maybe you decide that you are finally going to keep your room clean.  How would one reach that goal?  First, you can make sure to hang up all your clothes everyday or you can make sure that you put away things in their proper places so that clutter does not build up.  A school-related goal may be to walk ten laps during indoor R.A.C.  In order to achieve that goal, you must be willing to put forth more effort into speed walking.

Remember that goals must be attainable.  In other words, you should only make goals that you know you have a chance of achieving.  There is no point in saying that you are going to be the fastest runner in your class if you hate running.  Likewise, you would not say that you're going to listen to the teacher more often when much of your day involves talking to your friends.  You must choose a goal that you are willing to work toward.

Choose three goals and describe why those are important to you.  How are you going to achieve those goals?

~The Big Ham
BLOGGER OF THE WEEK