Report Cards - Setting Goals

Now that all of you have your report cards, I'd like you to reflect on your academic goals for next grading period which ends October 23. I want you to set at least three goals for this term, two of them academic and 1 social/personal. Please list your three goals and describe the ways in which you will attain/reach these goals. Be specific in your plan and we will revisit these goals at the end of the term.

Words Alive Discussion: Piece of Cake

• go to your blog and write a final review of Piece of Cake and the group discussion. You might want to include: what you enjoyed about the discussion, what you would have changed, what you learned from other girls' comments, other activities you'd like to do during the discussions, etc. On your shelfari, write a review of the book and the discussion

• On your Shelfari, copy and paste your book review from your blog onto your Shelfari account.
  

• make sure you are linked to Lindsay's Shelfari account
  

• create a link on your blog to your Shelfari bookshelf

• put a Shelfari bookshelf, as a widget, on your blog
  

Piece of Cake discussion questions

In preparation for the Words Alive discussion tomorrow, and in support of Yesenia who will be facilitating the discussion, please post a minimum of 3 possible discussion questions that we can use.

For example: Why does Cupcake include so many subordinate characters in the telling of her story? Which subordinate character do you believe most influences Cupcake's life for better or worse?

spelling bee sentences

Choose five words from the spelling bonus list and use them appropriately in a sentence. Please bold the word used.

Example: Dawn does not condone the use of the words "um" or "like" in her class discussions.

Responding to Cupcake's Memoir

Choose one of the following questions about Piece of Cake and answer on your blog!

1. Has part of this book inspired you in any way? If so, how and can you give a specific example from the book that exemplifies this inspiration?

2. Did this book change your life in any specific way, or perhaps, cause you to think differently about certain issues? If so, what and how?

3. What do you think Cupcake's motivation was for writing this novel? What do you think she believes her readers will get out of hearing her story? Is she trying to reveal something, or just telling her life story?

Manifest Destiny and Ethnocentrism

Use class readings and notes to answer the following:
1. Why can we say that there was cultural diversity in the Americas even before whites arrived?
2. Give two examples of how the Native Americans and the Europeans experienced acculturation.
3. Describe how Navtive Americans and Europeans had different ways of looking at how the land should be used and shared.
4. Explain why the idea of Manifest Destiny is an example of ethnocentrism.
5. How do you believe American history would have been different if Phillip/Pometacomet or Tecumseh had been successful in their plans?
6. What purposeful strategies (list at least three) were employed by the English to clear the Wampanoag from their lands?
7. What were the main events of King Phillips War? Why were the whites ultimately successful in winning this war?

Bugs in food...

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/05/bugs-in-your-food/

Using your blog to document events

Many blogs are used by people to report on events that happen in their neighborhoods and communities, especially events that are not covered by the mainstream news media. This week, you are to report on an event/occurrence that happens in your community that you believe is news-worthy. We often talk about the ICE Raids, gang shootings, etc. - now we're going to publish it as news to the world! Report on your event by this Friday and be prepared to present it to the class! Also, look at Juan's blog for an example of reporting on a community event.

Creating Your Own Political Party Platform

Now you have examined two political parties: the Libertarians and the FMLN. You will create your own political party and a platform to represent it. Start by organizing you information on the worksheet from class. Make sure to include the following on you blog post:
1. Name of your political party
2. Party slogan
3. Party symbol
4. Three most important party principles/stances on issues, with explanations on why this position was taken

Farabundo Marti - FMLN

Read both the article on the FMLN titled "La Victoria del FMLN en El Salvador" and the biography on Farabundo Marti and post the answers to the following questions on your blog!
ARTICLE
1. Who was Farabundo Marti and what was he fighting for?
2. What other revolutionaries was Marti compared to in this article and why?
3. What three things is the FMLN, the party named for Marti, struggling for?
4. Who fought each other during the "civil war" in El Salvador?
5. Why was the El Salvadorian government so successful in repressing the guerrila fighters?
6. Where did the U.S. train the Salvadorian army?
7. Why do you think the U.S. spent so much time and money supporting the dictator of El Salvador and repressing the guerrilla fighters?
8. Who is the opposing political party to the FMLN? How did this political party stay in power for so long?
9. In this last election, an FMLN candidate finally won the election. Who is the new president of El Salvador?
10. What are some of the things the FMLN will be fighting for now that they are in power? Or what are some of the changes they want to make?

BIOGRAPHY
1. Where was Marti born and where did he attend school?
2. What did Marti major in and why did he drop out of college?
3. Why was Marti arrested?
4. When he returned to El Salvador after being in exile, he helped found the Socorro Rojo International Party. What did this political party stand for?
5. After returning to El Salvador after his second exile, who did Marti organize to start a revolution?
6. What happened at La Matanza (click on the hot link)
7. What happened to Marti in the end?
8. Do you admire Marti? If so, why? What would you do differently or similarly if you were organizing you own political party/revolution?

The Kumeyaay Tribe

Do some research on the indigenous peoples of the San Diego area - the Kumeyaay - and answer the questions below by posting your answers on your blog. Please try to answer in complete sentences. I have listed one website below to help you with your search!

1. What did the Spanish rename the Kumeyaay tribe?
2. List at least three of their main food staples (what they ate).
3. What three groups or bands were the Kumeyaay divided into?
4. Did the Kumeyaay convert to Christianity?
5. What happened on November 4 & 5, 1775?
6. How many Kumeyaay currently live in San Diego county?
7. What kinds of tattooing were used by this tribe?
8. What type of clothing did the Kumeyaay wear?
9. The Kumeyaay were experts at making what product? What were the uses for this product?
10. Where can we view Kumeyaay artifacts today?
11. When you educate your child about the Native Americans from this area, what do you believe is the most important part of the information you learned, that you will share with them? Why?

http://www.desertusa.com/mag99/july/papr/kumeyaay.html

blogger scavenger hunt

On MY blog:
1. What is the word of the day and what does it mean?
2. Go to the link "free rice" on link list and earn 50 grains of rice.
3. Look at the translation station widget - what is the word for 'school' in Italian?
(post your answers on your blog)

On YOUR blog:
1. add me to you links list
2. add one other new student to your blog
3. go to 'blogger widgets' on my links list. Explore different widgets and add one to your sidebar
4. go to 'refdesk' on my links. Scroll down to find out why watching tv is bad for your children, and then write a short post on your blog explaining why.

Characterization in A Piece of Cake

Why would Dot be considered a subordinate character in this chapter?
Describe an example of a dynamic and a static character from this memoir and why? Please answer in complete sentences and include definitions for academic terms.

Resolution/Denouement (day-noo-ma) = at the end of the story when all the loose ends of the plot/conflicts are tied up

Subordinate Characters = less important characters that usually do not affect the plot, but they often do serve to reveal more information about the main character/protagonist

Dynamic Character = character who changes in an important way during the story

Static Character = character who is the same at the end of the story as at the beginning (usually a subordinate character)

Cupcake's newest conflict

What is Cupcake's (our protagonist) newest conflict? What type of literary conflict does this represent? What do you believe will result from her current living situation (the resolution)?