North American History Recap 4/6

Hello class!

Last week's class
Last week we watched Episode 2 of the John Adams mini-series called "Independence." I think this movie did an excellent job of capturing the mood of many of the Founding Fathers regarding whether or not to declare independence from Great Britain. I hope you enjoyed it.

I think John Adams also serves as a reminder that history is much more complex than we sometimes make it out to be. America declared its independence and fought in the Revolutionary War, but not everyone agreed it was the right thing to do and many people's lives did not change after the War. However, it remains a significant event because of the events that led to it and how it changed and shaped, and continues to shape, America's development.

Essays
I am finishing your essays today and we have lots to talk about regarding historical writing. I intentionally let you write without much instruction so I could see what we need to work on most. I can say that we all need to work on:

1. Using our own words.
2. Citations.
3. Staying on topic.
4. Supporting claims with evidence.

We will talk more about his in class this week and hopefully our next paper will be better. Many of you have great ideas and clearly made an effort in this assignment.

Tuesday and Friday
Remember to look over the handout on the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War that I gave you on Friday. We will discuss that, discuss your papers and review this week. We will take a quick glance at the Constitution and Review for our exam.

I hope you had a great weekend!

North American History Recap 3/31

Hello class!

I look forward to hearing your thoughts, questions and discussion on American slavery tomorrow (Friday, April 3). It is an incredibly ugly time in American history that deserves our attention, reflection, discussion and understanding. Please remember to look over the documents and questions I gave you on Tuesday and be ready to discuss your findings. Lets do our best to understand this very "peculiar institution."

This is the video we watched in class. 

I also asked you to think about these questions:

1. Why do you think American slavery last so long?

2. How do you think white colonists/Americans justified the institution of slavery?

3. How do you think slaves survived or maintained an identity under slavery?

I am looking over your essays today and this weekend. I hope to have some good feedback for you next week so we can start on another essay before midterm exams.

See you tomorrow!

ECI-Recap-3/27

Hello ECI classes!

In case you don't know who you are...I see you twice a week!

We finished the week identifying topic sentences in other paragraphs and preparing topic sentences of our own.

Be ready next week to begin with Listening and Speaking Unit 2 on colors. "How can colors be useful?"

I also asked you to write a brief paragraph on a topic of your choice. You need to write a topic sentence with a controlling idea and 3 ways you would support that sentence.

Have a great weekend!

Homework for next week: 

paragraph on a topic of your choice.

ECG Recap-Week of March 23

Hello ECG classes!

In case you don't know who you are...I see you once a week!

We finished unit 1 this week. This ends our discussion on names until we start reviewing for mid-term exams. We then started unit 2 on jobs.

Be ready next week to talk about jobs that you have had, have, or want to have. Take a minute to preview unit 2 to familiarize yourself with the vocabulary and questions.

I also asked you to do some grammar work in the book (see below).

Have a great weekend!

Homework for next week: 

Unit 1
prefixes that mean not
pages 12-13, exercises A and B

Simple Present practice
page 15, exercise A
page 16, exercise B
page 17, exercise A

ECI- Class Recap 3/25

Great to see you today ECI!

Don't forget that your homework is: 

Reading and Writing

Identify the Main Idea pages 9-10.

Reading 2 pages 12-13. Main Ideas and Details.

Lastly, write a topic sentence using this picture. Please think before you write. Include a main idea and a controlling idea. 

Good luck!

Do you hear the people sing?

Ok...so my blog title is a reference to Les Miserables...which was the French Revolution...not the American Revolution. But can you still feel the anger boiling up within the colonists as we march toward the American Revolution?

Last class we talked about some of the major events that led up to the American Revolution. During class you did some research and thought about:

1. Why did the event happen?
2. What happened during this event?
3. What happened as a result of this event?

In history, almost everything happens for a reason and leaves in it wake the recipe for another event. We as historians have to learn how to connect these dots.

Please don't forget to send me your main bullet points (main ideas and details) to me by Thursday. Be prepared to talk about your event in class on Friday to help us understand why those events are significant and how they led the colonists into war with Britain.

See you Friday!

Participation and Homework

Hello ECI classes!

I sure enjoyed my first two weeks with you.  I am looking forward to more time speaking English and learning more about you. I hope that you come to class prepared and ready to try and communicate only in English.

As you know, you have options on what you can do for homework. See the syllabus.

Read the syllabus for homework ideas.

You should be doing 2 assignments per week to fulfill your homework and participation obligation. You can only receive credit for 2 assignments per week. Sometimes, I assign mandatory homework assignments, but mostly you are responsible for your homework choices.  

So far, I haven't received much. Only about four students have logged onto www.qonlinepractice.com and completed an assignment. However, you did complete a mandatory assignment in the form of 10 sentences turned in via Google Drive. 

Remember, doing homework is your choice. However, if you choose not to do any assignments your grade will suffer.

I can see when you do an exercise and when you don't. ㅠㅠ

In short? Start participating inside AND OUTSIDE of my classroom. Your grade depends on it! :)