October 4, 2012

Hello!

Well, well, well. We have lost quite a few students now that we are half way through class. I am glad that you have stuck around. This class is important to all your classes at CCC.

I promised you a list of transition words. Here it is.
Also, if you are wanting to build your vocabulary, here is a list of roots.

Also, keep in mind for next week, the following items:
Journal #3
Read ch. 13-19
S&R #2 - bring 3 typed copies for work-shopping
Teams 5&6 will present

September 13, 2012

Hello Everyone!

I hope your weekend was well spent - even though it was 104 degrees outside!

This coming Thursday make sure you have the following items:
End of Chapter Summaries (7-12)
Completed Study Guide
Journal #2
Final Draft of your sentences
Reading Lab #3
Scantron for vocab test

Have a wonderful week and continue reading! We will have a big discussion this week about the book (1-12), so be ready!

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Our 2nd night together flew by! Not only did you take your first quiz, you also took DRT#1. Next week, during reading lab time you will have the opportunity to sign up to work with Abby, and I will begin individual conferences in regards to DRT #1.

As this week progresses, you will want to make sure you study your vocabulary words for ch. 8 & 9. Make sure you are writing sentences for each chapter (only 5 words based upon your last name).

You will also need to complete reading lab #2 (answer 1-10 and then discussion #3 and #4).

Take some time to review your notes about context clues and main ideas. Then, take a look at your syllabus and begin taking notes for the next section of Langan!

You should also set aside time this week to begin reading The Color of Water by James McBride. Be sure to annotate for character, setting, and events. That means underling and making notes in the book. The study guide will need to be completed as well (check the syllabus for the due date).

Don't forget to contact your team members to be thinking about your research. Who will research what? How will you present to the class (a visual must be created - and not on poster board)?

Fall 2012 - Welcome

Hello everyone!

I have returned to the blog for communication. It is much easier for you and for me.

This is your space, so feel free to leave a comment, check out the links listed under your class name above. I hope this is a better space for you to use in order to keep up to date!

Best wishes this semester.

You Can Do This!

First and foremost, thank you for your understanding last Thursday. I am sorry we had to cut class short, but I was ill.

Now I am better and ready for a new week! Are you ready? We have 3 classes remaining and summer will be upon us.

For this Thursday make sure you:
1. Study for vocal quiz chapter 20
2. Complete Reading Lab #9
3. Study for Mastery Test #2 and bring a scantron
4. Write and type your vocal sentences for chapters 16-20, bring 3 copies

Only 4 Classes Remain!

For next Thursday you will want to complete the following:

1. Study for the chapter 18 & 19 vocal quiz. Be sure that you are working on your sentences and properly using semicolons and commas.

2. Complete reading lab #8: by answering 1-10 and the discussion questions 1 and 3 (or 4).

3. Type and Revise your timed essay for either Julia or James. Make sure the essay is MLA formatted. 

Also, as you move through this week, watch out for and observe the different ways we are persuaded and how others might try to persuade us to believe an issue. Also, how is it you argue and how do others argue around you? What do you notice about the information used in those arguments?

Expanding Your Worldly Knowledge

There are so many intriguing things happening in our world everyday. Just this evening I watched a TED Talk about secrets. If you want to broaden your horizons, don't forget to check out TED Talks. You can even get a free app for your phone and watch videos wherever you travel.

In preparing for our next class, focus on the following:
1. Study for The Color of Water exam
2. Be sure your books are annotated and bring them to class
3. Complete your study guide packet
4. Bring 3 copies of your typed S & R #3
5. Complete reading lab #6: "What Shamu Taught Me"

Have a great week!

What to Do Over Spring Break?

You must be feeling slightly confused about what to do with all your free time over the next week. No Tuesday night class. No Thursday night class. Thankfully, I have concocted a to do list for you so that you are not wasting any precious time.

