Good evening! Our cloudy morning turned into a clear and sunny afternoon after all! What good luck.
This morning's class began with "run down". This is how you feel when you are feeling tired and possibly starting to get sick. This usually happens to me once or twice during the academic year when I get too busy with civics projects, my teaching and, of course, my other full-time job (being a mom).
Then, we moved on to adverb phrases, specifically of time. I'm sure that you have seen, heard and/or used adverb phrases before, but you didn't realize it. When changing the adverb clauses to phrases, first you need to make sure that the subjects are the same. If they are the same, you need to take out the subject and change the verb to the -ing form (gerund/present participle). You seemed to have a strong grasp of the concept. We will continue working on adverb phrases on Monday (but with different meanings, not just time).
We then held our first vote (for guest speakers) of the quarter. I will tabulate them before Monday to see if we need to vote again or not. We also talked a bit more about the presentations. It sounds like we'll have some interesting presentations this summer! I'm already looking forward to them. Next week, I will pass out the presentation rubric, so you understand how I will be checking you.
After the break, we returned to writing. I used the "Why do we lie?" essay for you to analyze the format of an essay. The green handout on the basic format of an essay is one that you can always use. As I said in class, if you can catch the basic format now, you will find your future writing classes to be easier because you will already understand the basics and can focus on your grammar, punctuation and vocabulary.
We then finished up with another timed reading. Again, I time the reading for test preparation. We'll go over the answers on Monday.
I hope you have a very good weekend. Keep your fingers crossed that it will be sunny!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Summer Quarter-- Week 2, Day 3
Good morning! Here is a quick recap of yesterday's class.
We began class by talking about "cheesy"! Of course, you can eat a cheesy pizza (with lots of cheese), but you can also have a cheesy smile (that's a big smile that seems insincere) or be cheesy (fake, insincere). This slang is very common!
We returned to conditionals and finished up with unless and only if. Only if is a little different-- remember, when it begins a sentence, the subject/verb order changes. EX. Only if I get a raise, will I be able to take a long vacation this year.
Next, we talked about our mini-presentations. My intention is that the presentations give you speaking practice, so I can check your eye contact, body language, voice (loud/soft), pronunciation & grammar. I want this to be a positive experience for you. Since you have a lot of control over what you present and how, it should work out well.
We returned to essay form. As I said in class, the essay is a good example, so you can pick out the formal, but not get hung up on the vocabulary. We apply this format to different types of writing as the quarter progresses.
It's hard to believe that we only have one more day of the week! Time flies when you're having fun :)! See you in a half an hour!
We began class by talking about "cheesy"! Of course, you can eat a cheesy pizza (with lots of cheese), but you can also have a cheesy smile (that's a big smile that seems insincere) or be cheesy (fake, insincere). This slang is very common!
We returned to conditionals and finished up with unless and only if. Only if is a little different-- remember, when it begins a sentence, the subject/verb order changes. EX. Only if I get a raise, will I be able to take a long vacation this year.
Next, we talked about our mini-presentations. My intention is that the presentations give you speaking practice, so I can check your eye contact, body language, voice (loud/soft), pronunciation & grammar. I want this to be a positive experience for you. Since you have a lot of control over what you present and how, it should work out well.
We returned to essay form. As I said in class, the essay is a good example, so you can pick out the formal, but not get hung up on the vocabulary. We apply this format to different types of writing as the quarter progresses.
It's hard to believe that we only have one more day of the week! Time flies when you're having fun :)! See you in a half an hour!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Summer Quarter-- Week 2, Day 2
Tuesday was another busy day. We began class with the slang "thinking caps". Then we wore our thinking caps for the whole class period as we analyzed the grammar and began to think about writing.
Yesteday we began discussing "true" conditionals in the present/future. If, of course, is what is used to express a condition. The lesson continued as we tlaked about even if/whether or not and in case/in the event that. Today we will review these meanings and continue with unless and only if. Remember that even though and even if are similar, but even if expresses a condition that hasn't happened yet. It is easy to confuse the two, but I will continue to remind you of the difference this quarter.
Thank you to Crystal, Valentina and Hien for volunteering as our first readers for story time. It seemed to be a positive experience for them as well as the children. If you need speaking/pronunciation practice, take advantage of this opportunity!
