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.

Week of February 22, Quote Sandwiches

Quote Sandwiches and Inferences

Hi everyone,

This week we are going to review the characters in "The One Who Watches" by Judith Ortiz Cofer

In Google Docs, create a document called Blog 3: "Character Quote Sandwiches"

You will be creating two quote sandwiches, one for 

• Doris
• Yolanda

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

•Top slice of bread = your thoughts, beliefs and ideas about the character. "Doris 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.