Learning a language (or getting better at a language) is like playing a sport or a musical instrument,it takes practice, practice, practice.

Aprender un idioma (o mejorar un idioma) es parecido a hacer deporte o tocar un instrumento musical, se requiere práctica, muchísima práctica.

Here on this page are many opportunities to do so. Be careful, you might just have fun at the same time!

Aquí en esta página hay muchas oportunidades para hacerlo, pero ten cuidado que podría disfrutarlo!

A school year behind us, the summer is here.

It's a great time to practice English or Spanish. Find some movies, or television shows, with subtitles. A book or two wouldn't hurt, and let's be honest, books travel a whole lot better to the beach since sand in even the smallest DVD player is a drag.

:

Side by Side Bilingual Books:

Stories from Latin America
by Genevieve Barlow

Stories From Mexico
by Genevieve Barlow

Stories from Spain
by Genevieve Barlow

Semester II / Semestre Dos

Think Globally, that's the theme for Semester 2. Our Spanish class will be composing a newsletter in order to better understand the point of view of Spanish speakers and also to connect with the Spanish speakers in our school, especially those who don't yet understand English. We are also thinking Globally in honor of Haiti - stay tuned for student thoughts on how to lend our support, financially and emotionally to our neighbor.

!

Language Acquisition / Adquisición de un Idioma

Whether you're in my Spanish or English as a Second Language class you are experiencing the challenges of learning a new language, or improving a language, as in the case of the native speakers or those who excelled in Spanish I. I have added new websites, and you can receive credit toward the homework portion of your grade if you hand in an explanation of what site or sites you visited and what you learned or practiced while visiting your site.

Look what we made!

The second grade students in my Spanish as a foreign language group made these beautiful masks with papier mache horns. The masks are worn at Carnival which coincides with Mardi Gras and combines Caribbean and African cultures. Vejigantes, the Spanish name for the masks, date back hundreds of years. Our designs were inspired from those made famous in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Too bad we couldn't make a field trip out of it!

*Read more about Carnival traditions and mask making in the links I have added to the list on the right hand side of this page.

Goodbye New York, Hello Hartford!

Although I no longer teach in New York, I am happy to be able to continue with my web page and hope my students former and current will continue to take advantage of the links for learning and fun. Como siempre voy a tener información en español especialmente como ahora estoy enseñandolo. Although the New York links are not visible, feel free to ask and I will email you the links for the NYC school year calendar, NY State math test prep, or anything else you might need to know!

ELA and beyond

The ELA is fast approaching! There are new links so that you can practice and become more comfortable with the test. Remember the test does not define you! Your success is measured by what you determine it to be. Hard work is the key to whatever your dreams may be.

Almost Thanksgiving?

Hard to believe that we are smack in the middle of November. It's time to check in, with yourselves, be honest about your effort, and remember that's it's you, most of all, whom you need to impress! One of my favorite quotes is about just this: To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.
-William Shakespeare

The most popular link on this site is the map game, here is a copy of the United States (and territories) to help. Enjoy the game, and take it a step further, try to learn all the capitals. Then don't forget to challenge yourself with funbrain and the grammar sites. Hay un nuevo para los que sienten más comodo en español.

CLASS 185

Welcome back....and welcome if you are new to GLOBE and new to my web site. 185 is the name of our class this year because we are mostly 8th grade seniors! The room number is 276. The first 8th grade dance is already planned tentatively (tentatively means the date could change) for October 10. Village I is already planning a trip for October 10th as well. What is different about this year is that the trip and the dance will depend on how much homework you have handed in. That goes for everyone in our Village. If you don't know what the homework assignments are, check here. No excuses; you can ask for a library pass and do your homework in the library at lunch or come early to school and Ms. Rose will be in the library and you can do homework there. I would like, for the first homework, to know who your favorite celebrity is. It could be an actor, singer, or sports star and we want to know why you think they achieved success.

Your teachers will be: Ms. Wilson for ELA and Social Studies, Mr. Garcia for Science, Mr. Licari and Ms. Harper for Math and you have art this year instead of music with a teacher named Ms. Rogers. Ms. Coleman is supposed to have a music club. Ms. Wilson and myself are the homeroom teachers and I will be there supporting all of you for all ELA/SS and Science.

