Week of March 27, Research for Of Mice and Men

Hi everyone,

This week, we are going to do some background research in preparation to read our novel, Of Mice and Men.

This novel addresses several important topics:

1. Migrant workers
2. The Great Depression
3. Mental Retardation
4. Euthanasia/Mercy Killing
5. Farming/Ranching in the 1930's
6. John Steinbeck

Today, please do research on these topics. Each of the above topics is a link to a website with good information for you.

Copy and paste the questions below into a new document in Google Docs. Save the document as "Research for Of Mice and Men". If you don't finish in class, you must finish at home!

1. When was the Great Depression?
2. Where did it occur?
3. Find an image from the Great Depression.
4. What are migrant workers?
5. What is ranching?
6. What was it like to be a farmer or rancher in the 1930's?
7. What did migrant workers do on ranches?
8. Why was the Great Depression a difficult time for migrant workers (this question will not have answers on line. You need to make an inference (an educated guess based on your knowledge))?
9. What is mental retardation?
10. Imagine you were a migrant worker who had mental retardation during the Great Depression. Why is this a very difficult situation to be in (this question will not have answers on line. You need to make an inference (an educated guess based on your knowledge))?
11. What is mercy killing or euthanasia?
12. Tell me three facts about John Steinbeck.

Now post your answers to our class blog.

Week of March 20, Helping the CIW

Hi everyone,

This week we are going to help the CIW in their new campaign.

Please do your work in Google Docs! Save it and print it for class.

• Write a letter to supermarket chain that buys tomatoes from Immokalee. (Some of the largest supermarket chains that buy Florida tomatoes are Kroger, Publix, Martin’s, Giant, and Stop & Shop.)
• Write to this business about the challenges that farm workers in Immokalee face, and explain to the business how they can help these workers.
• Use specific information from the articles we have read and videos we have watched to support your ideas.
• Your letter should be at least three paragraphs.

Paragraph One – Introduce yourself and explain why you care about the rights of farm workers in Immokalee.

Paragraph Two – Explain the needs of the farm workers. What do you think the business you are writing to should do to help the farm workers? Why do you think the business should do this? Why will it be good for the farm workers? Why will it be good for the business?

Paragraph Three – Summarize your request and why it is important.

Please do your work in Google Docs! Save it and print it for class. We need it because we will be revising them and mailing them!

Week of March 13, Coalition of Immokalee Workers

Hi everyone,

This week we are going to learn about the Coalition of Immokalee Workers.

Please visit their website.

Now watch these films about the organization:

Watch Immokalee on PBS. See more from Connect.

Now watch this Public Service Announcement:

One Penny More from Ralf Gonzalez DP on Vimeo.

Then answer these questions (you can find the answers on the CIW's website):

1. What is the mission of this organization?
2. Where are they located?
3. What successes have they had?
4. What is their current campaign about?
5. What inspires you about their work and why?

Now please post your response to our blog as a comment.

Then read three other students' blogs and write responses.

Week of March 6, Nothing Gold Can Stay

Hi everyone,

This week we are going to read a poem called "Nothing Gold Can Stay" by Robert Frost.

Nothing Gold Can Stay

By Robert Frost

1. Nature's first green is gold,

2. Her hardest hue to hold.

3. Her early leaf's a flower;

4. But only so an hour.

5. Then leaf subsides to leaf.

6. So Eden sank to grief,

7. So dawn goes down to day.

8. Nothing gold can stay.

Please watch this video, a visual interpretation of the poem.

Nothing Gold Can Stay from Veronica Wong on Vimeo.

Please answer these questions in Google Docs:

1. What is one part of the poem you like and why?
2. What is one part you didn't understand?
3. What is one question you have?
4. What do you think this poem is about?

Then post your answer as a comment to our class blog.

Finally, read three classmates comments and write responses to them telling them what you learned from their post and what you liked about it.

Week of February 27, Respect for All

Hi everyone,

This week we are going to think about bullying and why it's a human rights violation.

To begin, please visit these websites:

1. The Bully Project - watch trailer by clicking on link, then clicking button that says "watch trailer"


2. NY Times interview - watch what the film maker says.


3. CNN clip on film - watch
4. Watch this film:



5. Go to Do Something and do something. Scroll to the bottom of the page. Where it asks you what cause, select violence and bullying. Then fill out the rest of the form and do what it asks you to do! Also, give them your email address to get emails about helping others.
6. In google docs, write a response to the questions below:

• a. What does bullying mean to you?


• b. Have you ever been a victim of bullying? How did it make you feel?


• c. How is bullying a human rights issue?
  


• d. What steps can you personally take to help those who are bullied

When you finish, please post your response as a comment on our blog. After you post your response, read 3 other students' responses and write a response to them.

Week of February 6: Welcome to our class blog!

Hi everyone,

This week we are going to become familiar with using a class blog.

Each week we will be using our blog to share our ideas about the literature we read and the themes we discuss in class.

Requirements:

• Headphones
• Gmail account (click here to get a gmail account) (make sure you choose a user name and password that you will remember because you will have to sign in often)
• Google docs account (comes with gmail and is free)
• Internet at home

I will expect you to finish the assignments on this blog each week. If you do not, you will have to finish them for homework.

This week, please use google docs to answer the questions below:

1. How do you feel about using technology (computers, internet, smart boards, etc.) in theclassroom and why?
2. What experience do you have using blogs as part of your classes?
3. Why is it important to learn to use a blog for our class?
4. How will using this blog help you in the future as a college student and when you are aprofessional adult?

Once you have answered the questions below, please paste your answer into a comment to our blog. Be sure to put your first and last name on your post so we know who you are. Please do not use a nickname because this can be confusing.

Then, read two classmate's comments and write a comment to them answering the questions below:

1. What do you like about their blog post and why?


2. What did you find interesting and why?

Week of January 17, Final Grades

Hi everyone,

Today we will reflect on the work we've done this marking period. Please answer the questions below in Google Docs, then post your responses in the comments section below.

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?