Cheers to a New Semester!

One down and one to go!

If you are a Senior, you have 18 weeks of school left.  

If you are a Junior, you have one year and 18 weeks of school left.

Some of you are well positioned for success after High School.  Some of you haven't thought about it yet.  Junior or Senior, you should be making plans.  As John Lennon said, "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans."  Don't let things just happen to you, make things happen that you want to happen.  

This week, you will choose three things that you can do to change your second semester.   The title of your Blog this week is - Make It Happen in 2012!

You must list the three things you want to change, how you will make this happen and what you hope the outcome will be as a result of your efforts. 

Number them 

1. 

2. 

3. 

Example:  

1.  I want to make better grades during the second semester.  In order to accomplish better grades I will need to study more, Facebook less and focus my efforts on things that matter.  By focusing my time on what matters and meeting deadlines, my grades should improve.  If I improve my grades, I will have an easier time getting into college and will have a more enjoyable second semester.

This blog post is Due on Monday, January 23.  Always follow the blog rubric.  

It's Ketchup Week!

For some of you, not having a blog for this next week will be no big deal because you are caught up and it will give you a well deserved break and more time to study for your finals.  Some of you are seriously behind on your blogging.  The only two blogs I will still grade are the "Grinch" and "Ideal Classroom" blog.  There are five blogs this six weeks.  I will be dropping the lowest blog grade to calculate your blog test grade.  If you want me to grade the two remaining blogs, they must be posted by the end of class Monday, Jan. 9.  If your blogs aren't posted by that time, I will record a zero and include it in the test grade.

We will be blogging the second semester as well.  Don't forget to include two multimedia links each week. This is a free 5 points if you do this.  Show some attention to detail in your work.  There are still eighteen weeks of school left, don't waste your time and get behind.  If you are wondering why your grades are like they are, refer to the blog rubric.  Misspelled words are always a problem, lateness, rambling, shallow perception of the subject, poor writing conventions, there, their, they're... "i" could go on and on.

In the immortal words of Elvis Presley, TCB.  Take Care of Business!

Happy New Year!

Read the article below and on your blog, create a post about how your ideal classroom should be structured.  Include reasons that are educationally sound.  The title of your blog should be "The Ideal Classroom".  It is due on Monday Jan. 9, 2012.  

Lewisville ISD trades rows of desks for sofas - Your Houston News: News: DALLAS — There’s something missing from Angela Hamm’s
third-grade classroom.

Does Grinch have a place in the classroom?

As the Holiday season is fast approaching, there are many distractions in the classrooms.  Please read the two newspaper articles that recently ran in the Ft. Worth Star Telegram.

Click here and read this article from the Ft. Worth Star Telegram first.

Click here and read this article from the Ft. Worth Star Telegram second.

After you have finished reading the two articles:  Pretend you are speaking in front of the school board and give three compelling reasons for or against the practice of celebrating the Christmas Holiday inside the classroom.  Be prepared to defend your position in class next week.

The title of your blog this week should be:  Grinch or Santa?

Blog Rubric link

Due:  Monday, December 12, 2011.

American Teacher

The Title of your Blog this week will be  "American Teacher"

Think back on the movie American Teacher and reflect on the following:

• After watching the movie, what was your first impression?  How did your view of the profession change;  better, different or worse?  Explain.
• What did you feel was the biggest frustration the teachers had with teaching?
• Describe some ways teaching conditions could improve without an increase in money?
• If you have a question about something you were confused about, you may address it in this blog.

Remember Deep is better than Wide!

This blog post will be due on Monday, December 5.
Click here to view the Blog Rubric

Week of November 21

Have a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving!
No blog for this week.  Check back on the 28th of November for a new blog assignment.
Procrastination blog is due on Monday, Nov. 21.

Procrastination?

What is Procrastination?  Have you ever procrastinated?  I think I probably know the answer to both of those questions.  Do you?

Click on this link and read about Overcoming Procrastination.

The Title of your blog this week should be:  Why Do Students Procrastinate?

1.  After you have read the article, choose at least one of the bullet points under "Why do students procrastinate?" and address how it relates to you.  If you have never procrastinated, you can use someone you know as an example, but don't use names.

• Your post should be well thought out and you should use complete sentences.  
• Less is more.  I would rather read three well written and thoughtful sentences than three rambling paragraphs!  
• Restate the chosen topic, then write your comments. 

2.  When you have completed part one, look over the "How to overcome procrastination" suggestions.  Choose at least one of the bullet points that you will honestly try and write your comments in your post about how you will try to overcome procrastinating.  

• Your post should be well thought out and you should use complete sentences.  
• Less is more.  I would rather read three well written and thoughtful sentences than three rambling paragraphs!  
• Restate the chosen topic, then write your comments. 

Refer to the Rubric if you are in question of how your blog will be graded.  This is the rubric that will be used every week.  Click here to view blog rubric.

Due on Monday, November 21, 2011