MOVED TO A NEW SITE

Because of filters blocking "Blogger," I have moved our blog to a new site.
Please remove the bookmark for this site and replace with bookmark for new site.

Thanks.

Moving to a new blog site...

I am going to move our class blog to another blog site that isn't blocked. I have been working on getting this blogger site opened up so you can access it during school time, but have faced some obstacles. The category Blogger falls into, "Web Communications," is verboten.

Let's migrate to edubloggers. Please bookmark the new site and call it "New English."

Keep this Blogger site bookmarked while we make the transition. Next week, I will have you guys re-create your blogs on the new site so we can participate in some cool blog writing for our class. You will not have to re-write your Sea Creature blogs.

Reminder: If you never printed out and gave me hard copy of your sea creature entry, you must do so!

Onward....

Tuesday September 15

In Class

Honors--discussed theme and meaning in "The Computer Date." I enjoyed our discussion
about the story. You did a nice job of starting with a premise (thanks, Harry) and
moving through the story for concrete evidence to support it.

A, C, and G (honors)
--handed out reading on theme. Read the chapter on theme. Our goal
in understanding theme is to move from a topic to an actual statement. Use the
suggestions from the reading to help determine theme. Consider the 6 principles
the reading suggests in forming a statement of theme.

-- continued Rainman. We have been looking at character motivation and change, as well
the film makers' use of symbol (think silver bullet) and detail to show meaning. We will apply our understanding of theme to story ("The Computer Date") and to the film. Remember we
are looking for the human truth offered by the story.

DUE NOW and HOMEWORK
--By now, you should have shown me vocab lesson 17 for credit. You have only 24 hours to get late 1/2 credit for the assignment. We will review the words at the end of the week or the beginning of next week. NO QUIZ this Friday. We will postpone it until next week.

--All revised library reviews must be posted or handed in hard copy (only if you book is not in the library collection) by 3:30 on WEDNESDAY!

--For Friday, write a statement of theme for "The Computer Date" applying the principles from the reading on theme. Your statement should be 1-3 sentences in length. Write on your copy of the short story.

Upcoming
--We will begin reading our next books this weekend.
Honors: Dreaming in Cuban pages 3-34 with study guide questions due Monday
Regulars: The House on Mango Street 3-26 for Monday with study questions

ALL--study guide questions will be posted on Moodle.
Reminder: As with all of our readings, I expect that you are ACTIVELY reading.
Warning: YOU MUST BRING YOUR BOOK TO CLASS EACH DAY OR RISK BEING PENALIZED FOR NOT BEING PREPARED.

Monday September 14

In Class
--Checked in Vocabulary Lesson 17
--Continued discussion of theme
--Discussed meaning and detail in "The Computer Date"

Homework
--Complete Vocab (class that still needed to complete the workbook)
--Re-write library review and re-post (you may need to wait for Ms. Mandel to delete your draft)

This Week
--If time permits, begin review and refresh of grammar
--Regulars will begin reading The House on Mango Street
--Honors will begin reading Dreaming in Cuban
--Vocab quiz on Friday

Friday September 11

In Class
--Showed two computer assisted note-taking tools (Word and Google)
--Reviewed Elements of Literature
--REGULARS: Read Gary Soto's "The Computer Date" REGS ONLY
--HONORS: Re-read page 78 from Gangster and discussed structure and meaning
--Applied literary elements and began to work on understanding theme

Homework
ALL: Do lesson 17 in vocabulary

REGULARS: Re-read for meaning (ACTIVELY). Consider characters' relationship to setting and others in the story. Consider what human truth is revealed in the experience of the speaker.

HONORS: Find your family photo. Write a descriptive paragraph that reflects your understanding of Thuy's writing. Consider what literary elements are revealed by the story of the photo. A formal write up of the assignment is posted on Moodle.

Thursday September 10

In Class
Reviewed Freytag's Pyramid (aka Pyramid of Action)
--exposition
--rising action
--climax (point of no return)
--falling action
--denouement

Watched Rainman and applied the above mentioned elements to the film.

