Winter Break HW for Periods 3, 4, 5, and 6

Click HERE for the HW for periods 3 & 5 (This assignment will be for an English grade).

Click HERE for the HW for periods 2 & 4 (The extra credit will be for your Reading class).

Smile, and Merry Christmas!
Love, C-Rod

Periods 1 & 2 - Vocab 7 Review

Here is the review for "She's Crafty" and "Sitting on the Fence" words. CLICK HERE to access the review activities.

Your test is on Thursday (period 1) and Friday (period 2). STUDY ALL WORDS...go all the way back to Unit 1!

Christmas Miracle!

Miracles do happen...with lots of faith, patience, and hard work :o)

	Course	Section	Course Title	Campus	Final Grade

STA

7114

001

Advanced Statistics

Boca Raton

A

BOOKS NEEDED FOR JANUARY 2011~

When you return from break, you will need one of the following books:

Periods 1 & 2:
After getting feedback from 1st period in class yesterday, I may reconsider doing Lincoln on Leadership. Check the poll to the right and vote :o) Let me know which you prefer, so I can make a more informed decision! Only vote once, please! Polls will close on Monday! Once we decide on the book, I will announce it and collect money from those of you who want me to purchase their copy ( the last day to do this will be Friday, 12/17).

Periods 3/4 & 5/6:

(The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey)

You will need them IN CLASS on 1/4!

Ooops! I did it again!

Yep, I messed up again; however, two themes emerge from this colossal faux pas. One, I am obviously working too hard...not getting enough sleep...having senior moments in my early 40s...or, simply, the blond dye has permeated through my hair follicles and scalp, straight to my helium-filled brain. (I use "brain" for lack of a better term. "Useless matter" would have been apropos, but that was just too harsh!) My guess is, it's probably lack of sleep (because I can always work harder...and there is no way that I will ever admit I am a senior, even when I am over 55...and I can't crack on blonds since the occasional "moment" is worth it. After all, we do have more fun!) Just check the time stamp on some of these posts, and you will understand what I mean by being over-tired.

OK, back to business! I did mention TWO themes emerged, right? Well, the other one is - WHY IN SAM HILL DIDN'T ANYONE TELL ME THE WORDS FOR THE VOCAB 6 ONLINE REVIEW WERE WRONG????? What this tells me is you are either not using the flashcard activities I post or, worse, you are afraid to tell me I have made a mistake. I perish the thought! I do go out on a limb to make sure you have plenty of review before you are assessed. That takes time. Most teachers give you the list, a HW assignment, and that's it. You get it in four formats from me (words, HW, skits, and a review activity online or in class, or both). Is this a sign I am wasting my time? Or is this an indicator you fear me? Most would be pleased to be feared; however, I am not. I always want you to tell me when something isn't right. I may give you attitude, but in my quiet moments, I am VERY thankful for the lessons I learn from you all. Please, please, please tell me immediately when I have done something wrong...especially when it might affect you or our class. When it affects the whole class, text or call me, and let me know ASAP. If it's a mistake about a grade, email me or see me after class.

From this day forward, I promise to try and be a better me. After all, in being a better me, I can help you be a better you! And, believe me, that matters to me the MOST!

Here is the link for the vocab 6 words! CLICK HERE FOR REDEMPTION OF MY ERROR! Oh, and remember - "To err is human; to forgive is Divine." (If you don't know what that means, ask me in class.)

Good night :o) MUCH LOVE!

PS. Don't you miss those days of Britney's "Hit Me, Baby" and "Oops, I Did It Again"????? Oh, man, I do!

Literature Circle Review

First, I wanted to tell you that you all did a FABULOUS job in Wednesday's literature circle activity! It was crazy! We had 24 groups of 4, and it was as cold as the Arctic. Nonetheless, you found a way to make it work. WAY TO GO!

Despite the insanity, I thought this was a neat activity. However, for next year, I will change it up and fix the flaws so it runs more smoothly!

What I want from you today is to respond to only one of the questions below...that's it!

1. What did you learn about the book from my other class that you found interesting or comparable to your book? How did it compare or contrast from the themes or messages in your book?

2. What did you learn about the characters in the book from my other class? How did they compare or contrast to the characters in your book?

3. What did you enjoy most about this activity? What did you learn that you had not known before? How do you plan to use this new info in the future?

4. How did your book's ideas of racism, racial injustice or inequality relate (or not relate) to the other book's ideas? How did that book use pathos (emotions and/or feelings) to help you understand?

