You are currently browsing the monthly Archive for November, 2007.
Welcome Back to School.
I hope everyone enjoyed their long Turkey Day Weekend. I know I did.
I hope you had a chance to check out our first official podcast. We made it rather quickly because of our short week, but it was still fun to make.
Lets take a look at the week ahead:
Monday 11/26/2007:
We will meet in the 7th grade computer lab today and begin our initial picture research for our revolution voicethreads. Remember to look for pictures at our 2 available websites:
or
If you stumble or get stuck just visit our project page.
Tuesday 11/27/2007
MAP testing begins today.
We are back in the classroom today for a quick vocabulary discussion.
Factory System, Urbanization, monopoly, Partnership, corporation, Trade union
Industrialism, Agricultural Revolution, Enclosure Movement, Textile, Crop rotation, Domestic System
7-3.4 – Vocabulary Log – Indsutrial Revolution
Wednesday 11/28/2007
Today we will meet in the Media Center and continue to work on our voicethread projects. You will write 2 sentences for each picture you have saved. Use the picture script that I have supplied for you.
Thursday 11/29/2007
We’re back in the Media Center today to begin the recording phase of our revolution project. Hopefully our headsets will have arrived today.
Remember to follow the directions on our project page.
Bummer!!! Headsets didn’t come in. 
Only one microphone worked at a time
Everything will be fine.
Friday 11/30/2007
We’re in the Media Center today continuing to work on our VoiceThread Projects. I hope we can get more finished today.
I’m going to have a group of people working on our podcast for the week.
Here is the first official podcast. Although we had a shortened week, we still managed to put something up. I’d like to thank all the kids who worked so hard to help create the podcast.
Let’s get ready for a short week!!
Monday – 11/19/2007
MIRP
Finish our 7-3.3 – Reading Questions and our 6-pack of Questions.
Tuesday – 11/20/2007
7-3.3 Quiz – Latin American Independence Movement
Begin The Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution Begins – Questions
Wednesday – 11/21/2007
2 1/2 Hour Early Dismissal!!!
Announce VoiceThread Project!!
**All of your project questions can be answered on the project page
I hope everyone has a Happy Turkey Day!!!
Thursday – 11/22/2007
Eat a lot of Turkey!!
Friday – 11/23/2007
Recover from eating a lot of Turkey
In an attempt to get more street-cred on the internet, I set up a Technorati account. We’ll see what happens…
The Kneighborhood:
The first of many podcasts is up. I am definitely open to suggestions on what content to put on the podcasts. The podcasts are here to have fun and learn something while listening. I hope you enjoy.
Hey, I just tried this program called voice thread. It is really cool. I created a simple 2 minute voice thread about a classroom revolution. Since we are studying revolutions, soon I will ask you to create a voice thread about any revolution you want.
Check out mine here.
I got the help of my fiancee to record some of the comments. Our librarian Ms. Nelson has also recorded some comments into the voice thread. I think this will be an exciting project for you guys.
What a weekend!! (refer to previous blog)
Here’s what’s on the agenda for the week. Now we’re on the fast track to learning.
Monday- 11/12/07
MIRP
CNN Student New –> Student News Questions
Reading – “The French Revolution Begins”
The questions – French Revolution Begins – Questions
HOMEWORK – Finish “The French Revolution Begins” and 5 questions
Tuesday – 11/13/07
Things got jumbled up today because of our work in the computer lab. Sorry for the inconvenience. We’ll just catch up tomorrow.
Wednesday – 11/14/07
Reading – “The French Revolution Expands”
The questions – French Revolution Expands – Questions
Causes of the French Revolution – G.O.
Extra, Extra – Notes on the French Revolution
Video on the French Revolution.
HOMEWORK – Finish “Causes of the French Revolution” Graphic Organizer
Thursday – 11/15/07 – PAY DAY!!
7-3.3 – Latin American Independence movement.
Vocabulary Discussion – peninsulares, creoles, mestizos, caudillos, mulattos
People to Meet – Simon Bolivar, Miguel Hidalgo, Jose Maria Morelos
Friday – 11/16/07
Reading – pages 107-110 – Latin American Independence
6-pack of Questions
I have just experienced the worst computer store ever!! Yes EVER!! DO NOT….I repeat….DO NOT EVER go to Computer Inferno or Seaside Computers. This is a local computer store in the Myrtle Beach area.
