This first week has flown by! I can't believe it's already over!
We've been very busy. In grammar, we have focused on the basic formation of noun clauses. Changing wh- and yes/no questions to noun clauses. The yes/no questions follow basically the same rules as the wh-. The difference is that you need to add "whether" or "if" because a yes/no question has no question word (what, where, etc.). Also, "if" can not begin the noun clause if the noun clause starts the sentence.
You wrote your first journal entry today. This gave you a chance to apply your grammar/spelling/vocabulary knowledge. The journals also give me the opportunity to better know each student. I will create an error-correction exercise based on your journals for next week.
We also worked on vocabulary-building by identifiying parts of speech in the sentence. This can help you when you come across new words when reading. You can also use this technique when you take your vocabulary quizzes in class.
We ended up watching the trailer for "An Inconvenient Truth" in response to your questions/comments. If you haven't seen "An Inconvenient Truth ", I highly recommend it. I believe it is a movie that everyone needs to see once. You can rent it from Blockbuster or Netflix. The library may even have it. If you can't find it anywhere, Susan T. may let you borrow it. As I said in class, I plan to focus on the topic of global warming and climate change by looking at it proactively- how can we make a difference?
I have typed up our second ballots for our guest speaker-- you'll vote today, so I can start making contacts.
I hope you have all enjoyed our rainy Northwest weekend. See you very soon.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Week 1-- Day 3
It seemed to me that everyone has a better understanding of the basic rules of noun clauses (beginning with question words). I thought we had another good discussion as we reviewed the basics by checking for errors in the example sentences and going over the exercise in the grammar book.
I dictated the questions on the pie chart to give you spelling/listening practice. The questions on the pie chart were to work on different skills-- comprehension, opinion, analysis. Tomorrow, we will continue our work on the environment with a vocabulary activity. We will be working on vocabulary strategies/clues.
I want you to know that I looked up the word "data" on an on-line dictionary. The entry said that data can be used in a singular form. Look it up for more information by going to: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/data. I also double-checked by typing a sentence in a Microsoft Word document-- my grammar wasn't underlined in green. When your sentence is underlined in green, the grammar is incorrect.
Great ideas for listening! We'll vote on guest speakers tomorrow. Since "telephone" was mentioned a few times, I will include that in homework assignments this quarter. This week's homework assignment gives you the choice of calling on the phone or using the Internet. You need to decide which skill is most important for you to work on (Internet or telephone). Of course, you can do both!
As I mentioned quickly in class, if you want to sit with a 9-1-1 dispatcher for a 2-hour shift, I can arrange that for you. If you're interested in sitting with a police officer for a couple of hours during his/her shift, I will have the applications tomorrow. I will pick them up from police headquarters this afternoon.
Have a great afternoon & evening!
I dictated the questions on the pie chart to give you spelling/listening practice. The questions on the pie chart were to work on different skills-- comprehension, opinion, analysis. Tomorrow, we will continue our work on the environment with a vocabulary activity. We will be working on vocabulary strategies/clues.
I want you to know that I looked up the word "data" on an on-line dictionary. The entry said that data can be used in a singular form. Look it up for more information by going to: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/data. I also double-checked by typing a sentence in a Microsoft Word document-- my grammar wasn't underlined in green. When your sentence is underlined in green, the grammar is incorrect.
Great ideas for listening! We'll vote on guest speakers tomorrow. Since "telephone" was mentioned a few times, I will include that in homework assignments this quarter. This week's homework assignment gives you the choice of calling on the phone or using the Internet. You need to decide which skill is most important for you to work on (Internet or telephone). Of course, you can do both!
As I mentioned quickly in class, if you want to sit with a 9-1-1 dispatcher for a 2-hour shift, I can arrange that for you. If you're interested in sitting with a police officer for a couple of hours during his/her shift, I will have the applications tomorrow. I will pick them up from police headquarters this afternoon.
Have a great afternoon & evening!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Week 1-- Day 2
I hope all of you are enjoying this gorgeous weather we are having! I just got back to my office after running a couple of errands.
To recap today's class...
Today's grammar lesson was a little longer than it usually is. I felt it was a good lesson-- lots of thoughtful questions. It seemed to me that you are understanding the basic rules-- "Noun clauses act like nouns (subjects or objects) in a sentence. They always need a subject + verb (in this order). " We will continue to work on noun clauses with question words tomorrow morning. I hope you find it to be a review for you as we talk about the rules once again.
