Friday, August 30, 2013

Week 1, Day 5
Objective: SWBAT write in a voice and style appropriate to audience and purpose, use technology for aspects of writing, vocabulary development, establish and adjust purpose for reading such as to find out, to understand, to interpret, to enjoy, and to solve problems, read silently with comprehension, read to be entertained, to appreciate a writer's craft, to be informed, to take action, and to discover models to use in his/her own writing

1. Bell Work: Free Write...Write about anything that you want to write about.  (At least 40 words, underlining every 10th word, and include 2 of the current week's SAT words.)
2. Free Read (preferably not a textbook or magazine)
3. Free Rice (make sure you are signed in and in my group)
4. Free Write (maybe you like to write...you may do so, write a novel, a diary entry, song lyrics, a poem, whatever you are inspired to write.)
1. Please check to see if you received the email confirmation.  You will need to check your SPAM folder.
2. If you used your Godley email address, try another email address.
3. If you used another email address, try your Godley email address.
4. I am working on resolving the issue.  
5. Study for your SAT Week #1 Quiz on Tuesday (see the links at the top of this blog for Quizlet and Study Stack links)
6. This week I will also let you complete any of the things that you need to complete on my blog to get caught up.  This will normally NOT be the case. 
1. Student Information Form (see blog post from Monday)
2. Username/Password Document (see blog post from Tuesday)
3. Shelfari Account (see blog post for Wednesday)
4. Free Rice Account (see blog post for Wednesday)
5. Cursive Practice (see blog post for Thursday)
6. Bell Work from 8/29/13 (see blog post for Thursday)

Please note: Fridays are not a time to work on things for another class.  You need to be productive for English class.  Please stay on task.  This is NOT a free day.  This a chance for you to do what you enjoy the most with regards to this class: reading, writing, or vocabulary development.

The more you write the better writer you will become.

The more you read the better reader you will become.

You have to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Week 1, Day 4

Objective: SWBAT (Student will be able to...) understand morning procedures, begin doing bell work in the appropriate format, write in cursive (legibly), and work with Web 2.0 tools.

1. Bell Work today will be written down, in your spiral.  If you do not have your spiral yet, borrow a piece of paper and you will have to transfer the prompt into your spiral to be graded.  
1. Please put the date in the margin.  
2. Use complete sentences with correct punctuation and grammar.  
3. All writing in here is considered formal.
1. No contractions.
2. No slang.
3. Spell out all numbers under one hundred.
4. Avoid using personal pronouns (I, you, etc.)
5. Avoid passive voice. (if you insert "by zombies" or "with zombies"  and it makes sense...that is passive! Change it!)
6. Others that I will tell you.  
2. Bell Work: What do you want to be when you grow up?  Why? What steps will you have to take to make sure you get there? (be prepared to share!)
3. Announcements and Reminders:
1. Make sure you are putting your usernames and passwords on your Google Doc.
2. Bring a book to class tomorrow.
3. Bring your supplies to class everyday (including headphones)
4. Be HAPPY!  It's almost FRIDAY!!!!!!  
4. Cursive Assignment (due tomorrow)
1. Pick ONE of the two choices below to write in cursive.  
1. Choice ONE: Eight times table
1. 8 x 1=8 would be written as "eight times one equals eight"
2. Go from 8x1 all the way through 8x12
2. Choice TWO: Sentence
1. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
2. Write it twelve times.  
2. Please don't complain, it is really important for you to know how to write in cursive.
3. This should be done on a separate sheet of paper, in blue or black INK!!!!
4. Heading goes at the top right, name, date, and period
5. Finish up everything that is on this week's blog.
6. If there is time, left you may add books to your Shelfari account, or play on Free Rice.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Week 1, Day 3
Objective: SWBAT (Student will be able to...) understand morning procedures, begin doing bell work in the appropriate format, and work with Web 2.0 tools.