UNIFORM: 6/7 wear black pants or skirt with white, black or pink polo shirt (with collar), 8th graders use black pants or skirt with any color polo shirt (with collar)...NO jeans, or T-shirts, except GLOBE T-shirts and gym uniforms.

SCHOOL BEGINS AT 8:40 this year, until extended day begins and then you will need to be at school by 8:00 a.m.

Bienvenidos a los nuevos y a mis estudiantes del pasado. El numero de nuestra clase es 185, y del salon, 276. Ya tenemos cosas divertidas planeadas pero, hay que entregar tarea para obtener pemiso de participar. Hay un baile para los del octavo el 10 de octubre y un paseo el mismo día. No es que decir que las fechas y eventos no se pueden cambiar. La mayoria de ustedes estan en octavo, entonces tenemos un clase llena de lideres! Los maestros estan nombrados arriba. Yo y la Ms. Diaz estamos para ayudarles con su ingles, pero lo mas importante es que ustedes mismos esten practicando con su ingles con sus compañeros de clase..y aqui en este sitio. Uniforme: 6/7 pantalones o faldas negros con camisa blanca, negro o rosada (con collar solamaente), los del octavo: pantalones o faldas negros con camisa de cualquier color (con collar solamente) - NO se pueden usar camisetas, ni vaqueros. La primera tarea es que me escriben quien es su estrella favorita, o que sea cantante, atletico, o actor. Quiero saber porque piensas que tiene exito este persona.

Comenzamos a las 8:40 a.m. por los primeros dias y entonces los que recibiran ayuda extra tienen que venir a las 8:00 a.m.

An end and a beginning....

Summer is here, and yes, you should relax and have fun! Fun could include reading...don't be shocked! A book doesn't need batteries or electricity, it can fit in almost any bag and take you on a trip for free! Plus, if you read, and write a great report, including characters, plot (in sequence), and your favorite part....then you can start in September with an "A".

Check in to my site periodically for other grammar exercises and vocabulary worksheets that you can complete and email to me or bring to school with you in September. Oh, and another easy "A"....keep a writer's journal. Sit in the park even and write about the people you see, the ice-cream truck, the basketball game. While you're at it, add some pictures, drawings or photos...even press a flower or tape in a movie ticket stub!

You all did so well on your State ELA test but research shows that 2 months of no writing or reading can cause scores to drop! Don't let it happen!! See you in September, smarter than ever!

**Para los que el ingles todavia es una gran lucha...aprovecha de los sitios conectados aqui...en septiembre estare hablando mucho mas ingles y van a necesitar un base...porque no practica aqui? Muchos de los sitios que escogi son bilingues...
les veo en septiembre!

Wait, wait....it's not over yet!

My special congratulations go out to my class for your hard work on the social studies projects. You will be given time this week to use my sticky notes I have placed on the projects and my suggestions during our conferences to make them even better. The school is going to have a hard time competing with the level of work you all achieved.

One last literacy project that we still need to finish (besides improving our speed/fluency with QReads) is the immigrant story. This has to be handed in this week (yes 8th graders even though graduation is Thursday). If you click on the poem you will read something that my father wrote about a visitor to New York.

You need to choose the following for your main character:

Name of the character.
Age at the time the character comes to the United States.
Country of origin and language of origin (real not invented).
Style of dress and other details (such as style of music they like, and other things they do on their free time).
A problem the character has to overcome and how they overcome it.
You must present the story in a sequence that is interesting, entertaining and easily understandable.

This needs to be at least two pages to receive a 4. Good luck. Drawings are encouraged!! For additional inspiration reflect on the true story about the Chinese kindergarten student we read in class.

Social Studies Project Notes

Hi Students,

This is a quick post to give you the links for the sites I put on the board today and to give you a reference for how to complete your projects step by step. The key is that first as a group, you create a timeline of an era in American History that interest you. This should be 15-20 events. Then individually you divide up the events and the eighth graders should have 5 each, seventh graders three. Next after designing a really cool time-line (use the sites for examples), you will need to find one document, primary or secondary to accompany each of your 3 to 5 events. Finally you will present the timeline to the class and each group will have a three part question for the class to answer and multiple choice questions for a class quiz to be given once all the presentations are complete. This will be a nice way to end the year and prepare for the 8th grade social studies test!