I introduced Conversation Journals quickly this morning. (We will do an entry later this week.) We did the 4-minute quick write in order to 1) find out what interests you about the environment and environmental issues 2) give you an opportunity to write (with time pressure). I noticed that the groups were engaged and brought up a lot of good points. The main issues we came up with are: pollution , save energy, chemicals in food, garbage/recycling, not wasting resources, how to protect the environment, wind/water/solar power (clean energy), water (save, pollution, drinking water quality,waste water), effects of global warming, climate change, keeping green, keeping our forests rich.
To further introduce the topic of the environment, I used the "U.S. Global Warming Emissions" pie chart. To help you think about the topic more, I had you guess where the categories belong. To have you analyze the amounts, I asked you to guess the percentages for each (instead of giving you the answers first.) Tomorrow, I will dictate questions (on the pie chart) for you to write. After correcting the spelling, we will answer the questions to check your understanding of the chart.
I look forward to tomorrow's class! Have a good night!
To recap today's class...
Today's grammar lesson was a little longer than it usually is. I felt it was a good lesson-- lots of thoughtful questions. It seemed to me that you are understanding the basic rules-- "Noun clauses act like nouns (subjects or objects) in a sentence. They always need a subject + verb (in this order). " We will continue to work on noun clauses with question words tomorrow morning. I hope you find it to be a review for you as we talk about the rules once again.
I introduced Conversation Journals quickly this morning. (We will do an entry later this week.) We did the 4-minute quick write in order to 1) find out what interests you about the environment and environmental issues 2) give you an opportunity to write (with time pressure). I noticed that the groups were engaged and brought up a lot of good points. The main issues we came up with are: pollution , save energy, chemicals in food, garbage/recycling, not wasting resources, how to protect the environment, wind/water/solar power (clean energy), water (save, pollution, drinking water quality,waste water), effects of global warming, climate change, keeping green, keeping our forests rich.
To further introduce the topic of the environment, I used the "U.S. Global Warming Emissions" pie chart. To help you think about the topic more, I had you guess where the categories belong. To have you analyze the amounts, I asked you to guess the percentages for each (instead of giving you the answers first.) Tomorrow, I will dictate questions (on the pie chart) for you to write. After correcting the spelling, we will answer the questions to check your understanding of the chart.
I look forward to tomorrow's class! Have a good night!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Week 1-- Day 1
Today was a busy first day! You filled out the "very bright green" information sheets, so I have a little bit of background information before I meet with you at your appointment. We did the "pink quiz" to introduce you to my teaching style and what you can expect in class this quarter.
I tried a new syllabus activity this time, so you had the chance to read a section of it more carefully. I'm always trying to make the syllabus a more enjoyable learning activity.
Then, we introduced our first grammar section of the quarter-- noun clauses. Noun clauses act like a noun (subject or object) in a sentence. They always have a subject + verb (in this order).
As you will see tomorrow, we will begin learning about noun clauses by changing wh- questions (who, what, where, why, when, how) to clauses. It is very common to use these types of noun clauses in polite questions.
Ex. "What time is it?" "Could you tell me what time it is?"
I hope you are enjoying this very beautiful April afternoon! See you in the morning!
I tried a new syllabus activity this time, so you had the chance to read a section of it more carefully. I'm always trying to make the syllabus a more enjoyable learning activity.
Then, we introduced our first grammar section of the quarter-- noun clauses. Noun clauses act like a noun (subject or object) in a sentence. They always have a subject + verb (in this order).
As you will see tomorrow, we will begin learning about noun clauses by changing wh- questions (who, what, where, why, when, how) to clauses. It is very common to use these types of noun clauses in polite questions.
Ex. "What time is it?" "Could you tell me what time it is?"
I hope you are enjoying this very beautiful April afternoon! See you in the morning!
Welcome to Spring Quarter!
I hope you have all had a restful and fun break. I am looking forward to the next 10 weeks and I hope you are, too!
I've decided to use a blog this quarter. I will be posting after class to recap what we studied. I will also be using the blog to further explain the goals of the lessons. As computer skills become more and more important at school, work and home, I thought this would be a good experience for all of us (me, too)!
I'd also like you to post comments throughout the quarter. It will be much more fun if others are writing too!
See you very soon!
I've decided to use a blog this quarter. I will be posting after class to recap what we studied. I will also be using the blog to further explain the goals of the lessons. As computer skills become more and more important at school, work and home, I thought this would be a good experience for all of us (me, too)!
I'd also like you to post comments throughout the quarter. It will be much more fun if others are writing too!
See you very soon!
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