Here's a list of "you haves"
--read the biography of Kim Peek on the website linked on Moodle (Kim Peek: Wisconsin Med...)
--watched one of the clips on the Kim Peek link. Consider that Kim Peek was a character study for Raymond Babbit in Rainman.
--taken the grammar diagnostic quiz (Parts of Speech quiz in week #4)
--submitted your 1 page perspective piece (back up with upload to Moodle) REGS ONLY
--submitted your book review to the library server at http:lrodalib. Can only upload from school. If your book is not in the catalog, you must submit hard copy. REGS ONLY
--posted AND handed in hard copy of your "Sea Creature Me" blog (late by this time)
--created, printed, and presented your Dream Board

Upcoming
--Grammar Lesson (reviewing parts of speech and parts of the sentence)
--Beginning House on Mango Street and exploring theme

Wednesday September 9

In Class
--Discussed Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences. See notes on Moodle.
--Watch video of a boy with Asperger's Syndrome talk about his experience in the world (linked on Moodle)
--Learned about Kim Peek, the character inspiration for Rainman, the film we began watching today.
--Watched first 30 minutes of Rainman. Discussed Freytag's Pyramid, Characterization, and Epiphany.

HONORS CLASS
--Presentations Today for The Gangster We Are All Looking For.
These were truly impressive, you guys. You identified critical language, understood symbols, and offered interesting and varied interpretations of a very open-ended assignment. Cool. I enjoyed your work.

Homework (ALL)
--If your class' video about Kim Peek did not load, please choose one of the 5 videos linked under Kim Peek link on Moodle.

--Read about Kim Peek in the short bio at the bottom of the Kim Peek video page on Moodle.

--REGULARS ONLY: If you have not yet submitted your review of your summer reading book to the library server accessible only from school (http://lrodalib) or handed in hard copy (only if your book is not in our collection) then your assignment is officially late and subject to late penalties.

--REGULARS ONLY: Collected perspective writings today in class. You were required to submit hard copy.

--You should have by now taken the grammar diagnostic test on Moodle. If you don't have a score in Moodle, you will receive a "0" for this "soft" grade.

Upcoming
--Finishing Rainman
--Discussing Elements of Fiction in context of Rainman
--On-going discussion of perspective and story-telling

HONORS UPCOMING
--For weekend homework, I will ask you to locate a family picture. The picture does not have to be recent, may not even be from your generation. Choose a picture that reveals information about relationships and character. Talk to family members about the photo to see what insights they offer about the story of the picture and the people in it. Write a paragraph of description. Use Thuy's paragraph on page 78 as a model.

Blogging Challenge

If I can get the school to lift restrictions on blogs, I'd love to participate in this international blogging challenge. I am writing this entry to mark this contest and see how many of you seem interested in taking class time this year to communicate with others and increase our "digital footprint."

Here's some information to consider. Of course, our ability to participate will be hindered if we can't convince the filters to let some blog light through.

Student Blogging Challenge

Tuesday September 8

In Class
--Discussed Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences
--Watched video created by a boy with Asperger's (on the spectrum of autism)
--Read excerpt from Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Homework
--Complete grammar diagnostic test on Moodle (go to week titled "GRAMMAR")
--Watch one of the videos of Kim Peek on the Wisconsin Medical Society's pages on autism
--Read background on Kim Peek at the bottom of the page.

HONORS
--hand-backs and graded
--worked in groups for project presentations

HONORS HOMEWORK
--Finish up your work on project
--Take grammar diagnostic test on Moodle

FYI
Link to Full Text of Obama's Speech to School Students

Upcoming
--watch Rainman
--discuss how perspective shapes experience with the world

Friday September 4

In Class
ALL
--Took vocabulary quiz on lesson 16

REGULARS
--worked on review writing for second choice book. Posted reviews on library "Destiny."
(FROM SCHOOL, login at lrodalib. User name is your Questia name. Password is your Questia password.) Click in the reviews tab, then select "write review."
--Worked on the Curious Dog writings. Remember: you must write about a moment in time! If you are going to be a football, you might consider writing about one key pass. If you are an infant, write about seeing a strange face. You get the idea, I hope. Be specific and go into detail! Length: 1 page, dbl spaced, times new roman, 12 point font. Include full heading and creative title.

Homework
--Finish up your perspective writings (aka Curious Dog writings)

HONORS CLASS
--I gave you one more day until deadline for your presentations on Gangster. Don't procrastinate with the extra time. Use it only as emergency "sponge" time. Remember that your projects should be creative and sensory, but you are still responsible for content. We should recognize your chapter in your work.