OK, that's it! LOVE YOU GUYS! Happy Friday! Enjoy these next three days off! Periods 4 & 6 - don't forget Reading Plus!

Thanksgiving Poem

Thank you to Robert from my last period class

for this amazing poem!

He wrote it today in celebration of Thanksgiving!

Beautiful job!

Oh, don't forget to add to the

Attitude of Gratitude in the post below this one!

~

Really, it’s a shame
How all we do is complain
We never take the time to contemplate
About the pleasurable moments instead of the dreadful ones
And live miserably instead of enjoying life and having fun
At last, the day we’ve anticipated is here
The beautiful day we’ve been waiting for all year
THANKSGIVING

The time when we give thanks for living
And ask the Lord for forgiveness for sinning
Spending time with the ones we admire and adore most
The scent and aroma of the mouth-watering turkey roast
So at the end of the day, ponder twice
And appreciate the life you’re living

'cause others don’t have it that nice

Attitude of Gratitude

I just wanted to wish my sweeties a very Happy Thanksgiving. Let's start an Attitude of Gratitude chain right here on our blog. After all, it's a C-Rod tradition.

Click on "comments" below and state three things for which you are thankful (be different)! I already know you are grateful for your parents and family, your friends, and your AMAZING teachers (try not to laugh), but I want some original things. I will go first so you can see what I mean! Be sure to read the various comments that are posted, and you will see that we have so MUCH to be thankful for, even the small things we take for granted!

I hope your Thanksgiving and weekend are filled with all the love and happiness your heart can handle...and all the food your tummies can take!

LOVE YOU ALL! Thanks for being the great kids you are! I am blessed!

Today's Field Trip

If you are going on today's field trip to the Miami International Book Fair, you CAN wear jeans; however, you must wear a shirt (spirit or uniform) that has the gladiator symbol or name on it. Definitely wear comfortable shoes...and don't forget your money for lunch and any books you may want to buy!

YOUR FORMS are due before you get on the bus. An announcement will be made at 7:30 for you to report to the bus loop.

So excited! See you there!

Periods 3 & 5 New Vocab List

Hey, guys and gals!
Here is your vocab list and review activities
for Unit 2.

Click HERE to
access the site!

Your test will be Thursday, 12/2

VOCAB 6 REVIEW

CLICK HERE
to review
your words for
Unit 6.

Calling all givers!

"If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one."

~ Mother Teresa

I have signed up our class to make a Thanksgiving basket
for a needy Gladiator family.
With that said, I need items for it. You can either donate $1 towards a Publix gift card,
or you can bring in any Thanksgiving-type item.
For example, you can bring in boxed mashed potatoes, stuffing, jars of gravy,
boxes of cornbread mix, cans of corn or peas, a box of sweet potato casserole,
apple juice, pumpkin pie crust or filling, etc.

If you cannot do that, we are also collecting toiletry items
for Operation Hope Tote.
You can bring in toothpaste, deodorant, toothbrushes, diapers, baby wipes, shampoo,
lotion, soap, and the like, for the Miami Rescue Mission and
for National Homeless Awareness Month.
The Dollar Store has these items for, you guessed it, $1!

I NEED ALL ITEMS BY MONDAY, so I can go out and grab what we don't collect.

Please help. In giving, we show our gratitude for the blessings in our lives!

REVISED-Simple, Compound & Complex Sentences!

CLICK HERE to access the PowerPoint and see the difference of the three kinds of sentences! Oh, and how to use semicolons! (We will do this in class, but it's good to review.)

CLICK HERE for your HW! (You can use Word, highlight, and print. Another option is to print it and use your own highlighter .)

CLICK HERE for the quiz (BTW, 80% of 11 is 8.8, so you have to get nine correct. Remember to print your results. This is also part of your HW!)

MOST IMPORTANTLY, CLICK HERE TO SMILE!

Vocab Test - Periods 3 & 5

Remember that you have a vocabulary test on Friday! CLICK HERE for a review!

AP Classes

This essay below is due on 11/15 for Period 2; and 11/16 for period 1. It is going to be a little uncomfortable; learning always is! However, I know you can do it! Oh, and be sure to bring your novels with you on Monday and Tuesday as well.

Iola Argumentative Essay

Periods 1 & 2

CLICK HERE to review your vocab words for your test this week. I set it up so you can review using flashcards, by playing concentration or matching games, and as a word search. Have fun! Remember, period 2, your test is Monday; Period 1, your test is Tuesday!

