My Blog is ON THE MOVE!

MY BLOG IS MOVING TO crodsdreamteam@blogspot.com. See you there!

FCAT SCORES ARE IN!

You can check your FCAT scores on your student portal! Many of you did really well, and some of you fell short. If you want to talk to me about your scores, feel free to call me. You needed to have 300 points or more to pass!!!!

For writing, here's my SUPER SIX crew: Carlos B., Kayla S., Kassandra C.

My FAB FIVE crew: Elisabet C., Paula F., Jennifer R., Joyce S., Jackie S., Andrea A., Ashley G., Hugo G., Monica H., Erika M., Sarai R.

Our FANTASTIC FOUR crew: Laysu, Lourdes, Ashely C., Vanessa D., Shantell, Daniela, Henry, Steppo, Ceci, Melissa, Elio, Yelsin, Dianelis, Anthony, Sarah, Yeny, Dante, Geisa, Gaby, Yuli, Natalia, Juan, Jennifer P., Adisney, Helen, Sarelly, Krystal, Kiara.

Only three of you got threes. No worries, though, this WILL HELP our school grade!!!! I am proud of you, too!

First period had a mean score of 4.45, and second period had a mean score of 4.2. GREAT JOB! I will treat you all to your ice cream and other prizes when we come back. WE WILL HAVE A BIG REUNION PARTY!

So proud of you all!!!

QUESTION OF THE DAY: FCAT SCORES READY? Uh, no!

I am sorry to have to say this, but there are no FCAT scores yet. I am guessing next week. I PROMISE, PROMISE, PROMISE to call you as soon as I hear something!

LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU!

PS. Isn't the picture up top hilarious? LOL!

Thank you!

I just wanted to tell you thank you and love you! You guys light up my life!

For those of you who were wondering, I put the Renaissance extra credit under the Effort/ Behavior column. If you did a project board, it will go under the Renaissance Fair column in the gradebook. Your exam grades will be up in a day or two.


Love u!

Periods 1 & 2

I wanted you to see a sample, but I am getting super sleepy, and I have to be up at four a.m. to go to the airport. I tried to upload it several times, but the quotes and captions all shift behind the background when I try to post???? Oh, well.

Please don't forget to email me your poems for the lit magazine.

I will miss you! See you on Tuesday! Pray for my LeeBee!

CONGRATS, NHS INDUCTEES!

Congrats to the following students on Team C-Rod for being the newest inductees to the National Honor Society. To see the slideshow made by Mrs. Parra, click HERE!

Amanda Frye
Ana Bormey
Melissa Prat
Erika Muniz
Monica Hernandez
Laysu Borges
Vanessa De la Cruz
Genesis Fernandez
Aileen Meneses
Oscar Rios
Mabit Gonzalez
Giloly Jose
Yoanet Garcia

Rick Bravo, Jessica Perez, Ibis Iser, the executive officers of NHS, are also to be lauded (nice use of a vocab word) for a job well done in presenting!

Periods 5 & 6

Hey there, guys and gals! First, I want to wish you luck on your AP test Wednesday! You are going to do SWELL! Remember, don't lay down, no matter how hard a question may seem, or how tired you are!!!!!

For Monday/Tuesday, you need to have a copy of The Great Gatsby. Our library has several copies, as do our neighboring libraries. If you want to buy your own copy, you can go to any bookstore, or you can buy one from me for $10. I bought only 20 copies, so the first 20 to bring in the money, will get a copy from me. Remember, I do NOT expect you to buy one; you can go to any library and borrow a copy for free!

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

We're celebrating Renaissance Style May 18th! During English class that day, we will have our "GLADFEST - Renaissance Faire." In preparation for our celebration, I am going to need some help with main dishes (lasgana, shepherd's pie, chicken wings or drumettes, baked ziti, etc). If you can help, please see me ASAP, or post it here. I also want you to dress up if you can (it's extra points).

Here is a slideshow from last year's Renaissance Faire. Remember, that only Ms. Davis and I did it last year. This year, it's the whole school. See why we need your help :o) LOL!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Check out the sites below for some ideas:
http://www.renfaire.com/
http://www.party411.com/theme127.html
http://www.42explore2.com/renaissance.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/shakespeare_william.shtml
Wear your toga in honor of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar! Below are sites to help you form your toga Remember, you have to wear your uniform under your toga, no exceptions :o)
http://www.howtomakeatoga.info/
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPaFtZIZmfk
http://how-to-make-a-toga.blogspot.com/

Sonnet Review

Here is a VENN diagram you can use to write out your notes for the sonnet test retake. Period 3, you know what to do. Period 4, after you get your test scores back, you will likely need to do this, too. I know it's a challenge to grasp this, but you must :o) LOVE YOU!
A Lesson on Sonnets_057

Periods 3 & 4

If you have not turned the Narrative Poem, Metaphor Poem, and/or Lyric Poem, you need to have them in ASAP.

Period 3 - Your lyric poem is due next class, as well as any others you are missing (look in the gradebook).

Don't forget that you need to email your favorite poems to crodslitmagazine@gmail.com as soon as you can! Remember, no attachments...just cut and paste it into the email. Be sure to indicate what kind of poem it is, and if it applies to any of the books/stories or works we've read this year.

SMILE!

Periods 3 & 4

Your HW for this week is to compare and contrast two entries from the pages you read of TFWD. Remember to consider the writer, the message, the events, the lesson learned, the inspiration. You need to write it in Microsoft Word, fix the spelling and grammar then post your response in the comments section.

In addition, be reminded that your sonnet and lit tools test is Monday for period 4, and Tuesday for period 3.

Love you guys!

Extra Credit for Periods 5 & 6

Scholarship for college education: $2500
Extra credit points in C-Rod's class: 30
Knowing you are one step closer to going to college: PRICELESS

If you would like some extra credit, here you go: CLICK HERE TO SEE THE RULES OF THIS SCHOLARSHIP ESSAY

I will need the application and the essay on a USB drive by Monday, May 3rd. I will proofread it, and you can make the improvements on 5/4. I will mail it on 5/5 for you. This is 30 points extra credit. You will only get the credit if you cover all of the requirements stated on the link.

SMILE!

Periods 5 & 6

Hey there, ladies and germs (LOL).

I just wanted to remind you that SYNTHESIS ESSAY #4 is due Wednesday, 4/27 for 5th; and Thursday, 4/28 for 6th. Remember to focus on the prompt and what it's asking you to do. You should already know I do NOT want a summary of the sources; rather, I would like you to use those sources to bolster your own ideas and commentary. Also be reminded that you should not take more than 15 minutes to read the sources and 40 more to write. That is a total of 55 minutes from the moment you read the first word of the packet until the moment you should put your pencil down. Be strict with yourself, as giving yourself more time will only deprive you in the long run. (That was deep stuff, man!)

I also want more of you to sign up for Saturday AP Camp. Ms. Borges and I are working on something special that will be applicable in both your AP Eng Lang and the AP Amer Hist tests.

LOVE YOU! We're almost there!

SATURDAY AP CAMP CANCELED 4/24

Sorry :o) I have to take a final tomorrow. Our AP Saturday camp will resume on 5/1 and 5/8.
LOVE YOU!

Earth Day & Take Your Child to Work Day

On "Take Your Child to Work Day," many of my diligent students came to school. Fifth period, for example, took a mock AP Test. In doing so, they have no homework Monday night, and they are one step closer to passing that AP test. Woohoo!

To celebrate Earth Day (April 22nd), we wrote tankas (a five-lined lyric poem with 5, 7, 5, 7 and 7 syllables). While visiting our school's wetlands preserve, we used the environment around us as our inspiration! What a beautiful day it was! Mother Earth is good! Feel free to read some of the tankas under this post (Students, please post by Monday night).

TYCTWD-Clarification

Hi :o) Only if you miss periods 1, 3 and 5 today of MY class, do you have to do the essay. All periods, however, have the opportunity to do the same assignment for extra credit IF YOU SHOWED UP TODAY!

See the post below for details. Hope your day is wonderful!

Take-Your-Child-to-Work Day

I'm excited so many of you decided to partake in TYCTWD. I hope you hone your work ethic and skills while you are away. Hopefully, your parents show you what it is like to put in a tough day's work.

If you are participating in TYCTWD and miss my class, you have a make-up assignment. Since what we are doing in class cannot be made up, this will be your make-up assignment.

You need to type a two-page essay on the following topic: Defend or challenge the quote below and use one example from history, one from literature, and one from your experiences at your parent's workplace today, to support your claim.

All the so-called "secrets of success" will not work unless you do. ~Author Unknown

The essay must be two pages, double-spaced, one-inch margins, in 12 point Times New Roman font. In addition, your name and period should be on a cover page, not on the essay itself. You are not permitted to skip lines either. I want your best work. It is due on Monday at the start of class. THIS IS WORTH THE 50 POINTS YOU WOULD HAVE EARNED IN OUR CLASS-PROJECT THAT DAY.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO CHOOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN TYCTWD, you can do this assignment as extra credit (50 points).

Enjoy your day with your parent(s). I hope you gain much knowledge about the power of work ethic.

Periods 1 & 2

Don't forget that you have to turn in your quote analysis papers on Monday (period 1) and Tuesday (period 2) CORRECTED, TYPED and ON POINT. Remember, we are prepping you for AP class or 11th grade honors English next year. This is also the kind of the prompt you will see on the SAT (the test required to attend a university). You can do it!

SMILE!

5th and 6th Period - Saturday AP Camp

I am hosting three Saturday AP English Language Camps (pending approval, of course). The dates I have proposed to administration are 4/24, 5/1, and 5/8. It will be from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in my room.

If you are interested in attending, please post the dates you are interested in, as well as your first name and period number.

Periods 3 & 4 - English 2

In case you all needed the document below (if you wanted to get started), here it is. Hope you are enjoying your spring break. I do miss you if you were wondering.

Remember to read; it keeps the mind fresh!!!! No dead brains when you return. LOL! I am reading Eclipse for the second time, as well as some books for my classes. What a blessing it is to read and write! See you in a week!
Portfolio of Poetry

WAY TO GO!

Congrats to the following students for making A's in both my reading and English classes this quarter: MONICA HERNANDEZ, ERIKA MUNIZ and ANTHONY VALECILLOS

Congrats to these students for making A's all three quarters thus far in English class:

3rd Period - ESTEFANIA MARTINEZ-BONET and LAYSU BORGES

4th Period - MONICA HERNANDEZ and ERIKA MUNIZ

5th Period - RICK BRAVO, AMANDA FRYE, JESSICA PEREZ and IBIS ISER

6th Period - MABIT GONZALEZ and JONATHAN MUNOZ

I am very proud of all my babies, but I am especially proud of the aforementioned students. That is quite a feat!!!!

Spring Break Home Learning

You have a few tasks for Spring Break. I suggest you do them today, or the Monday that's a teacher workday. Let's finish the year strong!

Periods 3 & 4 - Read The Freedom Writer's Diary, pgs. 78-107. Write three entries in your journal that discuss your feelings regarding the readings, or you can write about your experiences during spring break. You also need to write an enjambment poem of at least 14 lines. Remember, you need to focus on one literary tool.

Periods 5 & 6 - DO pgs 61-63 of your test packet. Set a timer for 16 minutes. Once the time is up, circle the questions you weren't able to finish. You can do them anyway, but I want you to circle them so you are aware that you have to work faster. You also need to read "Men, Women, Sex and Darwin" from the 50 Essays book. It's on page 29. In addition, you need to answer the four questions that follow the reading. Don't write the questions, just the answers (Shocker, I know! LOL!) You also need to look at the stylistic aspects of the essay. Look for figurative language, sytax, rhetoric, etc. Highlight it in your book and make notes in the margin. A useful tool is the handout from the summer with all the rhetorical appeals on it. It's to the left if you need another copy.

OK, I love you all. Be safe and make good choices! I will miss you!!!!!!!!

Check Your FCAT Camp Points

At 9 p.m. this evening, I will be done entering points for FCAT Camp. I gave 5th and 6th credit for science; 1st and 2nd for reading camp; 3rd and 4th for writing and reading camp. I entered it in the book as 1 point, which may seem low for you, but I promise it's not. It was the only way I could give you partial points if you only came one or two Saturdays. It equaled to a one to three PERCENT increase, which is HUGE!

If you notice I did not credit you for attending camp, see me at lunch tomorrow.

Smile,
C-Rod

BRING YOUR BINDER!

Periods 3-6, be sure to bring your binder for class. Will there be a binder check? Maybe. You just need to be prepared!

PERIODS 1-6:Test Make-up/Retake Day on 3/24!