1. Finalize your 25 vocabulary sentences. Be prepared to submit your final draft when we return.
2. Study for the vocabulary test and pack a scan-tron into your bag so you don't forget it!
3. Complete Reading Lab #5 as per the syllabus by reading, annotating for relationship terms, and answering 1-10 and short responses 1 & 4.
4. Preview Chapter 7: Inferences in Langan by completing Cornell Notes so that we may continue to work on questioning techniques. 
5. Finally, the extra credit reading was distributed. Here is the link for the assignment if you choose to complete it. It is due on 4/12/12. 
6. And before I forget - make sure you annotated your copy of The Color of Water. 

Have a great week off!

Is Shame Worth a Try?

If you want to earn some extra credit in class, take a look at the assignment sheet for the article, "Shame Is Worth a Try."

Class Meeting 3/22/12

One more week and it will be time for spring break! That means more time for studying!

For next week remember to complete the following:

1. Study for your chapter 15 vocabulary quiz
2. Complete and bring 3 copies of your vocab sentences 
3. Make any needed revisions and edits to your Summary and Response #2. Be sure to have at least one draft attached to your final draft.
4. Complete Journal #4
5. Finish reading ch. 20-25 + the epilogue in The Color of Water
6. Complete the study guide for The Color of Water
7. Be ready to share your Cornell Notes for Langan Chapter 6: Relationships II

Class Meeting 3/8/12

Last week you took your first Mastery Test. I hope the time you spent with Cornell Notes and examples from the Langan text helped you during the test.

For this upcoming Thursday:
1. Study for the The Color of Water  test. (I will be posting your notes from class shortly.)
2. Complete the study guides for chapters 1-12.
3. Complete your chapter summaries for chapters 1-12 for The Color of Water. Remember to use MLA formatting and to think about what a summary should include.
4. Study for vocab quiz 11 and 12. Begin to work on your sentences for chapters 11&12. This time you will want to include subordinators: because, although, or when.
5. Finish reading and complete the handout (reading lab#4) for "Julia Burney."

Also, new cards for Quizlet will be posted so that you can study for your vocabulary quiz!

Have a wonderful week!

Summary Woes Class Meeting 3/1/12

Many of you were excited to watch the agenda on the board dwindle, but soon realized that the night would continue as normal once the summary writing hit. While there is a link to Summary frames under the E98R tab above (it includes guidelines on the 2nd page), I am going to paste the guidelines here for you as well. Keep theses guidelines in mind as you write summaries for any class.

1 page typed, double spaced, 12 point type, Times New Roman font, a paragraph summary (maximum 5 sentences), 1 paragraph response (maximum 5 sentences), MLA formatted.

Summary:

1. Introductory sentences includes author, title, and main idea in your own words
2. The first main point is your own words
3. The first example is a quote that illustrates the main point and includes a signal phrase and MLA formatted internal citation
4. The second main point is in your own words
5. The second example is a quote hat illustrates the main point and includes a signal phrase and MLA formatted internal citation

As you move forward with your week, keep the following in mind as being due for next week:

1. Study for Mastery Test #1: chapters 1-4 of Langan. Use your Cornell notes and book examples to study. Bring a scan-tron!

2. Read through chapter 12 in The Color of Water and work on writing chapter summaries. For these summaries, focus on: who, what, when, where, how, and why. Keep them typed and MLA formatted as they are due on 3/15.

3. Complete your study guide for chapters 7-12. It is due on 3/15 as well.

Have a wonderful week. Stay healthy and reading!

Presentation Night - 2/23/12

I enjoyed watching everyone present their information last night. It was interesting to see how different groups worked together in order to complete the assignment. Based on personal experience, meeting people to create study groups is a highly effective way to learn. Not only do you get to practice and review information, you get a chance to hear different perspectives on ideas, and simply gain more friends in your circle.

I did introduce the questioning portion of Cornell note taking last night. It might seem overwhelming at first, but keep trying. Remember, take notes that organized with bullets or your own numbering system. A day or two after taking notes, write a summary of your notes. Then, a day or two after writing a summary, create a couple of level 1 and level 2 questions. The following day, try to answer your questions. If you find that have more questions, write them down. These could be questions you take to your study group, your instructor, or use to help you study. Then, as you continue to study your notes, try those level 3 questions - those will take you far in your thinking process.