--If you are struggling with this, ground your work in concrete language from the text. All of you should be dealing closely with text! Find those lines in your chapter that are critical, beautiful, strange, imaginative. Those places are where the heart of this assignment can be found.

--We'll start presentations Wednesday, our long period.

Thursday September 3

REGULARS CLASSES ONLY

In Class
--Reviewing books on the library website "Destiny" (summer reading assessment)
--Writing reviews and perspective assignments

Homework
--work on your review. Must be complete by end of school day on Friday.
--work on perspective writing. 1 page, dbl. spaced, full heading, titled. Due Tuesday
--ALL CLASSES: Vocab quiz tomorrow! Review especially words that are close in meaning. Consider the example sentences offered in the definitions in the book. You will be asked to use the correct f0rm of the word to fit the context of the sentence.

HONORS
--be prepared for vocab quiz
--hopefully you have done some work with your team on your creative, sensory presentation of your chapter. You will have time in class on Friday to continue your efforts.

Wednesday September 2

In Class
--presenting dream boards (regulars only)
--reviewing vocab (regulars only)
--discussion perspective and writing assignment (regulars only)

HONORS
--work in gangster groups
--set up Google docs with your group
--discuss active reading notes and some of your answers to the discussion guide
--decide on a format for presentions

Homework
--begin work on perspective writing (regulars)
--dream boards due Friday (honors)
--"sea creature me" due Friday (honors)
--prep for vocab quiz on Friday

You need your books!

Please bring your books and laptop to class!

This week: Vocab book, Curious Dog, and Gangster (honors only)

Monday August 31

In Class
Worked on setting up bookmarks on toolbar for blogs
Became "followers" of the class blog
--Your picture and full name should appear under your box in "Followers"
Bookmarked Moodle--make sure you have enrolled. Enrollment key: rainman
Checked in Vocab lesson 16.

Homework
If you are in regulars and have class tomorrow, your Dream Board and "Sea Creature Me" blog are both due at the start of class. Please have hard copies of both assignments. Make sure your "Dream Board" is trimmed up and mounted to a heavy weight backing like cardstock paper or a piece of thin cardboard.

Tomorrow
--Review Vocab Lesson 16 together
--Share three things from your dream board with the class. (regulars only)
--read two classmate's blog entries "Sea Creature Me." Comment on their post generally or by specifically identifying a sentence or descriptive detail that you feel is interesting. Comment on the student to your left and the student to your right.

Honors
--Review Vocab
--Begin Gangster discussions.
--Assign Groups.
--Give work time for groups and individuals for Gangster work.

Long Period C
Long Period A
Begin discussion about perspective in Curious Dog
Assign perspective writing (due Monday)

Upcoming
--Vocab quiz on Friday (lesson 16)
--Perspective writing due Monday
--Library Reviews for book 3 (regulars)

Random Stuff for Monday 8/31

Odds and Ends

--Folder Tabs Needed (periods C & G)

--notecards (E period)

--Write your gmail account on wiki

--Explain assigned bloggers. See template.

--Review some policy details on syllabus

Questions for You

1. Did you download Firefox?

2. Did you create a gmail account?

3. Put your gmail account on the wiki

4. Put your picture up on the blogger profile so it appears in your box as a follower.

5. Create an English folder to keep on your desktop

6. Enroll in my class on Moodle

Due this week (Tuesday for regs, Friday for honors)

1. “Sea Creature Me” as blog entry 1

2. Dream Board—printed, filled, labeled, trimmed, mounted

3. You must bring Curious... Dog... every day this week

4. Honors must bring Gangster... this week

Vocab Quiz on Friday! Be ready.

Monday August 31

In Class
Review Vocabulary Lesson 16 from weekend homework
Discussion of Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Honors--set ups for Gangster round-table

*reminders
Dream Boards and "Sea Creature Me" due Tuesday (regs) Friday (honors)

This Week
Honors--Gangster discussions and family picture writing assignment
All--Curious Dog discussions, Vocab quiz on Friday 9/4
Poetry--open mic urgings

Upcoming
Rainman in your long period: week of 9/7-9/11

Thursday August 27th

In Class
Writing Essays on "Choice" book (first essay)

Homework
Due Monday--Complete Lesson 16 in your Vocab Book
Due Tuesday
--Printed and mounted color "dream board"
1. Use at least 2/3 of your own found or made images
2. Fill up the board. Leave little white space
3. Label each picture
4. Be prepared to share your "dream board." Don't be too personal.