PARENT MEETING CANCELED

I had planned to have a parent meeting for those of you interested in going to Washington, D.C., but no one responded to my previous post. Therefore, it is canceled. We will try again in two weeks. Keep your eyes peeled!

Smile,
C-Rod

AP Vocab - A HEAD'S UP!!!!!

We are a little behind on our schedule, so we're going to skip ahead to the Unit 5 words. Here they are:

YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL - Embellish, Florid, Opulent, Ornate, Ostentatious, Poignant

OVERKILL - Ebullience, Effusive, Egregious, Flagrant, Frenetic, Gratuitous, Sanctimonious, Superfluous

Your assignment is to create a vocab test like the ones I do with some definitions, sentences, synonyms, and antonyms. You can even do a couple graphics. Be sure to make a separate copy of the answers. Save it on your computer because your test just may be the one I give next!!!!

I'm Just a Little Crazy....

Did you notice that the title for this post was an example of MEIOSIS??? If you did, yay! Did you read the post below about being tired? Did you notice the lit tools there? I did it on purpose, expecting at least one of you to notice...and you didn't. Authors use lit tools on PURPOSE!!!! Authors are very deliberate. Though I usually include them, I am going to add lit tools in all my posts from now on, and the first person to identify it/them correctly will get bonus points. Leave a comment under the post with the quote, type of lit tool, and why I likely used the lit tool that way, and you will get EXTRA CREDIT! Only provide one lit tool per post, as it would be nice for others to have a chance. Once a lit tool has been identified in a post, you cannot use that one again.

OK, so now for the purpose of my post:

On Monday, we have FCAT Retakes. We will be on a special schedule, I believe...and we will be in the cafeteria. First period - all of you will report to our room first, then we will proceed to the cafeteria. Bring any games you like to play. (NOT TWISTER...LOL!) With that said, there will be NO vocab test, Iola Leroy quiz, or bookmark due that day! Woohoo!

The same goes for second period on Tuesday (though we WILL NOT be in the cafeteria and you will NOT need games). There will be NO vocab test, Iola Leroy Quiz, or bookmark due that day.

Wednesday, 10/20, Period 1; Thursday, 10/21, Period 2: You will have a vocab quiz on Unit 3 words. You will also have a quiz on chapters 26-33 of Iola Leroy. Your last bookmark will be due on that day as well, so I recommend you pace yourself!

Friday, 10/22, Period 2; Monday, 10/25: Vocab Unit 4 will be due.

Periods 3 & 5, I may not get to see you a whole lot on Monday, so bring you To Kill a Mockingbird and read it if you have a few minutes.

OK, love you all! GOOD LUCK TO THOSE OF YOU TAKING THE FCAT NEXT WEEK! I KNOW YOU WILL DO GREAT!

Exhausted? Worn Out?

Feel like a tired toddler? Let's put it into perspective:
Doing your monthly English projects - 10 hours
Reading chapters of our class reading each week - 2 hours
Doing English homework each night - 1 hour
Learning something you had not known before - PRICELESS!

I know you are tired, guys and gals, but please know I am pushing you because I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT! You ALL are so gifted, and I just want you to give yourself a chance!

In this crazy world of having to get A's, remember that it's ALWAYS about the learning and not always about the grade. In these times of fatigue, we may compromise our values and work ethic. Don't do it! Cheating is not the way, avoiding your work is not the way, procrastinating is not the way, and giving up is DEFINITELY not the way! Remember, an easier now means a harder later; and a harder now means an easier later! Stick with it! And don't forget that I am here to help...and I LOVE YOU!

Homecoming News

Each day you dress up this week, you will earn extra credit. If I don't have you everyday, then you will need to check in with me between classes for your credit. You can also earn points for going to the game and the dance. This is my way of encouraging you to get involved.

Mon. - Nerd Day
Tue. - Disney Character Day
Wed. - Superhero Day
Thur. - Flashback Day; the Talent Show at 6:30 in auditorium
Fri. - Gladiator Spirit Day; pep rally in school; the game at 7 p.m. at Milander
Sat. - Dance at 7 p.m. at the Airport Hilton

Enjoy this week! Even when you get to be as old as I am, you will cherish it! :o)

Washington, D.C. Trip - Periods 1 & 2

If you're interested in going to Washington, D.C., there will be a meeting during lunch in my room on Thursday, 10/7. Please post your first name and period number here (no last names), and I will get a pass to you before our meeting. On Thursday, you will go grab your lunch (your pass will allow you to get in line first) then bring it to my room while we meet to discuss pricing, deadlines, fundraising, financial aid, etc. Please post your name by Tuesday evening. Hope to see you there!

