Week of June 7, Grades

Hi everyone,

Today we will think about grades for the final marking period.

• As you know, I am using a program called Engrade to calculate your grades. Please go to the Engrade website to register and see your grades. You need your access code to do this.

• Before you write about your grades, please register for the library's summer reading program. It's free and you get prizes for reading books! How cool!!
• Now please answer the questions below in Google Docs:

• Please give me feedback (comments/suggestions) about your experience in the class. Please be specific and honest as this will help make the class better for you and everyone else in the coming semester.

1. What did you enjoy about class this marking period?  Why?  Please refer to specific activities, projects, workshops, etc.
2. What didn't you enjoy and why?  Please be specific.
3. Were there any activities/projects/topics that we didn't cover that you want us to cover?  Which ones? 
4. What can I do to make the class better for you (aside from no homework J )?  Please be specific.
5. Has your English improved since the class began?  If yes, how?  If no, why not? Please think carefully about this.
6. When and where do you usually do your homework?
7. Do you find it difficult to do your homework? Why?
8. How much time do you spend looking at your class notes each week?
9. What can you do to improve your class participation?
10. How do you study for tests and quizzes?
11. Do you feel that the grade you are getting right now is the best you can do? Why?
12. What strategies will you use to get a better grade next marking period?
13. What advice can you give to your classmates to make their experience in this class more meaningful?
14. Fill in the blanks..."From class this marking period, one thing I will take is _______________ and one thing I will give is ________________."

Week of May 24, Letters to Suzanne Fisher Staples

Hi everyone,

Write a letter to Suzanne Fisher Staples. This is a formal letter, and it should be typed.  Please use the format below.  I will mail the letters to her and maybe she will write us back!  In your letter, please do the following:

Begin with a formal greeting, “Dear Ms Fisher Staples”

Paragraph 1:    Introduce yourself, name, country of origin, grade in school, how long you’ve been in the US, and why you’re writing to her (in my ESL class, we just finished your novel, Shabanu)

Paragraph 2:    Tell her what the book meant to you. Tell her what you enjoyed about it and why, how it made you feel and why, and any text to self connections you made as you read. Be specific.  Refer to actual quotes from the novel(go back to your reading logs to do this, and look at your double entry journals).

Paragraph 3:    Ask her questions you have about the book. Make sure you are respectful and only ask appropriate questions.

Then thank her for reading your letter and writing the memoir.  

Close with “Sincerely” and then print your name and sign the letter.

Do your work in Google Docs!!

Layout for a formal letter:

Your name

Street Address

City, State Zip Code

Today’s date

Dear Ms. Fisher Staples,

My name is…(see above for all details from Paragraph 1).

Your novel Shabanu meant so much to me… (see above for all details from Paragraph 2).

I have some questions about the novel…(see above for Paragraph 3).

Thank you for your time reading my letter and for writing the memoir.

Sincerely,

Sign your name

Print your name

Week of May 16, Analyzing Shabanu

Hi everyone,

This week we will think more deeply about Shabanu.

Please answer the questions below:

1.  The title of one chapter in this section is “Justice.”  Is the decision which Dadi, Mama and Bibi Lal make a just decision?   Select one of the four options listed below.  Write a simple paragraph (approximately 6 – 12 sentences) in which you support your position. 

a.         If you believe the decision is just, explain your reasons.  Include in your explanation who wins and who loses in the decision.

b.         If you believe the decision is unjust, explain your reasons.  Include in your explanation who wins and who loses.

c.         If you believe the decision is unjust but unavoidable,  explain your reasons.  Include in your explanation who wins and who loses.

d.         If you believe a different decision should have been made, explain your decision.  Include in your explanation who would win and who would lose in your solution to the problem.    

  

2.         For which character do you feel the most empathy – that is whose emotions or feelings did you understand the best and care about the most?  Why?  Find quotes that support your ideas.

3.         Write your own ending to the story.  

Week of May 2, Analyzing Shabanu

This week we will dig deeper into Shabanu.

• Please answer the questions below in your Google Drive.
• Call the document "Blog 10, Analyzing Shabanu". 
• Answer each as a quote sandwich. In other words, start with your ideas about the question, then give a quote to prove it, then finish with your ideas. 

1. What do Dadi and Shabanu encounter when they attempt to bury Grandfather?  What appears to be lacking in the personalities of Sulaiman and the villagers in general?
2. What do Shabanu and Phulan find while they are out hunting for sito?  What do Dadi’s actions suggest about his character and beliefs?
3. A dilemma is any situation requiring a choice between equal—often equally unpleasant—alternatives. Explain Shabanu’s dilemma when she and Phulan meet Nazir Mohammad and his hunters. Shabanu’s choosing to save her sister from rape leads to the story’s climax. On p.154, why is Shabanu angry at her sister?

When you finish, post your answers to our blog in the comments section. Then read 2 other classmates' responses and write what you learned from them.

Week of April 25, Grades

Hi everyone,

Today we will think about grades for the second marking period.

• As you know, I am using a program called Engrade to calculate your grades. Please go to the Engrade website to register and see your grades. You need your access code to do this.

• Now please answer the questions below in Google Docs:

• Please give me feedback (comments/suggestions) about your experience in the class. Please be specific and honest as this will help make the class better for you and everyone else in the coming semester.