--Blog
1. Create your own blog using blogger or the blog tool of your choosing
2. Customize with a template you like and colors that speak to you
*remember legibility trumps everything in design
3. Write your first entry "Sea Creature Me"
--see my example linked in blog entry below this one
--research a sea creature that seems to have some characteristics you identify with. Use
wikipedia or Google to learn about sea animals you think might represent you with some
degree of similarity. You don't have to cite your research.
--import the image of your sea creature to your blog entry
--introduce us to your sea creature (YOU) by telling us things about yourself, your
habitat, the company you keep, hopes, fears, dreams, etc.
--your entry does not have to be long. Consider about 1 paragraph in length.

Odds and Ends
1. Create a gmail account
2. Bookmark our class blog (giraud10-2@blogspot.com) and put in you Toolbar
3. Become a follower of our class blog. In your Blogger profile, upload a picture of
yourself so we can find you easily in the follower section of our class blog.
4. Download Dream Board application to your computer from Oprah Winfrey's site. Note
that Oprah wants you to join her site first. Offer a real email account so you can validate
your existence before she lets you download her Dream Board.

Dream Board

Dream Board
Due Tuesday.
Period F--due Wednesday

Take some time to really think about your goals for this school year. You probably have some school-related goals as well as personal goals. Perhaps you have some goals that are athletic, spiritual, or physical.

Using the Dream Board tool found on the Oprah Winfrey's website, create a visual representation of some of your goals and dreams for the year. You will be asked to share this "dream board" with the class, so don't put anything on it that is too personal. You can always make a private dream board on your own.

Try to use some pictures of your own--either ones you have taken personally or ones you find online--rather than simply relying on the library of images at the Oprah site.

When you're done (take your time) print it out and glue it to a a firm backed (cardstock weight) paper. We will share these next week and display them in class.

Blogging

CREATE YOUR BLOG
1. Open Blogger or Edublog and set up a new blog.
2. Name your blog something creative and memorable (can be changed later if needed).
3. In settings, under permissions, set your blog to be visible only to people you invite.
4. Load the email accounts of your class period PLUS me: cgiraud@oda.edu
5. Go to your email and accept the invitations sent to you by your classmates. You won't be able to view their blogs until you accept their invitations.
6. Customize your blog by playing around with colors and fonts. Remember that visibility and legibility is a VERY important part of a blog's design.

7. Write your first entry. "Sea Creature Me."

Class Policies and Expectations

English Class Policies and Expectations
Ms. Giraud, Arts Building Room 938

Classroom

1. Arrive on time, prepared. On time means you are in your seat, ready to go within three minutes of the posted start time of class. Prepared means you have a writing utensil, paper, notebook, charged laptop (10th graders only), and all books or reading materials we are reading. Prepared also means that you have spent time outside of class doing homework or reviewing class notes.

2. Do not speak while others are speaking. That includes teacher or other students. We are in a small space. While you may believe you are being discreet, you are likely distracting others.

3. If you are caught cheating or copying homework, you will receive a zero and will NOT have the opportunity to make up the work. I will also contact the Deans of school and your parents regarding the incident. That is my policy.

4. You are responsible for keeping track of daily assignments. There are some tools in place to help you, but ultimately YOU are responsible for staying informed. On a daily basis, one of your classmates, you, or I will post assignments on the blog. I will also keep an in-class written record on your white board about homework and upcoming assignments. Make physical note of these wherever you are keeping a personal agenda. While we will make every effort to keep a regular, online log of assignments, you are responsible for noting the work while you are in class. If you forget, contact a classmate to get the information. “No one posted the blog in time” is not an acceptable reason for not completing work.

5. Being unable to print something or having your computer crash should never be an excuse for not getting work completed. What are your options? Upload a file to Moodle, email an attachment, create work on Google docs, write by hand, re-do the work! Always print homework from home on the day it is due. Don’t expect to be able to print at school on the day you have homework due. Certainly don't expect to be given class time to print on the day something is due.

6. If you are going to be absent, stay up-to-date using the blog and/or Moodle. Don’t return to school and expect your missed classes to be re-created just for you. If you have questions, be specific about your needs. Demonstrate that you have put forth some effort before you ask me to put forth effort to help you get caught up.

