PBH Due 2.25.13

Hi All,

I hope you all are enjoying yourselves during our 2-day vacation!

The following assignments will be due next Monday:

• Sci-fi Movie Review - Please scroll down to the previous homework for details. When writing this review, use the Hook-3-T, TEC and SET method. Think of the Walter Dean Myers unit when you had to identify a theme and prove it with evidence from his books and A Bronx Tale.  To be very clear for the sci-fi movie review, you will need an engaging introduction along with three sentences to explain the hook, ONE clearly stated theme for your thesis statement, three examples and comments in one body paragraph to support the theme you identified in your thesis statement and a very dynamite conclusion. Please reread your WDM essay for an example of how to write this movie review.
• 421 READ PAGES 1-22 IN FAHRENHEIT 451.
• 401 YOU WILL RECEIVE RAY BRADBURY'S SHORT STORIES ON MONDAY.
• 401 YOUR MARKING PERIOD 3 WORK AND THE SIGNED P.R. MUST BE IN ON MONDAY
• Blogspot Reading Log - Focus Question: What is the author's purpose? Use the sci-fi movie you watched and the TEC method to answer this question including three pieces of evidence and three comments.Reading log posts due no later than 7 pm Monday night. If you can't post it to this website, email it to me no later than 7 pm Monday night or write it and submit it the following day. However, if you email or write it you are still responsible for responding to someone before handing it in as homework.
• GREAT NEWS!! THE STRIKE IS OVER! TRIP TO AVIATOR SPORTS CENTER WILL BE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2013. PLEASE HAVE YOUR PARENTS SIGN THE NEWLY DATED PERMISSION SLIP. DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 27, 2013.

Miss. N :)

PBH Due 2.20.13

Hello All,

Please do the following:

1. Word Wall Word Graphic Organizer including a picture to represent the meaning of the word.
2. Progress Report Assignments (missing work and work that was not submitted) due 2.15.13. Class 401 and 421, you know what to do with your progress reports, assignments and when it is due. Please adhere to deadlines as much as possible. Please remember that progress reports must be signed by a parent in order to receive credit for being responsible for your academic success.
3. 421 please make sure you have Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 and read pages 1-22. Write down any questions you have about what you have read. For those of you who don't have the book as yet, please go to www.queenslibrary.org and type in the author and title to see which libraries have it available. If that does not work, go to your nearest Barnes and Noble, http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ or www.amazon.com to purchase a used book.  I'm sorry if you have to buy it. The only next thing to do would be to photocopy the pages at your nearest Kinkos, Office Max, Staples, UPS store or Office Depot. Also there are other local stores (stationary stores) that make copies for .05 cents or .10 cents per copy.
4. Words to know for Friday's quiz: notoriety, fabricated, imperative, clandestine, in lieu of, contingency, euphoria. (please note that there may be more words)
5. Please ask your family and friends to check out http://www.donorschoose.org/we-teach/1496682.1017722535 and donate to this special project. I began this project last summer, however, I wanted to do this for a couple of years now. Although I have been keeping this little surprise from both of my classes, we can use all the help and support we can get in order for these books to fill some of the partially empty bookshelves. If you donate especially this week, donors choose will match your donation. Donors must enter HEART during check-out where it says "Match or gift code". Thank you in advance for your kind support! : )

Early Reminder: Due 2.25.13
I have changed your book review that is due on the 25th from nonfiction book reading to watching a science fiction movie flick. You will use the Hook-3-T, TEC and Dynamite conclusion essay structure when discussing one important theme that the film producer wanted the audience to directly or indirectly learn. Think of your WDM essay when writing this assignment. In addition, you can respond to the film for the reading logs on the blogspot and don't forget to respond to your classmates too. Please refer to last week's PBH KWL assignment that asked you to research past and present sci-fi films in order to select an "old school", "new school" or "in between" sci-fi movie. However, please make sure your parents will allow you to watch it. Make it a movie night and make it fun. Don't forget the popcorn and 3-D glasses if necessary. ENJOY YOUR SCI-FI EXPERIENCE!

Please check the blogspot for updates this week, email me if you have any questions and call Dial-A-Teacher @ 212.777.3380 for support in other subject areas.

Miss. Nicholson : )

PBH 2.11.13

Hello All,

Welcome to our new unit, Science Fiction. The wealth of discussion we had in class today was phenomenal! You all have such wonderful and intellectual minds. As we continue our discussions this week, I would like you to think about how you will demonstrate your understanding of illusion vs. reality in nonwritten form.