Periods 1 & 2 - New Vocab

Here are your new vocab words for Unit 3. Write them in your journals. On Friday, I will look in period 2's vocab journals. Period 1, hold off until after your vocab test. I will look at your journals on Monday.

I'LL BE THE JUDGE OF THAT:

1. arbiter - (n) one who decides a dispute (judge)
2. biased - (adj) cause to favor (prejudiced; influenced)
3. exculpate or exonerate - (v) to free from guilt or blame (pardon; absolve)
4. impartial - (adj) not in favor of one side or the other (unbiased)
5. incontrovertible - (adj) not able to be denied or disputed (accurate; irrefutable)
6. integrity - (n) trustworthiness (virtue; character)
7. objectivity - (n) treating facts without influence from personal feelings or prejudices (neutrality)
8. penitent - (adj) expressing remorse for one's misdeeds (repentant)
9. plausible - (adj) seemingly valid or acceptable (credible; believable)
10. substantiated - (adj) supported with proof or evidence (verified)
11. vindicated - (adj) freed from blame (forgiven; exonerated)

YOU'RE SO VAIN:

1. condescending - (adj) treating people as weak or inferior
2. contemptuous - (adj) feeling hatred (scornful)
3. despotic - (adj) exercising absolute power (tyrannical)
4. dictatorial - (adj)domineering (oppressive)
5. disdain - (n) contempt or scorn (hate; aversion), OR (v) to look down on (abhor; belittle)
6. haughty - (adj) vainly proud (arrogant)
7. imperious - (adj) overbearing (dictatorial)
8. patronizing - (adj) treating in condescending manner (snobbish; pretentious), OR (v) doing business at an establishment (frequenting; supporting)

Sorry I'm Out - I Miss You!

Periods 3 & 5: Your homework is to do the next set of To Kill a Mockingbird questions and answers and make it into a COOL bookmark. It can be double-sided, foldable, brochure style, hand-written or typed, whatever. Just make it unique and include a graphic! Period 3 will do chapter 11; period 5 will do chapters 9 & 10 for next class. Questions are below:
TKAM Ch 7-11

SCRIBD, VOCAB & SUCH!

All classes: Good news! Scribd.com was trying to charge you for downloading my documents, but it was for beta testing. All I had to do was DECLINE participation in the study. I made the change, so DOWNLOAD and PRINT all you want! Yay!"

Period 2: Here is the vocab for you (sorry):
assertion (n) - a declaration or statement (position)
clarity (n) - clearness in thought or expression (precision; simplicity)
cogent (adj) - convincing; reasonable (persuasive)
coherent (adj) - logically connected (rational; understandable)
cohesive (adj) - condition of sticking together (conjoined; united)
didactic (adj) - intended to instruct (educational; tutorial)
discourse (n) - verbal expression or exchange (conversation; dialogue)
eloquence (n) - the ability to speak vividly and persuasively (gift of gab; articulation)
emphasize (v) - to give special attention to something; to stress (focus; pinpoint; highlight)
fluid (adj) - easily flowing (natural; smooth)
implication (n) - the act of suggesting or hinting (assumption; inference)
lucid (adj) - easily understood; clear (intelligible; unambiguous)
rhetoric (n) - the art of using language effectively and persuasively (elocution; oratory)

Periods 3 & 5: Don't forget to write down the literary tools, the quotes and page numbers that you find in your chapters of TKAM (To Kill a Mockingbird). BE THE HONOR STUDENTS I KNOW YOU ALREADY ARE!!!

IOLA LEROY LEXICON

For those of you confused by the words in Iola Leroy, or Shadows Uplifted, NEVER FEAR! Just look at the comments under this post to see the definitions our students have figured out :o)

FAMILY FUN NIGHT!

It's PIZZA SCENE family night on Thursday, September 23rd from 5-9 p.m.

Meet me at the Pizza Scene on Main Street (by Cold Stone Creamery) during those hours for EXTRA CREDIT! Bring a friend, too! Remember that 20% of all food and beverage sales is donated back to our school!

SEE YOU THERE!

Periods 1 & 2

JUNIORS~

On October 13th, all 10th graders will take the PSAT. We are encouraging 11th grade students to take the test as well; however, you must register for this test. There will be registration forms available during lunch from September 14th – September 21st, in the back of the cafeteria in the faculty lounge. BUT GUESS WHAT???? I have them for you, too! See me!

