Spring break is just around the corner. That means a couple of things:
First, our blended course begins very, very soon! I'm taking care of a lot of details and planning. I even ordered us lanyards at a deep discount! Tomorrow night (Thursday), I'm holding an information session for parents about the blended pilot. Your family is welcome to come! You can come too if you really want to, but I'll pretty much be saying the same things I said in class.
Second, the MCA reading exam is coming up. You will take this exam. It tests your reading comprehension on different types of texts. I'm going to hand out a practice exam for you to review over break.
Last, SPRING BREAK IS COMING! Let's all give a big cheer.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Closing in on a Blended Course!
I haven't been with you for the last couple of days because I've been hard at work on our blended course. Thanks to some awesome collaborators (Mr. Nelson, Ms. Swenson, Mr. Walker, and Doc Lock), I'm ready to roll out some specifics! We'll talk all about it on Monday.
Also on Monday, we'll talk about the first 45 pages of Night by Elie Weisel. This is an easy, but moving and important read. There's a lot to discuss.
A few reminders for next week in general: Your creative writing is due on Wednesday. Your piece should reflect about four hours of good, hard work. Be sure that it does! Also, you'll have a final vocab test on Thursday. The full set is in Quizlet. We'll talk Monday about specifics.
I'm uploading grades to Edline again today, as I have been more regularly this quarter. Third quarter is typically difficult for students for a variety of reasons. Be sure to talk with me if you have concerns about your grade.
Also on Monday, we'll talk about the first 45 pages of Night by Elie Weisel. This is an easy, but moving and important read. There's a lot to discuss.
A few reminders for next week in general: Your creative writing is due on Wednesday. Your piece should reflect about four hours of good, hard work. Be sure that it does! Also, you'll have a final vocab test on Thursday. The full set is in Quizlet. We'll talk Monday about specifics.
I'm uploading grades to Edline again today, as I have been more regularly this quarter. Third quarter is typically difficult for students for a variety of reasons. Be sure to talk with me if you have concerns about your grade.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Quick Overview of Next Week
Today in class, you took a quiz on Chapters 10 and 11, and then you worked in class on the Epilogue of In the Time of the Butterflies. Next week, we'll be finishing up the text!
Here's a brief overview of what will happen:
On Monday and Tuesday, we'll discuss the text as a whole. We'll use a taxonomy to brainstorm topics and themes. We'll also go back to the anticipation guide we used at the beginning of this unit, as well as the word inquisition. How did our study enhance your understanding of solidarity? Of subversives? Of bigotry? Of torture? What does Alvarez's text say about these topics?
In the back half of Tuesday's class, I'll divide you into groups to plan your essays on the text. I'll also provide an example of how to generate a theme statement.
On Wednesday, you'll complete your essays.
Thursday and Friday, we're on to a new unit! Stay tuned!
Here's a brief overview of what will happen:
On Monday and Tuesday, we'll discuss the text as a whole. We'll use a taxonomy to brainstorm topics and themes. We'll also go back to the anticipation guide we used at the beginning of this unit, as well as the word inquisition. How did our study enhance your understanding of solidarity? Of subversives? Of bigotry? Of torture? What does Alvarez's text say about these topics?
In the back half of Tuesday's class, I'll divide you into groups to plan your essays on the text. I'll also provide an example of how to generate a theme statement.
On Wednesday, you'll complete your essays.
Thursday and Friday, we're on to a new unit! Stay tuned!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Speech Grading Criteria
Here's the grading criteria for the speech:
Informative Speech Assessment
____ Riveting opening
____ Facts/ideas supported with the following two research sources:
____ Topic fits the time scale of one to two minutes. Time: __________
____ Humor or other entertaining techniques employed
____ Speech ends with a summary
____ Professional speaking style employed. No hats, hoods, gum, ah’s, um’s, etc.
____ Made eye contact with audience
I'm looking forward to these! I'm planning to learn a lot.
Informative Speech Assessment
____ Riveting opening
____ Facts/ideas supported with the following two research sources:
____ Topic fits the time scale of one to two minutes. Time: __________
____ Humor or other entertaining techniques employed
____ Speech ends with a summary
____ Professional speaking style employed. No hats, hoods, gum, ah’s, um’s, etc.
____ Made eye contact with audience
I'm looking forward to these! I'm planning to learn a lot.
Speech Assignment
I'm borrowing this great idea directly from Ms. Roehl, one of my favorite partners in crime. We're giving informative speeches on the questions you brainstormed during the Images Part I activity.
Check out her description of the assignment here.
You'll give your speech tomorrow during class! This will be fun!
Check out her description of the assignment here.
You'll give your speech tomorrow during class! This will be fun!
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Bonus for the Blog Readers
I'm giving fair warning here that there's a comprehensive reading quiz on Ch. 7 and 8on Monday. So, read carefully! Be prepared!
This week, you'll be finishing In the Time of the Butterflies. We'll be discussing the text on Tuesday, part of Wednesday, and Thursday. On Friday, you'll finish the book in class, while working with a study guide.
This is just for fun, but OMG, it's cool. Check out this video by the band Ok Go:
This week, you'll be finishing In the Time of the Butterflies. We'll be discussing the text on Tuesday, part of Wednesday, and Thursday. On Friday, you'll finish the book in class, while working with a study guide.
This is just for fun, but OMG, it's cool. Check out this video by the band Ok Go:
Monday, March 1, 2010
ITB Discussion, Day One
Today in class, we're discussing In the Time of the Butterflies. I happen to love this book so much. It's truly one of my favorite novels, and I hope many of you will enjoy it just as much as I do!
Here are the questions and issues I asked you to discuss:
- The differences between the writing styles in chapters 1 and 2
- The aspects of the culture that seem uniquely Dominican and uniquely American.
- What do the Spanish words used add to the story?
- What does knowing that Dede is the lone survivor of the Mirabal sisters add to the story? Why do you think Alvarez would let the reader know the outcome of the story in the first chapter?
- Why are possible interpretations of the chapter title, “Complications”? Give supporting material from the text.
We also took a look at the comments the third graders offered on your podcasts! Check them out at my Edublog here.
Finally, I asked everyone to make a two-page spread timeline in their notebooks to keep track of the events in the novel. This spread will help you on your group essay, which is the final assessment for this unit.
Here's a photo of the flow map with the appropriate dates:
Here are the questions and issues I asked you to discuss:
- The differences between the writing styles in chapters 1 and 2
- The aspects of the culture that seem uniquely Dominican and uniquely American.
- What do the Spanish words used add to the story?
- What does knowing that Dede is the lone survivor of the Mirabal sisters add to the story? Why do you think Alvarez would let the reader know the outcome of the story in the first chapter?
- Why are possible interpretations of the chapter title, “Complications”? Give supporting material from the text.
We also took a look at the comments the third graders offered on your podcasts! Check them out at my Edublog here.
Finally, I asked everyone to make a two-page spread timeline in their notebooks to keep track of the events in the novel. This spread will help you on your group essay, which is the final assessment for this unit.
Here's a photo of the flow map with the appropriate dates:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)