After the break, we began talking about writing. Although we will be focusing on a sample essay, we will be using the format to apply it to the writing product (letter, e-mail, essay) that you need most.
After class, I changed our slang/idiom study to "cheesy" (resulting from class) and found Pink Floyd for the break song. See you shortly!
Yesteday we began discussing "true" conditionals in the present/future. If, of course, is what is used to express a condition. The lesson continued as we tlaked about even if/whether or not and in case/in the event that. Today we will review these meanings and continue with unless and only if. Remember that even though and even if are similar, but even if expresses a condition that hasn't happened yet. It is easy to confuse the two, but I will continue to remind you of the difference this quarter.
Thank you to Crystal, Valentina and Hien for volunteering as our first readers for story time. It seemed to be a positive experience for them as well as the children. If you need speaking/pronunciation practice, take advantage of this opportunity!
After the break, we began talking about writing. Although we will be focusing on a sample essay, we will be using the format to apply it to the writing product (letter, e-mail, essay) that you need most.
After class, I changed our slang/idiom study to "cheesy" (resulting from class) and found Pink Floyd for the break song. See you shortly!
Monday, July 6, 2009
Summer Quarter-- Week 2, Day 1
Good evening!
We had a busy morning today--didn't we? We began class with "all decked out" our "decked out". This is what you would say to describe someone who is dressed up or even a place that is decorated (such as for Christmas).
We began our grammar with a short dictation. As I said, I wasn't focusing on any specific sounds, but just wanted to introduce the grammar in a slightly different way and give you the chance to really concentrate on spelling. I had errors in the sentences to 1) make sure that you would right down what you heard (without correcting them) 2) see if you could find the errors based on the rules we discussed last week. You seemed to have a good grasp of the basics and could follow the new rules on direct contrast (opposite) with while/whereas. These adverbs clauses follow the same rules, but a comma is used when the while and whereas are at the end of a sentence, too.
I had you work to brainstorm ideas for listening so that the note-taking component of our class is as relevant to you as I can make it. We'll be voting soon, so I can arrange the speakers. It can take awhile to set up the presentations, especially in summer (when people are taking vacations). We returned to our first text and were able to finish the questions (with the time pressure).
Tomorrow, we'll continue with the grammar and social studies as well as begin essay form.
Hope you've enjoyed this cloudy day! It was a refreshing change from the hot sun over the weekend!
We had a busy morning today--didn't we? We began class with "all decked out" our "decked out". This is what you would say to describe someone who is dressed up or even a place that is decorated (such as for Christmas).
We began our grammar with a short dictation. As I said, I wasn't focusing on any specific sounds, but just wanted to introduce the grammar in a slightly different way and give you the chance to really concentrate on spelling. I had errors in the sentences to 1) make sure that you would right down what you heard (without correcting them) 2) see if you could find the errors based on the rules we discussed last week. You seemed to have a good grasp of the basics and could follow the new rules on direct contrast (opposite) with while/whereas. These adverbs clauses follow the same rules, but a comma is used when the while and whereas are at the end of a sentence, too.
I had you work to brainstorm ideas for listening so that the note-taking component of our class is as relevant to you as I can make it. We'll be voting soon, so I can arrange the speakers. It can take awhile to set up the presentations, especially in summer (when people are taking vacations). We returned to our first text and were able to finish the questions (with the time pressure).
Tomorrow, we'll continue with the grammar and social studies as well as begin essay form.
Hope you've enjoyed this cloudy day! It was a refreshing change from the hot sun over the weekend!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Summer Quarter-- Week 1, Day 4
I am finally catching up on my blogging! Since we are now moved in (though we still have boxes to unpack), I will be able to blog daily from now on!
We began class with the Welcome Back Kotter clip. I chose the clip because 1) it was fun 2) I hoped you could hear the New York accent 3) Kotter did mention Independence Day 4) I could tie it into our grammar lesson. I hope you enjoyed it! If you have any ideas for movie/TV clips, let me know. Last quarter, a couple of students suggested some great ones to me.