'We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world."
Guatama Buddha


"Traditional thinking is all about "what is." Future think will also need to be about what can be."
Edward de Bono


"Complacency with our traditional judgement based thinking methods is not enough. Our existing thinking habits are excellent just as the read wheel of a motor is excellent but not enough. We need to put far more emphasis on creative and design thinking. Judgement and analysis are not enough."
Edward de Bono

As you move forward with your week, keep in mind what you need to complete:
1. Final draft of your vocabulary sentences - MLA formatted
2. Study for vocab test 6-10 and bring a scantron
3. Reading Lab #3 due: multiple choice 1-20, and discussion 3 & 4
4. Read chapters 7 and 8 in The Color of Water and write 3-4 sentence summaries for those chapters (they are not due, yet, but they will be soon).
5. Journal #2: typed

If you work on one item each day, you will be ready for next Thursday.

Finally, based on your presentations, I have some questions for you consider in your spare time!
1. In his "I Have a Dream" speech, MLK Jr told African Americans to return to their homes in the various Southern states, how long did that really take to happen and why?
2. Is there or has there been anyone like MLK Jr since his death?
3. Do Jim Crow laws exist today?
4. Were Jim crow laws only to segregate blacks and whites?
5. Is there anyone like Malcolm X today?
6. What were the positives of the black panthers?
7. What is wrong with having a revolutionary group?
8. Money for the education of African Americans was not equal to that of white. Does money inequality still exist in education today? If so, where and how?

Have a wonderful week!

Meeting 2/16/12 - A Class of Love!

Well, we had a class full of love last Thursday and I know you are still enjoying all the work I gave you! How befitting for Valentine's week!

As a reminder, for next week you need to have completed the following:

1. 25 Vocabulary sentences, MLA formatted, autobiographical, and they must contain coordinators (and, but, so). Be sure to bring 3 copies so that you can have them workshopped prior to submitting your final draft to me.

2. Final draft S&R #1.

3. Journal #1 - typed, MLA formatted. Your typed journal should include a paragraph summary and then the 2 questions answered.

4. Team presentations based on Journal #1. Be sure to converse with your partners about what you discover.

5. And last, but not least - end of chapter summaries for The Color of Water chapters 1-6. And the study guide.

6. Study for vocab chapter 10 quiz, and begin reading chapters 7-12 of The Color of Water.

Grades will be updated shortly and progress reports will be emailed by Sunday!

Best wishes as always. Next week won't be as heavy - I promise!

Drop-In Reading Tutor

Hi Everyone!

I know that many of you work during the day; however, if you have a day off or you have the time available, Dana Newton is available in the writing center.

Dana is a 4 year veteran tutor, and amazing person. She worked for me as an embedded tutor for a semester.

If you would like to meet with her and receive additional reading support, she is available in the writing center Monday-Thursday, 8am - 9am.

Class Meeting 2/9/2012

Hello Everyone!

Last night was a great class. Even though the class goes late into the night, I enjoy the time and voices in the class. As we move forward with our reading, I hope to hear more opinions about our readings.

Remember to read your Cornell notes and spend at least 3 minutes each night looking at them until we meet again.

As a reminder, for next week you will need to:

1. Bring 3 copies of your typed Summary and Response. It should be MLA formatted. Also, we did write the summary together in class, so you don't need to rewrite it. Simply type it as your first paragraph. The second paragraph should be your personal response.

2. Study for chapter 7 and 8 vocabulary quiz.

3. Write 10 more sentences using vocabulary words and coordinators: and, but, so

4. Read chapters 1-6 in The Color of Water. Be sure to annotate for setting, characterization (this can be dialogue that gives clues to the characters' personality, physical appearance, etc), and major events.

5. Complete Reading Lab #2 by reading and answering questions 1-10 and questions 3 and 4.

Have a wonderful week!