1. Bell Work: Make sure you have filled out the Student Information Form (this will be a daily grade 100, 50, or 0)
2. Go over the syllabus
3. Questions
4. Create an account with FreeRice.com
1. Go to www.freerice.com
2. At the top, click "Sign Up"
3. Enter a username (that you will remember!!!!!!)
4. Enter your Godley email address (firstnamelastname@student.godleyisd.net)
5. It will send you an email to your Godley email address aka Gmail account
6. Check your email
7. Click the link in the email for one-time log-in
8. Select a password
9. Re-type your password
10. Click "save"
11. Log-in
12. Once logged-in, click "groups"
13. Search for "Avalos"
14. Join my group
15. Begin playing in my group
1. **NOTE**EVERY TIME YOU LOG-IN TO FREERICE.COM, YOU WILL HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE PLAYING IN THE AVALOS GROUP.  OTHERWISE, YOU WILL NOT GET CREDIT IN MY CLASS FOR THE RICE YOU EARN.  We will use freerice.com quite often.  Please make sure you remember your username and password.  Also, I will be holding ‘contests’ between classes and offer extra credit periodically.
2. In other words, it must have YOUR USERNAME at the left and MY GROUP NAME on the right.
16. Put your log-in information in your Usernames and Passwords document
5. Create an account with Shelfari.com
1. Go to www.shelfari.com
2. Click Register
3. If you do not have an amazon account, put in your email address and click "do not have an amazon password"
4. You will be asked to type your name
5. Re-enter your email address
6. Choose a password
7. Re-enter your password
8. Click "create an account"
9. You should now be able to log-in
10. In the search bar, type in "Avalos" and then click the drop down box for "groups"
11. Hit "search"
12. Click on "Mrs. Avalos's English Class" group and toward the top of the right hand side you will see a button that says "Join"
13. Click "join"
14. You may also add me as a friend, if you wish
15. Put your log-in information in your Usernames and Passwords document
6. If there is time, left you may add books to your Shelfari account, or play on Free Rice

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Week 1, Day 2
Objective: Discuss classroom expectations, policies, and procedures.  Learn proper use and care of Chrome Books.  Become more familiar with Mrs. Avalos and her classroom.

Hope your first day back was wonderful and welcome to Day #2!!!

1. Bell Work: Get an index card from the cart at the back of my room.  Write your name at the top (in blue or black ink!!!) and then write 4 truths and 1 lie about yourself.  Mix the order up and please do not share with anyone.  
2. Blog! 
1. Read all of it!
2. Don't just skim!
3. There is a lot of important information on here!
4. I REALLY don't like to repeat myself over, and over, and over, and over...
3. Technology
1. Sometimes it will work, sometimes it will not work.
2. Be flexible.
3. Collaboration
4. Help each other
5. I do not know everything and I will not pretend to.  
4. SAT Vocabulary
1. 10 words each week, starting this week.
1. Week 1
1. Abstain
2. Audacious
3. Banal
4. Cacophony
5. Decorum
6. Eclectic
7. Malinger
8. Paradox
9. Satiate
10. Vacillate
2. There will be quizzes each week...Quiz on Tuesday (no school Monday)
3. Definitions will be on my website.  
4. I would encourage you to create a Google Doc in "Vocabulary" titled "SAT Vocab."
5. "Get Out of Jail Free" Card--you'll get these on Tuesday
1. 2 per semester
2. good for a trip to the restroom, get a drink, locker, or a tardy pass. 
3. Must be in your possession to use it.
4. May be able to earn additional ones throughout the semester for extra credit, etc
6. Make a copy of "Usernames and Passwords." 
1. Fill out any of the usernames and passwords that you already know.  
2. The other websites listed will be log-ins that we will create in the future.  Don't worry about any of them if you don't know what they are or what they mean.  
7. Have a GREAT DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, August 26, 2013

Week 1, Day 1
Objective: Discuss classroom expectations, policies, and procedures.  Learn proper use and care of Chrome Books.  

Welcome back and welcome to English III: American Literature! 

1. Welcome!
2. About Me
3. Supplies
4. Chrome Books
5. Bookmark my blog in Google Chrome.
6. Bookmark my website in Google Chrome.  
7. Fill out this short form
1. **Okay, sorry, maybe it isn't THAT short.**  
8. If time permits, we will go over the class blog and my website.  
9. We will go over policies and procedures in the syllabus tomorrow.