Trail and Error

I'm making an effort to figure out how to use blogging as a writing tool for my students next year. I like using pictures to help my students free write with a focus on description. Working with ELD students, I rationalize that this will help them practice writing, give them the freedom to be creative, and help them note the details.

One of my favorite websites to use when searching for pictures is Kodak moment of the day. The above picture was found on that site on July 21, 2017

The instructions I'd give my students would be: "Use the picture to create a story. You can be as creative as you want."

Maria had not known that the void would appear one day and call to people born on odd months and odd days and odd years. The void believed that those born on those days, months, and years were odd and deserved to be in an alternate universe. Then on the first day of the first month on the first year the void appeared.

Brunch with the friends

Celebrating birthdays is fun when it's not mine. My co-worker has turned 80. She's retiring at the end of the month and knowing that I won't have be able to run up to her classroom and listen to her stories is making me sad. I'm sad that I won't be able to share cake with her. I'm sad that I won't be able to enjoy her humor. I'll miss her snarky comments and the way she manages to throw shade at others without them realizing.

My retiree is not the only coworker i'm losing this  year. One of my favorite co-worker/friend/department family member is moving all of a sudden. She has been a source of comfort and stability for the last 5 years. It will not be easy to find another work family/friend that is supportive and brilliant.

http://wordsmith.org/words/exonerate.html

http://wordsmith.org/words/exonerate.html

Dec 1 2015

ESL 3/4
1. SSR
2. Complete Compare/Contrast paragraph
3. Personality (Character) Traits

To Turn In:
Grandfather's Journey Comprehension Questions
Chunk Questions
Venn Diagram (Foldable)
Personality Trait Handout

Reminders

First off please remember that you must turn your work in to the rainbow box that is next to the door.

I try to make sure that I'm updating Power School as quickly as I can, but it will at least say if you have turned in the assignment.

Articles of the Week are due within the 6 week grading period. I'm nice, but not that nice. If I give you the chance, you will turn in all your work the day before grades are due and that is not fair to me.

I try to keep my agenda available on the wing next to the promethean board. Sometimes I get sidetracked and forget, but it usually is on our flipchart in class. 

Please remember that our agenda is composed of 3 questions:
1. What are we doing?
2. How are we doing it?
3. Why are we doing it?

Organizing my Online Presence

My goal this year is to try and make sure that if you are absent you will know how to go about getting the info that you need for what you missed. 

For the 10th grade class, I'm using a google sites page.

The ESL classes are trying out Google Classroom.

For the most part I like the google sites page a bit better, but only because the Google Classroom is newer.

I do still have certain items on Moodle or My Big Campus so you will have to follow whatever instructions I give you.

4-28-15 Period 1-5

1. SSR
2. Academic Summary of "Cafeteria Wars"
3. Review academic words.

Second Semester 2014-2015

The goal is to retry using blogs in a class. I hope to use it with all 9th grade classes to make it easier to manage paper. Now let us see how that works.

My Big Campus

Our district is asking us to use My Big Campus this year. So here are instructions on how to access it. I'm tired of repeating myself, so this way you can hear me all the time ;).

My Big Campus Instruction

2/2/11

PERIOD 1/2
1. Review grammar (nouns/verbs/simple subjects)
2. Say Something with an article about health care.
3. Chart the text, to summarize what the writer is saying and doing in the article.

Period 4
1. Activity 3.3--Quotables. Explain each quote and what it means in writing on a seperate sheet of paper.

PERIOD 5/6
1. "Persuading Me" packet.
2. Journal write: Describe a time you were persuaded by force to do something you didn't want to do.
3. 2nd Journal Write: Write about a time you reacted to an incident emotionally. How might the outcome have changed had you reacted rationally?

p.5 1-5-11

California Employment
My Future
Kids.gov
BLS.gov
BLS k-12

p. 4 1-5-10

1. Look through webquest.

p.5 1-4-11

1. Begin sentence starters for Introduction paragraph for compare/contrast essay.
2. Begin research for careers.

P.4 1-4-10

1. Finish reading "Let's Hear it for the Cheerleaders"
2. Re-read it this time underlining/highlighting humorous/funny passages.

• You will use this to fill out the graphic organizer on pg. 172

3. Read "Introduction to Satire" pg. 174

• create your own definition or find examples for each of the chracteristics

4. As you read both sections begin writing questions of what you do not understand, comments about how you could learn this info and where could you find this information.

p.1--12-10-10

1. Complete reading "The Science of Fairy Tales"
2. Write an academic summary.
3. Review "Human Interest Story"
4. Write your own human interest based on a fairy tale.

• Read a fairy tale.
• Decide who is the accused and villain in the story.
• Imagine that you have interviewed them both and write a story that will explain what happened between the two characters.
• Use quotes from your imaginary interview.
• Make sure that your article is at least 2 pages long
  

12-9-10 P.5

1. Finish dialectical Journals on Apollo and Phaeton.
2. Introduce Mind mirror map.
3. Begin mind mirror map.

12-9-10 p. 1

1. Academic Summaries--Handout and practice
2. Read "The Science of Fairy Tales"

• Read in sections and take notes on a separate sheet of paper.
• Circle words you do not know
• Underline the main idea of each section

12-8-10--p. 5

1. Finish Reading "Phaeton."
2. Complete Comparison/Contrast Matrix
3. Begin Dialectical Journal for Phaeton.
HW: Dialectical Joural for Apollo

p.1 12-3-10

1. Complete Compare/Contrast of two fairy tales.
2. Read "The Three Little Pigs"
3. Read The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs.
4. Read The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig"
5. Complete a Venn Diagram comparing/contrasting the three stories.

p. 4 12-2-10

1. QUICK WRITE: Based on your observations, write a paragraph defending your favorite medium and citing specific examples of sources you use from that medium. Explain why you use this medium to get your "news" despite it's limitations.

2.