The test fee is $13.00, however, any 11th grader who receives free/reduced lunch may take it for free. There are only 200 fee waivers and they do go fast, so please sign up early.

Tenth graders DO NOT need to register, this is a mandatory test for you...and it's free. Registration only applies to 11th graders. Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks!

Reading Schedule for Periods 1, 2, 3 & 5

Hi, guys and gals! It's time to begin our novel readings for the first quarter. Below is the reading schedule for both To Kill a Mockingbird (periods 3 & 5) and Iola Leroy, or Shadows Uplifted (periods 1 & 2). If you have your own copy, bring them this week. I will also bring in the ones I bought for you. I look forward to reading these novels with you and finding all the themes, literary techniques, and life lessons that these amazing books have to offer.TKAM and IOLA Reading Schedule

Periods 4 & 6 - This is for you!

As you know, we've been discussing and reading stories revolving around the question, "When do you really know someone?" Your task for this post is to come up with one song that helps you answer that question, or one that sheds some light on your experiences with that question. In the post, I want you to list the song, the artist, as well as an explanation of how your song selection relates to our question. A quote from the song (a PROVE-IT sentence), as well as a CONNECT-IT sentence, will help in your explanation. Remember, names of songs go in quotation marks, artists' names are capitalized, and your "50 times" rules are in effect.

Here is a sample response:
My thoughts about really knowing someone is best expressed in "Everybody's Changing" by Keane. This song parallels the idea of knowing someone because I believe you NEVER really know a person because we're always changing and, hopefully, evolving. In the song, Keane croons, "I try to make a move just to stay in the game. I try to stay awake and remember my name. Everybody's changing and I don't feel the same." This supports the idea that people are like dynamic characters; they change. Whether that change is for better or worse, it's a challenge to REALLY know them because you, yourself, are changing and growing too.

Alright, my beautiful kids, enlighten me with your ideas. When we're done gathering all of your responses, I am going to make a special playlist for you on this blog with YOUR SELECTIONS!

Love you!

AP Students - Please Print

Hello there, my beautiful children! Since we are on a paper shortage here at school, I need you to print these items at home and bring them to class.

Please click on the links to access the documents I need you to print (I will let you know when you have to read them, but feel free to get a head start):

1. Click HERE for Stanton's "Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions." You only have to print the section on sentiments. No need to print the resolutions' portion.
2. Click HERE to print Abigail Adams' letter to her husband.
3. Click HERE to print John Adams' reply to Abigail.
4. Click HERE to print "The Declaration of Independence."
5. Click HERE to print the "Make Way" cartoon from Life, 1917.

Oppression will be our focus for the next few weeks, especially with the start of our novel, Iola Leroy, or Shadows Uplifted. The first major essay will focus on the aforementioned five documents, as well as our novel.

DON'T PANIC; I will be with you EVERY step of the way!

AP - Periods 1 & 2

Print and bring this class, please :o) Love you guys!
Vocab & Testing Schedule 2010-2011

Welcome to C-Rod's DREAM TEAM

Forget Wade, Bosh and James! C-Rod's class is the TRUE DREAM TEAM!!!!

This school year is going to be an exciting SEASON of victories and triumphs, and I am honored to be your learning coach.

We are going to use this blog as part of our PLAY BOOK to better us as a TEAM! On this blog, you will find tips for homework and projects, extra credit assignments, recaps of activities, a list of upcoming assignments, videos and slideshows of our BEST PLAYS, among many other resources.

As your COACH, I expect my PLAYERS to view, learn from, and comment on our PLAY BOOK. I recommend that you look at our PLAY BOOK at least every other day.

Your first assignment is to create an ID and/or email account then post a comment. Your ID/Email MUST include your first name, only your last initial and your period number (Google e-mail is free, by the way). For example, a student named Christy Lopez in period 2 would have an ID/email of ChristyL2. This will help me identify you easier. If I have you for two classes, you only need to add one of the two period numbers, not both. I highly recommend that you ALL jot down your ID somewhere visible (maybe put it on a post-it note and stick it on your computer). You will need to use this every time you post.

Once you create your ID, comment under this post. I want a quick blurb on what you would like to see happen during our SEASON as the Dream Team. Please know that "doing nothing" and "sleeping" is not an ideal response. I promise you, that will never happen! I really would like to know what you want to get out of my class! Please remember that your comments should be mature, insightful, grammatically correct, and PG-rated!

If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to call on me. I am here to guide, lead, and coach you! See you on the playing field for PRACTICE, and be ready to help create our TEAM GOALS!

Love,
Coach C-Rod