Periods 3 & 4: If you did not get the grade you wanted on the literary tools test (less than an 85%), you can make it up! I will allow you to retake it (it will be a different test, but same lit tools) on Wednesday, 3/24 during lunch. To do this, you will need to bring the old literary tools written out three times (tool and definition) on Tuesday or Wednesday to class. At that time, I will write you a lunch pass for Wednesday. To take the test, you will have to bring your pass and arrive by 11:33. You will have until 11:55 to take it, and then you can eat lunch.

Periods 5 & 6: The same goes for you for our last vocab test, except you will write out ALL Vocab 6 words and definitions 5 times each. See above for the rules and details!

Periods 1-6: If there is a test you need to make up from this quarter, here is what you need to do (no exceptions will be made, sorry):
1. Make sure your absence is excused.
2. Request to take the make-up on this blog by Monday, 3/22 at 8:00 p.m. You must also indicate the date you missed and which test/quiz you have to take.
3. Come to me by Wednesday at 9:25 to request a pass. (Do not interrupt my class to do so, please.)
4. Show up for your make-up by 11:33 a.m.

Remember, I love you!

Periods 1 & 2

According to the article we read in class today, some marriages are arranged by the parents of a man and a woman, as opposed to them meeting, falling in love and then exchanging vows. Oftentimes, the cultures that arrange marriages use horoscopes to determine if the couple will be a good match. Though I don't find horoscopes to be a valid method of determining your day or that the love of your life has to come from one specific sign, I do think it's interesting. So what I want you to do is look up your sign and the traits of people who fall within that sign. Then look up which sign is the best match for you and why. Do you know anyone who has the same sign as your ideal match? Is what you found accurate based on your experiences with that person? Would you be OK with your parents arranging for you to marry this person at such a young age?

I want you to post your findings here, as well as your reaction to what you discover. If you want to use the Chinese signs (calendar), since so many of you are in Chinese, you can! Have fun with this! Again, I am not pushing astrology; I just thought it would interesting and tie in nicely to our readings this week!

HOLD UP, Periods 5 & 6!

I feel I have not prepared you well enough for the compare and contrast essay; therefore, I am moving the due date back. Here are the new dates: 3/25 (5th) and 3/26 (6th). Understand that since I am doing more to prepare you, you will be graded even more stringently than before.

To replace this assignment, access the following Powerpoint.Take notes on the presentation then write 5 sentences per type of sentence (for a total of 20) and incorporate your most recent vocab words. It must be typed. This is due this Friday for 5th, and this Thursday for 6th.

Simple, Compound, And Complex Sentences In


Smile and love you (even though I am grouchy).

YOU ARE READY, and I BELIEVE IN YOU!

I am so glad that FCAT is finally upon us. You have worked so hard to get where you are. Some of you have come every Saturday for FCAT camp, while some of you have endured tutoring at 6:30 every morning. I know Reading Plus has made you nuts, as well as all of the reading passages, but I know it will pay off in huge dividends. Not only are you ready for Tuesday, you are also ready to be a junior, a college student, and a lifelong reader, writer and learner.

Rest this weekend, do a couple more sessions of Reading Plus, then relax. Remember to let the fear go; you are more ready than any other group I've had.

I AM PROUD TO HAVE YOU AS MY STUDENTS, CHILDREN, BABIES, SWEETIES, MUFFINS, ETC! Love you!

Periods 5 & 6 - Compare and Contrast Essay

You are going to be writing a compare and contrast essay on two literary criticisms of the piece you selected. The due dates are as follows (I made them due after FCAT Science to try and help you out): Period 5 - March 19; Period 6 - March 18.

This time you are going to print one copy for class, but you will have to email it to me by the morning of your due date (there is a reason). I will give you the email address in class.

Furthermore, I need you go to this site (CLICK HERE), and print out this handout. It will prove to be useful, and we will also be discussing it in class.

HW and Vocab Tests

Periods 5 & 6: Click HERE to review the vocab words for your test tomorrow. Period 6, your test is Thursday, 2/25. Period 5, your test is on 2/26. Remember that you are responsible to keep up with your readings (up to page 128)!

Periods 3 & 4, your vocab review is to the right. Look over there, and you will see it. You will also have a lit tool test with it. BE READY! Remember, you are working on your Reading Plus and FCAT readings for homework, so make sure you are keeping up!

Trust me, I am hard on you so you will be the best student you can be!

Love you all!

Revised Reading Schedule for 5th & 6th

Below is the new reading schedule. We are finishing at the same time, but I changed it up a bit. Remember, you have to have the pages read BEFORE you get to class. Also be reminded that even if you're absent, you're responsible to keep up with your readings.

2/19 and 2/22 - pgs. 1-60; 2/23 and 2/24 - pgs. 63-97; 2/25 and 2/26 - pgs. 100-128; 3/2 and 3/3 - pgs 128-175; 3/4 and 3/5 - pgs. 178-207; 3/8 and 3/9 - pgs. 208-239; 3/11 and 3/12 - pgs. 239-280

Hope you all are enjoying it so far. I am amazed at what these men have endured thus far, the calm among them, and the vivid details in the writing. WOW! Share some of your thoughts here if you wish!

If you choose (for a few extra points), compare and contrast yourself and one of the men on the Endurance. In chapter 5, there were several descriptions of the men, and I could relate to at least one or two of them. If you do respond, make sure that you use specific quotes from the book...and, remember, it's compare AND contrast. Tuesday, 2/23 at 10 p.m. is the deadline.

Love you all!

Periods 5 & 6

You have an upcoming project that will deal with our theme this quarter: Science and Nature.

Below is a list of authors I want you to investigate. You need to pick one author, as well as one or two of his/her works to read, study, critique and write about. Try to find an essay, excerpt or other non-fictional piece that can be read in one or two sittings (like the length of a short story or some of the essays we've read in class).

Post the author you choose here, as well as the two pieces you want to work on by that author. I know there are fewer authors than students, so an author can be selected by no more than TWO different students; however, the works you choose by that author must be different than the other student's choices. Basically, the early bird will get the worm! You have until Thursday night, or I will pick one for you. :o)

Happy shopping!

Edward Abbey, Diane Ackerman, Natalie Angier, Wendell Berry, Jacob Bronowski, Rachel Carson, Charles Darwin, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Jared Diamond, Annie Dillard, Gretel Ehrlich, Loren Eiseley, Timothy Ferris, Tim Flannery, Richard Fortey, Atul Gawande, Stephen Jay Gould, Evelyn Fox Keller, Aldo Leopold, Barry Lopez, Peter Matthiessen, Bill McKibben, Margaret Mead, John Muir, Steven Pinker, David Quammen, Carl Sagan, Lewis Thomas, Jonathan Weiner, E. O. Wilson

Note: If there is a writer that reflects insight on science and nature that is not on the list, you may still be able to use him/her; however, you will need to use rhetoric to convince me!

Periods 1 & 2

Reading Plus is a site that helps you with your reading skills, especially comprehension (your understanding) and fluency (your speed). Each night, I want you to commit to working on Reading Plus for 1/2 hour! Trust me, the time you invest now is time you will save later NOT having to be in intensive classes or having to retake the FCAT.

Here is what you do:

1. Go to http://www.readingplus.com/


2. Click on "login"


3. Click on "student login"


4. Enter the site code, which is hia117


5. Go down to Rodriguez period 1 or 2. If you do not see your name in one class, look in the other.


6. Click on your name then enter your password. You pword is mdcps and your student number. For example, if your student number is 8675209, your password would be: mdcps8675309. (Gaby, Shantell and Kiara, I had to add a zero to the beginning of your student number, so be sure to include that).


7. Once you are in, you will start reading stories. Be advised that the lines will disappear to get you to read faster. Finish a whole activity, and if you want, do another. I will be tracking your progress, and you will be getting a grade.

LOVE YOU and HAVE FUN!

Haiti Relief Drive

C'mon, guys, there's one last chance to donate goods to Haiti. By Tuesday, let's get as much in as we can!

Thanks to periods 1 & 2 for their donations, photos, voices, and contributions to this video. I am very proud of the job you did, even the cackling that we called singing. LOL! In addition, I want to give a special thanks to Joyce and Geisa for their work on the video, Vanessa and Kiara for sending me the sound recordings, and MOSTLY to Ms. Loubeau for organizing the Haiti Relief Drive!

OK, my beautiful kids, just know that if any of you need a helping hand, you can LEAN ON ME! Love you!

REMEMBER TO PAUSE THE PLAYLIST AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BLOG BEFORE YOU START THIS VIDEO.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

FCAT WRITES IS TOMORROW, 2/9!

I know that you are going to rock this test!

Remember the CRUNCH time plan:

Concentate on the prompt and make a web!
Reel them in with a sharp hook and thesis
Use FRIES that are FULL OF FLAVOR!
Never forget to use transitions
Conclusions are key
Hand them a FEAST, not a meal or a snack!

Also remember to GET A GOOD NIGHT'S REST and to be on time!

Just a reminder of C-Rod's prize program for FCAT Writing (Remember what I told you - I would rather spend my money on you than myself. Investing in you, I know I will have a HUGE return!):

4.0 or higher - SUNDAE SOCIAL DURING LUNCH
5 or higher - $5 and a PIZZA PARTY DURING LUNCH
6 or higher - DINNER WITH C-ROD

Remember, prizes are cumulative! If you get a six, you get them all!

Happy Writing!

Periods 5 & 6

Are you ready for our next novel? You better be! LOL!

Here it is! It's Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing.

The first lines read, "The order to abandon ship was given at 5 p.m. For most of the men, however, no order was needed because by then everybody knew that the ship was done and that it was time to give up trying to save her. There was no show of fear or even apprehension. They had fought unceasingly for three days and they had lost. They accepted their defeat almost apathetically. They were simply too tired to care."

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Awesome! You need to get your copy by 2/16. Whether you bring in $10 for me to buy your copy, you borrow it from a library, or you pick up your own copy, you need to have it. If you plan to have me buy it for you, I need the money by 2/9. Remember, you do not have to buy it, but you do need to get to a library ASAP.

Looking forward to it! Finally, a novel the guys will enjoy! LOL!!!

Periods 6 & 5 Work!

Read this document below (you may have to download it first) then answer the questions that follow. If you did not attend the field trip today (period 6), then you must do it in class, finish it and give your work to the teacher. Those on the fieldtrip for period 6, as well as ALL of 5th period, MUST TURN THIS IN next week. (Per 6 - 2/2; Per 5 - 2/3). Period 5, you will also have homework on Monday night, so you may want to do this now.

Getting ready to head to school for our field trip to the Zora Neale Hurston Festival! SO EXCITED!!!!! Love you all. Standby for photos. :o) Miss you!

The Whistle

OUR FIELDTRIP!

5th and 6th period kids - Be here NO LATER THAN 6:30 a.m. We will meet by the bus loop. You can wear jeans (NO SHORTS), a nice t-shirt and a jacket. Wear sneakers, too (we will be taking a walking tour). Bring $20-$30 for food, as we will be eating breakfast and dinner off the Turnpike...and you can buy lunch at the festival. Tell your parents that we will be back between 10 and 11 p.m. You can give them a definite time when we stop for dinner.

I cannot wait! Bring your cameras!!!!! Love you!

Periods 3 & 4 - Assignment :o)

In the first of the journal entries in TFWD, there is talk about sororities and gangs. In sororities, Greek letters symbolize their "club." In gangs, however, graffiti often is their tag. In both sororities and gangs, they use symbols and letters to indicate their affiliation, and they serve as a part of their identity.

You are going to put Greek symbols together to create a name or nickname, or you can create a graffiti version of your name. Remember, color is just as important as letters, as they symbolize certain personality traits.

Create your name on an 8.5 x 11" sheet of paper, and spruce it up nicely! Can't wait to see them!
This is due Friday for 4th and Monday for 3rd.

Periods 3 & 4 Home Learning Questions

Period 4 has already read the first few excerpts in Anne Frank: The Diary of Young Girl , as well as the "Foreword" and "Freshman Year; Fall 1994" in The Freedom Writers Diary (TFWD). Period 3, that will be your charge Tuesday night. With that said, your homework is to answer the following questions using specific examples or details from the text.

1. What is the theme (life lesson) of the "Foreword" and "Freshman Year; Fall 1994" of TFWD? Which statement from the section supports that theme? You should also use details to bolster your claim. (short response)
2. Do any of the entries in "Freshman Year; Fall 1994" support the ideas that Zlata expresses in the "Foreward"? Use details to support your response. (short response)
3. Select one of the personality traits (hardworking, innovative, flexible, caring) and show how it helped Ms. Gruwell better meet the needs of her students. Use details from the entries to support your response. (short response)
4. Compare and contrast any of the themes, events, feelings, OR concepts that you've read about so far in Anne Frank: The Diary of Young Girl and TFWD. (extended response)
5. If you had to do a research project on an event, theme, issue or concept in TFWD, what would it be? Use details from the entries to support your choice. (short response)

Grammar, punctuation, and spelling WILL count!

Period 4's due date is 1/27; Period 3's is 1/28. You must write the questions and underline your answers. You can type it if you choose. LOVE YOU ALL!

Periods 3 & 4

Taken from www.about.com, here are 33 facts about the Holocaust. From each of the five sections, list one fact that you were not aware of, or one fact that shocked you. Be sure to explain why. Grammar will count! You must post by Thursday (2/4/10) at 11 p.m.

What Does Holocaust Mean?

• The Holocaust began in 1933 when Hitler came to power in Germany and ended in 1945 when the Nazis were defeated by the Allied powers.
• The term "Holocaust," originally from the Greek word "holokauston" which means "sacrifice by fire," refers to the Nazi's persecution and planned slaughter of the Jewish people. The Hebrew word "Shoah," which means "devastation, ruin, or waste," is also used for this genocide.
• In addition to Jews, the Nazis targeted Gypsies, homosexuals, Jehovah's Witnesses, and the disabled for persecution. Anyone who resisted the Nazis was sent to forced labor or murdered.
• The term "Nazi" is an acronym for "Nationalsozialistishe Deutsche Arbeiterpartei" ("National Socialist German Worker's Party").
• The Nazis used the term "the Final Solution" to refer to their plan to murder the Jewish people.

The Big Numbers

• It is estimated that 11 million people were killed during the Holocaust. Six million of these were Jews.
• The Nazis killed approximately two-thirds of all Jews living in Europe.
• An estimated 1.1 million children were murdered in the Holocaust.

Persecution Begins

• On April 1, 1933, the Nazis instigated their first action against German Jews by announcing a boycott of all Jewish-run businesses.
• The Nuremberg Laws, issued on September 15, 1935, began to exclude Jews from public life. The Nuremberg Laws included a law that stripped German Jews of their citizenship and a law that prohibited marriages and extramarital sex between Jews and Germans. The Nuremberg Laws set the legal precedent for further anti-Jewish legislation.
• Nazis then issued additional anti-Jews laws over the next several years. For example, some of these laws excluded Jews from places like parks, fired them from civil service jobs (i.e. government jobs), made Jews register their property, and prevented Jewish doctors from working on anyone other than Jewish patients.
• During the night of November 9-10, 1938, Nazis incited a pogrom against Jews in Austria and Germany in what has been termed, "Kristallnacht" ("Night of Broken Glass"). This night of violence included the pillaging and burning of synagogues, breaking the windows of Jewish-owned businesses, the looting of these stores, and many Jews were physically attacked. Also, approximately 30,000 Jews were arrested and sent to concentration camps.
• After World War II started in 1939, the Nazis began ordering Jews to wear a yellow Star of David on their clothing so that Jews could be easily recognized and targeted.

Ghettos

• After the beginning of World War II, Nazis began ordering all Jews to live within certain, very specific, areas of big cities, called ghettos.
• Jews were forced out of their homes and moved into smaller apartments, often shared with other families.
• Some ghettos started out as "open," which meant that Jews could leave the area during the daytime but often had to be back within the ghetto by a curfew. Later, all ghettos became "closed," which meant that Jews were trapped within the confines of the ghetto and not allowed to leave.
• A few of the major ghettos were located in the cities of Bialystok, Kovno, Lodz, Minsk, Riga, Vilna, and Warsaw.
• The largest ghetto was in Warsaw, with its highest population reaching 445,000 in March 1941.
• In most ghettos, Nazis ordered the Jews to establish a Judenrat (a Jewish council) to both administer Nazi demands and to regulate the internal life of the ghetto.
• Nazis would then order deportations from the ghettos. In some of the large ghettos, 1,000 people per day were loaded up in trains and sent to either a concentration camp or a death camp.
• To get them to cooperate, the Nazis told the Jews they were being transported to another place for labor,
• When the Nazis decided to kill the remaining Jews in a ghetto, they would "liquidate" a ghetto by boarding the last Jews in the ghetto on trains.
• When the Nazis attempted to liquidate the Warsaw Ghetto on April 13, 1943, the remaining Jews fought back in what has become known as the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. The Jewish resistance fighters held out against the entire Nazi regime for 28 days -- longer than many European countries had been able to withstand Nazi conquest.