Using our discussions, thoughts and the youtube videos shown in class, please select one of the following nonprint choices to explain and explore the idea and concept of the essential question: How are our perceptions of the world influenced by illusion and reality?





Please note that this must be in a nonprint format that explores or suggests a certain topic, concern or disturbing issue in our society, a message to mankind, etc. Although imagery is an effective literary device used to illustrate through creative word choice, as for now, imagery through pictures plays a big role in how effectively you demonstrate illusion vs. reality in our world. If you would like to incorporate into your nonprint response music as a background, voice over, or words here and there to make a point, please do so. However, your response to what we discussed and viewed in class cannot be saturated and inundated with many words and paragraphs. The purpose is to THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, BE CREATIVE AND DEMONSTRATE THE SOMEWHAT COMPLEX IDEA OF ILLUSION VS. REALITY! Please remember use the working definitions we discussed and the world around you as a guide to your nonprint response to this intriguing topic.

Ways to demonstrate understanding:

• create a mini video clip (use the clips we viewed in class as a reference or check out youtube for yourself and type in "illusion and reality" or "illusion vs. reality")
• create a powerpoint presentation using images, animations, timing that you programmed into the presentation. It must be presented without you standing in front of the class.
• a collage using personal drawings or google, magazine or newspaper cut outs. Please note that this must be on 8 X 11 paper and there should be no empty white spaces. An idea I presented in class was to use black and white images mixed or separated by colored images to explain how life can be seen in black and white in the eyes of one person while in living color to another person. However if you choose this, think about whose reality is it and the individuals perception of it as you select the images.
• you can create a 3-D art graphic design model of something unusual. This model can be something that stands up and provides an optical illusion.

The possibilities are endless but these are the choices you can work with. However, bring in something that is stellar work! If you are not an artist, maybe powerpoint or cut out art collages will be the way to go. Be neat and supercreative!

Reminders:

1. SAT test next week Friday. Study all the words from where we last left off.
2. Word Wall due 2.18.13
3. The Reading Cafe Blogspot reading log due 2.25.13 no later than 7 p.m. Focus is nonfiction ONLY! In addition respond to another student.
4. Book Review due 2.25.13. Focus is nonfiction ONLY! Use the Hook-3-T, TEC and Dynamite Conclusion method for your essay.
5. The first EXTRA POINTS that you select from the THE READING CAFE MENU is due 2.11.13.
6. There are still some girls who have NOT RETURNED THE LEOTARDS!
7. Lastly, Class 421 go to the library to take out Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. Speak to Chigozie or Rochel if you need help. Books have arrived at East Elmhurst, Queens Libray. YOU MUST HAVE IT WITH YOU ON MONDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please check the blogspot for updates, email me if you have any questions and contact Dial-A-Teacher if you need further assistance in other subjects @ 212.777.3380.

Miss. N : )

PBH Due 2.4.13

Hello My Fantastic Writers,

Thank you to all who have been working diligently and arduously on your first pre-college level essay!! : )

421 your Argumentative Essay and 3-D'ish cover is due Tuesday, January 29, 2013. Please go to the following website for ways to cite other sources in APA format: http://www.tru.ca/library/pdf/apacitationstyle.pdf

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU NEED TO USE AT LEAST 5 SAT VOCABULARY WORDS INDICATED IN BOLD PRINT IN THE BODY OF YOUR ESSAY. SOME OF THE WORDS ARE LISTED IN PREVIOUS POSTED BLOGS.

Both classes please bring in the following completed graphic organizer worksheets:

1. Validator.W3.org worksheet - this was supposed to be completed at home since the laptops at school limit your searches due to DOE blocking.
2. Mini sports video clips - these videos were watched in class to gather research for your essays.
3. "What" and "Why" 3 point strategy worksheet - this came before the Hook-3-T lesson for this unit.

We will be embarking on a new unit next week which is called Science Fiction. This genre also includes Fantasy, however, in order to build background knowledge, you will need to do online research for the specifics.

Please do the following keyword searches:

• "science fiction"
• "famous science fiction authors"
• "popular science fiction movies" (http://www.imdb.com/genre/sci_fi) you can use this website if you want or explore others
• and last but not least "the evolution of science fiction". This search is just an historical exploration of sci-fi throughout the decades

After searching and reading, please answer the following questions creating your own KWL chart:

1. What new information did you learn from this research? (list 3 pieces of evidence from your search)
2. What would you like to do and/or learn about sci-fi during this unit? (list 3 examples of your own)

This must be typed, 12 font, Times New Romans, double spaced, however, if you would like to write it, it must be EXTREMELY NEAT AND LEGIBLE!!!

