Another day in the learning commons

Examing past grade seven yearbooks.

Looking over the class photos from years gone by.  I wonder what the three people at the end of the couch are studying.  They look intent, don't they?

Reading just doesn't happen in books....

thinking and searching are all part of learning.

Grade One Students are Learning in Depth Leaders!

Seoyeong, in Mrs Chalmers' class, shares her

learning in depth ideas with kindergarten students. 

Students collected facts and pictures then organized them 

 into books provided by our helpful volunteer, Mrs. Holmes.

Daniel is happy to share his facts about the solar system

 

Sehej shows Keegan explains his ideas about small planes and jets.

Creative Eagles Club

Creative Eagles Club

The knitting group and the chess players both needed a place to work....why not the learning commons?

I saw lots of kids with rainbow looms...why not join us?  It seems like a perfect fit!

I think more creative people could join in the future....paper airplane pilots? jigsaw puzzlers?  Got an idea?  Talk to Ms Leko in the Learning Commons.

Learning commons = teaching and learning together.

Ms Sadafi is getting some tips about rainbow looms

what you can make on them.

Caden shows us his new creations!

Amy and Lily talk about how to work the elastics 

on their fingers instead of a loom.

Teaching and learning together!  The Creative Eagles Rock!

Jon and Winston in the Creative Eagles Club!

Paralympcis 2014


"You can't play hockey.  You don't have any legs."

"You can't ski.  You're blind."

Some students at Erma Stephenson were puzzled by these comments.  Some thought playing hockey without legs would be impossible.  How can skiers go down hill without seeing where to turn?  How can blind athletes shoot at targets in the biathlon? 

Our conclusions?  Change the rules!  Change the equipment!  Change the building!  Change attitudes!

Watch these videoes:

Visually Impaired Russian Biathlathele - Mikhalina Lysova

US Paralympics Biathlon

Each of the these short videos have information but did you notice which one was more neutral and which was more patriotic?

Sledge hockey in Canada

I especially like the part where Bradley Bowden admits he wanted to stay home and play video games but his grandmother was big on getting him out of the house.

Go Gramma! I admire this lady!  She encouraged her grandson and now he is on Team Canada representing his country with the best sledge hockey players in the land.  I bet she is very proud!

Luge

This week students in the Erma Stephenson learning commons were given a challenge after watching this "Inside the Action" video from The New York Times about luge.   Show how luge athletes position themselves on a sled.

 Chloe and Kaya are showing the correct foot position--pointed so the air flows over the body.

 Kayla is checking Eddie's head position.  It looks great--just high enough so he can see the track but not too high to cause a lot of wind resistance.  His legs are lifted so they wouldn't be dragging on the ground.  What team work!

Try it at home!  You will be surprised at how much core strength is needed to lift your legs and head!

Big Boxes - What happened?

When the office got new furniture, the learning commons got 3 big boxes:

 

How many kids can fit in a teepee?

A box on its side can be a quiet reading cave 

or on its side it's a perfect boat for four!

Big kids want to play too!  

Ready to be shipped to an exotic location?

The kindergarteners wanted to decorate the outside of the box.

There was a serious discussion about how big to make the eyes, what colour they should be and where to put them on the bus.  All of a sudden something else became more important than the eyes.

Unifix Cubes - What happened?

No directions....just linking cubes on a table.....

"Look at this helicopter I made!"

Some intermediate students wanted to send this message:

 

I was having a hard time sticking the cubes together to make the  letter S.  A boy suggested I place the letters on the table first to make the shape and then click the cubes together last.  
I found creating letters his way easier and faster.  

The learning commons is about everyone learning together.  
A good teacher-librarian can create situations 
where students are the teachers.  
Children need to see adults learning too.

A close up of the reindeer and sleigh: