Say It Isn't So!

I heard someone say today that Moby Dick could be summed up in three sentences. OUCH! Melville is turning in his grave.

In actuality, folks, ANY novel can be summed up in three sentences...which is why main idea is driven so hard in FCAT. LOL! Do I think there are some chapters that could be left out? Of course! Do I still feel it is worth the read? ABSOLUTELY!

So what I want from you for this blog post is to give me little nuggets (or pearls of wisdom, if you will) that you have gained from reading the book thus far. You know - the little "lessons on life" you sneak up on (and eventually thank goodness that you did not skip over). You can also include sentences that pack a punch (in structure, rhetoric, or even literary devices). Whatever it is that may bring a smile to your face, a tear to your eye, or a hmmmm to your mind, ADD IT HERE (and include the chapter number)!

Feel free to add to this as we read the novel. I will be checking in for possible bonus points!

HAPPY READING! I am proud of you all for not backing down from the GREAT BOOK!

Periods 1, 2, 3 and 5 - CHANGES IN READING SCHEDULE!

Check a couple posts down where your reading schedules are/were. I made some changes to both the Moby Dick and the 7 Habits schedule.

For periods 1 & 2 - I know that it was a TON of reading. I saw that one chapter's audio reading was ONE hour long...and that did not include the other chapters. I don't want to overwhelm you; I want you to enjoy this GREAT BOOK!

For periods 3 & 5 - Our first unit will be read in class, but after that, you will be reading it on your own at night.

OK, love you all! READ, READ, READ!!!!

Midterm Test Corrections - A MUST DO!

BE SURE TO READ THIS ENTIRE POST!

Periods 1, 2 3 & 5 - To access your test to see which questions you got wrong, click on the following links:

Period 1 - CLICK HERE to access your test!
Period 2 - CLICK HERE for your class!
Period 3 - CLICK HERE to access your class site!
Period 5 - CLICK HERE for your class!

OK, once you are in our Quia class site, you need to log-in (it's at the top of the screen). You will use the ID and password on the little papers I gave you for your midterm (and told you to put into your cell or agenda). DO NOT CLICK ON THE QUIZ!

If you need your ID and password again because you lost it, there are two ways to obtain it, though it will cost you! My email is crodriguez14@dadeschools.net ...and there will be a 3 point penalty for me having to look up your stuff again. You can also ask me at the beginning or end of class for, you guessed it, a three point penalty! If you ask me in the middle of class, or disrupt one of my other classes, there will be another three point penalty! Or better yet, you can take the 3-point penalty, or add one extra repetition for each correction you do.

ALL RIGHT, once you are logged in, you need to look where it says Midterm, and to the immediate left is an tiny icon of a stack of books that looks like this:

Click on that to review your test. It will show you which questions you answered correctly, as well as those you didn't. If you scroll down towards the bottom, you will get to see every question, what you answered, and what the correct answer is! THAT'S WHERE YOUR TEST CORRECTIONS COME IN!

For test corrections for novel questions, vocabulary or literary tools, you are going to write each question AND the correct answer FIVE TIMES each. If the question was a sentence completion for vocab, or a literary tools' example, you will need to write the word, the example/sentence that was on the test, AND (most importantly) the definition. For definition questions, just the word and definition is fine.

For the AP or FCAT reading passages, you must write the question, the correct answer, and the rationale for why that is the correct answer, THREE TIMES for each incorrect question.

In addition, you must also submit an essay with your corrections that explains what you found to be your strength(s) and what you do to hone those skills or build on those strengths. You also need to address what your weakness is, why it's your weakness, and what you can do to make it a strength! Does it have to be five paragraphs???? NO! Maybe 3. Remember, however, I ALWAYS want a hook, a thesis statement of some kind, EVIDENCE from a source (it can be your test itself), ALIVE WORDS, a conclusion that POPS, and quality writing! I want to see the reflective side of you here! You CAN type this portion if you wish!

This ALL must be hand-written (except the essay if you choose to type it), and it must be NEAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BE ADVISED that this is the first project grade I will enter in the gradebook for the third quarter! IT IS ALSO WORTH 30 POINTS! It's a DOOZIE, I know, but it WILL HELP you!

Here are the due dates: Tuesday, February 1st for period 2! Wednesday, February 2nd for periods 1, 3 and 5.


With that said, if you are one of the students that lost their ID and password, do NOT email me the night before it's due and expect me to respond. Your deadline to request IDs and Pwords is 1/26!

Well, remember I love you...and don't be mad at me :o) I do this because I want you to be better!

Midterm Links Here!

Periods 1 & 2 - Click HERE to access your midterm. Enter your ID and password as is written on the slip I gave you.

Period 3 & 5 - To access your midterm, click HERE! Enter your information (ID and pword) as is written on the slip I gave you.

To help alleviate, mollify, assuage, or mitigate midterm stress, read below (LOL!). Love you!

Clarification for Midterm Cheat Sheets

For Periods 1 & 2 - To use a cheat sheet for your midterm, you MUST hand write THREE of the SAME copies of information. You can put on it whatever you choose (or do not know), but you will NOT receive extra credit for the quarter. Remember that I get to pick the copy you use. If you want extra credit for the quarter, you must do THREE of the same cheat sheets with ALL information from the quarter. That includes vocab (and definitions), all of the lit tools (including definitions and examples), and all Iola questions WITH the answers.

For Periods 3 & 5 - You MUST hand write three copies of ALL information if you want to use it for the exam and to receive extra credit.

HAPPY TESTING! You will do great!

Periods 3 & 5 - For Your Midterm Cheat Sheet

Remember, you have the write the questions and the answers THREE separate times to use your cheet sheat!

1. Describe the physical setting of the story?
2. When the “routine” of Jem, Scout, and Dill’s summer becomes tiresome, what idea does Dill have?
3. What dare of Dill’s does Jem finally accept?
4. After Scout begs Atticus not to make her return to school, what advice does he give her for getting along with people?
5. How does Dill explain Jem’s missing pants?
6. What does Jem finally tell Scout about his pants that he retrieved?
7. What is Scout wearing? How does Atticus explain the presence of what Scout is wearing?
8. What does Atticus tell Scout to do when she hears “ugly talk” at school?
9. Why does Scout fight Francis?
10. Atticus tells the children they’re not to kill mockingbirds because doing so is a sin. How does Miss Maudie explain Atticus’ reasoning to Scout?
11. What explanation does Miss Maudie offer for “Ol’ One-Shot” (Atticus) putting his gun down thirty years ago?
12. How does Atticus explain “courage” to Jem?
13. Why does Reverend Sykes order the doors of the church shut?
14. After Scout talks to Mr. Cunningham about Walter and the entailment of his farm, what does he do?
15. With whom do the children sit in the courtroom?
16. Why does Mayella think Atticus is mocking her?
17. Explain why Atticus has Tom Robinson stand up?
18. What according to Atticus, is the one thing in the country that truly makes everyone equal?
19. What causes Atticus’ eyes to fill with tears?
20. When Jem suggests that juries should be done away with, what does Atticus suggest should be done instead?
21. What conclusion does Jem come to about Boo?
22. What is Scout’s response when Atticus asks her if she can understand that “ Mr. Ewell fell on his knife”?

ALSO KNOW THE THEMES AND THE CHARACTERS IN TKAM!

Periods 1 & 2 - For Your Midterm Cheat Sheet

Some questions for your midterm:

1. Robert's mistress (his slave owner) does what, which eventually leads to her losing him?
2. When slavery is over, the white man "profits" from the black man by
   Iola adopts all of the following jobs EXCEPT
3. The white man chose to enslave the blacks as opposed to Indians for all the following reasons EXCEPT:
4. What proves to be the catalyst for Robert and Iola's realization that they're uncle and niece?
5. The way that the North fights for the end of slavery, yet despises the black man is known as:
6. What significance did the trees and the river banks have for the slaves?
7. KNOW YOUR CHARACTERS – Ben Tunnel, Tom Anderson, Captain Sybil, Dr. Latrobe, Dr. Gresham, Dr. Lattimer, Robert, Uncle Daniel, Eugene Leroy, Alfred Lorraine, etc.
8. Know your themes for Iola Leroy.
9. All of the following ideals are present in the Adams' letters and Stanton's "Delcaration of Sentiments and Resolution" EXCEPT:
10. The essay, "Declaration of Sentiments and Resolution," is written in response to the "Declaration of Independence." What is ironic about her essay?
11. In "The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me," the author compares himself and his reading/writing to Superman and how he breaks through a door. This is an example of which literary tool?

MORE TO FOLLOW - Check back in a couple days!

Periods 1 & 2 - Revised

REVISED INSTRUCTIONS - There's a film clip I want you to see regarding the opening chapters of Moby Dick.

You can access this resource through Discovery Education on your student portal at dadeschools.net. Once you sign in to your portal, click on APPLICATIONS then DISCOVERY EDUCATION.
Once you get in, click on the Student Center tab at the top of the screen. Then click on the Assigned Resources tab. It is there that you will find the aforementioned film clip. Many of the resources we use for this unit will be posted on Discovery Ed; however, I will notify you of it in class or on our class blog!

Smile!

Reading Schedule for 7 Habits REVISED on 1/21/11

As with my AP class, you are going to take ownership of reading this novel. It may cause you to squirm a little, but I promise I am only doing it because I want you to become a highly effective teenager! On the dates indicated, you will be taking a quiz for the chapter listed. For any quiz you earn a D or an F, you will receive a pink slip (failure slip) for your parents to sign. After four failed quizzes, I will request a parent conference. THERE ARE NO EXCUSES FOR NOT READING! You will also be put into reading groups, so you can read to each other over the phone, Skype, or collaborate on the readings.

1/25 - "Get in the Habit" (We'll read this in class)
1/27 - "Paradigms and Principles"
1/31 - "Personal Bank Account"
2/2 - "Be Proactive" (pgs. 48-61)
2/4 - "Be Proactive" (pgs. 62-72)
2/8 - "Begin With the End in Mind"
2/10 - "Put First Things First"
2/14 - "The Relationship Bank Account"
2/16 - "Think Win-Win"
2/22 - "Seek First to Understand Then Be Understood"
2/24 - "Synergize"
2/28 - "Sharpen the Saw"
3/2 - "Keep Hope Alive"

MOBY DICK Reading Schedule - REVISED on 1/21/11

CALL ME ISHMAEL! It's time to get started. With this novel, I am going to do things a little differently so you will take ownership of reading this novel. It may cause you to squirm a little, but I promise I am only doing it because I love you! On the dates indicated, you will be taking a quiz for the chapters listed. For any quiz you earn a D or an F, you will receive a pink slip (failure slip) for your parents to sign. After four failed quizzes, I will request a parent conference. THERE ARE NO EXCUSES FOR NOT READING! You will also be put into reading groups the first week we return from break, so you can read to each other over the phone, Skype, or collaborate on the readings.

1/11 & 1/12 - Chapters 1-4
1/13 & 1/14 - Chapters 5-14
1/18 & 1/19 - Chapters 15-25
1/20 & 1/24 - Chapters 26-35
1/25 & 1/26 - Chapters 36-41
1/27 & 1/28 - Chapters 42-46
1/31 & 2/01 - Chapters 47-53
2/02 & 2/03 - Chapters 54-58
2/04 & 2/07 - Chapters 59-66
2/08 & 2/09 - Chapters 67-74
2/10 & 2/11 - Chapters 75-82
2/14 & 2/15 - Chapters 83-88
2/16 & 2/17 - Chapters 89-95
2/22 & 2/23 - Chapters 96-104
2/24 & 2/25 - Chapters 105-112
3/02 & 3/03 - Chapters 113-125
3/04 & 3/07 - Chapters 126-132
3/08 & 3/09 - Chapters 133-Epilogue