1. What did you enjoy about class this marking period?  Why?  Please refer to specific activities, projects, workshops, etc.
2. What didn't you enjoy and why?  Please be specific.
3. Were there any activities/projects/topics that we didn't cover that you want us to cover?  Which ones? 
4. What can I do to make the class better for you (aside from no homework J )?  Please be specific.
5. Has your English improved since the class began?  If yes, how?  If no, why not? Please think carefully about this.
6. When and where do you usually do your homework?
7. Do you find it difficult to do your homework? Why?
8. How much time do you spend looking at your class notes each week?
9. What can you do to improve your class participation?
10. How do you study for tests and quizzes?
11. Do you feel that the grade you are getting right now is the best you can do? Why?
12. What strategies will you use to get a better grade next marking period?
13. What advice can you give to your classmates to make their experience in this class more meaningful?
14. Fill in the blanks..."From class this marking period, one thing I will take is _______________ and one thing I will give is ________________."

Week of April 18, More quote sandwiches on Shabanu

Quote Sandwiches about Characters

Hi everyone,

This week we are going to continue to analyze the characters in Shabanu by Suzanne Fisher Staples, as we know them in the second section of the novel. We will continue doing this over the next weeks, to see how the characters change.

In Google Docs, create a document called Blog 8: "Shabanu Character Quote Sandwiches"

You will be creating four quote sandwiches, one for 

• Shabanu
• Guluband
• Dadi

Write one full paragraph for each character, as a quote sandwich, following this structure:

•Top slice of bread = your thoughts, beliefs and ideas about the character. "Shabanu is ________________ because __________." This should be about 2-3 sentences long.

•In the middle is the meat = the quote from the story that teaches us about this character. "We can see this in the quote on page ___, "...."".

•Bottom slice of bread = “this quotes shows us that…” Concluding sentences, again proving what you believe about this character. Again about 2-3 sentences long.

When you are finished, post your quote sandwiches to our blog.

Week of April 11, Quote Sandwiches for Shabanu

Quote Sandwiches about Characters

Hi everyone,

This week we are going to analyze the characters in Shabanu by Suzanne Fisher Staples, as we know them in the beginning of the novel. We will continue doing this over the next weeks, to see how the characters change.

In Google Docs, create a document called Blog 7: "Shabanu Character Quote Sandwiches"

You will be creating four quote sandwiches, one for 

• Shabanu
• Phulan
• Mama
• Dadi

Write one full paragraph for each character, as a quote sandwich, following this structure:

•Top slice of bread = your thoughts, beliefs and ideas about the character. "Shabanu is ________________ because __________." This should be about 2-3 sentences long.

•In the middle is the meat = the quote from the story that teaches us about this character. "We can see this in the quote on page ___, "...."".

•Bottom slice of bread = “this quotes shows us that…” Concluding sentences, again proving what you believe about this character. Again about 2-3 sentences long.

When you are finished, post your quote sandwiches to our blog.

Week of March 14, Fighting Bullying

Hi everyone,

This week we are learning about how to fight against bullying.

Please visit this wonderful PBS website.

While you are there, you can find answers to the questions below.

1. What is bullying?
2. Who is a bully?
3. Who is a target?
4. How can you handle it?
5. What are innocent bystanders?
6. What is online bullying?

Please type your answers in Google Docs and then post them to our blog.

Also, please do the following:

1. Play the interactive games on the website to beat the bully!
2. Vote in their poll on the homepage

Finally, please visit these great websites and write a review on your favorite:

1. 121help.me
2. American Learns
3. Beat Bullying
4. Bully Beware
5. Bully Bust
6. Bullying. No Way!
7. BullyingUK
8. Girl Talk
9. KAM Kindness Above Malice
10. Kidpower
11. Make a Difference for Kids
12. One Million Kids
13. Stop Bullying
14. Stop Bullying Now
15. Stop Bullying, Start Empathy
16. The Bully Project

Thanks,

Ms Mann

Week of March 7, Grades for Marking Period 1

Hi everyone,

Today we will think about grades for the first marking period.

• I am using a program called Engrade to calculate your grades. Please go to the Engrade website to register and see your grades. You need your access code to do this, which is on the strip of paper I've given you.

• Now please answer the questions below in Google Docs:

1. What did you enjoy about class this marking period?  Why?  Please refer to specific activities, projects, workshops, etc.
2. What didn't you enjoy and why?  Please be specific.
3. Were there any activities/projects/topics that we didn't cover that you want us to cover?  Which ones? 
4. What can I do to make the class better for you (aside from no homework J )?  Please be specific.
5. Has your English improved since the class began?  If yes, how?  If no, why not? Please think carefully about this.
6. When and where do you usually do your homework?
7. Do you find it difficult to do your homework? Why?
8. How much time do you spend looking at your class notes each week?
9. What can you do to improve your class participation?
10. How do you study for tests and quizzes?
11. Do you feel that the grade you are getting right now is the best you can do? Why?
12. What strategies will you use to get a better grade next marking period?
13. What advice can you give to your classmates to make their experience in this class more meaningful?
14. Fill in the blanks..."From class this marking period, one thing I will take is _______________ and one thing I will give is ________________."

• Now post your answers on our class blog as a comment.

Week of February 29, More quote sandwiches

Quote Sandwiches and Inferences

Hi everyone,

This week we are going to review the characters in "The Man Who Was Almost a Man" by Richard Wright

In Google Docs, create a document called Blog 4: "Character Quote Sandwiches"

You will be creating three quote sandwiches, one for 

• Dave Saunders
• Mother
• Father

Write paragraph for each character, as a quote sandwich, following this structure:

•Top slice of bread = your thoughts, beliefs and ideas about the character. "Dave is ________________ because __________."

•In the middle is the meat = the quote from the story that teaches us about this character. "We can see this in the quote on page ___, "...."".

•Bottom slice of bread = “this quotes shows us that…” Concluding sentences, again proving what you believe about this character.

When you are finished, post your quote sandwiches to our blog.