Concentration and Extermination Camps

• Although many people refer to all Nazi camps as "concentration camps," there were actually a number of different kinds of camps, including concentration camps, extermination camps, labor camps, prisoner-of-war camps, and transit camps. (Map)
• One of the first concentration camps was Dachau, which opened on March 20, 1933.
• From 1933 until 1938, most of the prisoners in the concentration camps were political prisoners (i.e. people who spoke or acted in some way against Hitler or the Nazis) and people the Nazis labeled as "asocial."
• After Kristallnacht in 1938, the persecution of Jews became more organized. This led to the exponential increase in the number of Jews sent to concentration camps.
• Life within Nazi concentration camps was horrible. Prisoners were forced to do hard physical labor and yet given tiny rations. Prisoners slept three or more people per crowded wooden bunk (no mattress or pillow). Torture within the concentration camps was common and deaths were frequent.
• At a number of Nazi concentration camps, Nazi doctors conducted medical experiments on prisoners against their will.
• While concentration camps were meant to work and starve prisoners to death, extermination camps (also known as death camps) were built for the sole purpose of killing large groups of people quickly and efficiently.
• The Nazis built six extermination camps: Chelmno, Belzec, Sobibor, Treblinka, Auschwitz, and Majdanek. (Auschwitz and Majdanek were both concentration and extermination camps.)
• Prisoners transported to these extermination camps were told to undress to take a shower. Rather than a shower, the prisoners were herded into gas chambers and killed. (At Chelmno, the prisoners were herded into gas vans instead of gas chambers.)
• Auschwitz was the largest concentration and extermination camp built. It is estimated that 1.1 million people were killed at Auschwitz.

Grades

Grades are done for all periods.

I want you ALL to have A's next quarter!

Smile.

Periods 3 & 4

Here is what you need to do this weekend:

1. Print out pages 12-19 of this packet...if you haven't done so already. Click HERE for the packet!
2. Get your copy of Freedom Writers and bring it to class Monday/Tuesday.
3. Do you vocab homework (4th period); it's due on Monday.
4. Enjoy your day at FCAT Writing Camp if you are attending!

SMILE!

I need the following students to see me ASAP (if you see your friend's name on the list, motivate him/her make the time). The little sweeties listed below need to come to me before or after school THIS WEEK for a much-needed opportunity!!!
Period 5 - Anthony, Javier, Sylvia, Kevin, Rosa, Mayara, Tahimi, Gabriel, Nahobi
Period 6 - Chris, Aman, Pedro, Ernest, Silvia, Henry, Marvin, Richard, Blanca, Barbaro, Kristy, Angel & Jame.

To all students in periods 5 & 6 - IF YOU MISSED THE WINTER BREAK READINGS' QUIZ, AND/OR THE LAST QUIZ FOR THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD, the make-up will be next Wednesday morning at 6:50 a.m. (and your absence must be excused for 1/4 or 1/5). Start making arrangements now because it's a one-shot deal.

Let's finish the nine weeks strong!!!! Love you guys and gals!

You guys are going to do well; I feel it in my bones! You only have one hour, so get busy! We will return to the room for more!

Periods 3 & 4 - Click HERE to take your exam!

Period 5 - Click HERE to access your exam!

Period 6 - Click HERE to access your exam!

A Head's Up

Hello to my beautiful children. FYI ~

1. Period 5 - In case there was any confusion, you MUST turn in the 3 times each (midterm review) on 1/12/10.
2. Period 4 - you need to come and pick up your review packets to write out one more time. I will try to catch you in reading class, but just in case. You also need to read "The Monkey's Paw" on your own.

Smile...love you!

HOMEWORK - PERIODS 5 & 6

For your homework assignment tonight, read the final draft of "The Declaration of Independence" on page 215 of 50 Essays: A Portable Anthology. If you do not have the book, click HERE to read it.

After you read this document, answer the following question: How it support or challenge the ideas presented in EACH of the winter break readings, Their Eyes Were Watching God, and the cartoon (see a couple posts below for the list)? Use quotes from EACH of your sources to bolster your arguments.

Whether you were absent or not on Monday, January 4th, you will be responsible for this work , which is due next class. Due date - January 6 (period 5); January 7 (period 6). Love you!

Periods 3 & 4

Here are our upcoming assignments:
1. You need to get your copy of "Freedom Writers' Diary" (see the post a few down from this one).
2. You need to finish your midterm review (due 1/6 and 1/7).
3. Click HERE to print a portion of the packet you will need for next class. Only print pages 4-11. You will need this for 1/6 (per 3), and 1/7 (per 4).