Let me know if you have questions. If you do not want to work in a group you need to see me immediately.

Here is an example of a primary document and a question to go with it.

Address of John Brown to the Virginia Court:

Now if it is deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the furtherance of the
ends of justice and MINGLE MY BLOOD FURTHER WITH THE BLOOD OF MY
CHILDREN, and with the blood of millions in slave country whose rights are disregarded
By the wicked, cruel, and unjust enactments – I summit; so LET IT BE DONE.


1. Describe the tone of John Brown’s Address to the Virginia Court.

2. What does Brown admit to? What does he deny?

3. Why was he tried in a Virginia Court and not a federal court?

4. Are Brown’s actions at Harper’s Ferry justified? Explain your viewpoint.

􏰀 Sampletimelinescanalsobefoundat thefollowingwebsites: (just copy and paste onto your browser)
• AnimatedAtlas:
http://www.animatedatlas.com/timeline.html
• WorldAlmanacforKids:
http://www.worldalmanacforkids.com/EXPLORE/timeline.html
• Libraryof Congress:
http://memory.loc.gov/learn/features/timeline/index.html
• TheHenryFord:
http://www.hfmgv.org/education/smartfun/timeline/timeline.html

End of year tests and projects

We all wish life could be as easy as Luke makes it look in this picture, but we need to work harder than ever now that the end of the year is approaching. Our class has the NYSESLAT beginning this week and continuing all the way into the middle of May. Then there are the science and social studies exams plus the eighth grade social studies projects. I AM HERE TO HELP but you need to ask and be willing to spend some time after school. There will be snacks provided and you can even make requests! ELA missing assignments can still be handed in...re-writes are especially important. Finally, remember your grade can improve (or go down) as much as a whole letter grade if you do not read and hand in the Novel Partner projects (there is now a chart of questions in the class if you have lost your sheet).

I HATE TO READ!

If this describes you, even a little, then I think I have a solution. In class we will be reading as partners and then presenting (and writing) literature responses. The four week process is described below. Also, we will be reading Huckleberry Finn and watching segments of the movie. Be careful, you might just enjoy yourself!

*First person to tell me who is depicted in the picture gets a Blow Pop. :)

OVERVIEW: The Novel Partners unit is a structured, yet
independent four week reading program in which partners read
the same self-chosen novels; complete a weekly assignment
including vocabulary, comprehension, and literary
appreciation activities; then meet with one another weekly
to discuss the readings and the assignments.

PURPOSE: Provide motivation and guidance for independent
reading in a way that can be easily integrated into a more
structured whole class reading program.

OBJECTIVE(s): Students will be able to:
1. Work cooperatively with a partner to devise a 4 wk.
reading plan for self-chosen novels.
2. Use context to figure out the meaning of unknown words.
3. Summarize the main events in a novel.
4. Respond to literature by telling what they like and
dislike about the elements in their novels.
5. Analyze the elements of a novel, including setting,
characters, plot, and theme.
6. Discuss ideas with their partners about the readings
and the assignments.
7. Work independently to prepare for the weekly
discussions.

http://www.col-ed.org/cur/lang/lang81.txt

ELA ELA ELA ELA ELA ELA

This is it, December and then part of January, and then the ELA is going to be here. Everyone of you can do better than you did before, probably without even trying very hard. Imagine, then, how well you could do if you really practice. No different than the best NBA or MLB player you can think of. They practice, practice, practice and work really hard and that is how they succeed.

The best tip I can tell you to practice right now is understanding what a question is asking. If you take time to read and understand the question, there is a much better chance you will choose the right answer.

Try to pay attention to words like best possible or most likely because that means that there will be at least two answers that are very close. Also, another good tip is that if one of the choices says "all" or "none", there is a good chance that that is not the right choice, because that would be an extreme case. Most of all be confident in what you know. Cooperate in class now more than ever to get the most out of the learning that is being offered, and you will do well.

Finally a New Posting!!

