Creating your own Blog

Read Sue Waters’ post about creating your own blog. Work through the steps as instructed by Ms. Giraud.

Review Wiki

Link to our review wiki.

Consider discussions in class regarding what will be included from Semester I and what will be added for Semester II. We will work together in class to add on to the wiki for this semester’s exam.

How Schools Kill Creativity

This is the video I referenced in class on Wednesday. Some pretty interesting ideas about education, learning, and creativity. Worth a listen and thought. See previous post right before this one for instructions for Thursday May 13th.

Also, here’s the link to the school that is experimenting with changing paradigms in education. I enjoyed hearing your perspectives on this. THINK Global School.

Thursday May 13th

Hi, guys.

I am home with a sick son today (Thursday), so I am missing your class. I did promise to answer some questions for you guys in advance of the quiz today if you had any, so I am going to suggest a little tech glitz as a solution to the fact that I am not there.

If you would like to ask me some questions, you will need to contact me via gmail video chat. One of you surely has this function. All you need is someone with a gmail account to set up a video chat. If you want to try this, have Ms. Lambert call me at home (she has my number) and I will get my laptop set up to chat.

I won’t offer points of discussion, so have some questions before you call! Whoever sets up the chat will need to plug in to the front projector and turn on the overhead projector. You will need someone with a laptop like mine. I can talk you through the process once you contact me, if you decide you want to have some virtual class time in advance of the quiz.

Here are the tasks for the day in summary:

1. Take the quiz (with or without my help in advance of it being passed out)

2. Work on your Easter Seals project. Remember that there’s a boatload of pictures on the school server for you to use. If this is news to you, refer to an earlier post on this blog or see my latest “Edmodo” message to you. Also note that the objectives for the Easter Seals project have been posted on this blog too. Period C–get Matt and Landon to play their rap for you. It’s a treat and right up the alley of what fun you should be having in creating your final project.

3. Review your grammar notes and Punctuation chapter for Friday’s re-test. Chapter notes on Moodle as well as plenty on online grammar practice quizzes!

4. There are two packs of study bulb cards to help your prepare for the Vocab test. Git to studying! Test on Tues/Wed next week. Don’t forget to review the words in lesson 30. I did not assign the workbook, but you are still responsible for those.

Lessons 16-20 on Studybulb.

Lessons 21-30 on Studybulb (missing one word–ebullience = exuberance; zestful enthusiasm)

5. See Moodle for an outline format/template for your Lord of the Flies papers. I would like you to have this outline done by the end of class Friday. Final Papers due May 21st. One draft only.

I am planning to return on Friday. I hope all goes well. Be good.

Ms. Giraud

Easter Seals Project Parameters

Project Planning Outline

Below is a list the ideas you brainstormed for the final project.

Consider this list as a starting point as you and your partner work to design your final project. Remember these objectives as you plan:

1) Give a tangible artifact of the project to your Easter Seals buddy that will help him or her share remember and share the experience with others.

2) Demonstrate your familiarity with some aspect of your Easter Seals buddy’s interests, personality, goals, or history.

3) Use writing and images to tell a story.

4) Create a final project that you and your Easter Seals buddy will be proud to share.

The final presentations will be given in a formal ceremony at the conclusion of our project. That final ceremony will take place in Ms. Giraud’s room on Thursday May 20th from 12:30-1:30.

PROJECT IDEA LIST

select one, modify one, create a totally different one with the project objectives in mind.

1. Identify a “like” or something that suits your Easter Seals buddy’s personality. Create something that reflects your understanding of that “like.”

2.

A. Create (don’t purchase) a thank you card, poster, or framed image. Include some detailed captions about the experience you shared or about some things you learned about your partner or partners.

PLUS

B. Create a video archive of your experience. Create and respond to questions

You and your partner design alone or with guidance from Giraud. Videotape

You and your partner discussing the experience—like a “project chat.”

3. Create a drawing, painting, or sculpture of the experience. Include writing that could be framed along with the image or artwork.

4. Create an iMovie slideshow using videos and images from your interviews. Edit them into a show that includes music and some narration of the experience.

5. Create a Powerpoint that includes video, images, and reflections. Could include

voice-over narration if an audio project makes more sense for your partner.

6. Create a music disk of your experience. Design a CD cover and include liner notes that support your musical decisions. The music on the disk should reflect your Easter Seal buddy’s life, interests, or experience with this project.

Easter Seals Pictures

All pictures have been posted on the school’s server. Follow these steps to access them:
1. Make sure that the menu on your computer is on Finder.
2. Go to “Go” on your Toolbar
3. Click “Connect to Server”
4. Type <smb://lrodadc1/>
5. click the plus sign after you type in the server name from #4
6. click “connect”
7. type in the following with no caps or spaces: yourfirstname.yourlastname
8. enter your password
9. access class of 2012
10. Click on “Easter Seals” folder

Note: If you have pictures of your own, please add them to our collection. Katherine Berg and I are working on creating a slideshow to play at our celebration next Thursday.

ALL projects must be complete by Monday. Our Easter Seals luncheon is on Thursday the 20th from 12:15-1:15.

Reminder of End-of-Year Assignment

Reminder of upcoming due dates and assignments

1. End of the year vocab test lessons 16-30—matching–TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY
2. Lord of the Flies final essay (see class blog for short description)–Due Friday May 21
3. grammar retest (multiple choice, punctuation)–this Friday
4. Final Easter Seals Project —due by Monday of next week to be presented on Thursday in a special luncheon.
5. Last quiz on Lord of the Flies (chapters 10-12) on Wednesday/Thursday of this week!
   

Lord of the Flies: essay

For your end-of-unit assessment (notice the use of hyphen there, kids) you will need to trace mankind’s descent into evil by examining a character or symbol throughout the novel. A chronological approach may be the most logical way to organize your ideas.

see Moodle (Lord of the Flies box) for a template to use for your outline

Lesson 29: Study Bulb Link

Here’s a study aid to use for vocab 29. Quiz on Friday May 7.

Study Bulb: lesson 29

End of the Year Deadlines and Due Dates

We are truly in the last stretch, guys.

Here’s a list of the dates we’ve been talking about in class. These assignments will be  the final grades for the semester.

Thursday May 6: Lord of the Flies reading quiz on chapters 8 & 9

Friday May 7: Grammar test on Punctuation Rules and Vocab 29 (last quiz on vocab this year!)

Wednesday (honors) and Thursday May 12 and 13: Lord of the Flies quiz on 10-12

Friday May 14: Easter Seals Projects Due

Tuesday/Wednesday May 18 & 19: Cumulative Vocab Test for the Year (lessons 16-30)

Friday May 21: Lord of the Flies essay due — no rewrite opportunities on last paper of the year.

Friday May 28th: Final Exam at 8:10 a.m.