Immediately after dropping off my computer, I started having reservations. Two hours later they called and said my hard drive was fried. (Of course it was, why would it be an easy fix?) They told me they had to install a new one and it would cost $160….and they needed my credit card number over the phone. “I’ll pay you when the computer is fixed and ready to pick up…” is what I should have said. Instead I ramble off my credit card number and expiration date because I’m just so worried about my little computer who I’ve become so reliant on. They said it would be ready the next day at 3.
So I show up at my second job (I’m a teacher) and immediately tell my co-worker where I was and why I was late. He then goes into detail on how his father has a stop payment on his credit card because of this horrible place of business. Apparently, they sell old computers as new, with pirated software. I did not know this. Uh-oh!!
I have 101 scenarios of what is going on with my computer. It’s like an evil lab with an evil doctor operating on my defenseless computer. Slowly opening the machine and ripping out its guts while extracting all my personal information from my “crashed hard drive.”
I arrive home and google the evil laboratory and find out that they have about 100 complaints to the better business bureau about them. They are under investigation!! In my mind, the “salesman” I spoke with is laughing as he extracts password after password. He’s on his way to the bank right now to clean me out.
I calm myself down as I drive to the “Inferno.” I arrive 2 hours after the estimated time of completion. “Damien” tells me that it is not finished and should be ready at noon tomorrow. I give a disgruntled sigh and storm out of there. As I leave, I take a look at the car Damien drives and it is a fairly nice looking sports car…especially for someone who works at the “Inferno.” The scenarios ensue in my brain.
I couldn’t sleep all night knowing that my notebook was on the operating table. I call Damien the next morning hoping it will be ready by noon….its not…it’ll be ready by 5pm. I arrive at this place at 4pm in the hopes that it is done early…its not. I am now officially the disgruntled customer that I hope Damien has been trained to deal with…he’s not. I ask for my computer back. He says “No.” My jaw has dropped in amazement. This is my computer, why can’t I have it back. The only thing that kept me calm was another associate that came from the back room holding my compy. AHHH…my notebook is alive!! I felt like I just caught a glimpse of my kidnapped computer and everything will be all right. So I told him that someone would come and pick it up at 5:30.
Finally my computer has come home. I turn it on and I’m skeptical already. I look at my hard drive and it has shrunk. It was originally 40GB now it is 20GB. I’m done. I don’t even care. I immediately reformat everything that has been put on the “new” hard drive and start fresh. I hope Damien didn’t put any non-erasable spyware on the drive. That’s just my paranoia kicking in again.
I know it doesn’t sound that bad…but I felt helpless in that situation. It’s like going to the mechanic for an oil change and getting your car back without a working radio. (that also happened to me this week)
Moral of the story: Do your research before leaving expensive equipment at any store.
Monday: 11/5/07 —-Project unveiled
MIRP
Read section 7-3.1 in Red Workbook and answer questions #1-5 at the end of the section.
Current Event Articles with Current Event Organizer
Tuesday: 11/6/07
Vocabulary Discussion
revolution, scientific method, heliocentric, geocentric
People to Meet:
Galileo Galilei, Ptolemy, Francis Bacon, Isaac Newton
7-3.1 – Vocabulary Log – The People
7-3.1 – Causes & Effects of the Scientific Revolution
7-3.1 – Causes & Effects of the Scientific Revolution – Complete
Thursday: 11/8/07
Start the French Revolution
Vocabulary Discussion:
human rights, tyranny, estates, aristocracy, bourgeoisie, Reign of Terror, coup d’etat, Napoleonic Code
People to Meet:
Louis XVI, Napoleon Bonaparte
Causes of the French Revolution
7-3.2 – Vocabulary Log – French Revolution
Friday: 11/9/07
Review Game: wordo.doc
Vocabulary Quiz on the Scientific Revolution and French Revolution
LOOKING AHEAD:
Causes of the French Revolution – G.O.
The Project is coming up…I just need to work out the kinks.
Hey everyone. The 1st quarter is over, November is here, and Winter break is in sight. I’d like to thank all of you for working so hard for the first nine weeks. Keep up the great work. All your hard work is paying off.
Just looking ahead…We have some exciting topics to learn and some great projects coming up in the near future.
See What They’re Saying…