Week of December 1-5, 2014

We will start reading a new novel, "The Giver" by Lois Lowry. 
Short summary: Where Jonas lives, life is safe, orderly, and predictable.  Rules are strictly adhered to; every aspect of a person's life is carefully planned.  People rarely make choices on their own; everything is decided for them by the community.  There is no snow or sunshine, no colors or music, no animals or nature.

Reminders:
Monday--Discuss "utopian" and "dystopian" worlds.
Tuesday--Read chapter 1 in class--Homework read chapter 2
Wednesday--Homework read chapter 3
Thursday--Homework read chapter 4
Friday--Quiz on chapters 1-4. Homework read chapters 5-7

Week of November 24-28, 2014

Time seems to be flying students so we need to focus on our school work.  Next month you will be taking district benchmarks in all the core areas. 

AC2E IT Seminars coming next week. The seminar I will be teaching is on pointillism.  Students will learn about the work of George Seurat. Students will learn how to create a work of art using dots. Students will learn about color and how the eye sees color.

Reminders:
Early Release on Tuesday, Nov. 25

We will start with "The Giver" by Lois Lowry next week.

I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Week of November 17-21, 2014

Students are working on a Thinking Map Book for Esperanza Rising. They are learning about plot, summarization, character analysis, compare and contrast, the importance of setting (time and place), infer the implicit-explicit theme of the novel, and author's point of view. 

This coming week we will be analyzing and comparing "Esperanza Rising" to Emily Dickinson's poem "Hope" is a thing with feathers.

Esperanza Means Hope

In Esperanza Rising, the author demonstrates the power of words and language throughout the novel. Esperanza means "hope" in Spanish, and the author creates a character-Esperanza-who continues to rise above valleys of hardship in the novel in order to reach the peak of her mountains, as symbolized by the blanket that she crochets under Abuelita's instruction.  Emily Dickinson's poem "Hope' is a thing with feathers also illustrates that hope con be a powerful source for flight.

Reminders:
Thursday--University T-Shirt
Friday--Falcon Spirit T-Shirt

Earn 10 points:
1. Theme Reread pages 250-251. Why is this book called Esperanza Rising?
2. Inference Esperanza did not receive fancy gifts for her birthday, but she was happy.  How do you know? Explain her reaction and support your answer.






  


 

Week of November 10-14, 2014

We are now starting the 3rd Six Weeks time sure does fly when we are having fun.  We are getting very close to the end of the first semester.  Students we need to prepare ourselves for our first District Benchmark coming up in December. We need to start thinking like scholars and apply our skills in all subject areas.  We can not slack off in our work.  Success depends on how we apply what we have learned and what we are learning.  Responsibility and determination are the ingredients for success.  So students I challenge all of you to spread those wings and SOAR!

We will finish "Esperanza Rising" this week.  The next novel to be read is "The Giver" by Lois Lowry.  This is a science fiction novel. 

Reminders:
Tuesday--Veterans' Day                                       
Thursday--College T-Shirt
Friday--Falcon Spirit T-Shirt



10 Sesame Street Premiered on PBS (1969) Great Wall of China Opened for World Tourism (1970) Vietnam Veterans Memorial Opened in Washington, DC (1982)

11 Veterans Day Pilgrims Signed Mayflower Compact (1620)

12 Elizabeth C. Stanton's Birthday (1815) Joseph Stalin Became Ruler of Soviet Union (1927) World War II Battle of Guadalcanal Began (1942)

13 World Kindness Day Laws for Segregation on Buses Ended (1956)

14 Claude Monet's Birthday (1840)

15 America Recycles Day Articles of Confederation Approved (1777) Largest War Protest Ever (1969)

Week of November 3-7, 2014

We had a fantabulous Halloween with our kids but this week we need to come back down to reality.  We are administering 2nd Six Weeks Exams this week.  It is hard to believe that we are already at the end of the 2nd Six Weeks.

Students need to go to bed early and have a good breakfast to be ready for testing.

We are reading the lasts three chapters of "Esperanza Rising."  We are almost at the end of her adventure.  Ready to find out what happens to Esperanza, Mama, Miguel and Abuelita?

Reminders:
Study Study Study
Come Prepared

THE NEXT NOVEL TO BE READ WILL BE "THE GIVER" BY LOIS LOWRY

Week of October 27-30, 2014

Summaries of chapters 9 and 10 of "Esperanza Rising"

Chapter 9 Las Papas (Potatoes)
Esperanza looks after Mama, but Mama is not recovering. The doctor recommends Mama go to the hospital. Mama is now depressed as well as ill. Once Mama is in the hospital, Esperanza resolves to find a job in the packing shed with Miguel’s help. While she is cutting potato eyes, Esperanza learns about repatriation. A few nights before Christmas, Isabel asks Esperanza to tell her about celebrating the Christmas season in Aguascalientes. The memories move Esperanza to tears. She marvels how Isabel could be so happy with the simplest things. When Esperanza visits Mama, she has nothing but a pretty stone to give her and the promise that she will take care of her now.


Chapter 10 Los Aguacates (Avocados)
Esperanza notices the toll of cold and work on her hands. The next time Esperanza visits her mother, the doctor informs her that Mama now has pneumonia. A few days later, Miguel drives Esperanza to Mr. Yakota’s market. From Miguel, she learns about society’s prejudice against Mexicans. Impulsively, she decides to buy Mama a piñata. On the way home Miguel and Esperanza see Marta and her mother walking along the side of the road and offer them a ride. Esperanza notices how Marta and her mother hold hands and which makes her miss her own mother. At Marta’s camp, Esperanza is horrified by the living conditions she witnesses. A poor family approach the truck and ask for help. Esperanza fills their hat with beans and gives the candy-filled piñata to the children. A few nights later Miguel’s family celebrates because Miguel has finally found a job with the railroad.

Reminders for this week:
Don't forget your donation money for the Relay for Life
Halloween Festivities on the 31st!
Relay for Life Saturday November 1 at Sanchez Stadium starts at 3:00 pm 

Week of October 20-24, 2014

Students will have an exam on Monday on chapters 6, 7, and 8 of "Esperanza Rising".  In chapter 8 we found out that there was a terrible dust storm and Esperanza's mother was affected by it. She has Valley Fever which is caused by dust spores.  Valley Fever is an infection of the lungs that causes cough and high fever.  My question is, What will Esperanza do now that her mom is ill? What changes will Esperanza have to make?

Reminders:
Monday--Exam
Tuesday--Ryan Guillen Visit at 9:30 am
Wednesday--Wear Orange Day--Anti-Bullying
                       Early College Jamaica students will be attending at 10:45 am
Thursday--College shirts
                    Love Yourself Be Drug Free (Students may wear Red/Pink shirt)
Friday--Spirit shirt
               Team Up Against Drugs! (Students may wear their favorite Team Shirt/Jersey)

 October Events and Facts:

20—Senate Ratified Louisiana Purchase (1803)

         October 20-24—School Bus Safety Week

 21—Apple Day

         Alfred Nobel’s Birthday (1833)

          Thomas Edison Invented Light Bulb (1879)

 22—Nat’l Nut Day

         First Parachute Jump from Balloon (1797)

 23—Women’s Suffrage March, NYC (1915)

          Soccer Star Pele’s Birthday (1940)

         Apple’s iPod Unveiled (2006)

24—United Nations Day

        First Transcontinental Telegraph Line Completed (1861)