If you have any questions, please email me at thereadingcafe@aol.com or call Dial-A-Teacher for assistance in other subjects @ 212.777.3380.

Miss. N

Update and Reminder of PBH

Hello All,

Please note that the following changes have been made:

• 421 - your essay will be due on Tuesday along with your fancy, creative sports equipment cover for your essay.
• All parts of the essay from introduction to references page must be completed and submitted Tuesday morning.
• We will work on APA citation on Monday, however, you must bring the following: your articles (online, magazine and/or books) and your flashdrive. It is imperative that you bring it so that you can work on it in class and not have it to do at home.
• The transitional words and phrases to use in your essay are on the following website: http://www.smart-words.org/transition-words.html 
• On Tuesday, we will do peer editing using a checklist.

Class 401, please do the following:

• All graphic organizers we have used in class must be updated and worked on by you. When I meet with you I should see more writing from where we left off. I will give additional graphic organizers next week.
• Please bring your flashdrive to class and more articles that support and are against your thesis statement.
• Please scroll down to see the PBH that was posted on Tuesday.

If you have any questions, please email me at thereadingcafe@aol.com. Call Dial-A-Teacher @ 212.777.3380.

Miss. N : )

Project Based Homework Due 1.28.13

Hello All,

421 Please do the following:

• Your final draft of the Argumentative Essay is due on Monday. All parts must be completed. That means that you should have a complete introduction, body paragraphs (three argument paragraphs that support your thesis statement and three counterarguments that oppose your thesis statement and one conclusion). Your counterarguments and should follow the two new strategies I will teach you this week. You will have a total of eight full body paragraphs. The last page will list your references and you will use APA citation within the body of your essay.
• Your final essay must be typed 12 font, Times New Romans, double spaced, pages number including your last name followed by the number and the heading should be block style. You will see a student sample along with graphic organizers in class this week.
• Word Wall Word due on Jan 31st. Please wait until you see the colored papers inside the tray. Make sure you have your word ready as you wait.
• Design a creative cover representing your favorite sport. You should only use the most important piece of equipment for the sport. Therefore, if you choose basketball then I should see a model of basketball, if it is soccer I should see a soccer ball, etc. If you are not sure please see me. This should not be printed or copied and pasted from google. It should represent something more like paper mache, it should have texture and almost 3-D looking. However, it should not be too big or too thick that it cannot be stapled to the bulletin board. Use your hands and be CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE! : )

401 Please do the following:

• Your final essay must be typed 12 font, Times New Romans, double spaced, pages number including your last name followed by the number and the heading should be block style. You will see a student sample along with graphic organizers in class this week.
• You will only have an intro, one body paragraph to support your thesis statement, one body paragraph that opposes your thesis statement and the conclusion.
• Word Wall Word due on Jan 31st. Please wait until you see the colored papers inside the tray. Make sure you have your word ready as you wait.

If you have any questions, please email me at thereadingcafe@aol.com. Call Dial-A-Teacher at 212.777.3380.

Miss. N

PBH Due 1.21.13 and 1.22.13

Hello All,

Please do the following:

Due 1.21.13

1. Reading Log Blog Posts due on online at http://missnatthereadingcafe.blogspot.com. Please note that you must have a Google, AIM, etc. account to post it online. This will be due no later than 7pm Monday night.

If you don't have one, you may email your blog post no later than 7pm Monday night to thereadingcafe@aol.com or please write/type it on paper and hand it the next day.

Due 1.22.13

2. Please hand in a typed nonfiction book review. The outline will be provided by tomorrow or no later than Wednesday. Please see the nonfiction book list on the previous blog posting. It must be typed, 12 font, Times New Roman, double spaced, page numbered using your last name (i.e. Nicholson 1) and college block style heading.

Contact Dial-A-Teacher if you have any questions for other subject areas. Please scroll down to retrieve the phone number.

Reminder

421 Girls - I NEED MY GREEN LEOTARDS BACK ASAP!!! THE FOLLOWING GIRLS NEED TO RETURN IT: ROCHEL, VALENTINA, LISETTE, CHIGOZIE AND LIDHILDA.

You have until Wednesday to bring in the permision slips and $20 for the Aviator Sports Center Trip.

Miss. N