Create A List of Something

Before you begin this week's blog assignment, please make sure that you have completed last week's blog post first. Thank-you. 

Lists are popular. Very popular. Your job this week is to create at least 3 different lists. Create a top 10, or better yet a top 20 list. Lists of your favourite movies, books, food, influential people, or any other topic can easily generate buzz. Let's create some buzz...just keep it appropriate for school.

Don't forget to include a picture(s) in your post and to give credit where credit is due on everything you have used. 

Once you have posted your response, read the responses posted by your peers and reply thoughtfully to at least two other students.  Compliment strong points, make connections, ask questions and build on ideas shared!


Mr. Boettger  :-)

Your First Blog Post

The first entry you will be making to your blog this year is an "All About Me" post. You will need to write a paragraph (make sure you check your spelling and grammar before you post please) that introduces yourself to the world. Please remember to follow our blogging rules. Refresh your memory HERE.

Once you have completed your paragraph, you will need to take add a few pictures that you feel represents who you are and post them with your paragraph. Don't forget to provide credit with where you got your pictures from. Make sure you ask someone (or better yet, look it up yourself) if you don't know how to do something with your blog. 

Once this has been completed and posted on your blog, read and respond to at least 3 other people’s posts.

Good luck!

Mr. Boettger  :-)

Internet Safety

Hello, my trusty Grade 7s and welcome to your very first "blog" lesson!

Establishing Expectations for Behaviour: The Dos and Don'ts for Online Student Communication

Please read the "Dos and Don'ts for Online Student Communication" below:

- Use each other's names.  Using a person's name when you respond to his/her posting creates a friendly online tone.  However, do not use the person's full name.  Instead, please use the username the school board has given to you (the first four initials of your first name and a random 4 digit number).

- Read questions and conversational postings carefully to avoid unnecessary confusion.

- Compliment your peers when they post strong responses or contribute to original ideas.

- Ask questions.  If anything is unclear or you want further information or insight on a topic, just ask.  If you have a question, there are probably other members of the group who are confused and need further clarification as well.

- Be considerate. Remember that your peers cannot see your body language or hear your tone of voice, so you need to keep your language direct and respectful.

- Avoid slang, jargon and sarcasm.

- Listen to all ideas presented.  Remember there is no right or wrong in a discussion.  A variety of perspectives add depth and I love depth!  :-)

- Stay open-minded.

- Respond instead of reacting.  Do not write a response if you are angry or upset.  Instead, wait until you have had time to calm down and collect your thoughts.

- Really read your peers responses.  Avoid skimming.  Respect the time your peers have spent articulating their thoughts by reading carefully and thoughtfully.

- Reread your messages before sending them to ensure that your ideas are clearly communicated and supported.

- Critique the content, not the person.

- Do not present your personal opinions as fact.  Back up your ideas with information to strengthen your statements.

- Courteously answer all questions addressed directly to you.

- Make "I" statements when respectfully disagreeing.  Sharing an opposing opinion or idea is an important part of the discussion, but it needs to be presented in a constructive manner that encourages further discussion.

- Do not use all caps when writing.  It is interpreted as yelling.

- Avoid emotional punctuation, like exclamation points, unless you are complimenting an idea shared.

Have I missed anything?  Is there anything that you would like to add to the list?  Please let me know in the comments section.

Thank you for your feedback and let's have a great year blogging!  :-)

Mr. Boettger

Please remember this about the internet and privacy:  Photo courtesy of Dave Hoffman

As well as this:  This picture pretty much sums everything up!  I can't remember where I found it.  So, apologies to the person that made it.  When I find it again, I will give the proper credit!

Be safe everyone!

Inferencing

Believe it or not, we make inferences all of the time in our life. As readers, we need to be "active" readers. What I mean by this is that we can't just read for pleasure, but also read for information hidden in the text. To be a truly "active" reader, you must:

1) Detect the author's hidden clues (words and phrases)
2) Use your background knowledge to make an inference (an educated guess) based off of the hidden clues.

The poster below will help you visualize exactly what I mean.

It's Almost Time!

Hello, my future grade 6/7s!  I hope and trust that your summer was a good one! I can't wait to get this year started!  I will see you on September 3rd!

Please find the classroom newsletter here and the instructions on how to use the Remind App here.

Mr. Boettger :-)

Kiln People

Kiln People  is novel written by David Brin and I can't say as though I have read it (and therefore can't recommend it), but the concept of the novel is rather interesting.

Kiln People, is about a society where you can create clay copies of yourself to do various tasks (e.g. mental tasks, dangerous tasks etc.) while you do something else.  Then at the end of the day, you download their memories back into you. 

So, here is a pretty deep question for this week.  If you had 5 copies of yourself to use this week, what would you have them do?  Make sure you take the time and think about your response before you type it up.  Don't forget to double-check your work for spelling/grammar mistakes.  

Once you have completed your answer, read and respond to at least 2 peers.

As always, I can't wait to see your responses. 

Mr. Boettger  :-)

Change the World

In our guided reading, we have been having some excellent discussions about how we can change the world in a positive way.  This week's question continues from where we left off.

If you could change two things about the world, what would it be? Why would you make these changes?  Make sure you develop your answer before you publish it!

Once you have posted your response, read the responses posted by your peers and reply thoughtfully to at least two other students. Compliment strong points, make connections, ask questions and build on ideas shared!

As always, I look forward to reading your responses!

Mr. Boettger  :-)

Diversity of Living Things - Online Quiz

Welcome to your first online assignment Grade 6s!

Feel free to use any resource you would like to find the answer. However, you must work by yourself. Take your time and read the questions carefully. I want to try and eliminate all silly mistakes. :-)

I've tried to make things a little easier by embedded the quiz right into the blog. However, if you would like to see a full-screen version, just click this link.

Good luck!

Mr. Boettger :-)

British North America - Online Quiz

Same routine as usual.  Feel free to use any resource you would like.  Read the questions carefully and good luck!

Click here for the full-screen version.