I am excited to finally have a new posting on my blog...stay tuned for social studies practice as well as ELA testing tips. Please visit one of the suggested sites and tell me how it went!

Never to Early for ELA Test Prep!!

The ELA test is our big focus now that we are back. We want to be 150% prepared so we can SHOCK everyone with our great scores. I will be staying many afternoons until 4 pm and offering indidualized tutoring. In addition we will meet the Saturday before the test, for a very important practice session, including how to budget our time and feel super confident!

Here are some good strategies to keep in mind, but mostly remember if you believe in yourself, anything is possible!


1.

Divide and conquer! Answer the easy questions first to build confidence. This will
also allow you to rack up as many points as possible right from the start. However,

always be sure to mark the questions you don't answer right away so you can go

back to them.

2.

Pace yourself. Check your watch from time to time to make sure you're pacing
yourself appropriately.

3.

When in doubt, guess. You at least have a chance that you might guess correctly.

4.

Don't let others distract you. Focus only on your own test. If others are writing and
you aren't, don't panic. If others finish before you do, try not to get nervous.

5.

Use any extra time to first make sure you've answered all the questions. Then, go
over the more difficult questions and read them a second time. Read essays
carefully to make sure you answered all questions and followed directions first and grammar second.

6.

Don't change your initial answer unless you have a good reason to do so;
research indicates that 3 out of 4 times a first choice was probably correct.

HOMEWORK SCHEDULE

This a schedule of homework that is due in the different subjects. You must still check with your math, science and other social studies teachers their homework assignments. Also, don't forget to use the links here to practice grammar and math, I will give you points! This is a week's worth of assignments so you can get ahead. Reading is something you must always do for 2 hours a week. Yes, you get a grade for homework and as you know it does become part of the classwork as well. Just like in sports, dance or anything you want to get good at it (even video games!) practice pays off!


1) Literacy/Humanities Homework:

Connect the corrected autobiography sections, write a table of contents and choose photos or other pictures for your cover and for the inside pages. Do not forget to include your timeline and adjective web.

2) Social Studies Homework (8th graders):

Explain how your research topic connects to the forming of the United States. Add to your graphic organizer, complete your table of contents and hand in another sample of paraphrasing. Draw or print maps and pictures to share. Last day for presentations is Friday.

4) Vocabulary:

Finally, everyone needs to hand in 15 sentences with the spelling words by Thursday.

Friday's Vocab

VOCABULARY TEST

Please practice your vocabulary for Friday:

Obscure - vague or unclear

Deftly- skillfully

Subjugation - the act of keeping others under one's control

Also you will be writing and defining three vocabulary words that you learned in your independent reading.

GOOD LUCK :)

The New Marking Period

This marking period we will be focusing on our writing and reading skills because we are going to do even better than our best on the NY State ELA test. All students are to complete a short story which reflects the kind of life that the characters in our book, The Pearl, are leading. A life without electricity or other modern conveniences. A first draft will be due by November 17th. We are also working on a second major project which is our autobiographies. When we finish the Pearl we will be reading, Out of the Dust, a memoir by Karen Hesse. The photo above is of a powerful dust storm in Kansas in 1935, the time period that author Hesse writes about in that memoir.

In order to receive a 3 or 4, remember the following writing rubric:

* The writing piece opens with a "hook", which is an opening that makes the reader interested right away.
* There are few grammar, spelling, or punctuaction errors and none in the re-write.
* The sentences and paragraphs flow well, following a logical sequence.
* Characters are well developed and there is dialogue included.
* The writing is supported by details and the writer successfully creates images with the details.
* There is a strong conclusion that brings the story together in the end.

Reading is harder to measure, but we can and do! So keep up your book logs, which should be kept at home and in class. Remember there are three reading responses, minimum, due per week, see samples in earlier posts below. One of these should be a book talk (if you are too shy to present the book talk you must still fill in the form below and either myself or another student will share the information for you).

REQUIREMENTS OF A BOOK TALK
• Title of the book
• Author of the book
• Information about the author
• Summary of the book so far
• At least one connection to the book – Text to self – Text to text – Text to world (or a prediction, or changed ending)
• Recommendation to other readers