After going over your sentences based on the clips (and emphasizing the punctuation again), we moved on to adverb clauses with the meanings of cause/effect and unexpected result. Marguerite asked a good question on verb tense use with adverb clauses of time (how we do not use the future tense) and I will bring this point up again tomorrow when we review the basic rules and move on to the next section.
Next, you signed up to read for story time at Cannell Library. I have had students read to elementary school children for a special story time event at Harney Elementary and also read to students at Martin Luther King Elementary. Each time, the students enjoyed themselves, so I am optimistic that it will go well at Cannell Library, too.
We got to do our first text reading on Thursday. I think this reading (and other similar ones that I will use this quarter) provides the basic facts to let us discuss history. Again, I timed you to add the time pressure (hopefully to help you as you take future tests whether they are the CASAS, GED, COMPASS or in-class assessements).
I hope each of you enjoyed the weekend with your friends and families. Boy, has it been hot, but, fortunately, it hasn't been humid. I look forward to hearing how you spent your first weekend of summer quarter! See you tomorrow!
We began class with the Welcome Back Kotter clip. I chose the clip because 1) it was fun 2) I hoped you could hear the New York accent 3) Kotter did mention Independence Day 4) I could tie it into our grammar lesson. I hope you enjoyed it! If you have any ideas for movie/TV clips, let me know. Last quarter, a couple of students suggested some great ones to me.
After going over your sentences based on the clips (and emphasizing the punctuation again), we moved on to adverb clauses with the meanings of cause/effect and unexpected result. Marguerite asked a good question on verb tense use with adverb clauses of time (how we do not use the future tense) and I will bring this point up again tomorrow when we review the basic rules and move on to the next section.
Next, you signed up to read for story time at Cannell Library. I have had students read to elementary school children for a special story time event at Harney Elementary and also read to students at Martin Luther King Elementary. Each time, the students enjoyed themselves, so I am optimistic that it will go well at Cannell Library, too.
We got to do our first text reading on Thursday. I think this reading (and other similar ones that I will use this quarter) provides the basic facts to let us discuss history. Again, I timed you to add the time pressure (hopefully to help you as you take future tests whether they are the CASAS, GED, COMPASS or in-class assessements).
I hope each of you enjoyed the weekend with your friends and families. Boy, has it been hot, but, fortunately, it hasn't been humid. I look forward to hearing how you spent your first weekend of summer quarter! See you tomorrow!
Summer Quarter: Week 1, Day 3
Wednesday was another busy day in class. We began class with a cartoon to give you the vocabulary "side-effect". Then, we began using the grammar book to work on our focus of the quarter, adverb clauses. I had students read the questions aloud to give different students the chance to speak. Plus, this activity draws the focus away from me, the teacher, so you (the students) focus on your classmates, too. Then, we used the information that you gave me to form the grammar. The big focus of Wednesday's lesson was the use of commas and placement of the adverb clauses. We talked mostly about adverb clauses of time and also touched on the meanings of cause/effect.
We did our first journal entries today. As I emphasized in class, the main purpose for the journals are to give you grammar/spelling/vocabulary practice with time pressure. Though you may not be 100% accurate, you will be working to increase your fluency (in writing) through this activity. I also like the journals because it provides the opportunity for you to have a conversation (in writing) with me on the topic of your choice.
Finally, we moved on to social studies by looking at the map of the Native American tribes (before the arrival of the Europeans). The map is far from complete, it shows that there many established cultures living in what is now known as the United States.
A lot of what we did on Wednesday (just like every day in the first week) provides the foundation for the rest of the quarter. We continue building on the knowledge each day.
We did our first journal entries today. As I emphasized in class, the main purpose for the journals are to give you grammar/spelling/vocabulary practice with time pressure. Though you may not be 100% accurate, you will be working to increase your fluency (in writing) through this activity. I also like the journals because it provides the opportunity for you to have a conversation (in writing) with me on the topic of your choice.
Finally, we moved on to social studies by looking at the map of the Native American tribes (before the arrival of the Europeans). The map is far from complete, it shows that there many established cultures living in what is now known as the United States.
A lot of what we did on Wednesday (just like every day in the first week) provides the foundation for the rest of the quarter. We continue building on the knowledge each day.
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