Ms. Kassam's Humanities Blog

I'm so sorry that I forgot to update on Friday! The PD was so busy that the time got away from me. Now I'm going to try to provide an update without any of the information I need, because it's all in my classroom. I hope you're enjoying the most interesting weather we are having. Update: This week we had great conversations about what matters to the families in our classes during the upcoming Federal Election. There were some significant trends towards the economy and the climate, primarily. How to balance the needs of the country is a topic we will continue to explore. Students will participate in "Student Vote" the day before the election. We also practiced presenting in a style that is more conversational and less stilted when sharing information with our classmates. I saw excellent progress in students' ability to summarize key information while maintaining eye contact with the class. Next Week: Monday: Picture Day - yes, you have to wear u

September 20, 2019 A quick thanks to all the parents we had the opportunity to meet during interviews. We are looking forward to a great year together. Classroom Update Before diving into the Renaissance, we are taking a look at what the world outside of Europe looked like in the 1200's. This will provide a broader perspective on how Europe began to experience a 'rebirth'. To do this, students have been investigating a particular country and on Monday will share (conversationally) what the three amazing aspects of their country are. Developing our speaking skills is a big part of the work we do, and students are really adapting to the requirements. On Thursday, we also began our work in Read Theory, an online program to support the development of reading comprehension skills. What's due Next Week: 1. Be prepared to converse about the amazing aspects of your country in the 1200's. 2. Read Theory, up to and including #2. 3. Book orders by Wednesday, Septe

Welcome It's been a very busy two weeks already - 1. Knowledge Building Circles 2. Letters from household items 3. Write a story from a different perspective 4. Presentations about Canadian historical events which changed our Worldview. Phew! Your children have been working very hard in Grade 8 already. Communication If you would like to get in touch with me, please use sskassam@cbe.ab.ca for all correspondence. Book Orders I sent home book orders, with students who were interested, last week. Book orders are due on Wednesday, September 25. Orders can be made online at scholastic.ca/canadaclubs (look for Salima Kassam once you've created an account), or your child can bring the form in by the 25th. Huge Thanks I really appreciate the effort you have put in to getting the school forms in. This really helps us to be ready when we go on our first walking trip on Wednesday, to Telus Spark. Interviews We look forward to meeting many of you later this week during Pa