7. I expect that you will be an active member of the class. I expect that you have done the assigned reading, completed written work, actively marked your texts, worked through exercises, and studied for assessments. I take a lot of time to prepare for my classes each day to get a maximum return. I urge you to do the same.

8. We are all human. If you have a personal issue or concern that is affecting your ability to meet any of these expectations, communicate with me. In most cases, I am happy to work with you to find a solution.

FAQs

What supplies do I need for your class?
--Books
You will need to purchase all of your books if you have not already done so.
Please see syllabus for that list. Immediately you will need your vocab book, for Vocabulary Achievement, Sixth Course; and House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (regulars) and
Dreaming in Cuban by Christia Garcia (honors).
--Computer (please bring everyday!)
--Pens --ballpoints and highlighters
--A notebook with pockets

How much homework do you give?
Expect that on most nights, you will have approximately 20-30 minutes worth of homework for this class. On weekends, I will only give one night’s worth of work. Don’t leave papers or projects to the last minute. Those assignments will take longer than 20-30 minutes and should be building and improving over a few nights.

When is homework due?
At the start of class.

When can I get extra help?
Morning and afternoon tutorial times have been set up specifically for this purpose. Come to my room and find me! I will be on campus most mornings by 7:00 am and will leave most afternoons by 4:00.

Are you a hard grader?
My grades are mathematical. I just keep the books. So what you need to know is that your collective performance will determine your grade. That said, there are times when I “throw you a bone” as they say. Take advantage of those times. Every term will have some freebies. But you won’t get those easy points, if you don’t follow through with what I am asking you to do. After all, following directions is another skill we all practice throughout life.

OK. You didn’t answer the question. Are you a hard grader?
Papers are the most rigorously graded assignments I give. On the other hand, I believe that high school is time for learning process-writing. That means, I will give you time to draft and work to give you feedback along the way. Often we’ll work through drafts together and have time in class for writing and improving. Remember: revising for a new, improved grade is almost always an option! Revising even when a grade cannot be improved is good practice and excellent effort!

Tests. The feedback I’ve received over the years is that many of my tests are challenging; but if you are staying current with the readings, completing study questions, discussing and contributing to our class study, you will typically do fine. If you are taking short cuts along the way, the tests will be hard. No doubt.

What should I do if I am absent from class? How can I get the work?
Use the website! You will be a master Moodler very soon. You must stay current with what’s happening there. This year I am also experimenting with a class blog. Use the resources available.

What format is acceptable for turning in assignments?
I will speak specifically about length, fonts, headings, margins (MLA rules) as we go. Formatting matters. Craftsmanship matters. Generally, I expect you to turn in a hard copy and a soft copy (uploaded to Moodle). The soft copy is generally back up but on some occasions, I may only request soft copy. I work regularly to become less dependent on paper. It’s a work in progress.

I need help understanding some of the technology you are using in class. What should I do?
Please come and talk to me. I will help you. If we are experimenting with new technology that’s not working for us as a group, we’ll modify our approach. Don’t stress out about it. Come in for extra help and offer feedback and suggestions as appropriate. Remember that we are all learners. One of my on-going goals as a teacher is to continue to explore and adapt technology that encourages communication, creativity, and collaboration. I may not have all the answers, but I will always be willing to hear what your concerns are and will work with you to find solutions.

Do you like me?
I love teaching. I love English—writing, literature, yes, even grammar. Teenagers? You? Yes. I love your energy, optimism, risk-taking, nerve-wracked, voice cracked, experimenting, emerging, learning, teaching, leading, following YOU. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have stayed in teaching for the past 13 years. Never make the assumption that I don’t like you. If we are having trouble communicating, let’s talk, man! Come in and talk.

Welcome

Orientation

Welcome, Sophomores!

We'll have a short day on Tuesday and NOT yet be in our own space.
We'll have to wait for the ribbon cutting ceremony before we're allowed into our new classsroom.
By the time you read this, I bet we'll be in the room.

Here's a syllabus for our first week together.

Tuesday, August 25th
Welcome to our class.
Brief Introduction to me and the class.
Where's the blog, man?

Wednesday, August 26th
Orientation to our room.
Introduction to the Course--expectations, grading, blogs, Moodle
Summer Reading Short Quiz
HW: Honors--literary devices--definitions and examples

Thursday, August 27th
Summer Reading Essays

Friday, August 28th
Student Introductions
Discussion of Readings
HW: Vocab Lesson 1